Tribute to Dale Ernhardt

[Trout,myster]

Nothing to do with fishing, but seems only right to pay tributes to a very gracious and great race car driver.

7 (seven) Winston Cup Championships was an accomplishment in anyone's lifetime! Not to mention the fact that he was still a great family man. What I would call a model citizen.

While some of us were out setting the hook or listening to the trolling motor hum, Dale was doing what he loved best and his luck just ran out. As an ex-professional motorcycle racer in my younger years, I can fully understand his "need for speed" and the skills required to go with it.

My only hope is that I'm able to someday go doing what I now love best which is fishing. Not many of us accomplish that final feat in life.

Hat's off, Dale, and may you only see checkered flags from here on!

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Troutmyster

[Shannon]

I've got to say that he went out the way he'd want to go in the final turn at the final lap at Daytona. The best thing is that the guy did not have to suffer.

[Deleted User]

I was in Florida a couple of years ago and to say NASCAR is big down there is an understatement. They have little displays for NASCAR stuff in every convienince store and in the bigger stores they have huge displays. NASCAR is as big down there as the Blazers are up here. The loss of someone of Ernhardts stature in such a popluar sport as racing must be staggering. I am not a NASCAR fan but I am saddened at his death. On the darker side of it take a look at the Ernhardt stuff being offered on ebay. What a bunch of sleazebags http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif Imagine trying to profit from someone elses tradgedy. It sickens me!

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

NASCAR is big down there?....lmao lmao lmao And you only went through Florida?..lol NASCAR and college football are religions down there. Remember, I be frum doun dere http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I pretty much fell asleep watching nascar since I see nothing exciting about watching cars do a bazillion laps around a track. I know my brother was a very big Dale fan, my best friend was, and the majority of my family. I would always hassle them about it, while secretly rooting for him and against him at the same time. He did so much for nascar as far as broadening it and bringing in more fans. I don't know if he was the Michael Jordan of Nascar, but the man was good.

As far as being a good family man, that I don't know anything about, and unless you know a celebrity personally, then you only hear how the media and PR agents portray someone. Not taking away from this tribute at all, just stating the facts.

It will be very interesting to see how Nascar turns about now because this opens doors for a lot of the drivers since the most consistent driver of the circuit has now passed on.

His son is now in it, so all is not lost as Dale Sr. left a legacy and some very big shoes to be filled. I'll root for his son whenever I watch just because he has the same skills as The Last Cowboy did. That's how Richard Petty described #3 in the eyes of nascar, "he was the last cowboy."

If I were to go, then that's how I would want to go; in glory. Making one last pass on a hole and the final cast of the day with the fish in sight.

Here's to #3........and to what he leaves behind.