LIVES CUT SHORT a a Childress was hoping for a win but every time Earnhardt had competed in the Daytona 500 something had happened to keep him from the top position Various mishaps always seemed to hold Earnhardt back such as hitting a seagull on the track running out of gas and cutting a tire on a piece of metal He had finished second in 1984 1993 1995 and 1996. He finished third in 1989. Now in a streak that began in March 1996 Earnhardt hadn't won in 59 straight races Earnhardt spent a long time checking his race car NASCAR's Beginnings that morning He wanted The National Association to make sure everything was for Stock Car Auto Racing NASCAR is the perfect and that the newly organization that governs installed engine was running and operates stock car racing It was founded in correctly Then he got ready 1948 and remains a popular to run the race Childress racing organization today Bill France Sr. an auto later commented that he had mechanic who dabbled never seen Earnhardt acting in racing helped found NASCAR France was so upbeat and optimistic known for organizing races before a race When driver and wanted to establish a string of events that Jeff Gordon who was the would lead to one national defending Daytona 500 stock car champion He worked with race car champion asked Earnhardt drivers and owners to Are you going to win your build the racing series that would become NASCAR first Daytona 500 today 8
DALE EARNHARDT SR CARS CAN REACH SPEEDS OF ABOUT 200 MILES PER HOUR 320 KMH ON THE DAYTONA TRACK Earnhardt just lowered his sunglasses and stared at Gordon in a way that seemed to say that if Gordon got in his way he'd better watch out VYING FOR POSITION Starting positions for the Daytona 500 are based on the fastest times in an earlier series of qualifying races When the race began Earnhardt was fourth out of a total of 43 cars 9
LIVES CUT SHORT Drivers must complete 200 laps around the 2.5 mile 4 km racetrack The entire time they're vying for that first place position On Lap 17 Earnhardt made his move One car stood between him and a clear racetrack Earnhardt twisted his steering wheel to the right accelerated and then pulled in front of the field taking the lead for the first time The Daytona International Speedway has a reputation for crashes This race however didn't have the usual number of crashes and other mishaps It also didn't have many yellow caution flags which require all drivers to slow down and line up behind the pace car Earnhardt's strengths as a driver were especially suited to races where there were long stretches of laps under a green flag meaning drivers can drive as fast as possible with no cautions to slow them down On Lap 140 Earnhardt took the lead for the fifth time in the race A few laps later the cars driven by Robert Pressley and John Andretti crashed resulting in a caution flag that slowed the other racers The racing flag went back to green with just over 57 miles 92 km remaining in the race A voice suddenly spoke from the radio in Earnhardt's car Hey Sunday Money this is 10
DALE EARNHARDT SR Captain Jack Why don't you go out there and snag that big one today The mysterious Captain Jack was Bill France Jr. He was the son of NASCAR's founder It was unusual for someone like France to speak to a driver during a race especially to urge him to try harder and win But it seemed to work A crash on the track forced the drivers to race under a caution flag from Lap 174 to 177 The race restarted on Lap 178 and Racing Flags Earnhardt was still NASCAR and other types of auto in the lead position racing use a universal system of But he and his colored flags for communicating with drivers during a race These crew were nervous flags are waved to let drivers know Earnhardt had been what's going on The green flag in this position signals that a race is either starting or continuing A yellow flag means many times before there is a hazard on the track and leading with just all drivers must slow down and line a few laps to go up behind the pace car This flag and yet still lost is usually waved when there has been an accident or when debris the race There is spotted on the track A white was another crash flag means that there is only one on Lap 199 and lap left to go in the race and a checkered flag means the race is another caution finished A red flag means that all flag was thrown competition must stop because out Earnhardt was there are dangerous conditions such as lightning a car on fire or debris blocking the track There are several other flag colors and each has its own distinct meaning
