Earnhardt News
2001 Season

Fans use poetry to put tragic loss into perspective
The Earnhardt Connection

(February 24, 2001)
Some fans have written poems to help cope with the loss of Dale Earnhardt.

By gtobama

IN LOVING MEMORY OF DALE EARNHARDT, WHO WAS TAKEN FEBRUARY 18, 2001

WE'VE WATCHED YOU RACE A MILLION TIMES,
AND A MILLION TIMES YOU'VE TRIED,
AND IF WE COULD HAVE SAVED YOU,
YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE DIED.

BUT GOD LOOKED AROUND HIS GARDEN,
AND SEEN AN EMPTY SPACE,
AND THEN HE LOOKED DOWN ON THIS EARTH,
AND SAW YOUR FACE.

HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND YOU,
AND LIFTED YOU TO REST,
GODS GARDEN MUST BE BEAUTIFUL,
HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST.

OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE EARNHARDT FAMILY.

Dale's Last Lap

A fine Daytona afternoon, the season just begun
My boys were running one and two and I was having fun.
I probably could have won the thing but something held me back
I was busy watching Dale Jr. and Mike, and holding off the pack.

I was looking toward the front and not really the rear
Something tapped me on my bumper but still I had no fear.
I thought it might be Sterling, I knew he was near by.
I'll tell you when Sterling smells the checkered flag he ain't shy.

I slipped a bit... I turned the wheel... I sensed something very odd,
It wasn't Sterling's tap I felt... It was the tap of God.
"Not now", I said, " I'm racing hard and there's still work here to do."
"Your time is up" he whispered, "So say a quick ado."

I wasn't really ready, but I didn't have a choice.
He tapped me on the bumper and I heard his hallowed voice.
Though I did as he instructed, I just packed it in and left,
I guess it just can't be helped that I left many of you out of breath.

Did you see those birds upon the wall as they scattered in the breeze?
Will it make it easier to know that one of them was me?
There was Davey, Dad, Neil, and some other friends I've known
And they all came to Daytona just to escort me home.
Congratulations Mikey, you made a worthy run.
I wish you many, many more. Your wins have just begun.
All that fun you had in Victory Lane, I was as proud as I could be.
Did you see that seagull flying low? Yeah Mikey, that was me.

Friends, fans and family don't mourn for me long.
Get on with your lives and take care of things. Be brave, proud and strong.
I'll surely miss you everyone, about that I won't lie.
But as long as you remember me, I didn't really die.

By caryn-29

In Memory of Dale Earnhardt

Around the world there are heavy hearts
Tears of sorrow and pain
Because we know "THE MAN IN BLACK"
Will never race again.

We try to understand it
Why did you have to die?
Maybe God needed a hero
On his racetrack in the sky

The unselfish act on that final lap
To seek victory for Mike and your boy
They finished first and second
But you weren't there to share the joy.

Life must go on and so must I
And so will you in the eyes of your son
He will follow in your footsteps
And you'll be proud of what he's done.

We all lived for Sundays to watch you race that #3
The crowd cheered for Earnhardt, which included Little E
Now throughout the season, when Jr.'s winning the race
You'll be cheering with us, with a smile upon your face

The finish line is in the distance,
The race must go on I guess
You may be gone, but not forgotten,
King of all the Champions, Peacefully Rest.

from a true and forever Earnhardt fan
Sleep Peacefully My Hero

THE MAN IN BLACK

The Heaven 500, was just getting started,
an All-Star race, for the racing departed.
Heroes of the track, with nerves like steel,
and sitting on the pole, was a cat named Neil.

Adam Petty was there, with his beautiful smile,
Kenny Irwin determined, to finish in style.
Lee Petty was glowing, with that Grandfather pride,
with Davey & Clifford, both in a new ride.

Fireball Roberts, floated in on a cloud,
while Tony Roper waved, to the Heavenly crowd.
Morrosso & Nemecheck, then Tim Richmond appeared,
Kulwicki strapped in, while the racing fans cheered.

The honorary starter, for this Heavenly race,
Ralph Earnhardt was chosen, a tear on his face.
But the red flag flew, just before it had begun,
and every eye, was open wide, and looking to the SON.

A last minute entry, was the cause of delay,
while the fans were instructed, to kneel and to pray.
The Heavens turned black, and the clouds turned dark,
the lightning was brilliant, the thunder did bark.

Then out of the rumble, for all there to see,
the clouds formed a number, a black number three.
The Heavenly fans, then erupted with pride,
and welcomed this star, who had recently died.

With a bolt of lightning, Dale Earnhardt arrived,
as he stood before Jesus, his spirit revived.
Jesus hugged his precious child, then revealed his perfect
plan,
"I brought you home, to let you know, that I'm your biggest
fan!"

"The Intimidator was needed, for this Heavenly race,
leaving all of your earthly fans, with honor & with grace."
Ralph Earnhardt then stepped forward, embracing his son,
then whispered in the ear of Dale, "Let's go and have some
fun!"

As Ralph stood proud, the green flag flew,
the crowd went wild and the tension grew.
And just like Salvation, the admission was free,
as every eye focused, on the black number three.

When the checkered flag dropped, no dry eyes remained,
it was a photo finish, as Jesus explained.
He said, "There are no losers, on this Heavenly track,
this was a welcome home party, for The Man In Black!"

Written for Teresa,Dale Jr,Kerry,Kelley King,
Taylor Nicole and the millions of dedicated Dale
Earnhardt fans.
Written by...Timothy Jon Barrett
Date Written...Feburary,21,2001

By credcay

Without Dale

Dale you were a man like no other
Your car and image in black color
You meant so much to so many
Dale you rocked our world every Sunday
“I reckon” you would say
you bumped and drove your way to the top
I know you would have wanted it that way

Championship after championship, you remained the same.
Even though, you rose to tremendous fame
Many sides to Dale Earnhardt came to the track
Loving father and husband and
Competing force –
Always making it to the front of the pack.

The Lord called you to his House
That fateful turn in Daytona
No one could have seen it coming
But now we are left without you
“The Man in Black the Intimidator”
Gone in a blink of an eye

Big E you were larger than life
How can you be gone?
I loved you like a father
To me there will be no race driver better
Sure Little E will carry on
But racing will never be the same
Without Dale, it’s true creator and originator.

#3 forever

-APRIL REDCAY

“And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:26

Every time I see the number three I think of the great Dale Earnhardt. He was a hero to many and a rival to even more. Dale loved racing and he knew the sport. I‘ve watched since I was about nine years old and now I’m about twenty. I am deeply saddened by this tragedy that took his life. He was taken way before his time. Dale deserved to be crowned “NASCAR”S finest”. There is and will be no one greater than the man they called the Intimidator.

See you someday! WE LOVE YOU DALE

By denny

There was more to me than intimidation,
I was a gentle man with an inimagination,
I loved my family and friends too,
But my race car was what I knew,
The Man In Black is what they called me,
I was a different man while driving # 3,
My wife and kids loved me so
They are all that matters in my heart and soul,
Racing was my hearts desire,
But my day has come that I must retire.
God took me away from my love and my dream,
I'll never again hear those engines scream,
I'll be watching from up above,
Helping Junior and Kerry give them a shove,
My life has come to a checkered flag,
There'll be no more zig or zag,
So please don't be sad that I'm gone,
My name and my legend will go on,
I'm in heaven with friends before me,
They remember the car # 3.

I wrote this sunday after they announced Dales death, I was crushed

A FAN'S TRIBUTE

To the man who drove the No. 3
You never ceased to awe me.
From the time I watched my first race
My heart was yours, you had a place.


Every Sunday I watched for my chance
To see you make the No. 3 dance.
I wish I'd met you, to let you know
How very much I loved the Dale show.


With my heart broken, the pain so real
There will never be another behind the wheel
To make me cheer or jump up and down,
As I watched that 3 make up ground.


You'll never be forgotten by the sport you made
So exciting and popular for all you gave.
May the gates of Heaven open wide
And your dad be there, full of pride.


So good-bye my warrior in the No. 3,
Racing will never be the same for me.
With tears in my eyes and heavy heart,
May the checkers in Heaven wave at your next start.


Geneanne K Belobraydic
02/22/01

I wanted to share a poem my 15 yr old daughter wrote the night we lost Dale...thanks..Deb

Mr. Nascar
You are the one I watched
Every Sunday on the track.
Your the reason I started watching.
You never were slack.

That warm Sunday at Daytona.
I cheered you on.
When you hit the wall.
I never knew you would be gone.

Nascar will never be the same.
To watch everyone on the same trace
As the number 3, The Intimidator
To see you win another race.

To me, Mr Nascar,
You'll win every one.
You won your 8th thats day.
Your business here is done.

Now you will be at each race
To help a friend and your son.
And then tell everyone in heaven
"Hey thats my son that won."

Mr. Nascar is known as Dale Earnhardt.
Will now race with his dad, Neil, Adam, and Davey.
He'll drive heavens number 3 and will carry the same names, "The Intimidator" and "The Man In Black."

You will forever live on in my heart
As well as everyone else.
That day I would cry
At the loss of a legend.

Mr. Dale, you'll always be the greatest Nascar
Driver to me.
No one will every replace you.
As you can see.

Dale Earnhardt, you will never
Be forgotten for you will always
Live on and on.

Mr. Nascar, do me a favor please.
Don't crash the gates to bad.
Thank you for all the smiles and race wins you gave me.
Tell my granddaddy and my pop I Love them and i miss them.

Mr. Nascar I love you and i'll miss you.

By:Sheena (Starpowergrl) 2-25-01

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