Teresa Earnhardt makes statement about lawsuit
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
March 4, 2001
4:25 PM EST (2125 GMT)
LAS VEGAS - Teresa Earnhardt made her first public appearance just two weeks after her husband, Dale Earnhardt, died in the Daytona 500. She asked that autopsy photos of the seven-time champion not be released to the public.
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Teresa Earnhardt (left), joined by Dale Earnhardt Jr., makes a brief statement to the media on Sunday.
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The widow addressed the media at Las Vegas Motor Speedway prior to Sunday's race and, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. by her side, spoke about the lawsuit she has filed.
In a "no questions" press conference, she pleaded for the public to contact Governor Jeb Bush of Florida, the state's Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate to stop the release of the Volusia County medical examiner's photos of her late husband's autopsy.
"This is the first time I have spoken in public since we've lost Dale," she said. "Honestly, I'm not very comfortable being here. It's too soon. But, this issue is of vital importance, not just to my family, but to anyone faced with being exploited after losing a loved one.
"I am grateful to be among my friends and hopeful that my difficult decision to come here today will make a difference."
She then asked that others to contact the government offices in Tallahassee, Fla. concerning this issue.
She then asked that they "let their voices be heard" by contacting their local government agencies as well.
The suit was filed after the Orlando Sentinel newspaper requested to have the fallen champion's autopsy photos released for public use. His widow also asked people to contact the paper and let them know their thoughts on the issue.
She was speaking on behalf of the entire Earnhardt family. Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat by her side but did not address the media.
"Hopefully, something positive will come from our efforts, for Dale's sake," she said. "He was a wonderful husband, father, son and brother, as well as a national role model for so many. That's the way he should be remembered."
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