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The late Dale Earnhardt was better known by his nickname “The Intimidator”. That nickname did not come from nowhere either, it was earned by his actions on the track combined with a menacing black paint scheme. What moments caused Earnhardt to earn his nickname, The Intimidator?

• This is not a list of Dale Earnhardt’s best career moments, although, many of his best moments will be included on this list. This is about the moments where Earnhardt best personified his nickname, “The Intimidator”.
• With 76 victories and 7 Championships, Dale Earnhardt was the undisputed Greatest Stock Car Driver of the generation. Put simply, his persona matched his greatness on track.
• Fans to this day look at the late great with a certain awe. It all was earned by these moments on the race track.

#5 Earnhardt Overcomes Not One, but Two Penalties – 1993 Coca-Cola 600

Bumping a driver out of the way is one way to intimidate, and so is finding a way to win no matter what a race throws at you. Dale Earnhardt did both on this night. After being penalized for speeding on pit road, Earnhardt fell behind.

With 75 laps to go, he spun out Greg Sacks to bring out a caution, and NASCAR held Earnhardt for one lap. Well, Earnhardt came back from down one lap in the final 100 miles of the race to take home the win. What’s more intimidating than a driver who wins despite being 1 lap down in the closing stages?

#4 The “Pass in the Grass” – 1987 The Winston

Also placed in the “Dale Earnhardt is just unbeatable” category, the “Pass in the Grass” from the 1987 All-Star Race was a big moment as Earnhardt rose to his highest of heights. Late in the race, Earnhardt was battling hard with Bill Elliott in the #9 car, and the pair made contact off of turn four. Earnhardt slid into the grass, back up onto the track, and kept the lead.

A move that would result in many drivers careening into the wall was only a minor inconvenience to “The Intimidator”. He would go on to win, and Bill Elliott was hot after the race. If putting him in the grass would not work, how could you beat Earnhardt?

#3 Dale Earnhardt vs Darrell Waltrip – 1986 Richmond

Dale Earnhardt had numerous rivalries throughout his career, but, none were perhaps more intense than his run-ins with Darrell Waltrip. Everything boiled over in the second race of the season in 1986, with Earnhardt and Waltrip battling for the win in the closing laps. When Waltrip got by, Earnhardt right-hooked Waltrip into the outside wall, taking himself out in the process.

While this did not end well for Earnhardt, it proved that he would do anything to win a race. If anyone got in the way, then that was just too bad. Every driver knew that the No. 3 was behind them, he would do whatever it took.

#2 Earnhardt Goes from 18th to 1st in 4 Laps – 2000 Winston 500

Like the first two on this list, Earnhardt’s otherworldly talent and seemingly impossible race car Houdini acts made were just as intimidating as his bump and runs. With four laps to go in the 2000 Winston 500, Earnhardt was in 18th, seemingly down and out. All of a sudden, on the final lap, he was in front.

Thanks to some savvy drafting and help from Kenny Wallace, Earnhardt weaved his way to his 76th career win. It turned out to be his final career win, and there was perhaps no more fitting way for him to win his final race.

#1 Dale Earnhardt Dumps Terry Labonte For the Win – 1999 Goody’s Headache Powder 500 at Bristol

No race personified “The Intimidator” more than this race. Earnhardt, on old tires, was passed by Terry Labonte, on fresh tires with two laps to go. Earnhardt had one chance to get Labonte back, and Earnhardt ended up wrecking Labonte for the win.

Under a chorus of thunderous boos in “Thunder Valley”, Earnhardt said that he simply meant to “Rattle his cage”. Labonte did not agree, but Earnhardt did not care. It didn’t matter what the fans thought or the drivers thought, what mattered was the checkered flag and the trophy. Earnhardt took home the win, and that’s all he cared about.

Whether it was knocking someone out of the way, an incredible comeback, or some ridiculous piece of driving to simply say, “Yeah, I’m THAT dude”, Earnhardt found multiple ways to intimidate.