Fifteen years ago today, the worldlost Dale Earnhardt. And the racing community hasn't been the same since. Dale's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is still keeping the Earnhardt racing tradition alive, but no one has walked pit road and raced the NASCAR circuit quite like 'The Intimidator.' Sh*t, if that nickname doesn't tell you all you need to know about Dale Earnhardt, I don't know what else will. Over the course of his illustrious career, The Intimidator won 76 Winston Cup races, including the prestigious Daytona 500. He's also tied with Richard Petty for most all-time NASCAR Winston Cup championships. Ultimately, though, it was Earnhardt's passion for racing that led to his death. On February 18, 2001, while racing the Daytona 500, he suffered what would be a fatal basilar skull fracture after crashing in the final lap of the race. Since his passing, Dale Earnhardt has received numerous honors and accolades, including his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010. The best way to keep his spirit alive is by remembering not just his passion for racing but his zeal for life. If you need to light a fire under your hood, check out eight quotes from Dale Earnhardt that will inspire you to put the pedal to the metal.
'Second place is just the first loser.' It feels like there's a prevailing idea among Millennials that trying your hardest is good enough. You know what, an 'A for effort' will only get you so far in life. Life, like NASCAR driving, is a race, and everyone wants to finish first. We all want the highest-paying job, a hot significant other who loves us and a dope house to come home to every night, but you only get those things by grinding and hustling.
'You can't let one bad moment spoil a bunch of good ones.' Life hits you with moments of adversity. Like a boxer, it's about how we deal with these blows that will come to define us in the end. Do we curl up in the corner and crumble, or do we take the hits and persevere? No matter how bad things seem, there is always another day. And when you think you have nothing going for you, take a moment to remember life's simple pleasures. It's so important to keep everything in perspective.
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