Ralph Lee Earnhardt - Kannapolis, North Carolina - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Ralph Earnhardt was a native of Kannapolis, North Carolina. Growing up in this textile mill town, Ralph turned to stock car racing as a way to provide for his family. In 23-years of racing Ralph Earnhardt won over 350 races on local asphalt and dirt tracks and was the 1956 NASCAR Sportsman Champion. He has been inducted into a number of Hall of Fames including the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Ralph is the father of the late NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt and the grandfather of current NASCAR Star Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Ralph died of a heart attack on September 26, 1973. He is buried in the Cedar Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

Description: Ralph Lee Earnhardt was born on February 23, 1928 in the textile mill town of Kannapolis, North Carolina. For many years Ralph worked in the cotton mills in an around Kannapolis while working on race cars in a garage at his home. Working in the mills during the day Ralph would often race as many as 5-times per week at various tracks Kannapolis/Charlotte area. He built his own cars in the garage behind his house and was famous for taking care of his cars while earning a reputation as a fierce competitor. NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett once said the “Ralph Earnhardt was absolutely the toughest race driver I ever raced against.” During a racing career that lasted 23-years Ralph Earnhardt won 100’s of local and track championships while winning the 1956 NASCAR Sportsman Championship. Ralph Earnhardt was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 1989, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1997 and the National Late Model Dirt Hall of Fame in 2007. Ralph Earnhardt died of a heart attack on September 26, 1973 while working on a race car in his garage in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He is resting in the Cedar Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery in Kannapolis, North Carolina Date of birth: 02/23/1928 Date of death: 09/26/1973 Area of notoriety: Sports Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily, Dawn to Dusk Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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