A modern NASCAR race has only a passing resemblance to its heritage. These cars are built as pure racing beasts. NASCAR was founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr. who developed three divisions: Roadsters, Modifieds, and Strictly Stock. The first race was held in 1949 at a ¾ mile dirt track. Jim Roper won the race. The "Strictly Stock" series grew to become the modern Sprint Cup series.
Ralph Lee Earnhardt was one of the biggest NASCAR legends. He was the father of Dale Earnhardt, grandfather of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kelley Earnhardt, and Kerry Earnhardt and great grandfather of Jeffrey Earnhardt. Ralph was born in Kannapolis and spent many years in a cotton mill. Racing was his way out of poor living. He gave many talented young drivers a start in racing. Ralph was the epitome of a race car driver. Here's what we just found out about NASCAR's Ralph Earnhardt.
15 He Built Cars In A Tiny Garage
Ralph Lee Earnhardt began his life's work in a tiny garage behind his home where he would build race cars for himself and for his siblings. More importantly, he found a passion for driving these custom machines, which led to countless track championships. He drove the fastest cars to hundreds of wins.
14 He Loved To Innovate
Ralph loved to innovate. He would use tire staggers when no one even knew what they were, built "bite" into his custom cars and install crash bars in the doors for extra protection. The bars saved many lives. Ralph never had to work on his car at a track. He would only change tires.
13 He Won 350 NASCAR Races
Ralph Earnhardt's career spanned 23 years of competition in 3 different NASCAR series. He never looked back and won 350 races. Ralph finished in the top 10 of the NASCAR National Sportsman point standings. In 1961, he finished 17th in the NASCAR Grand National. Earnhardt passed away from a heart attack in 1973.
12 He Participated In Many Grand National Events
Every time Ralph Earnhardt had an opportunity, he "participated in Grand National (now Nextel Cup) events driving for such notable car builders as Cotton Owens, Petty Engineering, and Pete DePaolo racing. Ralph Earnhardt finished in the top 10 seven of eight races he ran during the 1961 Grand National season."
11 One Of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers
Driving for Cotton Owens, Ralph Earnhardt made a NASCAR Grand National debut. His achievements secured him a place in the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. He was also voted as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in 1998 and inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
10 The Film 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story
In the movie 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story, Ralph is portrayed by J. K. Simmons. In the film, his death is portrayed as an urban legend, where Dale found him dead of a heart attack in the garage. Even though Ralph really died of a heart attack, he was found in the kitchen.
9 Robert Yates Worshiped Earnhardt
Robert Yates, a NASCAR veteran and a famous engine expert, grew up around Ralph Earnhardt. He said, "He raced every weekend. He would race on Saturday nights up until it got too cold. He and some friends were always tinkering with ways to extract speed from iron and steel on the short tracks."
8 He Carved Tread Into His Tires
Back in the dirt-track days, Ralph Earnhardt carved tread into his own tires with different cuts for each track. He also tested Firestone tires for Humpy Wheeler as tire companies realized the huge market stock car racing offered for their products. Earnhardt's tires helped drivers maintain control at high speeds.
7 He Would Often Protest A Race
When Ralph Earnhardt couldn't beat someone on the track, he found ways to get some satisfaction behind the scenes. He would approach other people and say, "The 92 car is pretty fast tonight. You wanna go in $10 with me and protest them?" This way, he'd get $10 from 13 or 14 people.
6 He Could Tame The Scariest Cars
Some track-ready cars are scarier than others. In the 50s, there was a Ford model that could reach a top speed of 120 mph. But it was a scary machine with touchy handling. Ralph Earnhardt wasn't afraid to slide in behind the wheel and take off down Route 29.
5 He Owned A 1937 Ford
A 1937 Ford was a subject of a swap between Speedy Thompson and Ralph Earnhardt. Originally bought by Thompson and given to Earnhardt, the car featured a flathead Ford V-8 with a set of cylinder heads made by Belgian-born engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov. The “Ardun” overhead-valve cylinder heads operated in a hemispherical chamber.
4 He Built Many Cars
Ralph Earnhardt had incredible car-building skills which were known throughout the racing circuit. He had the heart of an adventurer and was the first car driver/builder to understand complex technology. He mastered short tracks compiling hundreds of victories and countless state championships. He also won the Sportsman division championship in 1956.
3 The Quintessential Old School Racer
As patriarch of the family, Ralph Earnhardt was one of the hardcore old school racers respected by fellow drivers and owners alike. He didn't like traveling to the NASCAR circuit and chose to race on the NC short tracks. He focused all his attention on racecars and family – and family would always come first.
2 The Toughest Race Driver
Ned Jarrett, an American retired race driver, said that "Ralph Earnhardt was absolutely the toughest race driver I ever raced against. On the dirt and asphalt short tracks in Sportsman competition, when you went to the track you knew he was the man to beat." Unsurprisingly, he won many championships.
1 He Was Known As Mister Consistency
Ralph Earnhardt was known as Mr. Consistency because he preferred to race at least four times a week near his home. He didn't like traveling far from home and leave his wife and children for a long time. At the same time, he drove over 50 races in the Winston Cup for Cotton Owens.