The biggest thing about Earnhardt is his desire. When he slides down in that race car, he is going to go to the front if it's at all possible. He'll find a way to get there. He's looking up ahead all the time, figuring out his next move. When he goes into a turn, he knows what he's going to do when he gets there.
Talent is talent, then or now.
And he wouldn't have it any other way. That's the way he does most things, to the point. Shortest distance between two points is a straight line. That's what you wanted to do, and you wanted it so bad that was all you worked for. You didn't think about what you're going to accomplish or what you could accomplish, you just wanted to race.