Earnhardt Quotes

By The Associated Press

Reaction to Dale Earnhardt's death Sunday in a crash on the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500:

"My heart is hurting right now. I would rather be any place right this moment than here. It's so painful." -- race winner Michael Waltrip at his press conference. Waltrip drove a car owned by Earnhardt.

"This is understandably the hardest announcement I've ever had to make. We've lost Dale Earnhardt." -- NASCAR president Mike Helton.

"NASCAR has lost its greatest driver ever, and I personally have lost a great friend." -- NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr.

"No matter where it happens or how it happens or even how prepared you think you might be for it, losing somebody close to you hurts. My heart just breaks for Teresa and the family." -- driver Kyle Petty. Petty's son, Adam, was killed last year in a crash during a Busch series practice session in New Hampshire.

"Dale Earnhardt was the greatest race car driver that ever lived. He could do things with a race car that no one else could." You never think anyone will get killed, but he was the last one you'd think that would happen to.

"He had a tremendous impact on NASCAR racing. He's done so much to help the sport get where it is today. He took the sport to new places. It's going to hard for anyone else to take it there. He leaves a big, big void here that will be very hard to fill." -- Ned Jarrett, broadcaster, former driver and father of driver Dale Jarrett.

"I don't know what to say. This is incredible, just incredible. I think everybody is just in shock right now. I didn't see much of what happened. After the race was over, I heard things didn't look very good but, man, Earnhardt. You figure he'll bounce right back. Your first thought is, hey, he'll probably come back next week at Rockingham and beat us all." -- driver Jeremy Mayfield.

"It's just the way this sport is. That's the chances you take. It's unfortunate it happened to him. It just don't seem right. It's hard to believe. You don't think things like that will happen to drivers of his caliber.

"We're going to have to take a look at some of the safety issues. My driver tested the HANS (Head And Neck Safety) device over the summer and he will not get in the car without it now. If Dale had that on, we'd probably be looking at a different situation." -- Todd Parrott, Dale Jarrett's crew chief.

"I feel like somebody kicked me in the chest. I'm stunned. And I'm really sad. That's about all I can say." -- driver John Andretti.

"NASCAR lost its greatest driver and probably the greatest driver it will ever have. My heart goes out to his family, his crew, his friends and his fans. There is no better group of fans in our sport and I feel for them. Our sport will go on, but I don't think it will ever be the same. NASCAR is about family, and I can't think of a time in its history when it needs to pull together like a family." -- driver Johnny Benson.

"Like so many people around the world, I became a NASCAR fan because I became a Dale Earnhardt fan. Dale was someone I was proud to have my son look up to. We all have our memories we will cherish, memories of excitement, competitiveness and most of all memories of a great man. On behalf of the people of Alabama, I extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends." -- Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.

"It's always tragic, but this is our main guy. Today when they introduced him, he got the biggest applause there. He's the man, he is NASCAR Winston Cup racing. We haven't had something like this happen. We've got a lot of work to do at the track in the next three weeks (for the March 11 Cracker Barrel 400), but I don't feel like doing anything. I'm just numb. I've lost a great friend." -- Ed Clark, president of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"All of us at Chevrolet and General Motors are truly saddened by the passing of Dale Earnhardt. As we all know, Dale was more than just a legend. He was an individual respected by all who ever came in contact with him -- family, friends, business associates and fellow competitors." -- Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet general manager.

"All of us at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company are shocked and deeply saddened by this tragedy. Dale Earnhardt was a fierce competitor and great champion. More importantly, he was a friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Teresa, Kerry, Kelly, Dale Jr. and Taylor Nicole, as well as everyone at Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Richard Childress Racing." -- Andy Schindler, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco chairman and chief executive officer.

"Like many others, we were fans of Dale Earnhardt -- certainly the driver, but especially the man. In spite of our intense rivalry, Dale Earnhardt has been a great friend to us and to all who have helped to make this sport great. Dale Earnhardt transcended NASCAR. His loss will have an effect on racing and its fans worldwide." -- Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.

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