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The Legend of The Three
Written by Riva Neal
Just sit right back and listen to me
As I tell you all of the legend of the Three
Is started way back on that small town dirt track
And grew until it could make all the stands packed
He’d race anything with wheels, even if it were pink
And he followed his dad which kind of makes you think
Who knew then that this kid from the small town you see
Would grow up to be the best in history
In ‘79 he would win his first big race
The very next year he’d finish the season in first place
A feat not outdone by any other man
Made it clear that the Three would be the favorite of the fans
For excellence he pushed, both on and off the track
And the type of driving style to keep the fans coming back
From the high banks of Charlotte to the turns of Sears Point
The Three’s racing feats had a way of exciting the joint
From bumping at places like Bristol and Darlington
He’d never lift off the pedal until he or another had won
The master at Talladega in leading the draft
And of course at Daytona where he perfected that craft
They said, why it’s as if he can see air
He could do things with a car that would make most people stare
Oh of course now and then he would ruffle a few feathers
When he and another car would beat and bang together
Because what is a hero if not simply a man
But one who is loved or envied by all, to a fan
And through his career the others didn’t want to see
In their rear view mirror the black number three
Because he’d give it his best, and that was better than all
He’d race so darn hard even if it meant hitting the wall
Seven championships later he’d tied the mighty King
But striving for the eighth meant to him everything
76 times he went to victory lane
But for all of us now it just won’t be the same
And on that great day, February 15th 1998
He would taste a victory that was most certainly great
All the drivers and fans, reporters and crews
Lined up to congratulate him and I wonder if they knew
That just three short years later in the very same race
A tragedy would occur that would darken the place
For in that great race coming out of the last turn
An impact occurred which caused us all great concern
A tap from behind, but just racin’ you see
Meant the man may be gone but not the legend of the Three
He was holding ‘em off for his son and his friend
A selfless act that was true of the man till the end
If he couldn’t win you know he would like to see
Dale Jr. or Michael claim the victory
And in victory lane they waited for the hug and the grin
For his boys who had gone on and taken the win
And as Michael would cheer, yell, hoot and holler
And wait for his boss, his friend, to come grab his collar
He had no idea that he would never get to see
How happy his win had surely made the Three
And the racing world did mourn and flags flew low
To remember the man who so often stole the show
And NASCAR went on and would hold it’s next race
And when the rains came down it reminded us of the place
Where the Three now resides raining tears from above
For in heaven where he is witnessing Gods mighty love
First another of his boys, Steve, would claim victory
And salute him and proclaim that it was for the Three
And for three straight events and at three straight places
The caution would fly at lap number three of the races
And then we would come to the Atlanta stop on the tour
Where a young man named Kevin would put the pedal to the floor
And the man who would sit in the car that was the three
Would take RCR on to taste victory
He would go three wide in a move we had seen
So many times before from the man who had been
Able to make cars do a wonderful dance
But this from young Kevin in just his third chance
And when he would beat the 24 by a trace
You would be hard pressed to find a dry eye in the place
For he had a co-pilot he would tell all you see
And this presence in the car was none other than the Three
He was telling us all it was OK to move on
To face unafraid the morning light of a new dawn
For the sport he had given everything he had
A champion, a winner and a very proud dad
Needed to move forward but not forget you see
Of how the sport flourished and would now miss the Three
And now on Sundays at all of the races
You can see it on all of the fan’s faces
The excitement and joy of seeing the speed
A lap of silence to honor the Three they do need
It will never be the same when the track is without the Three
But we will have to remember and smile and recall history
Of all of the times he would bring us to our feet
By doing something with his car that no one else could beat
And when you remember him, think of him and smile
Like the first time I saw him win at The Monster Mile
For if we keep him in our hearts and his memory alive
We call tell all of our children of the man who could drive
Like no other racer in all of history you see
And never extinguish our memories of the Three
Because thinking of the Three these three things will truly never fail
We cheered you, we love you, we will always miss you Dale!
American Hero
Written by Rodger D. Duke
(Sung to the tune of American Pie by Don McLean)
Not so long ago, I can still remember how Sundays used to make me smile
And I donned my NASCAR cap,and I would watch every lap
And forget about my troubles for a while.
But February made me shiver,when the message was delivered
Bad news at the racetrack,about the Man in Black.
I do remember that I cried, and I thought about his son and bride
And it hurt me deep inside,
The day that Earnhardt Died.
So bye bye Man in Black
Drove his Chevy to the finish at every track
Them good ol boys all want him back
We’ve lost a friend that’s a fact; we’ve lost a friend that’s a fact.
Earnhardt wrote the book on class
How to draft and how to pass
And how to take the checkered flag.
And everyone who called him friend
Knew he would be there in the end
And would return next week to do it all again.
Now we all respected him
Cause he had class, lose or win
He always wore his smile
And had a certain style.
He was always on the go
In his black Monte Carlo
I recall crying "no"
The day that Earnhardt died.
We were saying:
Bye bye Man in Black
Drove his Chevy to the finish at every track
Them good ol boys all want him back
We’ve lost a friend that’s a fact; we’ve lost a friend that’s a fact.
Now for months here, Dale has been gone
But his spirit still lives on
That’s how it’s supposed to be.
When they fired up down there at the track
Who would know he wouldn’t come back
And we would no more see the#3.
But I know he is looking down
As forty-three cars roll around
His memory is with us still
And it always will.
So while they are climbing in
I say a prayer for each of them
And I remember once again
The day that Earnhardt died.
Bye bye Man in Black
Drove his Chevy to the finish at every track
Them good ol boys all want him back
We’ve lost a friend that’s a fact; we’ve lost a friend that’s a fact.
And there we were all in one place
Watching Waltrip win the race
And Junior finishing number 2
To the circle he never arrived
No one had known he hadn’t survived
He hadn’t made it through.
And as we watched him ride away
In an ambulance that fateful day
We fell down to our knees
And asked the Lord "Oh please"
But as the day wore on into the night
Our worst fears came to light
Oh how the pain did bite
The day that Earnhardt died.
Bye bye Man in Black
Drove his Chevy to the finish at every track
Them good ol boys all want him back
We’ve lost a friend that’s a fact; we’ve lost a friend that’s a fact.
There was a man who drove a car
And he was superstar
But one day he went away.
I went down to the racing track
Where I had seen the Man in Black
But he wouldn’t race that day.
And in the stands the people cried
For their hero had just died
And not a word was spoken
Their hearts were all broken.
And somewhere up above the crowds
Where the thunder crashes loud
There’s a racetrack in the clouds
And Dale is in the lead.
Bye bye Man in Black
Drove his Chevy to the finish at every track
Them good ol boys all want him back
We’ve lost a friend that’s a fact; we’ve lost a friend that’s a fact.
My Poem For Dale
Written by Rodger D. Duke
Today we mourn a hero
The Man in Black is gone
But in the hearts of many
His legacy lives on.
I still sit here in disbelief
with tears in my eyes
mourning the loss of greatness
and praying to the skies.
I can still hear the words
"Dale Earnhardt is dead"
but I know he will live on
each time "Gentlemen, start your engines" is said.
To his family, my heart goes out
to his friends, i offer prayer
to his fans, i mourn with you
Dale will always be there.
There's a racing league in Heaven
and when God calls the roll
Petty, Irwin, Bonnett, Kulwicki
and Earnhardt on the pole.
He gave his life doing what he loved . He will always be remembered.
Provided by Tazzzed.
Hero In Our Hearts
Written by Crissie on 2/19/01
You've been at our house, every week, for years,
and now with this tragedy, all we have is our tears.
We may have been your fan, we may have not,
But in all of our hearts, you held a big spot.
You were the best of the best, the cream of the crop
You would never give up, you would never stop
You were the Intimidator, The "Man in Black"
You raced your heart out, you could tear up a track.
7 time champion, hero, father, husband, and friend
How could all of this greatness come to an end
We can't imagine a race without you
But we will continue, you would want us to
It won't be the same, not now, not ever
But in our hearts you will race forever!
Godspeed, Dale!
In Loving Memory Of Dale Earnhardt 1951-2001
Written by Evelyn Lea Adams on 2/18/01
February 18th, 2001, I awoke to bright, shining sun
I stretched: I smiled and began to relax
For today I'd be back on the racetrack
The Daytona 500 will be such fun
The first race of a season just begun
With Ole #3 and me ready to run
My DEI boys will be there too
We'll all race under skies of blue
Today we've raced hard, long and fast
Me and the boys having a blast
I looked up ahead and what did I see
Mike and Dale Jr. in front of Ole #3
With pride and joy, my eyes full of tears
I thought to myself, I'd keep the track clear
The first race, the first win, with me covering their rear
Race on boys, it's your show; you've only got a mile to go
I felt a bump, I slipped, I turned, but wait, this can't be
For on the wall were Davey, Dad and Neil waiting for me
I smiled and shed a tear; still I knew no fear
Even though I knew, I would be leaving, all I held dear
Copyright 2001 Evelyn Adams
© 2004 Fans' Memories of Dale Earnhardt