Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver and team owner, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR. Earnhardt began his career in 1975 when he drove in the 1975 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the Winston Cup Series. God rest The Intimidator's soul. Considered one of the best NASCAR drivers of all time, Earnhardt won a total of 76 races over the course of his career, including one Daytona 500 victory in 1998. He earned seven championships, which is tied for the most all time with Richard Petty. His aggressive driving style earned him the nickname "The Intimidator". While driving in the 2001 Daytona 500, Earnhardt died of a basilar skull fracture in a last-lap crash at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2001 upon exit to turn 4, collecting the number . He has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.