Remembering the Intimidator

I am the first to admit that I am not a racing fan, but my past is linked to many racing greats.  Among them is Dale Earnhardt, or as many fondly referred to him, "the Intimidator."  I only met him twice.  Both happened way back in 1991 at Heartland Park Topeka (HPT).
The new $20 million track was trying to get a footing in the racing business.  It really wanted to draw Nascar to town with its sprawling road course so management booked an ARCA event--the Wendy's Big Classic 100.  Fans flocked from around the Midwest to watch it because HTP signed Kenny Schrader, Darrell Waltrip and Earnhardt to race in the minor circuit event.  (Earnhardt got a $50,000 appearance fee.)

I met Earnhardt earlier in the week as his crew set up shop on pit row.  I found him to be very welcoming in a "good old boy" kind of way.  He was friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating.  An interesting story people don't know about that week is since he had other mid-week commitments, Earnhardt could not stay with his team to qualify for the race.  Instead, he left everything in the hands of his 15 year old son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and had Schrader look after him. 

Heartland Park Topeka during a drag racing event

Heartland Park Topeka road course

When race day rolled around on Sunday, the Intimidator lived up to his nickname is more ways than one.  Because he did not qualify, he started dead last in the pack of 35 drivers.  Earnhardt needed only 13 laps to roar through the field from 35th place to third.  While the throng of media was in the media tower monitoring the race, I was with my photographer on the infield documenting the sights and sounds.  Then we got word that Earnhardt ran his car off the track on the back part of the course.  Almost immediately, one of the HPT trucks dropped him off right by us.  When I say he was angry, I mean he was really, really angry.  As he walked across the infield in front of the jammed grandstand, I was about a half step behind him off to one side.  After about 30 yards or so he turned to me and said something like "Well, do you have a question to ask, or what?!"  I asked him what happened.  From what I could hear over the roar of the engines, he said something about being too aggressive and losing control.  I also asked him if the crash would bring him  back to try to put the track "in its place."  Again, he was pretty angry, said something like "You never know," and that was it.  Then a car pulled up, he climbed in, and he drove out of the infield, past pit row, and straight to the airport where he flew out of town.  By then the throng of media came running toward us from the media tower a couple of hundred yards away.  "Where did he go?" they asked.  "I guess he's gone," I said.  "What did he say?" they asked.  "You'll have to watch tonight at ten," I told them.



Schrader collides with Earnhardt at Daytona

Ten years later, Dale Earnhardt died after crashing hard into the wall at Daytona International Speedway.  Ironically, Kenny Schrader was also involved in that crash and Darrell Waltrip was in the broadcast booth announcing it.  The day was February 18, 2001--11 years ago today.  I'd say "rest in peace" Dale Earnhardt, but something tells me the Intimidator would rather look for another competition to conquer.