"The Coffee Shop" #8

Good morning everyone - I need to come clean - I gave poor Abby some misinformation.

Dale Earnhardt was not known as the terminator - he was the intimidator - I found the following on the web:

Dale Earnhardt acquired the nickname "the Intimidator" for his obsession with winning by any means necessary. He took 76 checkered flags, sixth-most in Winston Cup history.

Dale Earnhardt's stare, evident in this 1986 photo, is one reason he's called "The Intimidator"


It was an obsession that earned him more money than any driver in Winston Cup history (over $41 million) and tied him for the most titles in Winston Cup history (7, tied with Richard Petty).

But that obsession also led to his death, as he fought to preserve the win for one of his drivers, Michael Waltrip, in the final turn of his 23rd Daytona 500.

"NASCAR has lost its greatest driver," said NASCAR Chairman of the Board Bill France, "and I personally have lost a great friend."

Earnhardt was born April 29, 1951 in Kannapolis, N.C., the son of NASCAR driver Ralph Earnhardt. His father won the NASCAR Sportsman Championship in 1956 and made 51 Winston Cup starts. Ralph Earnhardt died in 1973, two years before his son joined the Winston Cup circuit.

In 1979 Earnhardt won Rookie-of-the-Year honors, and a year later he became the first NASCAR driver to win Rookie of the Year and the Winston Cup series championship in consecutive years.

In 1984 Earnhardt began a successful 18-year association with Richard Childress Racing that continued into the 2001 season, as Earnhardt won six more Winston Cup championships (1986, '87, '90, '91, '93, '94).

In 1998 after 20 attempts, Earnhardt — who won more races than any driver at Daytona International Speedway — achieved the crowning win of his career with a Daytona 500 victory. Earnhardt added to his legacy in 1998 when NASCAR honored him and his father Ralph as two of the 50 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR history.

Dale Earnhardt and his son were more than family; they were teammates.

Two years later, Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr., joined his father on the Winston Cup circuit and followed in his father's tire tracks as Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. The father experienced a career renaissance — nearly winning a record eighth Winston Cup championship — finishing second, 265 points behind Bobby Labonte.

This year Dale Earnhardts, elder and younger, opened Daytona Speedweeks together as two members of a team in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, an annual sportscar race. The Earnhardts finished fourth overall, proving to any doubters that Dale and son were more than just stock-car drivers.

Intimidating to the end, Earnhardt spun fellow IROC driver and Indy Racing League star Eddie Cheever into the grass after Friday's IROC race, retaliating for a move by Cheever during the race that forced Earnhardt into the grass and cost him a chance at a win.

"IROC racing is supposed to be fun. I didn't think he would do that on purpose. That's why I'm not really mad," Earnhardt said.

"I just wanted to let him know I was a little upset and that I was still around," he said. "He got to do a couple of doughnuts. It didn't hurt anything."

Earnhardt will be remembered for being competitive and having fun on the track but also for being a great friend to other drivers, as he was to Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Michael Waltrip.

Dale Earnhardt was 49. He is survived by wife Teresa, two sons, Kerry and Dale Jr. and two daughters, Kelley and Taylor Nicole.

Sorry about My Goof-up - I'm a new NASCAR fan - about a year now. There is a local contest in our local Penne-Saver each week of the season. I had seen it for years - about a year ago I started playing. Well about three weeks ago - I finally won the thing. I'm so obsessed with winning that I do three entries each week - mine, one for my wife, and one for my mother.

They also do a football contest - I enter three each week during the football season. Last year I won twice with my name, once with my mother's name, plus I won the Super Bowl contest.

Forgive my bragging - but ain't I good!!!

 

Sherrie, "Blasted!"---you had better be at the doctor's office----

Blackbird

 

Quote from Gib:

Gib - does my Error with the Earnhardt nickname change your thoughts about the possibility of Dale and Ric Flair being friends.

I - used to watch WWF - so I am familiar with Ric Flair and his type. So many of those WWE/WWF guys start out as good guys - then recreate themselves as bad guys, and vise versa - was Flair ever a "good Guy"?

What has become of the Hulkster?

 

Quote from blackbird:

Amen and Amen!!!

 

Sherrie: You ate the BBQ at church Sunday and didn't get sick until Tuesday. I suppose that's possible. But could it be something else that has caused this....stress maybe? Anyway, go to the doctor TODAY and find out for sure!

rsr: I have cole slaw. Would you like fries with that?

Audrey: I'm with you. I race around in circles each time I go uptown and try to find a parking space.

Ed: I'm glad Phase III turned out so nicely for you. We miss Betty here too! Sorry about the dishes. Dan was supposed to help me but he said something about doing some research on cars and just disappeared.

Dan: Thank you for your history on Dale Earnhardt (I think).

Abby: Since you are just learning to drive, defensive driving is a good lesson. (Not like your hero Dale though)

Jim: I don't ingest 'sushi'. I use it for fish bait!

Have a good day all. I have to run for now. I'm sure I'll stop back later so I can get a report from Sherrie!!!!!

Blessings,
Sue

 

Sue - you're welcome - I think!!!

 

Sherrie - I appreciate your lack of insurance plight.

I will be praying - but please don't wait too long - as we like the "Living" version of Sherrie.

God bless you,
Dan Todd

 

Isn't it amazing how those guys get their second wind.

They look half dead - or at least dead tired - they are one slap away from losing the match or the title - and then suddenly - a big burst of energy - and they win the match.

And some people think that stuff is all FAKE!!

I can't understand it!!!

 

Hello everyone!

Dan, what is funny to me is the same fans that loved it when Dale Earnhardt did anything necessary to win a race are the same ones that call Jeff Gordon a cheater when he bumps someone to pass them. I did like watching Earhardt race and he was one of the main reasons NASCAR is as popular as it is today.

Ric Flair was one of my favorite wrestlers back when I used to watch it. I guess you aren't supposed to like the bad guys, but he was always fun to watch.

 

Quote from RodH:

Well said Rod!!!

Sterling Marlin is currently upset with Jeff - as Jeff put him out of the last two races!!

Do you remember Sergeant Slaughter and Dominic Denucci?

 

That always amazed me also. I don't know how many times Flair was almost defeated and the next minute he was up fighting again like the match just began. Who said it was FAKE!!

 

I remember Sergeant Slaughter (wasn't he on GI Joe also ) but I don't remember Dominic Denucci.

 

Cowboy Bill Watts and Junkyard Dog---"AWWWOOOOOOO!"

 

Didn't the Junkjard Dog used to bring a bird to the ring with him?

 

Quote from Sherrie:

Because it looks to real - on TV - in person and up close - you can see what's going on.

Many years ago - Pro wrestling came to Hornell - city about 5 miles from me. I attended. An old cagy veteran (euphimism for "big loser") - came out and lost as usual. A few matches later - he came out with a mask on - and whooped his opponet.

But I would never tell a pro wrestler to his/her face - that the "sport" is rigged - I like my face the way it currently looks too much for that.

 

Back in the early 70s, I went to a live wrestling match (don't you dare tell anyone on the board)!

I just wanted to be able to say I had seen one. The Chief wrestled someone who always came in the ring with a rubber chicken, but I can't remember his name.

There was some red stuff when one of them got slammed into a turnbuckle. To this day, I'm not sure if it was blood or catsup!