Crash (The Death Of Earnhardt)

Ralph Dale Earnhardt was killed instantly in a final lap collision at the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2001, when he crashed into the retaining wall after making contact with Ken Schrader. Earnhardt's death was officially pronounced at the nearby Halifax Medical Center at 5:16 p.m. He was 49 years old. His funeral was held four days later at the Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Earnhardt's death was highly publicized and resulted in various safety improvements in NASCAR auto racing.