Earnhardt Imitator Offends
by Rich Romer

It was like seeing a ghost walking. This past Wednesday, at Virginia' South Boston Speedway, I saw my first Dale Earnhardt imitator. Whoever the guy was, he looked like Dale, walked like Dale, carried himself like Dale and wore a GM Goodwrench fire suit and hat just like Dale was wearing the day he died. The imitator was walking around through the stands, talking to the fans and signing autographs. According to other writers in the South Boston press box, this same guy had appeared in the stands at Lowe's Motor Speedway and at Richmond doing his Earnhardt imitation.

I was immediately offended, and two days later, after reflecting on the matter, I am still offended. First of all, let me say that I was at Daytona that tragic February day a year and a half ago and I had Earnhardt in my binoculars as he lost control of the GM Goodwrench Monte Carlo in turn 4 on the last lap of the Daytona 500 and hit the outside wall. I hung around the track after the race until Mike Helton made the announcement from the Halifax Medical Center that racing has lost one of its super stars. Although I received an invitation to attend Earnhardt's memorial service, it arrived too late for me to make travel arrangements from Maryland, but frankly, I might not have gone anyway. It was all too tragic and I was just about cried out.

Although the impact of Earnhardt's death has been compared to that of Elvis Pressley, the two men aren't comparable in life or in death. First of all, Earnhardt died doing the very thing that had brought him fame and fortune--racing. Elvis died a recluse of a drug overdose. You have never heard anyone accuse Earnhardt, in life or in death, of using drugs and his death was not the result of an overdose. For some opportunist to try to capitalize on Earnhardt's death the way hundreds have built careers doing Elvis imitations is the ultimate in bad taste. What's next? Earnhardt look alike contests? Not without my strenuous objection.

Earnhardt souvenirs are still among the best sellers at the race tracks. His souvenir trailers are still covered with inscriptions from race fans that started minutes after he died and continue today. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR, inheriting the mantle of his famous father although he has been careful to protect the legacy. Given the loyalty of many Earnhardt fans, I am amazed that someone hasn't walked up to the Earnhardt imitator and punched him out. From the South Boston press box, that was certainly my reaction, and a quick and unscientific poll of my fellow scribes and photographers showed that to be the general consensus, although, to be fair, those of us over the age of 50 were more offended than our younger counterparts.

Please, ladies and gentlemen, let's honor Dale Earnhardt by improving the safety of the race cars, requiring drivers to wear head and neck restraints, developing soft walls at the race tracks, and taking other steps to minimize the occasionally tragic result of crashes. Let's remember Earnhardt as a tough, crusty, seven time champion who died doing what he loved best--driving a race car. Please stop with the imitations. DALE AIN'T ELVIS!