Earnhardt Memorial

The approximately 1,200-pound, 9-foot-tall bronze statue depicts the former seven-time Winston Cup champion with a smile on his face and a replica of the Daytona 500 trophy in his right arm. It stands beside the main entrance to NASCAR's motorsports attraction, nestled in a bed of red petunias.

Before the ceremony, Teresa Earnhardt remembered her husband's signature Daytona moment not as his landmark 1998 victory at the Speedway, but spending pre-race time with the young disabled female fan who gave him the lucky penny he carried in his car that February day.

"You get what you give," Mrs. Earnhardt said, who was assisted in the unveiling by NASCAR patriarch Bill France Jr.

Outside, in the rainy conditions, defending Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip remembered his late boss at Dale Earnhardt Inc., with a tale about Earnhardt bumping him aside at Darlington, and an epilogue of, "I'm glad that I was his friend."

A crowd of family members, media and fans attending the afternoon unveiling, an event that had its roots in July, 2001, according to Speedway president John Graham. Both Earnhardt sons, Kerry, and Dale Jr., were present, along with most of the drivers entered in Sunday's Budweiser Shootout. The project was cast by sculptor John Lajba, of Omaha, Neb.

Mounted it beside, on a wall that borders a circular walk around the statue, are bronze replicas of Earnhardt's driving gloves -- and his lucky penny.

by Frank Ryan

If ever you thought that NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway would somehow forget about the great Dale Earnhardt, you can put those fears to rest. Earlier today Teresa Earnhardt and Bill France Jr. unveiled the statue of Dale Earnhardt that will stand in remembrance at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Earnhardt will forever be remembered at Daytona International Speedway. Photo ISC

Located outside of the track and near the entrance of Daytona USA, "the Intimidator" is cast in silicon bronze and standing nearly 9 feet tall, weighs 1,200 pounds. Standing on top of his famed number 3, which is also cast in bronze, the pedestal is constructed of concrete and the checkered board base, representing Victory Lane, is made of two-tone black granite.

Earnhardt's racing gloves, also made of bronze, sits on a wall behind the statue. Alongside Earnhardt's racing gloves is a penny, made of cast silicon bronze, which represents the penny given to Earnhardt by a young fan for "luck" the day he captured his first and only win in the Daytona 500 in 1998.

Encompassing the statue are a wall and walkway, which represent the famed 2.5 mile tri-oval and the timeline of Dale Earnhardt's career.

The statue, designed by North American Testing Company, and constructed by John Lajba of Omaha, Nebraska took 8 months to design and build.

Commenting on the statue for ISC was Glyn Johnston; "It's an artistic likeness of Dale in a moment that celebrates his passion for the sport and his relationship with Daytona. The process of putting this all together was done by the France family and speedway management.