Remember When Dale Earnhardt Shaved His Signature Mustache?

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Dale Earnhardt is known for many things: being a legendary race car driver, being a father, and always sporting the coolest mustache.

His nickname in NASCAR was “The Intimidator” because of his aggressive driving style and competitive nature on the track. He was known for his fearless approach to racing, often making bold moves and using his skill to assert dominance on the track. His intimidating presence and driving tactics earned him respect and a reputation as one of the most formidable drivers in NASCAR history. Dale’s black No. 3 car is also an iconic staple of NASCAR.

Another staple of NASCAR is Dale’s signature mustache.

Dale always sported a full, well-groomed mustache for nearly the entirety of his career, up until his death in 2001 at the age of 50.

In fact, when he unexpectedly shaved it in 1999, it was the first time since 1982 that he was completely clean shaven! The legend showed up to the 1999 Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway without his mustache and it caused somewhat of a media frenzy!

He was immediately asked if he’d grow the mustache back, to which he replied, “It’s growing back as we speak.”

Finally, he explained the reason behind his bar upper lip: he was on vacation in the Bahamas with fellow driver and close friend Michael Waltrip. According to the Greensboro News & Record, they were snorkeling and Dale’s mask wouldn’t seal because of the mustache, and water kept rushing in.

“Man, I was just drowning. I got up on the boat and shaved,” he said. “I could go down about 10-12 feet and not drown [anymore.]”

It was a shock to some fans at the time, but just because he didn’t have his mustache, that didn’t mean that he wasn’t his normal self!

“Still looks intimidating, especially in your rear view mirror,” one fan wrote on Facebook.

The no mustache look didn’t last long. In fact, it was such a blip in time that longtime fans have even forgotten about this race!

“Earnhardt fan for well over 50 years, first picture I’ve seen him without mustache ???? AWESOME PICTURE. He was the very BEST.”

Lots of fans also think he looks like his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., without a mustache.

RELATED: Dale Earnhardt’s Family Tree: Meet The NASCAR Legend’s Kids And Grandkids

What do you think?