THE LEGACY OF DALE EARNHARDT
CONTINUES WITH SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN RACING
Known as “The Intimidator” to sportswriters who loved his rowdy personality and “Ironhead” to opponents who loathed racing against him, Dale Earnhardt Sr. forever changed racing in both his life and tragic death on Feb. 18, 2001, during the final lap of the Daytona 500. Today, Earnhardt’s legacy lives on through the racing triumphs of his descendants, like Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the safety protocols his death inspired. Earnhardt was born into a racing family in 1951 and made his NASCAR debut in 1975. He went on to win 34 races at the sport’s most popular track in Daytona, Florida, and record 76 career wins. Earnhardt’s style of racing was unparalleled, and most fans will never forget the 2000 race at Talladega Superspeedway where he barreled from 18th into first place over the final six laps.
On that fateful day in 2001, Earnhardt was racing toward the finish line on the final lap — a first-place finish in his sights — when he collided with three other vehicles, rammed into the concrete barrier, and slid to a stop in the infield. Earnhardt was pronounced dead at the hospital that evening, the result of a skull fracture that happened within 80 milliseconds of the initial impact. Almost immediately, NASCAR made sweeping changes to the sport, including requiring drivers to wear a head and neck support (HANS) device along with their helmet to stabilize the body in an accident. It was a device that Earnhardt refused to wear due to its restraint and one that potentially could have saved his life had he been wearing it.
that a seat belt malfunction led to Earnhardt’s death.) Along with those improvements, NASCAR continues to update its safety measures. According to ESPN, the sport has also required drivers to wear full-face helmets, and vehicles are now outfitted with shock- absorbing foam to protect drivers’ bodies from the energy produced in an accident. The work NASCAR did to improve driver safety was on full display at the 2020 Daytona 500, when racer Ryan Newman’s vehicle hit the wall, flipped upside down, and was then propelled into the air before landing in the infield. The accident was horrific, and Newman had to seek treatment at a nearby hospital — but he lived. “Those people,” Newman said to ESPN about those who made safety regulations a standard in the sport, “collectively saved my life.”
The organization also instituted improved outer barriers and seat belts. (It was previously believed
Age Is Just a Number
WHY ESTATE PLANNING IS NECESSARY FOR EVERYONE
This season, millions of high school and young college graduates will earn their diplomas. Their graduations mark the beginning of a new phase, one that’s bound to feel exciting, if not overwhelming. Time is on a young graduate’s side, but that’s a dangerous mindset to fall into. “I’ve got time” is often a mantra we say to fool ourselves into thinking procrastination is a more viable option than completing the task on our to-do list. The truth is that we should complete necessary responsibilities even at a young age.
your immediate family, like a parent, with whom you are not close. If you were to die without a will or become incapacitated, would you want them to inherit your hard-earned money or assume control of your finances if you did not have a great relationship with them? Lastly, let’s say you’re in a long-term relationship but aren’t married. You love this person and you
Estate planning is a big one.
Young adults between the ages of 18–35 often aren’t thinking about death or becoming incapacitated. They can still fearlessly do things like sleep on futons or scarf down fast food. But no one knows what tomorrow will bring or what obstacles we will face just one year from now. (The pandemic is a great example of this.) If you are 21 or older, are single, don’t have children, and were to fall into a coma tomorrow, who would make medical and financial decisions for you? You might assume your parents can, but unless you have specifically designated them as your agents under medical and financial powers of attorney, they can’t. You’re no longer a minor, so your parents are not considered your guardians. Hospital staff may have to decide or the courts may ultimately designate someone for you. If you have a preference, they may not know that.
want to provide for them financially should anything happen to you. They may also be the person you trust most to make medical and financial decisions on your behalf. Unfortunately, if you don’t make that designation legal — by naming them as a beneficiary in your will or designating them as your agent under a power of attorney — then your significant other could miss out on financial support after your untimely death or could be powerless in a medical emergency. It’s never too early to begin planning for the future. Graduates and their families would be wise to contact our team today to protect themselves and their futures. Learn more about this and our other legal options online at DouglassRunger.com.
Furthermore, if you’re an independent young adult who is building a small nest egg for yourself, you want to protect those assets — especially if there are members of
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