| Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr., was born October 10th, | | | | which was primarily based on his rookie season. |
| 1974 in Concord, North Carolina with the | | | | The year after was one of the worst years for |
| Earnhardt fire in his belly. Although his parents | | | | Earnhardt Jr. In 2001, he finished second in the |
| were separated when he was still a toddler, he is | | | | 2001 Daytona 500 but his father had crashed in |
| still very close to both his parents. A fire that | | | | turn four and did not survive. Earnhardt Sr's death |
| burned down his mother's house forced him and | | | | did visibly shake Earnhardt Jr's demeanor although |
| his sister, Kelly, to live with Earnhardt Sr. and his | | | | he did race at Rockingham the following weekend. |
| new wife, Teresa, while his mother moved to | | | | Eerily enough, he finished at the 43rd place after |
| Virginia. Earnhardt Jr. was a bit of a rascal in his | | | | a wreck that was very similar to the one that his |
| younger days so when his father saw fit to send | | | | father had perished in the week earlier. Earnhardt |
| him to military school for two years although, by | | | | Jr. got back on his feet and won more races at |
| the time Earnhardt Jr. reached the age of 15, he | | | | Dover, Talladega and Daytona. In 2002, Earnhardt |
| decided to be like his father. When he was 17, | | | | Jr. had to suffer through a concussion at Fontana |
| Earnhardt Jr. managed to pull together $500 after | | | | in April which resulted in finishing places that were |
| scrimping and saving to buy his first racecar from | | | | no better than the 30th spot. He did however |
| a junkyard. It was a 1979 Monte Carlo that | | | | bounce back and was able to get two more wins |
| needed a lot of work. Then he, his half-brother, | | | | at Talladega as well as a pair of Bud Pole Awards |
| Kerry, and father worked at fixing it up. His | | | | and an 11-th place finish in the standings. In 2003, |
| father was only determined to help with rebuilding | | | | Earnhardt Jr. was really showing his true nettle |
| the racecar and nothing more. Earnhardt Jr. was | | | | when he was awarded the NMPA Most Popular |
| left on his own devices once he got behind the | | | | Driver award as well as winning at Phoenix in |
| wheel to learn how to build up his own skills. Once | | | | October. He has gone on to win a great many |
| high school was over, Earnhardt Jr. enrolled for a | | | | more championships which, many agree, would |
| two year course at the Mitchell Community | | | | have made Earnhardt Sr. proud. Earnhardt Jr. is |
| College in North Carolina. He signed up for a | | | | not just an excellent racer, he is also a business |
| course in automotives and during that time, he | | | | man. He owns Hammerhead Entertainment which |
| worked as a mechanic with his father. Word got | | | | is a media production company and he is also |
| around quick about his oil changes. With his | | | | partners with the investors who are currently |
| co-owned racecar (Kerry had a say in it), | | | | building the Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale |
| Earnhardt Jr. went on to join the Late Model | | | | Earnhardt Jr. Speedway. He has also made several |
| Stock Car division. It was then that he fine tuned | | | | cameos on music video clips, on radio and several |
| his skills and gained more much needed knowledge | | | | TV shoes and advertisements. |
| on cars. One of his competitors then was his | | | | For NASCAR Merchandise, Up to the minute |
| sister, Kelley. The only third generation NASCAR | | | | News, and everything NASCAR including Nascar |
| champion only began his racing career at age 17. | | | | Jackets , Race Car jackets and Racing Jackets |
| He won the 1998 and 1999 Busch series titles | | | | we have them at the best prices everyday! Not |
| over Matt Kenseth. In 2000, Earnhardt Jr., | | | | only am I the owner of but I am also the senior |
| competed for his first Winston Cup victory. He | | | | editor, website developer and a HUGE fan of |
| also wrote a non-fiction book titled "DRIVER #8" | | | | NASCAR! |