Travel The Dale Trail in Kannapolis, Dale Earnhardt's hometown, and visit landmarks relating to his life and legendary NASCAR career. Share the Kannapolis community's pride in its hometown hero on the first motorsports heritage trail in the country. Since Dale's tragic death in the Daytona 500 in 2001, thousands of fans have come to Kannapolis to remember him and to learn about his life. The Dale Trail has become a pilgrimage for those who want to connect with Dale's memory and to pay their respects to their fallen hero.

The tour begins along Dale Earnhardt Blvd., a street named in Dale's honor in 1992. At Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Center you will each receive a collectible brochure and map containing information about the stops on The Dale Trail. While there, view historic photos of Dale's childhood and NASCAR career. On the trail you'll visit the Car Town neighborhood where Dale grew up and see the streets where Car Town kids raced their bicycles (Dale always won, his mom says). The trail passes by Old Earnhardt Road where teenage Dale careened around 90-degree curves in his '56 yellow Chevrolet, and it takes you to Idiot Circle where a young Dale perfected the left turn cruising with his teenage friends.

You'll hear about how Dale gained his love for racing watching his dad build racecars in the garage in back of the family home in the Car Town neighborhood in Kannapolis where Dale grew up. Ralph Earnhardt - another racing legend - was known as "Mr. Dirt Track" because he was a racing legend in his time, amassing over 350 victories on the NASCAR Modified, Sportsman and Grand National Circuits. Those were simpler times in racing, and you'll learn how the Earnhardt family would park in the infield at what is today Lowe's Motor Speedway, and Dale's mom and the kids would stand on top of the truck to watch Ralph race.

For more information on The Dale Trail, click here.