Statement released Monday by Richard Childress, president of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises Inc., on the death of Dale Earnhardt:

Words cannot express the tremendous loss all of us at Richard Childress Racing are feeling at this time. All of our thoughts and prayers and deepest sympathies are with Martha, Teresa, Kerry, Kelley, Dale Jr. and Taylor Nicole and the entire Earnhardt family.

Richard Childress (left) Dale Earnhardt and a crew member converse on Saturday.(AP)

Dale Earnhardt was much more than a race car driver. He was a very loving husband and a proud father and grandfather. He was a successful businessman. He was also a hero to millions of racing fans throughout the world.

Dale was my friend. We hunted and raced together. We laughed and cried together. We were able to work side-by-side and have the success we had for almost 20 years because we were friends first.

I will miss him always. He was the greatest.

AP NEWS
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