An Intimidating Date

I can't believe it will be six years to the day.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It's a date that never will be celebrated, nor will it be forgotten: Feb. 18, 2001. That day rocked NASCAR to its core.

Whether you loved him or hated him, you couldn't help but have been shocked at how Dale Earnhardt, the iron man of stock car racing, the guy everyone thought was indestructible, lost his life.

On the final lap of the world's biggest race, the Daytona 500, with the checkered flag waving in the distance, the man whose nickname of The Intimidator instilled fear and apprehension into almost every one of his competitors, crashed his notorious black No. 3 race car in Turn 4 and, just like that, was gone. (H/T - Yahoo! Sports)

For those who don't follow NASCAR, Earnhardt's death I would explain it like this:

His death was akin to Wayne Gretzky taking a puck to the head and dying on the ice.

His death was akin to Michael Jordan having a heart attack and dying on the court.

His death was akin to Cal Ripken getting hit by a ball and dying at the plate.

Most of you know that I am a Jeff Gordon fan. Gordon is only one victory away of tying Earnhardt's career win mark of 76. Some great drivers have less wins, and some great drivers have more, but for my money there will never be a driver like Dale Earnhardt. Period.