The editors of The Charlotte Observer have selected the most exciting moments from the career of NASCAR legend and seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt. From that first interview with Tom Higgins to his longawaited victory in the race he most wanted to win, the Daytona 500; from a country boy from Kannapolis, North Carolina, to one of the most recognizable sports figures in the world, here is a look back at the career of a champion. The new epilogue covers Earnhardt's career from 1998 until his tragic death in 2001.