Dale Earnhardt was an American race Competition car driver .

Earnhardt 's death Death was officially pronounced Statement at the nearby Halifax Medical Center at 5:16 p.m. EST ( 22:16 UTC ) , although he likely died Death immediately upon impact Influence .

Earnhardt was the fourth NASCAR driver killed Killing by a basilar skull fracture during an eight-month span , following Adam Petty in May 2000 , Kenny Irwin , Jr. in July of 2000 , and Tony Roper in October 2000 .

Earnhardt 's death Death , seen Perception_active on a live television broadcast with over 17 million viewers , was highly publicized Publishing and resulted in various safety improvements Cause_to_make_progress in NASCAR auto racing .

After Earnhardt 's death , NASCAR began Process_start an intensive focus on safety that has seen Perception_active the organization mandate the use Using of head-and-neck restraints , oversee the installation of SAFER barriers at oval tracks , set Placing rigorous new inspection rules for seats and seat-belts , develop Coming_to_be a roof-hatch escape Escaping system , and the Car of Tomorrow—which eventually led to Causation the development of a next-generation race car built with extra driver safety in mind .