Introduction Hey everybody this is Nikki. I made this site cause i am a huge Dale Jr fan as you can see and i hope you guys enjoy this site as much as i did making it. As you browse through it you can find info of Dale as well as pics of him and some of his dad.I am also a fan of his dad but i was saddened when he died back in 2001. I am dedicating this site not only to dale jr but also in the memory of his father. I hope you guys enjoy it. Driver Profile Before he was the face of NASCAR's new generation, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was very proud of his skills as an oil changer at his father's car dealership in North Carolina. "If I wasn't racing, I'd be working at my dad's Chevrolet dealership," said Earnhardt Jr. "It was only a couple of years ago that I was the fastest oil-change man in the place." His career began meekly, as he and brother Kerry sold a go-kart for $500 so that they could buy an old Monte Carlo racecar for $200. Legend has it that Junior later sold that car to current Busch Series driver Hank Parker Jr. Earnhardt Jr. took his first green flag at the Concord Speedway in the street stock division at the age of 17. He garnered three feature victories from 1994-96. Just two years later, Earnhardt Jr. dominated the Busch Series, winning 13 races and two series championships in 1998-99. His first title in 1998 made him the first third-generation NASCAR champion, joining father Dale Sr. and grandfather Ralph. His maternal grandfather, Robert Gee, was a well-known NASCAR fabricator and mechanic. Junior wasted no time making an impact in NASCAR's elite series when he entered in 2000. He won at Texas in his 12th career start and at Richmond in his 16th start. He also became the first rookie to win NASCAR's all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. It also didn't take long for Junior to become the unofficial poster boy of the sport. He's appeared on countless magazine covers, numerous television talk shows and was the focus of two MTV documentaries: “Cribs” and “True Life, I’m a Race Car Driver.” Junior is also a co-owner of "Chance 2 Motorsports," a Busch Series race team. Biography Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Biography Born: Date of Birth: Birthplace: Residence: Height: Weight: Marital Status: Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr. October 10, 1974 Concord, NC Mooresville, NC 6'0" 165 lbs. Single FPRIVATE "TYPE=PICT;ALT=Dale Earnhardt Jr. picture photo" Dale Jr.’s Favorites: Food: Actor: Actress: Music: TV Show: Band: Car: Animal: Beer: Song: Favorite Racetrack: Favorite Movie: Chips and Salsa, chicken Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tom Hanks Cameron Diaz, Susan Ward Rap, Alternative rock Seinfeld Third Eye Blind; Pearl Jam Red Corvette His cat "Bud" Budweiser! "Anything" - Third Eye Blind Daytona Lonesome Dove, Days of Thunder Dale Jr.'s Hobbies: "Hangin' with my friends, trips to Lake Norman, computers, fast cars, watchin' the TV, chillin' the most!1" Other aliases: "Little E", "Junior" Biography Shortcuts: Favorites List Up Close and Personal BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL 1999 - First Five Races in Winston Cup 2000 -- Rookie Year in Winston Cup 2001 -- Sophomore Year in Winston Cup And don't forget to check out the Racehippie Dale Earnhardt Jr. pictures galleries! Dale, Jr. was born Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on October 10, 1974 in Concord, NC to the parents of Brenda and Dale Earnhardt. Dale Jr.’s parents divorced when he was just three and both he and his sister Kelly went to live with their mother. Brenda raised her three children during the next three years until tragically, their home caught fire and while figuring out what to do, Brenda sent her children to live with their Dad. Brenda soon moved to neighboring Virginia, but didn't move out of her children's lives. "I've always been in constant touch with them, and I've made many, many trips down (Interstate) 85," she said, "sometimes back and forth in a day. Both with him and with Kelly, we've always stayed very close."2 Though it would seem that because of who his daddy is, Dale Jr. would have been popular in high school, that wasn’t how it was. He hung out with a small group of friends who pretty much hung tight and away from the so called "in crowd". Needless to say, his popularity status has since changed and all of the recognition he now gets, still catches him off-guard at times. Though he has many fans, he doesn’t see himself as anyone "special" though he doesn’t mind all the attention he gets from the girls now! 3 Junior's father, "Big E", followed in his own father's footsteps in having Dale Jr. learn the sport from the ground up. He showed him how to get started, then let him find his own way. When Dale Jr. decided as a teenager that he'd like to try auto racing, he started much as his grandfather and father had. He didn't have the best cars, the best engines or the best parts, but he had a desire to learn and advance, and he was willing to spend his nights under the belly of a race car, working out the dirty details with used tools. 3 And being the son of the infamous driver of the #3 Goodwrench Chevy, one might think that that Dale, Jr. would have had an advantage when it came to pursuing a career in NASCAR Racing. Instead of having things handed to him, he got there by starting at the bottom and proving himself all the way up through the ranks to the Winston Cup Circuit. After high school Dale Earnhardt Jr. went to college and earned a two year automotive degree, after which he was hired to work as a mechanic in his father's Chevy dealership where he made only a little over $15,000 a year. 3 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. began his professional driving career at age 17, racing competitively in the street stock division. Dale Jr. says, "I got started in racing by getting up $500 and buying a street car out of the junkyard, building it into a street stock car when I was 17 years old, my brother, Kerry, and I did that together." 3 Within two seasons, he progressed to NASCAR's Late Model Stock Division. His first race car was a 1978 Monte Carlo that he co-owned with Kerry. He raced Late Model Stock Cars in South Carolina at both Florence Motor Speedway and Myrtle Beach Speedway in 1994. He also raced at tracks like Nashville Speedway USA, Hickory Motor Speedway and Tri-County Speedway in Hudson, N.C. There, he developed an in-depth knowledge of chassis setup and car preparation, while racing against Kerry and their sister Kelley. 1996 was a great year for Junior, he made 53 starts, grabbed 8 poles and won 2 races while finishing second in the points at Florence. He raced in the Late Model Stock Division for three seasons, and captured 12 Bud poles proving to himself and everyone else that he was ready to go to the NASCAR Busch Grand Nationals. With his father's guidance and his own experience on the short tracks throughout the Carolinas, Dale Earnhardt Jr was ready to take a bold step forward 1,3,4,5. In his inaugural Busch Series event at Myrtle Beach, S.C., in 1996, Earnhardt Jr. posted a seventh place starting position and a respectable 14th place finish.5 BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL After running a limited schedule in 1997, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. began his first full NASCAR Busch Grand National season in 1998, driving the No. 3 ACDelco Monte Carlo. The car, owned by Dale Earnhardt Inc., had been driven the previous season by the NBS Rookie of the Year, Steve Park. Steve moved up to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series after only one season and now drives the #1 Pennzoil car owned by Dale Earnhardt Inc. The next driver to get behind the wheel of the No. 3 ACDelco Chevrolet was Dale Jr., all eyes were intently focused on the young driver4. Dale's first race in the car was the NAPA 300 at Daytona International Speedway. It was a tough start in his first full season as a Busch driver. Running over the jack on pit road during the race was the least of his problems, he was involved in a wreck where the car completely over-turned in mid-air and landed back on it's wheels. He wasn't injured but it sure gave him and his father some anxious moments. 4 Earnhardt's first win in the series came on April 4, 1998, when he took the checkers at Texas Motor Speedway. This was his first win in the Busch series and in a rather nice coincidence, the win came in his 16th Busch race, just like his dad's first Winston Cup victory came in his 16th start. 4 As his seat time accumulated over the '98 season, Dale gained valuable experience. The No. 3 ACDelco team went on to win 6 more races in 1998, at Dover, Milwaukee, California, Indianapolis, Richmond, and St. Louis. The performance of Dale Jr. and the ACDelco Team was turning heads. Budweiser, the "Official Beer of NASCAR," noticed the young driver and saw potential. On Sept. 21, 1998, it was announced that beginning in 1999, Budweiser would be the primary sponsor for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on NASCAR Winston Cup Series through 2004! 4 Dale Earnhardt Jr. with the guidance of crew chief Tony Eury, Sr. became the first third-generation driver to win a NASCAR championship after starting the season-ending race at Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex. Although a blown engine on the 89th lap ended his day early, it didn't stop him from pulling on pit road, getting out of the car and putting his arms in the air acknowledging to the crowd that he and the #3 ACDelco Team were without a doubt the 1998 Busch Grand National Champions. The crowd responded with a loud cheer that could be heard over the revving engines. After the race, Earnhardt celebrated the title with an emotional lap around the track at Homestead with his father, the legendary Seven-Time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, Dale Earnhardt.4 When a person reflects on the 1998 season one should remember that Dale Jr. only had 9 BGN starts prior to 1998. By the end of the '98 season, the team had collected 3 poles, 16 top-5's, 22 top-10's, 7 wins and the NASCAR Busch Grand National championship! A new star was born.4 1999 -- First 5 Races in Winston Cup In 1999, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. returned to the No. 3 ACDelco Busch car for a second and final season. The pressure was on and in addition to Busch schedule, Dale Jr. would also run a limited five race schedule in NASCAR's elite Winston Cup division with the No. 8 Budweiser Chevy. His personal schedule was exciting but also rigorous. The ACDelco Team knew that it was important to defend the title, nothing less would be expected.4 It wasn't until the 15th race of the 1999 season at Dover Downs International Speedway that Dale Jr would capture his first win. This was the same track that he won his second BGN race in 1998. Once the ACDelco Team tasted the victory at Dover Downs, they went on to win the next two races at South Boston Speedway and Watkins Glen. Watkins Glen was a special race for Dale Jr. His transmission wanted to jump out of gear but he was still able to pass one of North America's premier road racers, Ron Fellows, for his third BGN win in a row - something that only a few drivers have accomplished. Added to the excitement of the Watkins Glen weekend was a concert in which Dale Jr jammed on the drums with his friends from "Bridge", an alternative band from Charlotte, NC. 4 Things turned to concern on July 3rd when Dale Jr. was injured in a practice crash at Milwaukee in which he chipped the tip of a bone on his shoulder. Ron Hornaday stepped in and qualified the back-up car in the 15th position. The next day, even though he was battered and sore, Dale Jr. raced the car to a 3rd-place finish. When the checkered flag fell on the 1999 season, Earnhardt had earned six wins overall and Busch Series season record winnings of $1,680,598. He had entered the '98 Busch season with very limited experience in NASCAR. Two championships, and more than $3 million total prize money. Later, Dale Jr. elected to join the Winston Cup circuit full-time for 2000. 4 The ACDelco Team struggled at Myrtle Beach and Pikes Peak but came back to win at Gateway International Raceway, Michigan Speedway and Richmond International Raceway, where his mother, Brenda Jackson joined her son in victory lane. 4 When the end of the s Dale Jr Facts For the past few weeks, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been quietly going about his job. Well, he's been about quiet as someone can be who is a high-paid Budweiser spokesman, the subject of an intriguing Rolling Stone article, on the way to becoming a third-generation legend and one of the world's most fast-moving, rock-n-rolling eligible bachelors. But in the world of NASCAR racing, Dale Jr. has been overshadowed recently by the likes of Bobby Labonte and Rusty Wallace. Labonte has been efficiently winning big races while marching to his first Winston Cup title, while Wallace has been leading the circuit in wins, poles and laps led. (In fact, just about everything but points.) FPRIVATE "TYPE=PICT;ALT=Dale Earnhardt Jr. (right) has benefited from having Dale Sr. as his owner during his rookie season. " Dale Earnhardt Jr. (right) has benefited from having Dale Sr. as his owner during his rookie season. (AP) Shoot, Dale Jr. hasn't even been getting the same amount of attention as another Dale. Dale Jarrett has been making a strong big to defend his 1999 Winston Cup title, putting some pressure on Labonte with consistent high finishes. Dale Jr. isn't even the Dale Earnhardt getting the most attention. His father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., has been hanging close behind Jarrett and Labonte, doing well enough that fans of the Intimidator are dreaming of a record eighth championship. The younger Earnhardt, meanwhile, has been trying to prove that he has what it takes to one day contend for his own title. Despite winning the Busch title the past two seasons, Earnhardt hasn't been a dominating Winston Cup driver. He's made plenty of mistakes, suffered through mechanical failures and been tangled up in costly wrecks. Earnhardt got plenty of attention early in the season for his flashes of brilliance, but lately his work has been the steady kind needed to make a title run. Earnhardt is hoping that the stretch of steadiness is coming at the right time, so that he can use it to win rookie of the year honors. Little E finished 11th on Sunday at Darlington, making him the highest-finishing rookie for the second consecutive race. Earnhardt Jr. has moved up to 14th in the points standings, 44 points behind teammate Steve Park. He trails Matt Kenseth by 23 points in the rookie standings, 254-231. "We've got 10 races left, and anything can happen," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We keep learning new things every week, and we're looking forward to racing again at Richmond." For a rookie, Dale Jr. has had tremendous Winston Cup success already at Richmond. Last year, Richmond was one of the five Cup races that Little E raced to help him make the transition to NASCAR's highest division. In the spring of this year, Dale Jr. won at Richmond, making him the first driver of the season to have two victories. "We've been qualifying better and running better lately, and we've always had a pretty good combination at Richmond," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We finished 10th at Richmond last fall and didn't even have brakes for the last part of the race. If we can keep everything together and get a break or two, I think we might have a good chance to give 'em a run for their money up there again. I love racing under the lights. There's just something about it that gets your juices flowing." Earnhardt has been juiced up all season. He and Kenseth are having what are two of the best seasons ever by a Winston Cup rookie, though their accomplishments are dimmed somewhat by Tony Stewart's unbelievable rookie season in 1999. Dale Jr. gives the credit to his team, which is led by the father-son duo of Tony Eury and Tony Eury Jr. The Eurys have made most of the key decisions for Dale Jr.'s team, from pit stop strategies to hiring personnel for the engineering and motor departments. "It surprises me that it's me in the car," Earnhardt Jr. said. "It doesn't surprise me that the car is doing it. I can't go out there and do that without a good motor. I can't go out there and do that without a good race car. I can't get in another race car and be able to do the same thing." Earnhardt is appreciative. He understands that his father, who owns his race team, and the Eurys have helped nurture him to greatness. He knows that he would never be the center of attention without his crew. "Their work ethic has just got harder," Earnhardt Jr. said. "They've been putting in a lot of hours, and I've been tearing up some race cars. I walk in that shop and they're all shiny and ready to go. It's been a big surprise, and I think that's why things have happened so fast. What the public sees is just me, but there's a lot of people in the background." Dale Jr Stats Flamboyant off the track and quite tenacious on it, there’s no stopping this young man from Kannapolis, N.C. -- That is, until he reaches his goal of winning a Winston Cup championship. 2001 victories: Pepsi 400, MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400, EA Sports 500. Born: Kannapolis, N.C. Resides: Mooresville, N.C. Family: Earnhardt is single. Team: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Car: Chevrolet Sponsor: Budweiser Car owner: Dale Earnhardt Crew chief: Tony Eury 2001 review: Three wins - all since July - provided Earnhardt Jr.'s team a strong burst of momentum down the stretch and his team became much more consistent. 2002 outlook: The added experience and strong second-half performance last season leave Earnhardt Jr. is a good position to battle for the championship. Earnhardt won the NASCAR Grand National series championship in 1998 and 1999. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who came into the 2001 season thinking the biggest obstacle he would face would be a sophomore slump, endured the loss of the his father in the Daytona 500 and went on to establish himself as one of the sport's superstars. Earnhardt finished second in the Daytona 500, but faltered with a first lap crash and 43rd-place finish the next weekend at Rockingham. He didn't stay down for long, though. Junior scored three emotional victories and came back to finish eighth in points. The first victory came when the NASCAR Winston Cup Series returned to Daytona for the Pepsi 400. The second came at Dover, Del., in the first race after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Earnhardt also won at Talladega in the EA Sports 500 -- the site of his father's final victory. That Talladega victory earned Junior a Winston No Bull 5 $1 million bonus that pushed him to a season winnings total of $5,827,542. That was bolstered by nine top-fives and 15 top-10 finishes, as well as two Bud Poles. Before the 2000 season, many thought Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the front-runner for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. It didn't pan out that way frequent challenger Matt Kenseth outran Junior in the Daytona 500, and never let up in his run to the title. Kenseth ultimately scored a 42-point victory in the rookie race. Earnhardt's close relationship with his cousin, car chief Tony Eury Jr., crew chief Tony Eury and his crew, was both a blessing and a curse. The continuation of his Busch Series success into Winston Cup created an atmosphere that was too distracting and disruptive for the operation's success to continue. Junior did have a part in recreating one Winston Cup milestone in 2000 when he competed with his father and older half brother, Kerry Earnhardt, 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 Earnhardt Jr. started 2001 with vivid dreams of a Daytona 500 victory in his No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet. Despite the idiosyncrasies of his rookie year, Earnhardt has proven beyond any doubt that his name isn't the only key to success. Earnhardt began his professional driving career at the age of 17, competing in the Street Stock division at Concord (N.C.) Motorsport Park. His first race car was a 1978 Monte Carlo that he co-owned with Kerry. Within two seasons, Dale 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 their sister Kelley. 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. Hey This is Nikki. I am sorry that I don't have any pics up yet because I am really not for sure how to add them. So if anyone knows how to add pics just let me know by signing my guestbook. I would appreciate it. Thanks.