Dale Earnhardt represented something. He represented blue collar American hopes and dreams. He was an ordinary person off the track, but it seemed like he was immortal on the track (until the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500). He worked his azz off to get where he got. Unlike celebirties like Anna Nicole (which the media still obsesses over), he didn't have all of his money and 7 Winston Cup Championships and all that just handed off to him. He drove the wheels off those cars and never gave up, until that fateful day.
It brings tears to my eyes everytime i see old video of that black number 3 car. It still brings tears to my eyes seeing the races and not seeing Dale Earnhardt battling for the win at Daytona.