NASCAR Community Still Grieving After First Noteworthy Death

DURHAM, NC-Three weeks after the death of Dale Earnhardt, the nation's most beloved and successful NASCAR driver, those most closely involved with the sport still feel the crippling effects of the first relevant casualty in the sport's history.

"It still stings badly," said Mike Helton, president of NASCAR. "You know, it was kind of depressing when it was that one really young driver, his name escapes me right now, but it was sad when he died. But this, man-oh-man, this is a true tragedy. I guess when that one young Petty guy died, it was kind of relevant, but that was really just 'cause his grandfather was Richard Petty. I mean, you look at how Chris Farley died, that was really sad, what with him having been on Saturday Night Live and having done all those movies with David Spade. But if it had been his younger, untalented brother from that one show on MTV with the gay guys that sing in the band 2Gether, who really would have cared?"

Perhaps the most disturbing thing about Earnhardt's death was how preventable it was. The crash, which did not appear overly severe to spectators at the race, likely would not have been fatal had Earnhardt not adjusted his seatbelt to a more comfortable, but less effective, position.

"Yeah, well, that was just good old Dale," said driver Rusty Wallace. "Throw caution in the wind, you know? He was always the daredevil. I remember he used to complete in races without brakes and wearing only fluorescent green briefs because that's how he said his car was most comfortable to him. I can't believe he's gone now."

Wallace then paused for a few seconds before saying, "Wait, maybe there's a lesson to be learned here."

Indeed, tighter safety regulations do seem necessary for a sport that does not require its drivers to wear helmets, buckle their seatbelts, or drive sober. Many are pushing to improve these lax safety rules. One such person is Robert Hubbard, who has developed the Head and Neck Support system, or what he cleverly calls "HANS." Hubbard is a professor at the world-renowned Michigan State University, an institution that knows plenty about reckless driving thanks in major part to alum Mateen Cleaves.

"Such a safety device could help save the lives of the four or five NASCAR drivers left who people other than some pathetic Caucasian alcoholics from South Carolina have heard of," Hubbard stated in a press release earlier this week. "I certainly hope NASCAR considers making this device mandatory; I mean, God forbid we lose Jeff Gordon, too."

Fans of Earnhardt have tried to keep perspective on the loss. "True, NASCAR lost a famous driver," said longtime fan Kevin Griffin. "But, it's important to remember that the world also lost a famous person."

"I just hope his son is doing alright," Eric King, another NASCAR fan, added. "You know, he's pretty famous too, so that makes it even more tragic. A celebrity having to deal with the death of his celebrity father? Man, it makes me feel lucky to be just an average guy. I never have to deal with stuff like that."

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