Americans dream of driving fast, of flying low and loud down a long stretch of interstate until the world blurs and fades in the rearview mirror. While few people ever reach speeds of 200 miles per hour, some families make a business out of it, and none has done it with more breathtaking abandon than the Earnhardts.

Even after Dale Earnhardt died behind the wheel of his famed black No. 3 on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, the Earnhardts' offspring have kept the throttle hammered down. Just months later, Dale's son and namesake was back at Daytona and rode to victory on the same track that had killed his father, perpetuating the family legacy for a history-making third generation.

The Earnhardts' connection with racing began back in the 1950s, when a young man up and quit his soul-crushing job in a North Carolina cotton mill to fulfill his dream of racing cars. Ralph Earnhardt developed into one of the finest dirt-track drivers in the South, founding a racing dynasty that continues to shape NASCAR history. His son, Dale, not only followed in his father's tire tracks but went on to become the greatest driver the sport has ever known.

Nicknamed ?the Intimidator? because of his aggressive, leave-no-rival-unwrecked style, Dale Sr. collected at least as many enemies as victories, building a fan base that to this day remains rabidly devoted to his memory. Before his fatal crash, Ralph's son had won seven cup championships, tying Richard Petty's record for the most titles ever. Dale Jr., the Earnhardts' third NASCAR champion, is still the circuit's most popular driver, upholding the family's heritage while struggling to be his own man.