Let’s talk about Dale Earnhardt Jr. He’s young, and an extremely talented race car driver. He comes from a line of drivers. His Grand father, Ralph Earnhardt, and his Father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. I can not recall if I ever got to see Dale Sr. race, but from all the media, and all his past teammates that have recently retired from racing. I know that he was awesome as ever.
Dale Jr. started out in the Busch race, before he went to the cup race. His first Busch race was in 1996, the Carolina Pride, Red Dog 250. His first win came in 1998, at the Coca-Cola 300 at the Texas Motor Speed way. In 1998 and 1999, Dale Jr. won the Busch series championship for both years, with a total of 22 wins, and 60 top ten finishes, and nine pole wins. Phenomenal and he was just starting out.
On February 15th, 2004, Dale Jr. won the Daytona 500, which was only his fifth start. Dale also won the Golden Corral 500 on March 14th, 2004. Dale also, his first cup race attempt at Texas Motor Speedway, he won the DirecTV 500 on April 2, 2000. Also Jr. won the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond on May 6th 2000. Dale Jr. also won the Pepsi 400 at the Daytona International speedway on July 7th, 2001.
In 2004, Dale swept the weekend at Bristol by winning the Busch race and the Nextel cup race.
When it comes to racing at Talladega, Dale Jr. is a master, because between October 2001 and April 2003 Dale Jr. won all for races at that speedway.
Win, win and win, that’s the way that I see Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was also a back to back winner of the Checkers Auto parts 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway, November 2, 2003 and November 7, 2004.
Between 2005 and 2006, Dale Jr. only suffered with two wins, but he had 17 top five finishes and 30 top tens. He may not have made the chase that year or those years. But during those years, their engines were not so good. No one was running very well for those two seasons. In 2007 and that was a breaking point for Junior. He was frustrated, he hadn’t won any races, he didn’t get to lead very many laps for most of the season, he didn’t make the chase. But his cars, the engines weren’t so hot. He had 7 top five finishes, and 12 top ten finishes, with 9 DNF’s, which was all engine problems, and maybe a few wrecks here and there.
Dale Jr. Fed up with not winning, in those years decided to make a change. He drove for his Fathers company. DEI, for all of his young career, till a better opportunity came along. Which is, Hendrick Motorsports. Now he’s teamed up with Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon, and Casey Mears.
Dale Jr. had to give up his Number 8, but was fortunate enough to get to have the 88 for his number, which was Dale Jarrett’s number for the longest time. But they were nice enough to let or give Dale Jr. the number, he got new cars, new sponsors, and kicked the weekend opener with winning both races. He’s led many many laps so far in this 2008 season. He Won on June 15th, 2008, first cup points race. Junior has stayed in the top three in points for most of the season so far. Only yearning to be number one before the chase is over. Everything looks spectacular for Dale Jr. He’s a winner no matter how you look at him.
