2011 Daytona 500 Will Include Tributes to Dale Earnhardt Sr

On Sun., Feb 20, 2011 the 52nd annual Daytona 500, Nascar's first series race of the 2011season will take place. It was also mark the 10th anniversary of one of the saddest moments in the history of the Daytona 500, the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. Known to many as the "king" of Nascar racing, Earnhardt lost his life in an accident on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

As part of the tribute to mark this sad occasion, the Daytona International Speedway is asking for a moment of silence on the 3rd lap of the 2011 Daytona 500. Track officials decided one of the best ways to respect Earnhardt should be on the track, as racing was what he was about. Fans will be asked to stand and raise 3 fingers on that lap and broadcasting will also go silent on the 3rd lap of that race. The number 3 will also be painted into the grass at Daytona before the season-opening race.

Michael Waltrip said, "what looked like a storybook ending to on that fateful day, ended it tragedy". Waltrip won that race and he will also be driving a special car during the 2011 Daytona 500 to help commemorate the tribute event for Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. won only one Daytona 500 and that was in 1998, but he was a 7 time series race car champion and one of Nascar's most storied drivers. After his death an intense focus was put on safety, which eventually resulted in implementing The Car of Tomorrow, with extra driver safety in mind.

The Daytona 500 is described as The Greatest American Race. To Nascar fans around the nation, it's the Super Bowl of stock car racing. The best stock car drivers in the world take center stage in the Daytona 500, Nascar's biggest, richest, and most prestigious race. There's nothing quite like experiencing the excitement and pagentry of the Daytona 500. Since 1995, U.S. television viewers have made this the most watched auto race in America, even surpassing the traditional leader, The Indy 500. The first Daytona 500, a 500 mile, 200 lap race was held in 1959.

To make Feb.20,2011 even more special for race fans, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Coors Light Season Pole Award for the season opening Daytona 500. This is the first time he will start from the top spot at a restrictor-plate superspeedway. Dale Sr. is probably looking down on him with a smile on his face, saying " I knew you could do it son."

I have had the opportunity to attend a Nascar race in Las Vegas, Nevada, a couple of years ago. It was by far the most exciting sporting event I have ever attended. My family are avid Nascar fans and have attended a number of races over the years. My dad was a big race car fan, and my grandsons also enjoy it, so I guess you could say the excitement of stock car racing is a family affair for us, passing down from one generation to another.

sources: FoxSportsonMSN.com
nascar.com/news
ESPN.com/SprintCup
personal experience