Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bio

TEAM INFO

Car: #8 Chevrolet

Primary Sponsor: Budweiser

Owner: Dale Earnhardt INC.

Crew Chief: Tony Eury Sr.

PERSONAL

Hometown: Concord, N.C.

Birthdate: October 10th, 1974

Hobbies: Watersports, and Computers

Career Stats (Busch Series)

Years Racing

3

Total Races

68

Total Wins

13

Total Top 5's

31

Total Top 10's

42

Total Winnings

$2,222,726

Biography

As though Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't have enough hype and expectations entering the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Tony Stewart had to go and change everybody's thinking about rookies. Still, there are those who think that if anyone can match the '99 Raybestos Rookie of the Year, it's the '98 and '99 NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division champion.

That's probably asking too much, but Earnhardt has proven beyond any doubt that his name isn't the only thing that's gotten him to the level where he is. The young man can drive a race car.

He followed up his amazing, from-out-of-nowhere 1998 championship campaign with a '99 run that was just as strong. "Little E" totaled 13 wins in two-plus seasons in NASCAR's junior circuit, and he's bringing along a lot of the guys who gave him the race cars in which he was so dominant.

In his first taste of NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing, Earnhardt held his own. Mechanical problems at New Hampshire knocked him out early and relegated him to a 43rd-place finish, but other than that the No. 8 Chevy ran very strong. Earnhardt made all five races he entered in the first round of qualifying, and had an average finish of 16.0 in the four races he finished. He notched his first career top-10 in his fourth start with a 10th-place at Richmond.

The pressure will be on, but Jr. has been faced with big expectations ever since he's been in racing, and he's always met them.

Earnhardt Jr., a resident of Mooresville, N.C., began his professional driving career at the age of 17, competing in the street stock division at Concord (N.C.) Speedway. Within two seasons, the young Earnhardt had honed his driving abilities to the point of joining the NASCAR Late Model Stock Division, where he developed a knowledge of chassis setup and car preparation.

With his father's guidance and his own experience on the short tracks throughout the Carolinas, he was ready to take a bold step forward to the NASCAR Busch Series.

In his inaugural NASCAR Busch Series event at Myrtle Beach, S.C. in 1997, Earnhardt Jr. posted a 7th-place starting position and a respectable 13th-place finish. He picked up his first NASCAR Busch Series victory on April 4, 1998 at Texas Motor Speedway. After that, he went on to win at Dover, Milwaukee, Fontana, Indianapolis, Richmond and St. Louis.

A third generation NASCAR driver, Earnhardt Jr. would like nothing more than to follow in the tire marks of his grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, and his father, Dale Earnhardt.

"You hope your kids turn out OK and then when they take up what you do, you worry about 'em because of the danger factor," Dale Earnhardt said. "I didn't tell him no, but you just let them do what they've got to do. I guess he watched his grand daddy Ralph Earnhardt enough to learn how to drive.

"He looks like he's been doing it for awhile. He's got a good rhythm and a good feel for the cars. He's got confidence, and he really communicates well with the crew. If he stays focused, then whatever happens, happens. Hopefully the championships will come."

Earnhardt Jr. says he's never worried about living up to his surname, and his success on the NASCAR Busch Series circuit didn't really come as a surprise.

"I don't really think about carrying on the family racing name," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I'm just so proud of my family and real proud to be involved with my father in racing. It's a good relationship. I'm proud of my father and grandfather and what they've done.

"I'm so happy to be a part of this team. We have a great unit, and that's what it takes. It takes a lot more than just a driver. The guys taught me a lot last season, and I'm sure I'll keep learning about racing for many years to come."