Earnhardt died in a crash during the Daytona 500 in 2001 . In the weeks before the 2001 Daytona 500 , Earnhardt elected not to attend the annual fan and media preview event , drawing vocal criticism from fellow driver Jimmy Spencer . On February 3 and 4 , 2001 , the first time in his career , Earnhardt participated in the Rolex 24 endurance race at Daytona , the event which kicks off Speedweeks at the track .