How Dale Earnhardt Won 10 Rolex Watches Despite Never Winning the 24 Hours of Daytona

Timekeeping is the most important element of motorsports, and nobody does timekeeping better than Rolex. In fact, for many iconic races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona, the winners are given a Rolex Daytona, a watch that has deep roots in motorsports. Interestingly, no race car driver, past or present, has won more Rolex Daytona watches than Dale Earnhardt.

This is because there was a time, between 1990 and 1999 when NASCAR drivers were awarded that watch.

During that time, the winners of the Twin 125s, now known as Bluegreen Vacations Duels that determine the starting grid of the Daytona 500, were awarded a Rolex. And the seven-time Cup Series champion won the 125 for an insane, 10 years in a row.

This means that during the time Rolex watches were given to NASCAR drivers, Dale Earnhardt had something of a monopoly on them, which also describes his time in the sport more or less.

Dale Earnhardt knew nobody would repeat his 1o-in-a-row record

After the Richard Childress Racing driver won his tenth Rolex in the 125 in 1999, he admitted the feat of winning that many in a row might not be replicated.

He said, “All I can say is I love Daytona. I’ve got a great race team. It has worked out. I come back every year thinking this will be the year I lose the qualifying race, and we go out there and win it again.”

As for his Rolex watches, he said in 1999 that he’ll wear the new one the following year. “Maybe that’s my good-luck charm,” Earnhardt said.

“To win 10 straight is pretty damn awesome, I think,” Earnhardt said. “I’m not going to say it will never happen again, but I think it will be a while before you see it happen again.”

That has been the case indeed. Not only has any driver not won 10 in a row since Dale Earnhardt, with the next best streak being two in a row by Bill Elliott, but no other driver has also come close to his record of 12 Daytona 500 qualifying wins.

And that is just one of the many reasons why everyone considers the Intimidator the greatest driver in NASCAR history.

Also Read: NASCAR Community Including Jimmie Johnson Congratulate Rolex 24 Winner Helio Castroneves