Gossage said Texas Motor Speedway is planning a tribute to Earnhardt during Race Week at the track for the Winston Cup Harrah's 500 on April 1. This was a wonderful man. He came back to express his sympathies. A native and resident of Kannapolis, N.C., Earnhardt won Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors in 1979 and the first of his Cup championships in 1980. He was credited with a 12th-place finish Sunday, after leading a Cup race for what proved to be the last time on Lap 183 of the scheduled 200.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Star-Telegram staff writer Charean Williams contributed to this report.