25 Years After Dale Earnhardt’s Death, NASCAR Still Races in His Shadow

On February 18, 2001, NASCAR experienced a moment that permanently divided its history into before and after. Dale Earnhardt, seven-time Cup Series champion and one of the most recognizable figures in American motorsports, was killed on the final lap of the Daytona 500. He was 49 years old, and the sport he helped define would never look the same again. Photo by princess photography on Pexels.com The crash occurred in Turn 4 as the field charged toward the checkered flag. Earnhardt was defending