Earnhardt Drove Hard and He Died Hard

That Dale Earnhardt perished from the earth on the last turn of the last lap at his favorite race on his favorite track is almost poetic. That he perished while guarding victory for his friend and his son is more than heroic. In life, he transcended his sport. In death, he resides in Valhalla.

RHYS THOMAS

Van Nuys

*

You must have heard from countless shocked readers by now concerning Dale Earnhardt’s appalling lack of judgment in driving a passenger vehicle 60 mph in rain so hard he couldn’t see the highway, narrowly averting collision with numerous vehicles stopped in front of him because of the bad visibility [“An Unforgettable Drive,” Feb. 20].

While this kind of goof-off driving might be all right on a race track in the company of others similarly disposed to self destruction, it is unpardonable on a highway. Earnhardt should have been censured, not praised, by writer Ed Hinton.

RUSSELL M. DRAKE

Yucca Valley

*

Another big-name NASCAR “hero” dies of racing injuries. Duh? Racing cars is a very dangerous business. It’s the automobile industry’s version of running barefoot on a narrow strip of rubber while being hooked into high voltage.

People who make their living pushing a fuel bomb envelope of plastic and steel to an extreme boundary short of destruction may get my reluctant admiration for their skill and daring, but I find it difficult to weep when they finally achieve a statistically guaranteed loss of life behind the wheel.

The whole point of auto racing is to dare fate not to pick your number while practicing cultural entertainment to the absolute edges of heart failure. For so long, this is what Dale Earnhardt was so good at. This time unfortunately, God called his bluff.

When you run with bulls, expect to get gored.

D.N. DAUGHERTY

Pasadena

*

It is time for NASCAR to put limits on conflicts of interests and establish rules to lessen the amount of “teamwork” that goes on during a race. Every driver needs to be focused on doing his or her best. When one driver tells another driver he will risk an accident to help a third driver, it is not only intimidation. It is time to reevaluate the sport.

I will miss Dale Earnhardt. He did much for racing as a sport and for many of the drivers. He brought us many unforgettable moments. Let us honor him by learning from his tragedy, and we can improve the sport in the process.

ROGER K. WEISS

Foothill Ranch

*

If there is a heaven, I can only imagine that Dale Earnhardt got there faster than anyone else. Rest in peace, number 3.

RICK STEWART

Long Beach