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Living things of the Paleocene Epoch
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{{Refimprove|date=April 2007}}
{{Infobox_NASCAR_driver|
Name = Ralph Dale Earnhardt,Jr.|
Image = [[Image:Dale Earnhardt Jr 2008 Cropped.jpg|250px|center]] |
Birthdate = {{birth date and age|1974|10|10}} |
Birthplace = [[Kannapolis, North Carolina]], [[United States|USA]]|
|Achievements = [[1998 NASCAR Busch Series|1998]] / [[1999 NASCAR Busch Series|1999]] [[Busch Series|Nationwide Series Champion]]


[[Category:Paleocene|Life]]
[[NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race|Sprint All-Star Race XVI Winner]]
[[Category:Cenozoic life]]


[[eo:Kategorio:Paleocena vivo]]
[[2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series#Daytona 500|2004 Daytona 500 Winner]]
[[ja:Category:暁新世の生物]]
|Awards = [[2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2003]] / [[2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2004]] / [[2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2005]] / [[2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2006]] / [[2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2007]] [[NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award|NASCAR Most Popular Driver]] |
[[zh:Category:古新世生物]]
| Cup_Car_Team = 88 - [[Hendrick Motorsports]]
| Previous_Year = 2007
| Prev_Cup_Pos = 16th
| Best_Cup_Pos = 3rd - [[2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2003]] |
| Cup_Wins = 18
| Cup_Top_Tens = 133
| Cup_Poles = 8
| First_Cup_Race = [[1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1999]] [[Coca-Cola 600]] ([[Lowe's Motor Speedway|Charlotte]]) |
| First_Cup_Win = [[2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2000]] [[Samsung 500|DirecTV 500]] ([[Texas Motor Speedway|Texas]]) |
| Last_Cup_Win = [[2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series#LifeLock 400|2008 LifeLock 400]] ([[Michigan International Speedway|Michigan]]) |
| Busch_Car_Team = 5 - [[JR Motorsports]]
| Busch_Wins = 22
| Busch_Top_Tens = 67
| Busch_Poles = 9
| Previous_Year = 2007
| Prev_Busch_Pos = 60th
| Best_Busch_Pos = 1st - [[1998 NASCAR Busch Series|1998]], [[1999 NASCAR Busch Series|1999]]
| First_Busch_Race = [[1996 NASCAR Busch Series#Carolina Pride / Red Dog 250|1996 Carolina Pride / Red Dog 250]] ([[Myrtle Beach Speedway|Myrtle Beach]])
| First_Busch_Win = [[1998 NASCAR Busch Series#Coca Cola 300|1998 Coca Cola 300]] ([[Texas Motor Speedway|Texas]])
| Last_Busch_Win = [[2006 NASCAR Busch Series#Carfax 250|2006 Carfax 250]] ([[Michigan International Speedway|Michigan]])
| Updated_On = [[August 3]], [[2008]]
}}

'''Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr.''' (born [[October 10]], [[1974]]), is a professional American race car driver who drives the #88 [[AMP Energy]]/[[United States National Guard|National Guard]] [[Chevrolet Impala|Chevrolet Impala SS]] in the [[NASCAR]] [[Sprint Cup (auto racing)|Sprint Cup]] series for [[Hendrick Motorsports]], and drives in the [[Nationwide Series]] part-time for the #5 car for his own team, [[JR Motorsports]]. He is the son of the late NASCAR legend [[Dale Earnhardt, Sr.]]. He is also the grandson of the late NASCAR driver [[Ralph Earnhardt]] and Robert Gee, a legend in the NASCAR shops, the half-brother of former driver [[Kerry Earnhardt]], the uncle of driver [[Jeffrey Earnhardt]],and the stepson of [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.|DEI]] team owner [[Teresa Earnhardt]].

==Popularity==
DALE EARNHARDT JR WON THE 2004 DAYTONA 500 RACE IN 2004 HE IS MY FAVIRET DRIVER IN THE SPIRNT
CUP SERIES I NEVER BEEN TO A RACE BUT I STILL UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DO IN THE RACE'S.DALE EARNHARDT JR IS A CO-OWENER OF THE PADUCAH RACETREK,KY OTER OWENERS ARE TONY STEWERT AND KEN SHARDER I FOUNED THIS OUT OCTOBER NINTH 2008 ON DALE JR SHIFTING GEARS DALE JR SHOW'S SKILS ON RESTIRTERPLATE RACES (GO DALE EARNHARDT JR AND TRY TO WIN 2 2008 RACES) Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the son of legendary driver [[Dale Earnhardt]] and came into racing in 2000. He quickly became loved due to the fact he is his father's son. After the death of Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 [[Daytona 500]] Earnhardt fans needed somewhere to turn and most looked at Earnhardt Jr. Dale Jr. began to win races and kept his father's company alive. His emotional win in the 2001 [[Pepsi 400]] gave fans something to cry about due to the fact his father died there earlier in the year. Dale Jr went on to become a dominator at [[Talladega Superspeedway]] winning a total of five races there and four in a row. His father was an amazing driver in [[restrictor plate]] racing and all the [[Alabama]] fans quickly loved Dale Jr. He still is the fan favorite at Talladega. Dale Jr. is also the current holder of the Most Popular Driver Award. He has won it several years in a row.

==Career==
===Early career===
Earnhardt, Jr. was born in [[Kannapolis, North Carolina]] to Brenda Lorraine Gee and [[Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr.]] His maternal grandfather, Robert Gee, Sr., was a NASCAR car builder. <ref>[http://www.wargs.com/other/earnhardt.html Ancestry of Dale Earnhardt Jr<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He began his Racing career at the late age of 17, competing in the Street Stock division at [[Concord, North Carolina|Concord]] ([[North Carolina|N.C.]]) Motorsport Park. His first race car was a 1979 Monte Carlo that he co-owned with older half-brother [[Kerry Earnhardt|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.

===2000===
[[Image:Dale Earnhardt Jr car.jpg|thumb|left|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 [[NEXTEL All-Star Challenge|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 Petty|Lee]], [[Richard Petty|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''.

[[Image:Daleearnhardtjr.jpg|thumb|right|Dale Jr. during the Pepsi 400 in 2002.]]
Dale Jr also attended college and earned a 2 year automotive degree in Mooresville, North Carolina

===2001===
In 2001, Earnhardt, Jr. came into the season hoping to avoid a sophomore slump, but the year proved to be one of the most tumultuous and memorable seasons the young driver would experience.

The major event of the season occurred in the final corner of the final lap of the [[2001 Daytona 500]]. As Earnhardt, Jr. finished second, to his teammate [[Michael Waltrip]], his father had crashed in turn four. [[Dale Earnhardt|Dale Earnhardt Sr.]] did not survive the [[Death of Dale Earnhardt|wreck]]. He was pronounced dead at 5:16 p.m. that Sunday. Junior raced at [[North Carolina Speedway|Rockingham]] the following weekend, but finished in 43rd-place after a wreck that looked eerily similar to his father's wreck just one week earlier. Earnhardt, Jr. rebounded and scored victories at [[Dover International Speedway|Dover]] and [[Talladega Superspeedway|Talladega]], as well as an emotional win in the return to [[Daytona International Speedway|Daytona]] in the Pepsi 400<ref>[http://racingwin.com/dale%20earnhardt%20jr%203rd%20win.htm 2001 Pepsi 400 win]</ref>, finishing eighth in points for the year.

The Talladega victory earned Junior a Winston No Bull 5 $1 million bonus. This season of emotion produced nine top-fives and 15 top-10 finishes, as well as two Bud Poles.

=== 2002-2003 ===
In 2002, Junior had a roller-coaster season. He struggled after enduring a [[concussion]] at [[California Speedway|Fontana]] in April — an injury he did not admit to until mid-September. In the three races following [[California Speedway|Fontana]], Earnhardt, Jr. finished no better than 30th. Still, Junior rallied to score two more wins at [[Talladega Superspeedway|Talladega]], a pair of Bud Pole Awards and an 11th-place finish in the standings.

2003 saw Earnhardt, Jr. become a true title contender. He scored a record-breaking 4th consecutive win at [[Talladega Superspeedway|Talladega]], but people were beginning to say that Earnhardt, Jr. could only win on the [[restrictor plate]] tracks, as his last win on a non-plate track had come at [[Dover International Speedway|Dover]] in 2001. He put that talk to rest as he scored a victory at [[Phoenix International Raceway|Phoenix]] in October, recording a career best 3rd place effort in the standings. He would also take home the NMPA Most Popular Driver award for the first time in his career.

=== 2004-2006===
[[Image:Dale Earnhardt Jr car2006.jpg|thumb|left|Jr. in the pits at the spring 2006 Bristol race.]]
In 2004, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the Daytona 500 <ref>[http://racingwin.com/dale_earnhardt_jr_win_10.htm 2004 Daytona 500 win]</ref>, six years to the day after his father won his only title in the "Great American Race." On July 18, during an off-weekend from NASCAR, Dale Jr. crashed a [[Chevrolet Corvette C5-R]] during a practice for the [[American Le Mans Series]] [[2004 Grand Prix of Sonoma|Grand Prix of Sonoma]] at [[Infineon Raceway]]. The car slid off course and hit a concrete barrier during warm-up the day of the race, rupturing a fuel line and causing the car to burst into flames with Earnhardt, Jr. still inside. He suffered second and third degree burns on his neck, chin, and legs partially due to not wearing a protective [[balaclava]] with his helmet. The burns prevented him from finishing two races where he was replaced by [[Martin Truex Jr.]] and his DEI teammate [[John Andretti]] in the middle of the races. In the fall, Junior became the first driver to sweep a weekend at [[Bristol Motor Speedway|Bristol]] by winning both the Busch race and Cup race in the same weekend.

He was able to qualify for the NASCAR ten-race playoff, and had his fifth NEXTEL Cup win of the season (a career high) at Talladega. However, he was penalized 25 points for use of an obscenity during the television broadcast, in violation of a NASCAR rule prohibiting participants from using obscene language. That incident, combined with two consecutive DNF's in the playoffs, eventually dropped him out of the running, and he finished fifth in the 2004 NEXTEL Cup chase despite a career-high 6 wins at Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, Talladega and Phoenix. He also picked up his 2nd consecutive Most Popular Driver Award.

At the close of the 2004 season it was revealed that [[Tony Eury, Sr.]] would be promoted to the team manager position for the DEI corporation, while [[Tony Eury, Jr.]] became the crew chief for the DEI #15 driven by Michael Waltrip for the 2005 season. Peter Rondeau, a Chance 2 employee who also helped Earnhardt, Jr. win the Busch Series race at Bristol in August, became the crew chief for Earnhardt, Jr. in 2005. Rondeau served as Earnhardt's crew chief until the [[Coca Cola 600]] weekend when he was replaced with DEI chief engineer [[Steve Hmiel]], who helped Jr. score his lone win of 2005 at Chicagoland in July. Earnhardt, Jr. was eliminated from any possible competition for the [[NEXTEL Cup]] championship after suffering an engine failure at the [[California Speedway]]. Earnhardt, Jr. was reunited with cousin [[Tony Eury, Jr.]] after the fall Richmond weekend, and results improved immediately. For the 3rd straight year, Earnhardt, Jr. took home the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award.

[[Image:dalejrmerchandisehauler.JPG|thumb|right|Dale Earnhardt, Jr. merchandise hauler.]]
Meanwhile, Earnhardt's proficiency as a car owner continued. His race team outside of DEI, JR Motorsports, in 2005 fielded a car in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series, winning once and qualifying for the Four Champions playoff. Mark McFarland moved to the Busch Series in 2006, driving the #88 JR Motorsports US Navy Chevrolet, with Richard Childress Racing providing assistance; however, he was fired before the fall Michigan race, the [[Carfax 250]]. He was replaced by [[Robby Gordon]] and [[Martin Truex, Jr.]] for the rest of the year. Long-time short track racer Shane Huffman drove Earnhardt's USAR Hooters ProCup car in 2006.
In 2006, during the spring weekend at [[Talladega Superspeedway]], Junior and other DEI drivers drove with special black [[livery|paint schemes]] on their cars, intended to be reminiscent of his late father's famous #3 paint scheme. On [[Father's Day]] 2006, Dale Jr. drove a vintage Budweiser car at Michigan International Speedway to honor both his grandfather ([[Ralph Earnhardt]]) and father, who at one point in both their careers used the number 8 car. After rain caused the race to be ended early, Dale Jr. finished 3rd with [[Kasey Kahne]] winning the race. After 17 races in the 2006 season, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. sat 3rd in the championship standings with one win, coming at Richmond in May 2006.

During the race at New Hampshire, Junior experienced the second engine failure of his 2006 season, ultimately leading to a 43rd place finish. Following New Hampshire was the race at Pocono, where Junior was running in the middle of the pack when he crashed in turn 2. These two events catapulted him to 11th in the points standing, out of the Chase for the Cup. At [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]], Junior and his crew made a critical decision to stay out on the final pit stop to get a much needed top-ten finish to move him up to tenth in the points.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made the [[2006 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup]] after finishing 17th in the [[Chevy Rock and Roll 400]] at [[Richmond International Raceway]] on [[September 9]], [[2006]]. His points position going into the Chase was 6th. Earnhardt, Jr. finished the season 5th in the point standings, 147 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.

=== 2007 ===
[[Image:DaleEarnhardtJr.Texas2007.jpg|right|thumb|Earnhardt, Jr. turning into the garage at Texas in 2007]]
Earnhardt, Jr. began the [[2007 in NASCAR Nextel Cup|2007 NEXTEL Cup season]] by finishing 32nd at the [[2007 Daytona 500|Daytona 500]]. His first top ten came at [[Bristol Motor Speedway]] in the [[Food City 500]] when he finished 7th. His first Top 5 came at [[Martinsville Speedway]] in the Goody's Cool Orange 500. He led 136 laps and finished 5th. Jr. collected his third top 10 of the season and his 8th at [[Talladega Superspeedway]] with his 7th place performance in the 2007 [[Aaron's 499]]. On May 14th Earnhardt, Jr. was docked 100 driver championship points, car owner [[Teresa Earnhardt]] was docked 100 owner points, and his crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was fined $100,000 and suspended for 6 races due to the use of illegal mounting brackets used to attach the wing to his car. During the April race at [[Texas Motor Speedway]] he drove the last 10 laps in the #5 car of [[Kyle Busch]] owned by [[Rick Hendrick]]. Although it was gracious of Earnhardt to do so, the circumstances of the situation (Busch stormed out of the car past his crew, believing his car to be damaged beyond repair), and that both Busch's and Earnhardt's contracts expiring at the end of the season, the experience was life changing.

On [[May 27]], [[2007]], Dale Jr. rode a [[camouflage]] #8 car in the [[Coca-Cola 600]] on [[Memorial Day]] to raise money for the families of military troops. [[Jeff Gordon]], [[Jimmie Johnson]], [[Greg Biffle]], [[Mark Martin (NASCAR)|Mark Martin]], [[Ward Burton]], [[Denny Hamlin]], [[Casey Mears]], [[Shane Huffman]] and [[Jon Wood]] also changed their paint schemes for the occasion. <ref>[http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6790150 FOX Sports on MSN - NASCAR - Dale Jr. camo car, other schemes honor troops<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Earnhardt, Jr. finished eighth, after leading with seven laps to go, but [[Casey Mears]] finished with the win. <ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=2884595 ESPN - Mears stretches fuel to win Coca-Cola 600, first Cup race - Nascar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Image:DaleEarnhardtJrSharpieBuschCar2007Miami.jpg|thumb|right|Jr.'s #8 Sharpie Busch car at the Sharpie display at the 2007 Ford Championship Weekend at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.]]

On [[August 5]], [[2007]], Dale Jr. earned his first pole position in a race since 2002 at [[Pocono Raceway]]. Although [[Kurt Busch]] won the race, Earnhardt had a dramatic comeback to finish second after spinning out and experiencing shock troubles. Earnhardt led for eight laps before Busch took over.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=2&id=2962313 ESPN - Kurt Busch makes statement with dominating win at Pocono - Nascar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On [[August 12]] at [[Watkins Glen International]], Dale Jr. was making the push into the Top 12 of the [[Nextel Cup]] standings from his #13 position. After being at the #2 position during the race, Jr. had engine problems on lap 64 and had to end his race day. After the Glen, Junior tried furiously to reach the 12th spot in standings. However, a resurgence by [[Kurt Busch]] and a blown engine during the final race at [[Richmond International Raceway|Richmond]] ended his Chase hopes.That was Dale's last chance to participate for the Championship at [[Dale Earnhardt Inc.]](DEI). After the 2007 season, Earnhardt Jr. won the NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver award for the 5th consecutive time.

===Move to Hendrick Motorsports===
{{wikinews|NASCAR%27s_Earnhardt_Jr_Signs_5-year_Contract_with_Hendrick_Motorsports|Earnhardt signs with Hendrick}}
After much speculation, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. announced on [[May 10]], [[2007]], that he would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company founded by his father, to drive for another team in 2008. Earnhardt expressed that his decision was based entirely on his desires to achieve his career goal of a [[Sprint Cup|Sprint Cup Championship]], and his apparent belief that he would not be able to attain that objective while driving for DEI. He said that unless he could gain majority ownership, and therefore control, of DEI, that he was not confident in the organization’s ability to field the elite level equipment that would yield the elusive title.<ref>[http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/LC/082707.html Dale Earnhardt Jr., The Gravest Loss In The History Of NASCAR?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

[[Image:DaleNumber88Announcement.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left) standing between of two different paint schemes for the #88 Chevy. He stands with Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, director of the [[Army National Guard]], and Rick Hendrick, in Dallas where the announcement was made on September 19, 2007.]]
On [[June 13]], [[2007]], he announced at a press conference that he had signed a five-year contract with [[Hendrick Motorsports]], replacing [[Kyle Busch]]. He has joined [[Hendrick Motorsports|Hendrick]] which is the team of [[Jimmie Johnson]], [[Jeff Gordon]] and [[Casey Mears]].

On [[July 13]], [[2007]], it was announced that his long-time primary sponsor [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]] would not be with Earnhardt Jr. when he made the move to Hendrick. Other contractual agreements in place at Hendrick Motorsports are said to have prevented a relationship with Bud.<ref>[http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/07/13/dearnhardtjr.budweiser/index.html NASCAR.COM - This Bud's for ... ? Dale Jr., longtime sponsor to split - Jul 13, 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

On [[August 15]], [[2007]] it was announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. would not be taking his familiar #8 with him to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. His late grandfather, [[Ralph Earnhardt]], used that number and Earnhardt Jr. picked it when he entered the Cup Series in 1999. Earnhardt's father also used #8 early in his career. Earnhardt Jr. blamed his stepmother for not allowing the #8 to move with him to Hendrick Motorsports. Earnhardt Jr. said negotiations broke down when Teresa Earnhardt asked for part of the licensing revenue, along with wanting the number back after he retired. <ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=2980474 ESPN - Dale Jr.: Teresa Earnhardt made 'ridiculous' requests for No, 8 - Nascar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Earnhardt Jr. moved to the #88 car with [[Tony Eury, Jr.]] coming to Hendrick to remain as his crew chief. <ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=3004004 ESPN - Eury to remain Earnhardt's crew chief; Mears to drive No. 5 - Nascar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On [[September 19]], the official announcement was made that Earnhardt Jr. would be driving the #88 [[Mountain Dew AMP]]/[[United States National Guard|National Guard]] Chevy for the 2008 season.

The #88, according to NASCAR archives, was driven by Ralph Earnhardt, his paternal grandfather, in 1957. His maternal grandfather, Robert Gee, was one of the first employees of All Star Racing, initially a Late Model Sportsman (now Nationwide Series) team with Gee as Hendrick's partner, which is now Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick said about Earnhardt and his uncles, "I can look at Robert Gee Jr., or Jimmy Gee, or Dale Jr., and all I see is Robert Gee. They're the spitting image of him. I go back and look and pictures from when we did things together, and I have to say, I owe Robert a lot."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/opinion/06/13/dearnhardtjr.rhendrick.dcaraviello/1.html|title=Earnhardt and Hendrick Come from the Same Place|accessdate=2008-01-02|date=2007-06-13|publisher=NASCAR.COM}}</ref>

Starting in the 2008 season, Hendrick Motorsports merged its Nationwide Series team to Dale's JR Motorsports, with the cars coming from Dale's shop, which employees his mother and uncles.

===2008===
[[Image:Junior wins Budweiser Shootout .jpg|thumb|Dale Earnhardt Jr. performing a burnout after his win in the 2008 Budweiser Shootout]]
[[Image:Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 2008 Amp Chevy Impala.jpg|thumb|right|Earnhardt at Daytona]]
[[Image:Dale Earnhardt Jr addresses media at HMS headquarters.jpg|right|thumb|Dale Earnhardt, Jr. addresses the media at [[Hendrick Motorsports]] headquarters on [[January 23]] [[2008]].]]
Earnhardt started the season by winning the 2008 [[Budweiser Shootout]]<ref>[http://racingwin.com/dale_jr_shootout_2008.htm Bud Shootout win]</ref>, a non-points paying exhibition. It was his first race for Hendrick. He led for a total of 47 of 70 laps, a Budweiser Shootout record. He followed that up five days later with a win in the [[Gatorade Duel]]. This was his third career win in the duels, however he was unable to follow it up with victory in the [[Daytona 500]], finishing 9th. [[Ryan Newman]] was the winner of the event.

Dale Earnhardt Jr was docked 50 points because his rear spoiler didn't meet the specified height in the Nationwide Series. His crew chief [[Chad Walter]] was fined $35,000, suspended for 6 races and was placed on probation until [[December 31]], [[2008]]. Team owner [[Rick Hendrick]] was also docked 50 owner points along with Jr. <ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004192964_digs21.html Post-Daytona penalties handed down], by Jaymes Song, [[Seattle Times]], Feb 21, 2008</ref>

Dale Jr. started 15th for the [[Auto Club 500]] because qualifying was rained out and the lineup was determined by owner points from last season. However on lap 21, teammate [[Casey Mears]] went up into the wall due to water on the track. When he came back down the track he took out Jr. When the cameras caught up with Earnhardt in the garage, he was irritated about the fact that they were even out on the track in those conditions. It had been raining all weekend and water was "weeping" out of the cracks on the track causing slick spots in the corners. The race was later rain delayed until Monday and Earnhardt finished the race 40th.

A string of four top-5 and top-10 finishes over the following weeks improved his position in the points standings from 23rd to fourth.

Despite winning the pole for the [[2008 Samsung 500|Samsung 500]] at [[Texas Motor Speedway|Texas]], Junior finished the race a lap down in 12th position.

Earnhardt Jr. made his 300th career Sprint Cup start at the [[2008 Aaron's 499|Aaron's 499]] at [[Talladega Superspeedway]]. Despite running a strong race (including leading 12 times), his involvement in a late-race collision left him with a 10th place finish in the race.

A string of three top-5 finishes in the next four races continued Earnhardt Jr.'s consistency, and maintained his 3rd place position in the points standings.

At [[2008 Lifelock 400|Michigan]], Dale Jr. broke his 76-race winless streak, managing to stretch his fuel mileage enough to allow him to win under a caution on the last lap of a green-white-checkered (overtime) finish.

==Season statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Starts || Wins || Top Fives || Top Tens || Poles || Earnings ($) ||Rank || Team
|-
|[[1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1999]] || 5 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 162,095 || 48th || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2000]] || 34 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 2 || 2,610,400 || 16th || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2001]] || 36 || 3 || 9 || 15 || 2 || 5,384,630 || 8th || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2002]] || 36 || 2 || 11 || 16 || 2 || 4,570,980 || 11th || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2003]] || 36 || 2 || 13 || 21 || 0 || 4,923,500 || 3rd || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2004]] || 36 || 6 || 16 || 21 || 0 || 7,201,380 || 5th || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2005]] || 36 || 1 || 7 || 13 || 0 || 5,761,830 || 19th || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2006]] || 36 || 1 || 10 || 17 || 0 || 5,466,100 || 5th || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2007]] || 36 || 0 || 7 || 12 || 1 || 5,221,970 || 16th || [[Dale Earnhardt, Inc.]]
|-
|[[2008 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series|2008]] || 26 || 1 || 9 || 14 || 1 || 3,755,670 || 9th || [[Hendrick Motorsports]]
|-
| '''Career''' || '''317''' || '''18''' || '''85''' || '''135''' || '''8''' || '''45,058,555''' || --
|}<ref>[http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/dearnhar01/cup/#stats Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Stats from Nascar.com]</ref>

([[Template:NASCAR driver results legend|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position)
<div style="float:left;">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:80%"
! Year
! Team
! No.
! Make
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! 17
! 18
! 19
! 20
! 21
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! 23
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! 31
! 32
! 33
! 34
! 35
! 36
! NSCS
! Points
|-
! [[2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series|2008]]
! [[Hendrick Motorsports|'''Hendrick Motorsports''']]
|bgcolor="#00008B" style="color: white;"|'''88'''
! [[Chevrolet|'''Chevrolet''']]
|bgcolor=#FFDF9F| [[2008 Daytona 500|DAY]]<br /><small>9</small>
|bgcolor=#FCD765| [[2008 Auto Club 500|CAL]]<br /><small>40</small>
|bgcolor=#DFD5DF| [[2008 UAW-Dodge 400|LSV]]<br /><small>2</small>
|bgcolor=#DFDFDF| [[2008 Kobalt Tools 500|ATL]]<br /><small>3</small>
|bgcolor=#DFDFDF| [[2008 Food City 500|BRI]]<br /><small>5</small>
|bgcolor=#FFDF9F| [[2008 Goody's Cool Orange 500|MAR]]<br /><small>6</small>
|bgcolor=#DFFFDF| [[2008 Samsung 500|TEX]]<br /><small>12</small>
|bgcolor=#FFDF9F| [[2008 Subway Fresh Fit 500|PHO]]<br /><small>7</small>
|bgcolor=#FFDF9F| [[2008 Aaron's 499|TAL]]<br /><small>10</small>
|bgcolor=#DFFFDF| [[Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400|RIC]]<br /><small>15</small>
|bgcolor=#DFDFDF| [[2008 Dodge Challenger 500|DAR]]<br /><small>4</small>
|bgcolor=#DFDFDF| [[2008 Coca-Cola 600|LOW]]<br /><small>5</small>
|bgcolor=#FCD765| [[2008 Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks|DOV]]<br /><small>35</small>
|bgcolor=#DFDFDF| [[2008 Pocono 500|POC]]<br /><small>4</small>
|bgcolor=#FFFFBF| [[2008 Lifelock 400|MIC]]<br /><small>1</small>
|bgcolor=#DFFFDF| [[2008 Toyota/Save Mart 350|INF]]<br /><small>12</small>
|bgcolor=#CFCFFF| [[2008 Lenox Industrial Tools 301|NHA]]<br /><small>24</small>
|bgcolor=#FFDF9F| [[2008 Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola|DY2]]<br /><small>8</small>
|bgcolor=#DFFFDF| [[2008 USG Sheetrock 400|CHI]]<br /><small>16</small>
|bgcolor=#DFFFDF| [[2008 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard|IND]] <br /><small>12</small>
|bgcolor=#DFFFDF| [[2008 Pennsylvania 500|PO2]]<br /><small>12</small>
|bgcolor=#CFCFFF| [[2008 Centurion Boats at the Glen|GLN]]<br /><small>22</small>
|bgcolor=#CFCFFF| [[2008 3M Performance 400|MI2]]<br /><small>23</small>
|bgcolor=#CFCFFF| [[2008 Sharpie 500|BR2]]<br /><small>18</small>
|bgcolor=#DFFFDF| [[2008 Pepsi 500|CA2]]<br /><small>11</small>
|bgcolor=#DFDFDF| [[2008 Chevy Rock & Roll 400|RI2]]<br /><small>4</small>
|bgcolor=#DFDFDF| [[2008 Sylvania 300|NH2]]<br /><small>5</small>
|bgcolor=#CFCFFF| [[2008 Dodge Dealers 400|DV2]]<br /><small>24</small>
|bgcolor=#DFFFDF| [[2008 LifeLock 400|KAN]]<br /><small>13</small>
| [[2008 AMP Energy 500|TL2]]
| [[2008 Bank of America 500|LW2]]
| [[2008 TUMS QuikPak 500|MR2]]
| [[2008 Pep Boys Auto 500|AT2]]
| [[2008 Dickies 500|TX2]]
| [[2008 Checker Auto Parts 500|PH2]]
| [[2008 Ford 400|HOM]]
! '''8TH'''
! '''5385'''
|}

==Business interests==
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. owns Hammerhead Entertainment, a media production company that created and produces the TV show [[Back in the Day (SPEED Channel program)|Back In the Day]], which airs on [[SPEED (TV channel)|SPEED]]. Hammerhead also produces "Shifting Gears", a new show on [[ESPN2]]. He is partners with a group of investors who are building Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr Speedway.<ref>[http://www.alabamamotorsportspark.com/about/ About Alabama Motorsports Park]</ref> The track is located near Mobile, Alabama and will feature stock car racing, KART racing and a road course. This will join with his partial ownership of [[Paducah International Raceway]]. Earnhardt has also opened a bar named Whisky River in downtown [[Charlotte, NC]] in April 2008.<ref>[http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24161034/ Earnhardt Jr. branches out into bar business]</ref> Earnhardt also has a candy bar out with Palmer called Big Mo', available in peanut butter or caramel flavors. Recently Earnhardt made his own recruiting division for the Navy named the Dale Jr. Division in honor of his Nationwide Series sponsor. Dale Jr. and his sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge own a Realty company called DEJ Realty, Inc., which was formed in April 2007.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

==Media appearances==
[[Image:Dale Earnhardt Jr..jpg|thumb|right|A Dale Jr. autograph on a Friday ticket for the 2000 Penzoil 400 at the [[Homestead-Miami Speedway]].]]
Earnhardt has made numerous appearances in television, radio, commercials, movies, and music videos.

===Television===
Dale Jr. currently hosts ''Back In The Day'' a show that takes a step back in time to races in the 60's and 70's with trivia and information. The show debuted on the [[SPEED Channel]] on [[February 6]] [[2007]]. He has also appeared in an episode of the TV show ''[[Yes, Dear]]''.

===Radio===
He hosts a show on [[XM Satellite Radio]]'s [[XM Sports Nation]] called ''Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s Unrestricted''.

===Advertisements===
Earnhardt, Jr. has also appeared in advertisements for [[Adidas]], [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]], [[KFC]], [[National Automotive Parts Association|NAPA]], [[Domino's Pizza]], [[Global Gillette|Gillette]], [[Enterprise Rent-A-Car]], [[Drakkar Noir]] Cologne, [[Wrangler Jeans]], [[Chevrolet]], [[Army National Guard]],[[Polaris Industries]] ATVs, [[Tylenol]] Rapid Release Gels, [[Champion]] Spark Plugs, [[US Navy]], [[Go Daddy]], and [[AMP Energy Drink]].

===Movies===
He appeared in the 2006 film ''[[Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby]].'' In the movie, he walked up in a crowd and asked Ricky Bobby ([[Will Ferrell]]) for his autograph, but told him "don't tell any of the other drivers." He also appears in a deleted scene where he calls Ricky a "dirty liar" and asks him for money he owed him.

====Voice work====
* His voice is featured in the [[video game]] ''[[Scarface: The World is Yours]]''.

* Dale Jr. has a voice in [[Disney]]/[[Pixar]]'s movie ''[[Cars (film)|Cars]]'' as a #8 car named "Junior" with the DEI logo on the hood.

===Music video appearances===
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has made appearances in several music videos, including:

* "[[Show Me What You Got]]" with [[Jay-Z]] along with [[Danica Patrick]].
* [[Matthew Good Band]]'s video for Anti-Pop, as he is friends with band front man, [[Matthew Good]].
* [[Sheryl Crow]]'s "[[Steve McQueen (song)|Steve McQueen]]" music video.
* [[Trace Adkins]] video entitled "Rough and Ready".
* [[Three Doors Down]]'s "[[The Road I'm On]]" along with [[Tony Stewart]].
* [[O.A.R.]]'s "Right on Time".
* [[Nickelback]]'s "[[Rockstar (Nickelback song)|Rockstar]]" along with other celebrities.
* "[[Warrior]]" by [[Kid Rock]]

===Other===
Dale Jr. appeared on the cover of [[EA Sports]]' [[NASCAR Thunder 2003]]. Dale Jr. is helping design [[Alabama Motorsports Park]] with his brother [[Kerry Earnhardt]], and sister Kelly Earnhardt Elledge. He also won the [[Chex]] Most Popular Driver Award for the 5th straight year.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.dalejr.com/ Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Official Site]
* [http://www.jrnation.com/ JrNation.com - Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Official Fan Club]
* [http://www.infieldparking.com/ Infield Parking, a NASCAR social networking website co-owned by JR Motorsports]
* [http://blogs.infieldparking.com/DaleJr/ Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Official Blog]
* [http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/dearnhar01/cup/index.html NASCAR.com's Profile on Earnhardt, Jr.]
* [http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=earnhda02 Career statistics at racing-reference.info]
* [http://www.jrmotorsport.com JR Motorsports]
*{{imdb name|id=1060352|name=Dale Earnhardt, Jr.}}
*[http://www.alabamamotorsportspark.com/ Alabama Motor Sports Park, the race track he is helping design]
*[http://multimedia.foxsports.com/car-racing/nascar/drivers/dale-earnhardt.htm Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Video at FoxSports Video Archive]
*[http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/driver?statsId=88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on FoxSports.com]

{{start box}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Michael Waltrip]] |
title= [[Daytona 500|Daytona 500 winner]] |
years= 2004|
after= [[Jeff Gordon]]
}}
{{end box}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Bill Elliott]] |
title= [[NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award|NASCAR Most Popular Driver]] |
years= 2003 &ndash; 2007 |
after= |
}}
{{end box}}

{{start box}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Jeff Gordon]] |
title= [[NASCAR EA cover athlete]] |
years= [[NASCAR Thunder 2003|2003]] |
after= [[Tony Stewart]] |
}}
{{end box}}

{{NASCAR EAcover-Athlete}}
{{NASCAR Nationwide Champions}}
{{HendrickMotorsports}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Earnhardt, Dale Jr.}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:American racecar drivers]]
[[Category:People from Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Daytona 500 winners]]
[[Category:International Race of Champions drivers]]
[[Category:Kannapolis, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:NASCAR drivers]]
[[Category:NASCAR owners]]

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Revision as of 02:22, 11 October 2008

Living things of the Paleocene Epoch

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