Farewell to a Champion
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The Bronx Journal/March 2001 A 1 4 S P O RT S Farewell to a Champion: GREG VAN VOORHIS SPORTS EDITOR Dale Earnhardt 1951-2001 FILE Wild ride Earnhardt survived a tango with Elliot at Tallageda in 1998 t wasn’t to be. Dale Earnhardt could who was among those who have been one of the very few to win tried to save Earnhardt’s the Daytona 500 as an owner and as a life. driver. But Death robbed him of yet anoth- “If his restraint system -- er triumph; he who had defied death so his belts -- had held, he many times, “The Invincible”, “ The Man”, would have had a much “The Master”, “The Intimidator” is no better chance of survival,” more. On Sunday, February 17th, just short Bohannon added. of his fiftieth birthday, Earnhart died The belt which came moments before he could accomplish this apart near a bucklewas, task. made of woven nylon, and And now it seems that the accident didn’t was designed to withstand have to happen at all. Recent reports indi- crashes of more than 200 cate that he could have very well survived if mph, although all restraint his lap belt had not broken. systems stretch at least a On Friday February 15th, NASCAR offi- few inches on impact. cials revealed that a broken seat belt inside Another factor in the cockpit of Earnhardt’s car likely con- E a r n h a r d t ’s death could tributed greatly to the blunt-force head have been his old-fash- injuries that proved fatal. ioned open-face helmet. A According to Dr. Steve Bohannon, head of closed-faced helmet might emergency medical services at the Daytona have made a diff e r e n c e , track, when Earnhardt’s No. 3 Chevrolet Bohannon said. smashed at approximately 180 mph into a “It would have played a FILE concrete wall on the race’s final lap, the role,” he said. “He would Fans returned to Daytona international Speedway to pay their respects afterlearning of Earnhardt’s death lower left seat belt came apart; it did not have had a different pattern of disconnect at the buckle but apparently injuries.” Kenny Irwin last year. Earnhardt Jr. made his first extended public gave way where the belt is sewn onto the The death of the 49-year-old racing great But Earnhardt was adamant against using comments since the race, in which he fin- buckle. stunned the racing world and led to calls for anything that would make his job “easier”. ished second moments after his father The report indicated that the result was better safety measures. He was there to win, at all cost. “Get the crashed. that “Earnhardt’s body was thrown forward Like most drivers, Earnhardt shunned the hell out of the race car if you’ve got feath- “I miss my father and I cried for him out and to the right during the crash,” which use of the U-shaped HANS device -- for ers on your butt,” he would warn other of my own selfish pity,” he said. “We just caused his upper chest and chin to violently Head And Neck Support -- which many dri- rivals. As for his chances to stop racing, he have to remember he’s in a better place that strike the steering wheel. vers find bulky and uncomfortable. It fits said just last summer: “It’s hard to say how we all want to be.” “The force transmitted up the mandible around the neck and is attached by a strap to long you should drive. Some people hang Earnhardt was buried in a private service [lower jaw] on each side caused a fracture the helmet and frame of the car. The HANS on too long just trying to get one lat victo- in his hometown of Kannapolis. of the base of the skull,” Bohannon said, devices have been increasing in popularity ry.” This is exactly what happened to him. Edited by The Bronx Journal staff from various media since the deaths of racers Adam Petty and Following the news conference, Dale sources.