DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. was The Intimidator, the driver who defiantly wore the black hat and did not give an inch on the asphalt.
Fellow drivers feared his No. 3 Chevrolet appearing in the rearview mirror, non-Earnhardt fans loathed his bump-and-run willingness and race crews helplessly watched him pile up wins at their expense.
But 25 years ago all those hard feelings evaporated into the sunny skies above the sport’s most famous speedway. NASCAR’s most accomplished active driver and biggest personality finally captured the one race during which he’d repeatedly failed to will himself to Victory Lane.
