Outside the track, fans had already come up with thousands of ways to pay tribute and send their message. The centerpiece of a makeshift memorial to The Intimidator was a wide semicircle of white posterboard sitting atop bronze easels outside the Daytona USA museum. You Will Be Missed By All. Waltrip said his victory was great, but he had been looking forward to the celebration even more. I'm sure we will.
Life has to go on.
To many, Earnhardt came off as brutish, ill-tempered and sullen. Yet he was remarkably popular, nonetheless. He was the quintessential antihero, a mysterious, brooding figure who would trade paint with anyone, and looked like a winner even when he lost. Even if you didn't like him, you respected him. It will be some time before we know about the impact.