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Kevin Harvick White Whale #1/1 Wants
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Miscellaneous Racing Set Wants
Non-Racing Cards & Misc. Want List
Page One - Alphabetical Driver's List
Page Two - Miscellaneous Cards & Collectibles List
About Me
Bad Traders List
Dale's Facts & Misc. Info Page
My Friends Banners & Web Links
My Hero Card Collection
Just Quotes
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The Grinch Of 2000
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A Flash Show of Dale Pics
Facts Through The Years
This page last updated: May 31, 2013
- Here are some interesting facts and information covering Dale Earnhardt's racing career, listed year by year. I'm sure there may be more that I need to add and as I dig up more interesting facts and info, I w
END OF CODE-->ill post it.
Here you can also find the races he has won as well as some of the cars Dale has driven over the years. At the bottom of this page I will be adding some of the quips & quotes that have come from Dale over his racing career as time allows.
If you know of anything that you feel should be listed here and isn't yet, please feel free to bring it to my attention.
I hope you enjoy reading the information that I've listed below and share in my pleasure of one of the greatest drivers in Nascar history.
Les (:->
Name: Ralph Dale Earnhardt (d. 2001)
Born: April 29, 1951
Birthplace: Kannapolis, NC
Mother: Martha Coleman Earnhardt
Father: Ralph Lee "Ironheart" Earnhardt (d. 1973)
Siblings: Kaye, Kathy, Randy & Danny
Wife: Tersea Houston Earnhardt
Married: November 14, 1982
Children: Kerry Dale 12/8/1969, Kelly King 8/28/1972, Ralph Dale Jr 10/10/74, Taylor Nicole 12/20/1988
Winston Cup Stats:
Starts: 676
Winston Cup Wins: 76
Pole Positions: 22
Wins from the Pole Position: 3
Wins at Daytona International Speedway: 34
Record 9 wins at Darlington International Raceway
Top 5: 281
Top 10: 428
Consecutive Starts (1979-2001): 648
Races in the #2 car: 78
Races in the #3 car: 529
Races in the #15 car: 60
Races in the #98 car: 4
Races in the #8, 19, 30 & 77 car: 1 race each
Top 10 Winston Cup Year-End Points Standings (20 Full Racing Seasons): 18 Times
(12th place in 1982 & 1992)
Top 5 Year End Standings: 13 Times
Winston Cup Championships: 7 Time
IROC Championships: 3 Time
NMPA Driver Of The Year: 5 Time
Career Winnings: more then $41,639,662.00
Miscellaneous Facts:
53 consecutive races finished from 1997-1998 (Winston Cup 'modern era' record)
Only 6 time winner of the Busch Clash
95 DNF's out of 676 starts
7th of 12 drivers on the list of 600 or more starts (676)
Dale won 10 straight Daytona 125 qualifying races ~ 1990-1999 (12 total Daytona 125 wins)
Dale won 5 straight Goody's 300 Busch Series races at Daytona ~ 1990-1994 (7 total Goody's 300 wins)
First American driver to receive the AUTOSPORTS Gregor Grant Award
4 consecutive wins in 1987 (longest streak since Bobby Allison & Richard Petty each won 5 in a row in 1971)
22 full seasons in Winston Cup racing
First driver to win Rookie Of The Year and the Winston Cup Championship in consecutive seasons (1979-1980)
Dale was named the ESPY's Driver Of The Decade for the 1990's
Dale was the first Winston Cup driver to drive the Suzaka Circuitland, Japan
Dale was married three times and had 4 children between the three wives. Dale's first wife was Latane Brown (1968-1970), and is Kerry's mother. Dale's second wife was Brenda Lorraine Gee (1971-1977) and mother to Kelley & Dale Jr. Teresa (1982-d. 2001) is Dale's third wife and Taylor's mother.
Dales first Winston Cup start was on May 25, 1975 at the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Dale started 33rd and finished 22nd driving a Dodge owned by Ed Negre) Side note... Dale finished 22nd in the race and Richard Childress finished 23rd (Unfortunately, Richard Childress never won a Winston Cup race in the 15 years he raced, but was extremely successful as a car owner with Dale Earnhardt driving for him)
First speedway car Dale ever drove was in October, 1975 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (for Neil "Soapy" Castles)
In 1977, Dale Earnhardt made only one start in the Nascar Winston Cup Series. He raced the #19 Belden Asphalt Chevy Malibu for owner Henley Gray at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 9, 1977. The race marked Dale's fourth career Nascar Winston Cup start.
First Dayton 500 Race - Dale started in 10th place and finished 8th place, one lap down to the leader
Bought a house on Lake Norman
First Winston Cup Win at the Southeastern 500 at Bristol International Raceway on April 1, 1979
First pole at Riverside Speedway on June 8, 1979 (it occurred on his 24th Winston Cup start)
Rookie Of The Year - 1979
Busch Clash Winner - 1980
Dale wins the Atlanta 500 after starting from 31st place. Dale is tied with Bobby Labonte for the modern-era at 2 races each starting 30th position or lower in the field
National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year - 1980
Winston Cup Champion - 1980
Dale enters 31 races in the 1981 racing season and posts 9 Top Five's and 17 Top Ten's
Mid-season Rod Osterlund sells the team and Dale quits and goes to work for Richard Childress
Dale's season ends with a ? place finish in the Winston Cup Standings
Married Teresa Houston in November, 1982
Dale wins the Busch Nashville 420 at Nashville International Raceway on July 16, 1983 driving a Ford for Bud Moore
Dales 9th career win at the Talladega 500 at Alabama International Motor Speedway on July 31, 1983 driving a Bud Moore Ford
Dale wins the DieHard 500 at Talladega and becomes the first driver to win the race back-to-back
Dale got 4 career wins driving a Chevy for Richard Childress in 1985:
Miller High Life 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway on February 24, 1985
Valleydale 500 at Bristol International Raceway on April 6, 1985
Busch 500 at Bristol International Raceway on August 24, 1985
Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway on September 22, 1985
Busch Clash Winner - 1986
Dale shares NMPA's Driver of the Year honors with Tim Richmond - 1986
Winston Cup Champion - 1986
The only year Dale Earnhardt did not drive in "The Winston" since it's inception in 1985.
Makes his famous "pass in the grass" in the 1987 Winston Select
Dale wins the Winston All-Star Race - 1987
National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year
Winston Cup Champion - 1987
Dale won American Driver of the Year - 1987
Busch Clash Winner - 1988
Dale picks up 3 more career wins driving for Richard Childress in 1988:
Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 at Atlanta International Raceway on March 20, 1988
Pannill Sweat Shirts 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 24, 1988
Busch 500 at Bristol International Speedway on August 27, 1988
Dale adds a total of 5 more wins to his career stats for 1989:
First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 16, 1989
Heinz Southern 500 at Darlington International Raceway on September 3, 1989
Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta International Raceway on November 19, 1989
Dale swept both the spring and fall races at Dover Downs International Speedway in 1989:
Budweiser 500 Dover Downs International Speedway on June 4, 1989
Peak Performance 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway on September 17, 1989
Dale wins the Winston All-Star Race - 1990
National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year - 1990
IROC Champion - 1990
Winston Cup Champion - 1990
Busch Clash Winner - 1991
Winston Cup Champion - 1991
Dale wins the longest race on the Nascar Winston Cup circuit, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 1992
Busch Clash Winner - 1993
After winning the 1993 Winston, Dale becomes the first 3 time winner of the Winston All-Star Race (1987, 1990 & 1993)
Winston Cup Champion - 1993
Winston Cup Champion - 1994
Dale won American Driver of the Year - 1994
National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year - 1994
Busch Clash Winner - 1995
Racing in the Daytona 500, Dale hits a seagull
Dale runs a 'first time' special silver paint scheme for The Winston to celebrate 25 years of Winston partnership with Nascar racing. Dale, as well as many different teams begin to run 'special' or 'one time' paint schemes for the Winston as well as other races over the years
Dale wins his first ever road course at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, CA
IROC Champion - 1995
Dale becomes only the 3rd driver to ever start 500 consecutive Winston Cup races
Dale becomes the first team owner to win two Nascar Craftsman Truck Series Championships: 1996 & 1998 with Ron Hornaday as his driver
Dale is the first race car driver ever to appear on a Wheaties box
Dale won the Daytona 500 in his 20th try on the 40th Anniversary of the Daytona 500
When Dale won the Daytona 500 he had won the largest purse (to date) of $1,059,805.00
Dale was the first car owner to win championships in two different Nascar divisions:
1998 Nascar Busch Series with Dale Earnhardt Jr
1998 Nascar Craftsman Truck Series with Ron Hornaday
Dale appears in a cameo role as a cab driver in the movie "BASEketball"
The only driver to address the National Press Club in Washington, DC
Dale is voted "Nascar's Greatest Driver" by racing fans
Makes 600th consecutive Winston Cup start on August 15, 1999 at Watkins Glen Raceway
Dale went without his 'infamous' mustache for 4 races in 1999
Dale wins the Cracker Barrel 500 after starting in 35th place. Dale is tied with Bobby Labonte for the modern-era at 2 races each starting 30th position or lower in the field
Dale's last win was the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - October 15, 2000
IROC Champion - 2000
Dale completes his 22nd full Nascar Winston Cup Season
Career winnings totaling more then $41,000,000.00
February 18, 2001 - The Sport of Nascar Racing Lost A Giant. We All Lost A Friend.
Posthumously receives the Most Popular Driver Award, 2001
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation, founded by Teresa Earnhardt - December, 2002
The Dale Earnhardt Tribute Concert at Daytona International Speedway - June 28, 2003. Proceeds will go to support the Dale Earnhardt Foundation
Dale is one of four inaugural inductees of the Greater Charlotte Sports Hall of Fame - April 17, 2004
76 Winston Cup Wins:
1) First Winston Cup Win - Southeastern 500 at Bristol International Raceway - April 1, 1979 (Rod Osterlund, Chevy)
2) Atlanta 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - March 16, 1980 (Rod Osterlund - Chevy)
3) Valleydale Southeastern 500 at Bristol International Raceway - March 30, 1980 (Rod Osterlund, Chevy)
4) Busch Nashville 420 at Nashville International Raceway - July 12, 1980 (Rod Osterlund, Chevy)
5) Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway - September 28, 1980 (Rod Osterlund, Chevy)
6) National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - October 5, 1980 (Rod Osterlund, Chevy)
7) CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 at Darlington International Raceway - April 4, 1982 (Bud Moore, Ford)
8) Busch Nashville 420 at Nashville International Raceway - July 16, 1983 (Bud Moore, Ford)
9) Talladega 500 at Alabama International Motor Speedway - July 31, 1983 (Bud Moore, Ford)
10) Talladega 500 at Alabama International Motor Speedway - July 29, 1994 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
11) Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - November 11, 1984 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
12) Miller High Life 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway - February 24, 1985 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
13) Valleydale 500 at Bristol International Raceway - April 6, 1985 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
14) Busch 500 at Bristol International Raceway - August 24, 1985 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
15) Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway - September 22, 1985 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
16) TranSouth 500 at Darlington International Raceway - April 13, 1986 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
17) First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway - April 20, 1986 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
18) Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - May 25, 1986 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
19) Oakwood Homes 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - October 5, 1986 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
20) Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - November 2, 1986 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
21) Goodwrench 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway - March 1, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
22) Miller High Life 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway - March 8, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
23) TranSouth 500 at Darlington International Raceway - March 29, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
24) First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway - April 5, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
25) Valleydale Meats 500 at Bristol International Raceway - April 12, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
26) Sovereign Bank 500 at Martinsville Speedway - April 26, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
27) Miller American 400 at Michigan International Speedway - June 28, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
28) Summer 500 at Pocono International Raceway - July 19, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
29) Busch 500 at Bristol International Raceway - August 22, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
30) Southern 500 at Darlington International Raceway - September 6, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
31) Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Speedway - September 13, 1987 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
32) Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - March 20, 1988 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
33) Pannill Sweat Shirts 500 at Martinsville Speedway - April 24, 1988 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
34) Busch 500 at Bristol International Speedway - August 27, 1988 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
35) First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway - April 16, 1989 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
36) Budweiser 500 Dover Downs International Speedway - June 4, 1989 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
37) Heinz Southern 500 at Darlington International Raceway - September 3, 1989 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
38) Peak Performance 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway - September 17, 1989 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
39) Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - November 19, 1989 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
40) Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - March 18,1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
41) TranSouth 500 at Darlington Raceway - April 1, 1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
42) Talladega 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - May 6, 1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
43) Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Michigan International Speedway - June 24, 1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
44) Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway - July 7, 1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
45) DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - July 29, 1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
46) Heinz Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway - September 2, 1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
47) Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Richmond International Raceway - September 9, 1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
48) Checker 500 at Phoenix International Raceway - November 4, 1990 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
49) Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway - February 24, 1991 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
50) Hanes 500 at Martinsville Speedway - April 28, 1991 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
51) DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - July 28, 1991 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
52) Tyson Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway - September 29, 1991 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
53) Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - May 24, 1992 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
54) TranSouth Financial 500 at Darlington Raceway - March 28, 1993 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
55) Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - May 30, 1993 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
56) Budweiser 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway - June 6, 1993
57) Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway - July 3, 1993 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
58) Miller Genuine Draft 500 at Pocono International Raceway - July 18, 1993 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
59) DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - July 25, 1993 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
60) TranSouth Financial 500 at Darlington Raceway - March 27, 1994 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
61) Food City 500 at Bristol International Raceway - April 10, 1994 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
62) Winston Select 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - May 1, 1994 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
63) AC Delco 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway - October 23, 1994 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
64) First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway - April 9, 1995 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
65) Save Mart Supermarkets 300 at Sears Point Raceway - May 7, 1995 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
66) Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway - August 5, 1995 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
67) Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway - September 24, 1995 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
68) NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - November 12, 1995 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
69) Goodwrench Service 400 at North Carolina Motor Speedway - February 25, 1996 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
70) Purolator 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - March 10, 1996 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
71) Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway - February 15, 1998 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
72) DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - April 25, 1999 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
73) Goody's Headache Powder 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway - August 28, 1999 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
74) Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - October 17, 1999 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
75) Cracker Barrel 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - March 12, 2000 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
76) Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - October 15, 2000 (Richard Childress, Chevy)
1956 Ford Victoria (Dale's first race in 1969) - car #K-2 (pink)
1975 RPM Dodge Charger - car #8 (blue & yellow)
1976 Army Chevy Malibu - car #30 (orange)
1976 Hy Gain Chevy Malibu - car #77
1977 Belden Asphalt Chevy Malibu - car #19 (white with red & blue)
1978 Rod Osterlund's Chevy Monte Carlo - car #98 (blue & yellow)
1979 Crane Cams Chevy Monte Carlo - car #2
1979 Rod Osterlund's Pontiac Ventura (Mello Yello) - car #? (color ?)
1980 Mike Curb Oldsmobile 442 - car #2 (blue & yellow)
1980 Mike Curb Wrangler Chevy Monte Carlo - car #2 (blue & yellow)
1981 Wrangler Pontiac - car #2 (blue & yellow)
1981 Wrangler Pontiac - car #3 (blue & yellow)
1982 Wrangler Ford Thunderbird - car #15 (blue & yellow)
1983 Wrangler Ford Thunderbird - car #15 (blue & yellow)
1984 Wrangler Chevy Monte Carlo (with a yellow back end) - car #3 (blue & yellow)
1984 Wrangler Chevy Monte Carlo (with a blue back end) - car #3 (blue & yellow)
1985 Wrangler Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (blue & yellow)
1986 Wrangler Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (blue & yellow)
1987 Wrangler Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (blue & yellow)
1988 GM Goodwrench Chevy Camero - car #3 (black)
1989 Lowes Foods Pontiac - car #3 (green & white)
1990 GM Goodwrench Chevy Lumina - car #3 (black)
1991 GM Goodwrench Chevy Lumina - car #3 (black)
1992 GM Goodwrench Chevy Lumina - car #3 (black)
1993 GM Goodwrench Chevy Lumina - car #3 (black)
1994 GM Goodwrench Chevy Lumina - car #3 (black)
1995 GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
1995 GM Goodwrench Winston Select Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (silver)
1996 GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
1996 Olympics / GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (red, white & blue)
1997 GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
1997 GM Goodwrench PLUS Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
1997 Wheaties / GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (orange)
1998 Bass Pro Shops / GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (gold)
1998 Coca-Cola / GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (red)
1998 GM Goodwrench PLUS Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
1999 GM Goodwrench PLUS Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
1999 GM Goodwrench PLUS 25th Anniversary Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
1999 GM Goodwrench PLUS (GM sign on hood) Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
1999 GM Goodwrench / Wrangler Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (blue & yellow)
2000 GM Goodwrench PLUS Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
2000 GM Goodwrench Peter Max Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (multi-color)
2000 GM Goodwrench Taz No-Bull Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (red)
2001 GM Goodwrench PLUS Chevy Monte Carlo - car #3 (black)
Quotes from an interview prior to the March 31, 1996 Food City 500:
"I'm still aggressive, I'll always be aggressive. It's just a little more controlled now."