Dale Earnhardt Photo Tribute
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

I have been a fan of NASCAR racing for over forty years. I attended my first race at Daytona in 1961 as an usher in the Campbell grandstands.

Over the years, I have had my favorite drivers but for no particular reason. First it was Fireball Roberts (cool name). Then Richard Petty, because I admired how he always drove the high line around the track. When Richard retired, I cheered Davey Allison and other members of the Alabama Gang. I had attended several benefit events where the Allison family was in attendance. They are my kind of people. They are real folks and family and great racecar drivers.

Later I cheered for Billy Standridge. A driver with no money, just drive, guts and desire. The kind of person you would love to have over for dinner and swap stories. In 1998, my son, Barry and I were guests of Billy Standridge at the Daytona 500 and helped with his PR efforts. Our race track visit evolved into website developments and the birth of our website, sugarfreeracing.com.

During the past three years we have shared our experiences of Winston Cup activities through photos of garage, pits and track action. Now when fans ask us who are your favorite drivers, I have a stock answer. I tell them at any track, stand at the fence of Turn One just after the start of a race. Be close enough to feel the vibrations as the 43 cars roar by at 180mph, side by side, in less than the length of a football field. I respect and love them all. There may be reasons to like one more than another. Maybe the make of a car he drives or how he parts his hair. Maybe the region of the country the driver calls home. Maybe it's whether you lost money on a bet or if his personality is akin to your own. You may like one driver more than another. However, they all deserve your respect and admiration.

I now know that the driver commanding the most respect and admiration from fellow drivers, team members and owners. It is Dale Earnhardt. He is NASCAR racing. He is the goal-setter, the measuring bar, the standard by which we measure all racecar drivers. I have learned that Dale was not only the best driver on the track, he is an astute business individual, a loving family person and friend. He is the guiding light and benefactor to the racing community.

Last year, I took a picture of Dale's two sons, Kerry and Dale Jr at Pocono. It was right after Kerry had won his first race in the ARCA series. As a father, I wanted to share the photo with Dale. I had the opportunity to give him this photo at Richmond. Dale put his arm around my shoulders and personally thanked me. I knew he enjoyed it as he kept looking at it walking to his motor home. It was my moment with Dale. All fans yearn for and remember their special moment with Dale.

Dale lost his life protecting the spotlight for his son, Dale Jr. and his friend and protégé, Michael Waltrip. We should not question the time God has given us. We should celebrate the life He has given us.

Barry and I have taken many photos of Dale with his crew, his family and fellow drivers. Like the photo I shared with Dale, we would like to share these photos with his fans.

Enjoy them in celebration of Dale Earnhardt.

Click here to view the tribute

All photos ©2001 Gary & Barry Buchan
Do not use without permission, proper credit, or link.