The 43rd running of NASCAR's Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 18, 2001 was Dale Earnhardt's final race. He died doing what he loved most - piloting his #3 black GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo race car, at speeds approaching 200 mph, on a super speedway with his peers, his friends, and his son.

Earnhardt was more than a fearless and highly skilled race car driver. He was team owner of the #15 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Michael Waltrip, who won his first Daytona 500 just ahead of Dale's tragic last-lap crash. Dale was a family man who cherished his mother Martha, wife Teresa, and children Taylor Nicole, Kerry, Kelly, and Dale Jr. As well, he was a good friend and business associate to his sponsor, GM Goodwrench Service Plus; his vehicle manufacturer, Chevrolet; and his team owner Richard Childress.

Earnhardt had been associated with Chevrolet for most of his 26-year racing career, and with Childress and GM Goodwrench for the past 13 years. His Winston Cup racing career began in 1979. Since that time, he became one of NASCAR's most popular drivers, and probably its greatest ever, based on his accomplishments:

• the only driver in Winston Cup history to win "Rookie of the Year" and the points championship in consecutive seasons (1979-'80)
• seven Winston Cup points championships (1980, '86, '87, '90, '91, '93, '94), tied with Richard Petty for first on the all-time list
• thirty-four victories at Daytona International Speedway, including the 1998 Daytona 500 - an all-time record
• seventy-six career Winston Cup victories - sixth on the all-time list
• top-ten finishes in 427 of his 677 career races
• career Winston Cup winnings of over $41 million - the all-time leader

Earnhardt's chiseled face, bushy mustache, and omnipresent dark glasses enhanced his "intimidator" image. When he wasn't behind the wheel of his #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet, Dale was a genteel, kindhearted man who spent hours signing autographs for the benefit of childrens' charities, or helping dreams come true by hosting terminally ill children at races. He successfully owned and managed many business interests, including a Chevrolet dealership and Dale Earnhardt, Inc., which owns three Winston Cup race teams.

Whether race fans loved Dale Earnhardt or not, all of them ultimately respected him and his driving talent. NASCAR Winston Cup races will continue as scheduled. The #3, licensed by Richard Childress, will be retired for the remainder of the year in Dale's memory. A #29 white Chevrolet Monte Carlo will compete in its place under the GM Goodwrench Service Plus banner.

That's the way Dale Earnhardt would have wanted it.