Earnhardt’s driving style made him a fan favorite and a consistent winner throughout the 1980s and 90s. Winning 76 races in NASCAR, Earnhardt matched Richard Petty’s seven Winston Cup championships, signifying that he was the best NASCAR racer of the year. Earnhardt only won the Daytona 500 once, but he secured the checkered flag in the Southern 500 and Coca-Cola 600 three times.
Sadly, Earnhardt died in a fiery car crash in the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, sending shockwaves throughout the sport. While Earnhardt’s death was tragic, it did lead to increased safety measures in the sport.