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NEED TO KNOW
Dale Earnhardt died on Feb. 18, 2001
The NASCAR legend suffered a fatal crash during the final lap of the Daytona 500
His death prompted new safety mandates for NASCAR drivers
Dale Earnhardtdied 25 years ago on Feb. 18, 2001, during the final lap of theDaytona 500.
Following his racing debut in 1975, Earnhardt went on to have a historic career, racking up 76 wins and he was working toward another one when his car crashed.
The incident happened in a blink of an eye but it left a lasting impact. Earnhardt was taken off the speedway and he was declared dead shortly after he arrived at a hospital.
Today, the legendaryNASCARdriver is still considered one of the most famous names in the racing sport, and a quarter-century later, fans continue to mourn him after his sudden death.
"His character was bigger than life," NASCAR vice chairman Mike Helton said in the 2021 ESPN documentaryIntimidator: The Lasting Legacy of Dale Earnhardt, perUSA Today. "It's like trying to explain John Wayne or Neil Armstrong."
Here is what to know about Dale Earnhardt's death and legacy.
How did Dale Earnhardt die?
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Earnhardt died from a basilar skull fracture he sustained after his car crashed during the final lapof the Daytona 500, according toESPN.
At the time of the collision, Earnhardt was in third place in the race, behind his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Michael Waltrip.
ESPN reported that Earnhardt's Monte Carlo car was going 160 mph when it hit a concrete wall. The impact flattened part of the vehicle and Earnhardt was thrown forward with severe force.
In addition to a basilar skull fracture, the race car driver suffered a broken ankle and ribs, and a fractured sternum. The accident unfolded in only 80 milliseconds, per the outlet.
When did Dale Earnhardt die?
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Earnhardt died on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001.
Following his fatal crash, Earnhardt was transported to Halifax Medical Center, where he was declared shortly after arriving, according toABC News.
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Where did Dale Earnhardt die?
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Earnhardt died at the Daytona International Speedway in in Daytona Beach, Fla.
"I think everybody knew at the scene," Dr. Steve Bohannon, who was the trauma doctor at the Speedway, toldOutkickin February 2026. "Everybody knew that he had passed away at impact. I knew all the medics, and they shook their heads when they saw me walk up."
Bohannon recalled that he checked Earnhardt's pulse, but knew from his injuries that "it was a basal skull fracture and that he had no sense of life."
How old was Dale Earnhardt when he died?
Earnhardt was 49 years old when he died.
What was the public's reaction to Dale Earnhardt's death?
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Earnhardt's death shocked the public, most of whom didn't realize how bad his injuries were once the race finished.
According to outlets like theTampa Bay Times, the day the NASCAR icon died would become known as "Black Sunday."
"He was a good friend and I'm still in shock. This is a terrible, terrible loss and, for me ... Dale was the Michael Jordan of our sport," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, then-president of Lowe's Motor Speedway, perESPN.
Malcolm in the MiddlestarFrankie Muniz, who would embark on his own NASCAR career, recalled attending the race that day, and being one of the last people to speak to Earnhardt before the crash.
When he later learned of Earnhardt's death, the actor recounted, "That was one of the most jaw-dropping, heart-breaking moments I've ever experienced in my life."
What legacy did Dale Earnhardt leave behind?
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Earnhardt's death resulted in new safety measures implemented by NASCAR, including the mandatory use of HANS (Head And Neck Support) device. It connects a driver's helmet to a chest harness, which helps limit head movement, including potential head and neck, jerking during a crash.
According toNBC Sportsin 2021, the safety protocols installed resulted in "100 percent survival rate in at least a thousand crashes at NASCAR's top three national series" in the 20 years since Earnhardt's death.
"Everything that we've done on the safety side is directly related to what happened with Dale Earnhardt," driver Kevin Harvick told NBC Sports. "NASCAR realized they needed to invest in the stars of their sport because they didn't need another situation like they had with Dale Earnhardt."
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