![](pickup.jpg)
Facts about Dale Jr.:
Born: October 10, 1974 (1974-10-10) (age 33)
Birthplace: Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
Awards: 1998 / 1999 Nationwide Series Champion
2000 The Winston XVI Winner
2004 Daytona 500 Winner
2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 NASCAR Most Popular Driver"
More facts about Dale Jr.:
Earnhardt, Jr. was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina to Brenda Lorraine Gee and Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. His maternal grandfather was a NASCAR car builder.[1] He began his Racing career at the late age of 17, competing in the Street Stock division at Concord (N.C.) Motorsport Park. His first race car was a 1979 Monte Carlo that he co-owned with older half-brother Kerry. Within two seasons, the young Earnhardt, Jr. had honed his driving abilities to the point of joining the Late Model Stock Car division. There he developed an in-depth knowledge of chassis setup and car preparation, while racing against Kerry and Dale's sister Kelley Earnhardt-Elledge. Junior ran 9 Busch Series races between 1996 and 1997 for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Ed Whitaker, respectively, before driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the Busch Series full time in 1998. Earnhardt, Jr. won consecutive NASCAR Busch Series Championships in 1998 and 1999 over Matt Kenseth. Also in 1999 he drove in 5 Winston Cup races in the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc., then in 2000 he went full time in the Winston Cup series.
[edit] 2000
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. racing the #8 at the Coca-Cola 600 in 2000.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. racing the #8 at the Coca-Cola 600 in 2000.
Earnhardt, Jr. competed for the Raybestos NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award in 2000. His primary competitor for the award was Matt Kenseth. Kenseth outran Junior in the season-opening Daytona 500. Earnhardt, Jr. scored wins at the Texas Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway. He also become the first rookie to win the All-Star exhibition race. Kenseth ultimately scored a 42-point victory in the rookie race.
Dale Jr. did have a part in recreating one Winston Cup milestone in 2000 when he competed with his father and half-brother Kerry in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan International Speedway. That occasion was only the second time that a father had raced against two sons. Lee, Richard and Maurice Petty had previously accomplished the feat.
Dale Jr. also wrote a non-fiction book based on his rookie season titled DRIVER #8
Teammates.:
![buy backlinks](http://www.yourhitstats.com/buy_backlinks-3696733.png)
buy backlinks