How did Dale Earnhardt die?
Dale Earnhardt was trying to block or stay ahead of Sterling Marlin at Daytona. He came down from the second lane to try and get in front of Sterling but Earnhardts car caught the front end of Sterlings car. Earnhardt shot into the outside wall and hit very hard alomst like he had hit it head on. It was announced later that he had been killed during this crash. Everything that has been said so far is true. It was the last lap of the Daytona. Dale Earnhardt did not like full face helmets and when his seat belt let go it allowed his head to hit the sterring wheel.
Dandls is almost correct although Earnhardt’s face/head never hit the steering wheel. The cause of death was determined to be a basal skull fracture, meaning the body was restrained (belted in) and his head snapped forward. The rapid deceleration resulted in a separation of the suture between the occipital and temporal bones of the skull causing Earnhardt to bleed to death in a matter of seconds.
I honestly don’t like to answer this question because it was hard to be at the track and watch it. When Dale Sr.’s car hit the outside wall, it caused immediate damage to his neck, spinal cord and brain. The result in this was almost an immediate death. He was alive when rescuers got to him but the damage was done and there was nothing that could be done for him. I personally didn’t like Dale Sr. as a driver, but it was very sad and upsetting to see anything like that. This is why NASCAR and mandated the HANS device and other safety measures like the softer wall. This is also why NASCAR continues to work on making it a safer sport.
