Photo L.M. Burke

October 15, 2002

The checkered flags waved softly in the wind above each business in the center of town as Dale Earnhardt’s family gathered in Kannapolis to unveil the statue of the NASCAR legend. As the family lifted the white sheet from the 9-foot bronze statue, that characteristic Intimidator stance greeted friends and fans alike.

The image captured is not that of the racer we have come to know and love. There is no GM Goodwrench uniform, no Gargoyles. Rather, this statue perfectly captured Dale Earnhardt, the man – in Wranglers and boots.

“We are very pleased that the statue personified the Dale Earnhardt we all knew on a daily basis,” Teresa Earnhardt said of the Clyde Ross Morgan sculpture.

The half-hour ceremony began with a brief video tribute to the native son from the town he loved. Photos from Martha Earnhardt’s collection as well as candids captured by fans throughout Dale’s career set the tone for the celebration of this great man’s life. Featured in the video was an original song, “That’s Racin’ (the Ballad of Dale Earnhardt)” written by a local artist, Bill Maddrey.

Race fans gathered around Dale Earnhardt Plaza, sporting Wrangler, GM Goodwrench, and Budweiser apparel. Some somber and reflective, some jubilant and euphoric in celebration of their hero. Local residents watched quietly from second-story windows of nearby buildings as Mayor Ray Moss welcomed everyone to “Kannapolis, Home of Champions.”

David Murdock of the Dole Food Company, who personally donated the funds to commission the statue, paid tribute to his friend. “I knew him better as a human being than I knew him as a race car driver … as a person that had great accomplishments, had great talent but still maintained a great understanding of his fellow man and woman.” Murdock said after telling poignant tales of fishing with Dale on Kannapolis Lake.

Photo L.M. Burke

In one of the lighter moments after Carolina native John Daniel Coe sang his song about Earnhardt, Winston Cup Champion Benny Parsons, who served as master of ceremonies, quipped, “It wasn’t just rookies that experienced that bumper, John. Veterans did, too. I experienced it myself a few times.”

Sculptor Morgan took to the stage and told the story of partnering with the Earnhardt family to properly capture the essence of this great man. While working side-by-side with the family, Morgan learned quickly that Earnhardt was a powerful and unique man, whose spirit must be captured perfectly in his sculpture. Morgan spoke passionately about the bond that had forged between him and the family members, stating that they would remain close long after today.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench car, and Richard Childress, Earnhardt’s car owner, and NASCAR artist Sam Bass looked on as family members including Teresa Earnhardt, Martha Earnhardt, Dale’s brother Danny Earnhardt and sister Cathy Earnhardt-Watkins, and three of Dale’s children – Kerry Earnhardt, Kelley Earnhardt Holm, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. gathered to lift the tarp off of the statue. As the white cloth slipped away, fans clapped and cheered raucously as they were greeted by that confident grin and those twinkling eyes they had all come to know.

Reflective silence mixed with approving smiles – perhaps signaling a bit of closure for some – soon settled over the crowd as family, friends, and fans alike gazed at this new addition, this intimidating presence at the center of the park. How appropriate for a man that was bigger than life is honored with a 9-foot-tall, 900 pound bronze statue!

Just before he closed the official ceremony, Benny Parsons summed up everyone’s thoughts perfectly. “Mr. Morgan, I think you captured Dale Earnhardt.”

With the conclusion of the tribute, race fans, clad in racing paraphernalia from all stages of Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kerry Earnhardt’s careers, descended upon the park for a closer view of the statue honoring their hero. Visitors from as far away as Alaska, Arizona, and Washington State stood in line for nearly two hours to snap a photo and spend a few moments in Dale Earnhardt Plaza.

Fans circled Cannon Village, gazing at the notorious pink K-2 car, a replica of Ralph Earnhardt’s famous #8 car, an Intimidator SS, a Wrangler show car, the legendary black GM Goodwrench car, and the now infamous fan-signed souvenir trailer.

As the day turned brisk and the sky turned gray, the Dale Earnhardt Tribute turned from a ceremony honoring a lost hero, a great man whose legacy survives and continues to grow under the close eye and capable hands of his many family members to an opportunity from fans all over the country to sit down on a park bench and talk about the driver they loved. The twenty-two year Dale Earnhardt fan, sporting his suede GM Goodwrench jacket, talked excitedly with the two young college girls in their Budweiser and Oreo jackets about Earnhardt’s rookie year.

Kannapolis natives shared tales of Dale’s younger years – such as the time in his teens when Dale went off road at the local track, came back into the track, straight down pit road, and ended up winning the race. A family friend shared tales of the bond the elder Earnhardt shared with his father and how Ralph worked on the neighborhood kids’ go-karts.

Looking around Cannon Village, at these people from all walks of life and all ages, from different locales across the globe and different loyalties – some Dale Jr., some Dale Earnhardt, it was striking what the Intimidator had achieved. Not only was he credited throughout the morning with ushering the sport from its “rough and tumble days to its corporate days,” but through his tremendous accomplishments on the track and for everything he stood for off the track, Dale Earnhardt brought many people together.

Photo L.M. Burke

You can send feedback to L.M. Burke at: Insider Racing News

Seriously Sunday

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The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.

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