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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale earnhardt jr (53167516235) (cropped).jpg
Earnhardt Jr. at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2023
Born Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr.
(1974-10-10) October 10, 1974 (age 50)
Kannapolis, North Carolina, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m)
Weight 178.5 lb (81.0 kg)
Achievements 1998, 1999 NASCAR Busch Series Champion
2004, 2014 Daytona 500 Winner
2000 The Winston Winner
2003, 2008 Budweiser Shootout Winner
2003, 2004, 2008, 2015, 2016 Can-Am Duel Winner
4 straight wins at Talladega Superspeedway (Fall 2001–Spring 2003)
2004, 2005, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2024 Xfinity Series Champion Owner
Awards Bill France Award of Excellence (2017)
Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame (2017)
NASCAR Hall of Fame (2021)
2003–2017 Cup Series Most Popular Driver (15 times)
1999 Busch Series Most Popular Driver
Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)
NASCAR Cup Series career
631 races run over 19 years
2017 position 21st
Best finish 3rd (2003)
First race 1999 Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
Last race 2017 Ford EcoBoost 400 (Homestead)
First win 2000 DirecTV 500 (Texas)
Last win 2015 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
26 260 15
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
147 races run over 28 years
2024 position 55th
Best finish 1st (1998, 1999)
First race 1996 Carolina Pride / Advance Auto Parts 250 (Myrtle Beach)
Last race 2024 Food City 300 (Bristol)
First win 1998 Coca-Cola 300 (Texas)
Last win 2016 ToyotaCare 250 (Richmond)
Wins Top tens Poles
24 96 10
Signature
Dale Jr signature
Statistics current as of September 20, 2024.

Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. (born October 10, 1974) is an American professional stock car racing driver, team owner, and broadcaster. He also works as a crew chief and hosts a podcast. Dale Jr. is a third-generation racer. His father was Dale Earnhardt, a 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. Many of his family members have also been involved in NASCAR racing.

After racing full-time until 2017, Dale Jr. became a part-time crew chief. He works with the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for driver Connor Zilisch in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He also joined NASCAR on NBC as a TV commentator in 2018. In 2025, he moved to Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports for new NASCAR TV coverage.

Dale Jr. drove the No. 8 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), his father's team, from 1999 to 2007. In 2008, he moved to Hendrick Motorsports and drove the No. 88 car until 2017. He has 26 wins in the Cup Series, placing him 32nd in NASCAR history. He also won the Xfinity Series championship twice, in 1998 and 1999.

Because of his success at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, he earned the nickname "the Pied Piper." He won the Daytona 500 twice (in 2004 and 2014). He also won the Most Popular Driver Award for 15 years in a row, from 2003 to 2017.

Dale Jr.'s Early Life and Racing Start

Growing Up and First Races

Dale Earnhardt Jr. grew up in Kannapolis, North Carolina. His mother was Brenda Lorraine Jackson, and his father was famous racer Dale Earnhardt. His grandfather, Robert Gee Sr., built NASCAR cars. Dale Jr. has an older sister, Kelley, an older half-brother, Kerry, and a younger half-sister, Taylor Earnhardt-Putnam.

When he was 17, Dale Jr. started his racing career. He competed in the Street Stock division at Motorsport Park in Concord, North Carolina. His first race car was a 1979 Monte Carlo that he owned with his brother Kerry. By age 19, he moved to the Late Model Stock Car Division. He raced on short tracks in North and South Carolina. He learned a lot about setting up cars and preparing them for races. He also worked as a mechanic at his father's car dealership. He studied automotive technology at Mitchell Community College.

Dale Jr. raced in nine Busch Series races in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, he started racing full-time for his father's team in the Busch Series. He won the NASCAR Busch Series Championships in 1998 and 1999. In 1998, he also raced in the Winston Cup Series in Japan. In 1999, he drove in five Winston Cup races to get ready for a full-time spot in 2000. His best finish was 10th place at Richmond.

Breakthrough Year: 2000

The year 2000 was a big one for Dale Jr. in the Winston Cup Series. He competed for the Rookie of the Year award against Matt Kenseth. Dale Jr. won his first race at Texas Motor Speedway. He broke his father's record for the fewest starts needed to win a first race in NASCAR's modern era. He also won at Richmond International Raceway. He was the first rookie to win The Winston, a special non-points race.

In 2000, Dale Jr. raced with his father and half-brother Kerry in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This was only the second time a father raced against two sons in NASCAR history. Dale Jr. finished the 2000 season with two wins and three Top 5 finishes.

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Earnhardt (far right) racing alongside Mike Skinner (far left) and Jerry Nadeau (left) at the 2000 Coca-Cola 600

Challenges and Triumphs: 2001-2003

The 2001 season started with the 2001 Daytona 500. Dale Jr. finished second to his teammate Michael Waltrip. Sadly, his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., crashed on the last lap and passed away. Dale Jr. and Waltrip asked fans not to blame anyone for the accident.

Later that year, Dale Jr. made a big comeback at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. He led most of the race and won, with Waltrip helping him hold off other cars. He also won at Dover in the first race after the September 11 attacks. After that win, he drove a special lap holding a large American flag. In October, he won another race at Talladega. He finished the 2001 season 8th in points with three wins.

In 2002, Dale Jr. had a tough season. He suffered a concussion in April but didn't admit it until later. He still managed to win both races at Talladega Superspeedway. He finished 11th in the points standings.

In 2003, Dale Jr. became a strong contender for the championship. He won his fourth straight race at Talladega, even after being in a big crash. He also won at Phoenix in October. He finished a career-best 3rd place in the points standings. He also won the NMPA Most Popular Driver award for the first time.

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Earnhardt at the Pepsi 400 in 2002

Winning the Daytona 500 Again: 2004-2006

In 2004, Dale Jr. won the 2004 Daytona 500. This was exactly six years after his father won his only Daytona 500. Dale Jr. almost won every event during Speedweeks that year.

In July 2004, Dale Jr. crashed a race car during practice. He suffered burns on his neck, chin, and legs. He had to miss parts of two races because of his injuries. In the fall, he became the first driver to win both the Busch and Nextel Cup races in the same weekend at Bristol.

He won his fifth Cup race of the season at Talladega. However, he was penalized 25 points for using bad language on TV. This, along with other issues, caused him to drop in the standings. He finished 5th in the 2004 NEXTEL Cup Chase with a career-high six wins. He also won his second Most Popular Driver Award.

In 2005, Dale Jr. had one win at Chicagoland. He finished 19th in points. He was reunited with his cousin, Tony Eury Jr., as his crew chief, and their results improved. He won the Most Popular Driver Award for the third year in a row.

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Earnhardt in the pits at the spring 2006 Bristol race

In 2006, Dale Jr.'s team, JR Motorsports, started racing in the Busch Series. During the spring race at Talladega Superspeedway, Dale Jr. and other DEI drivers used special black paint schemes. These looked like his father's famous No. 3 car. On Father's Day, he drove a vintage car to honor his grandfather and father. He won a race at Richmond in May 2006. He made it into the 2006 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup and finished 5th in the points standings.

Dale Earnhardt Jr and team in the winners circle photo D Ramey Logan
Earnhardt and his team in victory lane

Final Season at DEI: 2007

Dale Jr. started the 2007 season with a crash at the Daytona 500. He got his first Top 5 finish at Martinsville Speedway. On May 14, 2007, he was penalized 100 points because of illegal parts on his car. His crew chief was also fined and suspended.

On Memorial Day, he drove a special camouflage car in the Coca-Cola 600. This was to raise money for military families. He finished 8th in that race. In August, he earned his first pole position since 2002 at Pocono Raceway. He finished 2nd in that race. He tried to make it into the Chase for the Cup, but a blown engine at Richmond ended his hopes. This was his last chance to win a championship with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.. After the 2007 season, Dale Jr. won the Most Popular Driver award for the fifth time in a row.

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Earnhardt turning into the garage at Texas Motor Speedway in 2007

Moving to Hendrick Motorsports

On May 10, 2007, Dale Jr. announced he would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. He wanted to drive for a team that he believed could help him win a championship. He felt he needed more control over the team to achieve this goal.

On June 13, 2007, he announced he signed a five-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports. He replaced Kyle Busch and joined Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Casey Mears. His long-time sponsor, Budweiser, did not move with him to Hendrick. Dale Jr. said that joining Hendrick felt like joining a second family.

On August 15, 2007, it was announced that Dale Jr. would not take his No. 8 car number with him. His stepmother did not allow it. The No. 8 was special because his grandfather and father had used it. Dale Jr. moved to the No. 88 car, and Tony Eury Jr. remained his crew chief. On September 19, 2007, it was confirmed he would drive the No. 88 Mountain Dew AMP/National Guard Chevrolet Impala.

The No. 88 car also had family history. His paternal grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, drove it in 1957. Hendrick Motorsports also merged its Nationwide Series team with Dale Jr.'s JR Motorsports.

DaleNumber88Announcement
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left) standing between two different paint schemes for the No. 88 Chevy, with Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard, and Rick Hendrick, in Dallas, where the announcement was made on September 19, 2007

First Year at Hendrick: 2008

Dale Jr. started the 2008 season strong. He won the 2008 Budweiser Shootout, a non-points race. He led 47 laps, a record for that event. Five days later, he won the first Gatorade Duel. This was his third win in the duels. He finished 9th in the Daytona 500.

He was penalized 50 points in the Nationwide Series because his car's rear spoiler was too low. His crew chief was also fined and suspended.

At Michigan, Dale Jr. ended a 76-race winless streak. He saved enough fuel to win under a caution flag on the last lap. After this win, he didn't have much success. He finished 2nd to teammate Jimmie Johnson at Martinsville Speedway. He ended the season 12th in points.

Dale Earnhardt Jr addresses media at HMS headquarters
Earnhardt addresses the media at Hendrick Motorsports headquarters on January 23, 2008

Struggles and Changes: 2009-2011

The 2009 Daytona 500 was tough for Dale Jr. He had a missed pit stop and a penalty. He was also involved in a controversial crash with Brian Vickers. He later apologized but said Vickers had blocked him. He finished 27th.

He had a string of poor finishes. After the Coca-Cola 600, his crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was replaced by Lance McGrew. Results improved slightly, but Dale Jr. finished 2009 without a win. He ended the season 25th in points, a career low.

In 2010, Dale Jr. qualified second for the Daytona 500. He was involved in a multi-car wreck in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona, but was uninjured. In the Daytona 500, he finished 2nd. He also won the pole for the spring race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He finished the year with eight Top 10s and 21st in points. He won the Most Popular Driver award for the eighth time.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sonoma 2010
Earnhardt during the 2010 Toyota/Save Mart 350

In 2011, Dale Jr. earned his first pole position at Daytona. He finished 24th in the Daytona 500 after a crash. He had five Top 10 finishes in the next seven races. He almost ended his 104-race winless streak at the Coca-Cola 600 but ran out of fuel. He finished 2nd at Kansas. In September 2011, he signed a 5-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports. He made his first Chase for the Sprint Cup appearance since 2008. He finished 7th in the final points standings. He won the Most Popular Driver award for the ninth time.

Bristol, 31911
Earnhardt at Bristol

Ending the Winless Streak: 2012

In 2012, Dale Jr. finished 2nd in the Daytona 500. He had a strong start to the season with many Top 10 finishes. At Michigan, Dale Jr. dominated the race and won. This ended his 143-race winless streak, almost four years after his last win.

Dale Jr - Kobalt Tools 400 2012
Dale Jr. competing in the 2012 Kobalt Tools 400.

He gained the points lead for the first time since 2004 after a race at Indianapolis. However, a transmission problem at Pocono ended his streak of finishing every race on the lead lap. He qualified for the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Concussion and Recovery

On October 11, 2012, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Dale Jr. would miss two races due to a concussion. He had suffered a hard hit in a crash at Talladega. He had also had a concussion during a test in August. Regan Smith replaced him for those races. This was the first time an Earnhardt had not competed in a Cup Series race since 1979.

Dale Jr. was cleared to return to racing on October 23, 2012. He finished 12th in the final standings. He won the Most Popular Driver Award for the 10th year in a row, tying Bill Elliott's record.

Consistent Performance: 2013-2015

Dale Jr. started 2013 with strong finishes. He finished 2nd in the Daytona 500, his third second-place finish there since 2010. He briefly held the points lead. He had some tough races, including engine failures. He won the pole position at Kentucky, setting a new track record. He finished 5th in the points standings, with a career-high 22 Top 10 finishes. He won the Most Popular Driver Award for the 11th year, breaking Bill Elliott's record.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Texas April 2013
Earnhardt during practice for the 2013 NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

In 2014, Dale Jr.'s crew chief Steve Letarte announced he would leave to become a TV broadcaster. Dale Jr. won his second Daytona 500, exactly 10 years after his first win. He continued to have strong finishes, including 2nd place at Phoenix and Las Vegas. He had a crash at Texas where his car caught fire, but he was okay.

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Earnhardt's 2014 Cup Series car

He won his first race at Pocono, his second win of the season. This was the first time since 2004 that he had won multiple races in a year. He then won again at Pocono, sweeping both races there. This tied him with Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski for the most wins that season. He clinched a spot in the Chase playoffs.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sonoma 2014
Dale Jr. competing in the 2014 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma.

He was eliminated from the Chase after a crash at Talladega. However, he went on to win his first career race at Martinsville. He finished 8th in the final standings with four wins. He won the Most Popular Driver Award for the 12th year.

In 2015, Greg Ives became Dale Jr.'s new crew chief. Dale Jr. also got a new sponsor, Nationwide Insurance. He won the first Budweiser Duel race. He finished 3rd in the Daytona 500. He won his sixth race at Talladega, his first there since 2004. He also won the pole for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona and won the race. This was his second win of the year. He also passed 8,000 career laps led.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes the lead in the Daytona 500
Earnhardt racing alongside Joey Logano on lap 115 of the 2015 Daytona 500.

He was involved in a controversial incident at Kentucky with Danica Patrick. He spun her out due to faulty brakes. He made the Chase playoffs for the eighth time. He was almost eliminated at Dover but made a strong comeback to finish 3rd and advance. He was eliminated from the championship at Talladega after a late-race caution. He won his third race of the season at Phoenix. He won the Most Popular Driver Award for the 13th year.

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Earnhardt Jr. racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2015

Concussions and Retirement: 2016-2017

Dale Jr. started 2016 with a crash in the Sprint Unlimited. He won the first Can-Am Duel race. In the Daytona 500, he crashed and finished 36th. He had strong finishes at Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Texas, and Bristol. He won his first Xfinity Series race for JR Motorsports at Richmond.

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Earnhardt Jr. at the 2015 Toyota/Save Mart 350

Season-Ending Concussions

In July 2016, Dale Jr. was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms. He missed the rest of the season. Alex Bowman and Jeff Gordon filled in for him. On December 8, 2016, he was cleared to return to racing in 2017. Despite missing half the season, he won the Most Popular Driver Award for the 14th time. He also announced that he plans to donate his brain for concussion research after his death.

Final Full-Time Season: 2017

Dale Jr. started the 2017 Daytona 500 by qualifying 2nd, but crashed during the race. He had one Top 5 finish that year at Texas. On April 25, 2017, Dale Jr. announced that 2017 would be his last year racing full-time. He did not make the Playoffs. In his final restrictor plate race at Talladega, he started on the pole and finished 7th. In his final career race, he finished 25th. He ended the year 21st in points. He won his 15th and final Most Popular Driver award, a NASCAR record for consecutive wins.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Homestead 2017
Earnhardt during his final race as a full-time Cup driver in the 2017 Ford EcoBoost 400

Racing Part-Time: 2018-Present

After retiring from full-time racing, Dale Jr. began racing occasionally in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports. In 2018, he raced at Richmond, leading 96 laps and finishing fourth. In 2019, he raced at Darlington in a car designed like his father's 1975 Cup car. He finished fifth.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Richmond 2018
Earnhardt during an Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway in 2018.

In 2020, Dale Jr. was the Honorary Starter for the 2020 Daytona 500. He also competed in the Hooters 250 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, finishing 5th. In 2021, he raced in the Go Bowling 250, with his car honoring those who died in the September 11 attacks.

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Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona International Speedway in 2020

In 2022, Dale Jr. raced in the Xfinity Series at Martinsville, finishing 11th. In 2023, he expanded his Xfinity schedule to two races. At Bristol, he was running near the lead but had a fire in his car, finishing 30th. He finished 5th at Homestead-Miami. On September 20, 2024, Dale Jr. raced in the Xfinity Series Food City 300 at Bristol, finishing 7th despite car issues.

Other Racing Activities

Besides his 26 Cup Series wins, Dale Jr. has won nine exhibition races. He won the Budweiser Duels multiple times, The Winston, and the Budweiser Shootout. In 1998, he raced in Japan and finished sixth.

In 2022, Dale Jr. won his first iRacing MOONCAR series race. He also finished third at the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro. In November 2022, he finished ninth at the South Carolina 400. In October 2024, he announced he would reunite with Budweiser to race in select Late Model races in 2024 and 2025.

Team Ownership

Chance 2 Motorsports

In 2003, Dale Jr. and his stepmother Teresa started Chance 2 Motorsports. This team hired Martin Truex Jr. to drive in the Busch Series in 2004 and 2005. Truex won the championship both years. The team later closed in 2006.

JR Motorsports

Dale Jr. co-owns JR Motorsports with his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller. This team competes in the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series. In 2014, the team won its first NASCAR national championship with Chase Elliott in the Xfinity Series. In 2015, JR Motorsports started a part-time Truck Series team. They also have a successful regional late model program.

Crew Chief Role

In June 2025, Dale Jr. became the interim crew chief for JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch at Pocono Raceway. Zilisch won the race, giving Dale Jr. his first win as a crew chief in his first try.

Broadcasting Career

NBC (2018–2023)

In 2016, Dale Jr. was a guest analyst for NASCAR races on Fox and NBC. He officially joined the NASCAR on NBC broadcasting team in 2018. He made his debut on NASCAR America in March 2018. At his first race as a commentator, he famously said "Slide job!" when two drivers battled for the lead.

Amazon Prime Video and TNT (2025 onwards)

In February 2024, it was reported that Dale Jr. would leave NBC for Amazon and TNT's new NASCAR coverage starting in 2025. On May 7, 2024, this was officially announced. He will continue as a color commentator for Amazon Prime Video and TNT. He will also work on a content series with his Dirty Mo Media company.

Business Interests

Dale Jr. owns Hammerhead Entertainment, a media production company. It created TV shows like Back in the Day. He was also involved in building Alabama Motorsports Park, a race track near Mobile, Alabama.

He has his own line of eyeglass frames. In 2012, he opened Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Buick-GMC-Cadillac dealerships in Tallahassee, Florida. He co-owns the Whiskey River Beer and Wings restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also a co-owner of FilterTime, a home air filter delivery service.

Dale Jr. is a big fan of sim racing. In November 2020, he joined iRacing as an executive director. In 2023, a group including Dale Jr.'s company bought the CARS Tour racing series.

In Popular Media

DaleJrSignature
A Dale Jr. autograph

Films

Dale Jr. appeared in the 2006 film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. In the movie, he asks Ricky Bobby for his autograph. His No. 8 car also appeared in Herbie: Fully Loaded. His No. 88 car was featured in the 2011 film Transformers: Dark of the Moon as the vehicle for a character called Roadbuster.

Television

He hosted Back in the Day, a show about old races. He appeared on MTV Cribs twice, showing his homes. His company also helped create a special called "Fast Lane For Fun." In 2010, he appeared on Shaq Vs., racing against Shaquille O'Neal. In 2013, he was on Fast N' Loud, asking for a custom car. He has a home renovation show called "Renovation Realities: Dale Jr. and Amy." He voiced a character in an episode of Teen Titans Go!. In 2020, Dale Jr. hosted Lost Speedways, a show where he explored abandoned racetracks.

Voice Acting

  • His voice is in the video game Scarface: The World is Yours.
  • He voiced "Junior," a No. 8 car, in the Disney/Pixar movie Cars.
  • His voice was used for Chase Davis in an episode of Disney Channel's Handy Manny.
  • He played himself in an episode of The Cleveland Show.

Music

The band Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. was named after him. Dale Jr. is a fan of the band The Dangerous Summer and produced a music video for them.

Music Video Appearances

He has appeared in several music videos, including:

Radio

Dale Jr. hosted a show on Sirius XM Radio called Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Unrestricted. Since 2013, his company has produced The Dale Jr. Download, a weekly podcast about his race weekends. Edited versions of the podcast aired on NBCSN and later on NBC's Peacock streaming service.

Video Games

Dale Jr. has been on the cover of NASCAR video games twice: NASCAR Thunder 2003 and NASCAR The Game: Inside Line. He is a long-time member of iRacing and joined the company as an executive director in 2020. In 2022, a trophy for an iRacing series was named in his honor.

Politics and Beliefs

In a 2004 interview, Dale Jr. said he was a Republican and supported President George W. Bush. He also said he liked to hear both sides of an argument.

Dale Jr. has long been against the modern display of the Confederate flag at NASCAR events. He wrote in his 2001 autobiography that the flag means something different to him than to others. He has said he doesn't agree with everything everyone does. After a shooting in 2015, he said the flag is "offensive to an entire race" and "belongs in the history books."

In 2009, Dale Jr. was excited about President Barack Obama's inauguration. In 2012, he became a partner of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. He also spoke against a defense bill amendment that would stop military funding for sports sponsorships. In 2014, he recorded an advertisement encouraging people to vote.

In 2017, Dale Jr. shared that his family came from Germany in the 1770s to escape religious problems. He said, "America is created by immigrants." In August 2017, he spoke out against hatred and racism. In September, he supported peaceful protesters, quoting former president John F. Kennedy.

Personal Life

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Earnhardt with his family in late 2018

Dale Jr. is a big fan of the Washington Commanders football team. He often gets game updates during races. He once dreamed of playing football but said he "wasn't built" for it. He owns a private jet.

He also owns a collection of wrecked race cars on his property in North Carolina. These include cars from other famous drivers and some of his own.

On June 17, 2015, Dale Jr. announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend Amy Reimann. They got married on New Year's Eve 2016 at Richard Childress' vineyard. In March 2016, he announced his plan to donate his brain for concussion research.

In October 2017, Dale Jr. and Amy announced they were expecting their first child. Their daughter, Isla Rose Earnhardt, was born on April 30, 2018. Their second daughter, Nicole Loraine Earnhardt, was born on October 12, 2020.

On April 22, 2019, Dale Jr.'s mother, Brenda Jackson, passed away at age 65 after battling cancer. She had worked for JR Motorsports since 2004.

Dale Jr. supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation and has granted over 250 wishes.

On August 15, 2019, a private jet carrying Dale Jr., his wife Amy, daughter Isla Rose, and their dog Gus was involved in a landing accident and caught fire. No one was seriously injured. Dale Jr. still raced in an Xfinity Series event the following week after recovering.

Dale Jr. has kosmemophobia, which is a fear of jewelry.

Motorsports Career Highlights

NASCAR Cup Series Wins

  • 2000 DirecTV 500 (Texas)
  • 2000 Pontiac Excitement 400 (Richmond)
  • 2001 Pepsi 400 (Daytona)
  • 2001 MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 (Dover)
  • 2001 EA Sports 500 (Talladega)
  • 2002 Aaron's 499 (Talladega)
  • 2002 EA Sports 500 (Talladega)
  • 2003 Aaron's 499 (Talladega)
  • 2003 Checker Auto Parts 500 (Phoenix)
  • 2004 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
  • 2004 Golden Corral 500 (Atlanta)
  • 2004 Chevy American Revolution 400 (Richmond)
  • 2004 Sharpie 500 (Bristol)
  • 2004 EA Sports 500 (Talladega)
  • 2004 Checker Auto Parts 500 (Phoenix)
  • 2005 USG Sheetrock 400 (Chicagoland)
  • 2006 Crown Royal 400 (Richmond)
  • 2008 LifeLock 400 (Michigan)
  • 2012 Quicken Loans 400 (Michigan)
  • 2014 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
  • 2014 Pocono 400 (Pocono)
  • 2014 Gobowling.com 400 (Pocono)
  • 2014 Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 (Martinsville)
  • 2015 GEICO 500 (Talladega)
  • 2015 Coke Zero 400 (Daytona)
  • 2015 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (Phoenix)

NASCAR Xfinity Series Wins

  • 1998 Coca-Cola 300 (Texas)
  • 1998 MBNA Platinum 200 (Dover)
  • 1998 DieHard 250 (Milwaukee)
  • 1998 Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300 (California)
  • 1998 Carquest Auto Parts 250 (Gateway)
  • 1998 Autolite Platinum 250 (Richmond)
  • 1999 MBNA Platinum 200 (Dover)
  • 1999 Textilease/Medique 300 (South Boston)
  • 1999 Lysol 200 (Watkins Glen)
  • 1999 Carquest Auto Parts 250 (Gateway)
  • 1999 NAPA 200 (Michigan)
  • 1999 Autolite Platinum 250 (Richmond)
  • 2002 EAS/GNC Live Well 300 (Daytona)
  • 2002 Funai 250 (Richmond)
  • 2003 Koolerz 300 (Daytona)
  • 2003 Aaron's 312 (Talladega)
  • 2003 Winn-Dixie 250 (Daytona)
  • 2004 Hershey's Kisses 300 (Daytona)
  • 2004 Food City 250 (Bristol)
  • 2006 Winn-Dixie 250 (Daytona)
  • 2006 Carfax 250 (Michigan)
  • 2010 Subway Jalapeño 250 (Daytona)
  • 2016 Toyota Care 250 (Richmond)

See also

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