Earnhardt impersonator is more than meets the eye

As part of God's creation, humans are blessed with unique assets. What we do with our personal gifts is entirely up to each of us.

Jay Beaulieu's distinction is a face that looks like Dale Earnhardt and the hands of an artist. NASCAR fans recognize him as the Imitator, for his striking resemblance to the driver known as the Intimidator. And now the Imitator's art -- tributes to the driver he impersonates -- is available to fans as well.

The construction worker from Tucson, Ariz., became the Imitator "as soon as Dale started looking like me," he says. That was 14 years ago, when Beaulieu lived in Jacksonville, Fla., and started coming to races at Daytona International Speedway while the driver some call NASCAR's greatest was still vying for his first victory in the Great American Race.

The seven-time NASCAR champion would get that elusive win in 1998, and perish on the same track three years later. The Imitator kept coming to races as Earnhardt, and his personal legend grew.

The real Intimidator has been gone nine years, while the Imitator we're left with continues to elicit the same spirited reactions whether in the parking lot at Daytona or the local Wal-Mart.

"Half a million times I get that look," Beaulieu said. "It's the biggest smile or a shocked 'oh my God.' Everyone has a story about Dale. How they love him. Or how some hated him. Some cry. They all want a picture."

While Earnhardt has been universally lionized after his death, when he was driving -- aggressively, with the aid of a frequently used chrome horn -- boos were known to rain down during pre-race introductions and post-race donuts.

Make no mistake, Earnhardt had an enormous fan base, a swarm of black hats accompanied by three-finger salutes each time his black Chevy roared past. Yet it's easy to forget, nearly as visible, all those one-fingered salutes.

Everyone had a strong opinion about the No. 3 car, which was what Dale wanted. Cheers? Boos? Who cares! Silence was the real enemy. Whatever fans thought of the Intimidator when he was competing, folks today are careful not to disrespect his present incarnation at the track, this other blue-collar doppelganger simply trying to pay homage. (Continued)