(1951-2001)
By: Ashley D.
·
He was born Ralph Dale Earnhardt on April 29 1951 in Kannapolis, North
Carolina.
·
He began racing at the age of 15 in 1966.
·
He dropped out of school in the ninth grade to race full-time and work
as a mechanic.
·
1973, his dad, Ralph Earnhardt died of a heart attack at the racetrack
while working on his car.
·
May 1975 his son made his own stock car racing debut finishing 22nd at
Charlotte Motor Speedway.
·
1978- Earnhardt caught the attention of Rod Osterlund.
·
1979- He won his first win on Nascar at the Southeastern 500 in Bristol,
Tennessee.
·
1979- He won Rookie of the Year.
·
1980- He won his first Winston Cup Championship.
·
He was the first person to win Rookie of the Year and a Winston Cup Championship
back to back.
·
1984- He joined Richard Childress’ racing.
·
1986- He won his 2nd Winston Cup Championship.
·
1987- He won his 3rd Winston Cup Championship. That year he finished
in the top 5 in 21 of 29 races.
·
1990- He won his 4th Winston Cup Championship.
·
1991- He won his 5th Winston Cup Championship.
·
1993- He won his 6th Winston Cup Championship.
·
1994- With a win at the AC Delco 500 in North Carolina, he won his 7th
and last Winston Cup Championship, tying Richard Petty for most career
titles.
·
1996- He was the first driver to start in 500 consecutive races.
·
1997- He broke $30 million in career earnings, which is the most
ever for a race car driver.
·
1998- He won his first Daytona 500. That season he finished 8th in points,
his 18th top 10 finish in his 20 yr. career.
·
He has 2 sons, Dale Jr. and Kerry, and 1 daughter Kelly from his first
2 marriages.
·
He married his 3rd wife Teresa in 1982 and had another daughter Taylor.
·
Some of his common nicknames are “the Man in Black”, “Ironhead” and “ Intimidator”.
·
He died February 18 2001 on the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona
500.
