Dale Earnhardt

Seven NASCAR Cup Series titles — in 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994. That is tied for the most in the sport's history, level with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson.

76 Cup Series victories from 676 starts, along with 22 pole positions and 428 top-ten finishes. His first win came at Bristol in 1979 and his last at Talladega in 2000.

For a driving style that moved cars out of the way rather than waiting for a gap. Rivals learned to recognise the black number 3 in their mirrors, and the nickname stuck alongside two others — The Man in Black and Ironhead.

In 1998, at his twentieth attempt. He had led the race and lost it in the closing laps several times before. When he finally won, crew members from every team on pit road came out to shake his hand as he drove back to victory lane.

He was killed in a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500 on 18 February 2001, aged 49, hitting the turn-four wall while running third. His death prompted the most significant safety programme in the sport's history, including mandatory head-and-neck restraints and energy-absorbing SAFER barriers at every oval.

Rod Osterlund Racing for his first championship in 1980, Bud Moore Engineering in 1982 and 1983, and Richard Childress Racing for 1981 and then from 1984 until 2001 — where six of his seven titles were won.

Yes, in three. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 as part of its inaugural class, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2002, and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006.