|
Dale Earnhardt Bio
Birthdate: April 29, 1951
Birth Place: Kannapolis, N.C.
Car Number: 3
Team: Richard Childress Racing
Sponsor: GM Goodwrench Service Plus
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Biography
Dale Earnhardt, arguably the best driver in stock car history, died Feb. 18 from head injuries sustained during a last-lap crash in the Daytona 500. Earnhardt almost won his eighth NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship in 2000, but a runner-up finish in the final standings kept him from breaking his tie of seven with the legendary Richard Petty.
"The Intimidator's" seven crowns offer all the proof needed to those who question his place in history. His aggressive style helped define a generation of drivers, those who run hard Sunday, then shake hands and exchange congratulations when all is said and done.
Earnhardt was the first driver in the history of the sport to win the rookie of the year award and the series title at the NASCAR Winston Cup Series level. He did it in consecutive seasons -- 1979 and 1980.
He was the first three-time winner of the Winston Select (1987, '90 and '93) and he won three IROC championships (1990, '95 and '99).
Earnhardt credited Rod Osterlund with giving him his biggest break, in 1978. He won the championship for Osterlund, his first, in 1980 before moving on to drive for Richard Childress, for whom he won his last six titles.
Earnhardt owned a strong NASCAR Winston Cup Series organization, which fields three cars, including one for his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Stats
2000 Statistics
Starts 35
Wins 2
Poles 0
Top 5's 13
Top 10's 24
Career Wins (through 2000) 76
Career Poles (through 2000) 22
Race Start Fin Pts
Daytona 500 21 21 100
Lube 400 4 2 175
CarsDirect.com 400 44 8 142
Cracker Barrel 500 35 1 185
Mall.com 400 4 3 165
Food City 500 11 39 51
DirecTV 500 17 7 146
Goody's Body Pain 500 17 9 143
DieHard 500 4 3 170
NAPA Auto Parts 500 35 17 112
Pontiac Excitement 400 31 10 139
The Winston 12 3 0
Cola 600 15 3 170
MBNA Platinum 400 30 6 155
KMart 400 9 2 170
Pocono 500 16 4 165
Pepsi 400 (Daytona) 18 8 142
New England 300 24 6 150
Pennsylvania 500 25 25 93
Brickyard 400 8 8 142
Global Crossing @ The Glen 3 25 88
Pepsi 400 (Michigan) 37 6 150
GoRacing.com 500 17 4 165
Southern 500 6 3 170
Chevy Monte Carlo 400 22 2 170
Lube 300 37 12 127
MBNA.com 400 37 17 112
NAPA AutoCare 500 12 2 170
UAW-GM Quality 500 37 11 135
Winston 500 20 1 180
Pop Secret 400 27 17 117
Checker Auto Parts 500 31 9 143
Pennzoil 400 37 20 103
NAPA 500 8 2 170
Dale Earnhardt crash video
|
Dale wins the Daytona 500 1998
|
