Earnhardt died in a last-lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500, the fourth NASCAR driver to die in a nine-month period that began with the death of Adam Petty in May 2000. On October 4, 2001, Blaise Alexander died in a ARCA race car crash at Lowe's Motor Speedway, suffering from the same life-ending injuries as Dale Earnhardt. After 6 deaths in less than two years NASCAR began an intensive focus on safety that has seen the organization begin to require the use of head-and-neck restraints such as the HANS device,[4] oversee the installation of SAFER barriers at all oval tracks, set rigorous new rules for seat-belt and seat inspection, develop a roof-hatch escape system (used briefly, but later eliminated), and develop a next-generation race car built with extra driver safety in mind, dubbed the Car of Tomorrow.

May Also Like: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Kevin Harvick | Rusty Wallace | Davey Allison | Richard Petty