How did Dale Earnhardt Sr. die in the race car accident at Daytona?

Answer 1

Dale's car had slid up the track and struck the wall at 150 mph and the #36 car of Ken Schrader had no where to go and hit Dale's car just behind the passenger door at 150 mph. The impact was so sharp and quick that it broke his neck on impact. An investigation showed a faulty seat belt was part of the cause of death.

Answer 2

Dale Earnhardt died in a car crash.

At Daytona and Talladega if you drop off the racing surface onto the track apron you're going to crash. This is what happened to Dale Earnhardt: he dropped onto the apron for some reason. The car then darted back onto the track and got hit in the rear end. This turned the car toward the wall, and also caused his helmet to twist around on his head. (Most drivers wear a closed-face helmet. Earnhardt wore an open-face helmet so he could feel the wind on his face.) When the car slammed into the wall at 165mph, his helmet broke his neck and he died.

If you notice in the racecar of Dale Earnhardt during his crash at Daytona. He was seated in a low back bucket seat as compared to the now required High back bucket seats. Dales car also had an unprotected rear brace bar right at the base of his neck. Photos clearly show this. As he was whipped forward from the acceleration and impact of another vehicle while re-entering the banked surface racetrack had caused him to hit the bar behind him with such force it fractured his neck killing him instantly. He shot into wall thrusting his head forward towards the steering wheel. Though he was unaware of the impact of the wall it probably finished the racers life if alive at that time.

Answer 3

Dale Sr. died following an accident in turn 4 on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. The fatal injury that Dale sustained is known as a basilar skull fracture. That is a fracture of the base of the skull.

Answer 4

Dale died from a basilar scull fracture caused when his car rapidly decelerated after hitting the turn 4 wall at Daytona.

Answer 5

His restraining device broke when he struck the wall, killing him on impact.