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what day did dale earnhardt die

Dale Earnhardt died on Sunday, February 18, 2001.

Exact date and context

  • He was killed in a last‑lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
  • He was pronounced dead at 5:16 p.m. EST at Halifax Medical Center; the official cause was a basilar skull fracture from blunt‑force trauma.

How fans remember the day

  • In NASCAR circles and fan forums, the date is often referenced as “the day Dale Earnhardt died” or “the 2001 Daytona 500 tragedy.”
  • The accident is widely seen as a turning point for safety in NASCAR , leading to major changes such as the HANS device, improved seat belts, and redesigned race cars.

If you want, the next step can be a short timeline of that race or how his death changed NASCAR rules.