On this day in 2001, the NASCAR community lost a legend. Dale Earnhardt died on February 18, 2001 at the age of 49, following a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500. Ralph Dale Earnhardt was born on April 29, 1951 in Kannapolis, North Carolina and went on to become one of the most iconic and i nfluential drivers in the history of the sport. According to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, a 25th annual candlelight tribute will be held Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 6 pm – 8 pm at Dale Earnhardt Inc. to honor his life and legacy. ...read more read less