The sponsors for Ken Schrader and Johnny Benson called Monday to inquire about the device. Autopsy results confirmed Earnhardt, who was involved in an accident on the last lap of Sunday's Daytona 500, died of a basal skull fracture, the same injury that killed Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin and Tony Roper in separate accidents last season. Earnhardt's body returned to North Carolina Monday night. It was taken to Raymer Funeral Home in Huntersville.
Arrangements are incomplete.
John Raymer, owner of the funeral home, said he met the body at Statesville Muncipal Airport a little after 7 p.m. Raymer, who said he's known the Earnhardt family for years, would not say who else was on the jet. Earnhardt's death brought widespread reaction. From vigils at Earnhardt's race shop in Mooresville to radio talk shows in San Diego, fans groped for meaning in the death of perhaps the greatest stock-car racer ever. N.C. Gov. Mike Easley opened his State of the State speech with a moment of silence to honor Earnhardt and his family.