Death
In the weeks before the annual Daytona 500, Earnhardt elected not to attend the annual fan and media preview event, drawing vocal criticism from fellow driver Jimmy Spencer. On February 3 and 4, 2001, Earnhardt participated in the Rolex 24 endurance race at the Daytona International Speedway. The team, which was composed of Earnhardt, Earnhardt, Jr., Andy Pilgrim, and Kelly Collins, finished 4th overall and 2nd in class.
At the 2001 Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001, Earnhardt was involved in a car accident during the final lap, in which Earnhardt's car was turned from behind after contacting the car driven by Sterling Marlin into the outside wall nose-first, into the path of Ken Schrader's car. Michael Waltrip won first place in the race, with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in second place. Earnhardt, Sr. and Schrader slid off the track's asphalt banking toward the infield grass just inside of turn four. The carnage resulted in Schrader rushing to Earnhardts' car to see if Earnhardt was alright. Earnhardt Sr. was then extricated from his car by the safety crews and taken to Halifax Medical Center. Hours later, Mike Helton, president of NASCAR announced the officials, drivers and fans that Earnhardt has died from the accident. He was 49 years old.
An autopsy concluded that Earnhardt died of blunt force trauma to the head.
Earnhardt's funeral was held on February 22, 2001 at the Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Read more about this topic: Dale Earnhardt
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