From A Fan

I wrote some thoughts down last week, before the race in
Daytona, but decided not to send them anywhere to be seen. I’ve changed my
mind. Dale Jr. winning the race was fantastic. I have attended five races live
and in person so far this year, and felt on more than one occasion that Dale Jr.
had a winning car, but he just wasn’t ready. You knew when you heard him speak
prior to the Pepsi 400, when he talked about visiting the track when no one else
was around, you knew he wanted it. That it was time.

I started to write last week to maybe help people understand
from the viewpoint of a loyal dedicated fan, my feelings about what happened to
Dale Earnhardt and what’s going on this year. The answer is – I don’t
know! I don’t know how I feel – it’s as simple or complicated as that.
When this tragedy occurred, I was horrified, along with millions of others. Dale
was invincible, how could this happen? I cried. I stayed home from work to watch
the memorial service, and attended the local service here in Nashville. It did
not bring about any type of closure. I’m not sure that anything more than time
itself will make that happen.

At all of the races I’ve gone to this year, each time there
has been an overwhelming feeling of emotion as the third lap passed. We all have
not let it go yet, but that’s okay. We need to remember the loss of a great
racer, a fierce competitor and a good man. When we are ready we will let it go.
So leave us alone, let each of us handle it for ourselves. Just, don’t tell us
any lies, or withhold the truth. Don’t tell us Dale Earnhardt wasn’t great
– cuz, he was. I am not even the diehard fan (kinda partial to the #18), but I
know, just like Bobby knew, that he was and will always be considered one of the
best and the true icon of the sport.

The positive thing that has come out of the whole experience
for me is finding out what a truly great person Dale Earnhardt had
become. Hearing about all the wonderful and caring things he did for people has
made me admire him as a human being. What a good friend to those he loved.
Bravo! That’s what life is all about. When you look back on the pre-race week
interviews he gave before the "500," you saw a man so at peace with
himself and the world around him. I agree with Deb Williams, I think he knew
something was up, but I think he had achieved ultimate happiness in life. What
better time to go.

We as fans like to learn about the special times people had
with Dale. What we don’t like is the media (in any format) bothering the
drivers, asking questions and trying to find out their feelings. It is private
and their business. Which brings us to the NBC coverage of the race and that
fact that they chose not to honor Dale Jr.’s request not to talk about it.
They took away from his victory. Asking him if he cried – give me a break!
Shame on all of you.

What needs to be understood, (and I feel I am speaking for
the majority of us) is that our commitment to Dale Jr. is based on who he is,
not that he is the son of Dale Earnhardt. He may have started that way with us,
and that’s how we came to know him, but not anymore! He has conducted himself
with so much style and grace, through what week after week, has to be the
toughest challenge he will probably ever face. I have nothing but the utmost
respect for, and am proud to have the privilege of sharing this "thing
called racing" with him.

So let’s get on with it and just sorta get through this
year. Respect Dale Jr.’s right to not talk about it, respect the fan’s right
to go through this season in a daze. It will be okay. We are race fans – it’s
in our soul – and we are not going to stop attending or watching. Just give us
time. Time heals all wounds.

Nancy Osterhoudt

Nashville, TN