Dale Earnhardt Rescued Abandoned Baby in 1996 — That Baby Is Now a CEO Paying Tribute to His Hero

In a story that feels more like a movie than real life, a moment of quiet compassion from racing legend Dale Earnhardt nearly three decades ago has now come full circle—with an emotional twist.

Back in 1996, Earnhardt—already a household name in NASCAR—was reportedly on his way to Sunday service at a small church in Kannapolis, North Carolina, when he noticed a bundle left on the church steps. It was a newborn baby, wrapped in an old blanket, shivering and alone.

Witnesses recall Dale rushing toward the baby, scooping him up without hesitation. “He didn’t wait for anyone to react,” said a longtime church member. “He just said, ‘This baby needs help,’ and got to work.”

Earnhardt not only stayed with the child until authorities arrived, but he also covered the hospital costs and made sure the baby was adopted into a loving home. However, he never sought publicity for the act—only asking that the child be safe.

Fast forward to 2025, and that very baby—now a 29-year-old tech CEO named Elijah Davis—has come forward with a powerful tribute.

“I recently learned the truth about who saved me,” Davis said at a press conference last week. “It was Dale Earnhardt. The Intimidator. A man who changed the course of my life before I could even speak.”

Davis, who now runs a startup worth over $40 million, visited Earnhardt’s memorial in Mooresville, NC, earlier this month to lay flowers and a handwritten letter.

“I never got to thank him,” he said through tears. “He didn’t know who I’d become, but I owe him everything. He didn’t just save my life—he gave it purpose.”

Earnhardt tragically passed away in a crash at the 2001 Daytona 500. But for Elijah Davis and countless others, his legacy of courage and quiet kindness lives on.