drivers are also the most aggravating on the track. Dale was
incredibly tenacious; he drove me to rise to his level. He
made me want to be the best, because he made me want to beat
him. I have never in all of my experience raced against
anyone with as much desire to win as he had, and that's
saying a lot, because I've raced against them all. He was
so tenacious, but he was so different from that away from
the track. I was really fortunate to know that side of him,
because not everyone did, but there was a softer side to
Dale that most people I know didn't know he had, but it was
there."It's just so tragic. He was so much to so many. He's left a giant, dark, black hole behind him. I really don't know what to say. There are so many decisions, so much grief. He will be missed by millions.
"I remember in 1990 or '91 when we were both racing in IROC [International Race of Champions] that right after the race in Daytona we flew up to Cleveland for the race and then back down to Charlotte. Well, I was living in Greensboro at the time and I had no way home at like 11pm, so Dale drove me all the way up there and then back to Lake Norman, just to shoot the breeze. I just couldn't understand that; he must have gotten home after 3 am or something, and to this day, I still don't understand, but he was just that way. Different, and special."
