2001 was a dark time for the NASCAR Cup Series. This is largely because of the tragic passing away of the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr at the 2001 Daytona 500. At that very race, his teammates, Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr, finished 1-2.. All in all, it was a bit of a bitter-sweet moment for the team to score a 1-2. Of course, Waltrip did not celebrate the win, out of respect for his fallen comrade. So, when the Dale Earnhardt Inc team scored another 1-2 with the positions reversed, Dale Jr and Waltrip hugged on top of the former’s #8 car. To be perfectly honest, it was a very wholesome moment, and recently, Michael Waltrip confessed that it still gives him ‘chills’. THIS WAS A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR DALE EARNHARDT JR AND MICHAEL WALTRIP Obviously, Dale Jr was still reeling from the tragic accident that claimed his father’s life. Nevertheless, the #8 driver elected to include Waltrip in his victory celebrations. It was also a bittersweet race, because it was also the first race at the Daytona International Speedway since the fatality. Dale Earnhardt Jr [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-05-08T172957Z_1212929667_MT1USATODAY16048503_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-STEAKHOUSE-ELITE-200.jpg] To make the moment even more poetic, this was also Dale Jr’s first Daytona win in his career. After crossing the finish line, he slid his car into the grass and his entire team greeted him to celebrate the victory. Then, Michael Waltrip pulled up next to his car, and the two teammates shared an emotional hug on top of the #8 Chevrolet. Since that famous victory, Dale Earnhardt Jr has seized victory at Daytona, at least four times. Meanwhile, Waltrip has triumphed at the Daytona International Speedway on three occasions. However, whatever anybody may say, this 2001 Pepsi 400 will always remain as the most memorable win [https://beyondtheflag.com/2017/01/28/nascar-five-memorable-victory-celebrations/4/] and 2nd place. This is mostly because of the true meaning and emotion behind that race finish at the track. READ MORE: NASCAR Documentary Featuring Michael Waltrip’s Relationship with Earnhardt Family to Make TV Debut [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nascar-documentary-featuring-michael-waltrips-relationship-with-earnhardt-family-to-make-tv-debut/] 

In 2001, the Daytona International Speedway held a race for the first time since
Dale Sr's death, and it was emotional for Dale Earnhardt Jr

Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having
authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR,
Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the
Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1
driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino. He has been an ardent
follower of motorsports sport since 2001, holding Carlos Sainz Jr. and McLaren
in high regard.

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CampingWorld.com 500

blockquote

script

strong

Michael Waltrip Fondly Remembers This Iconic Moment With Dale Earnhardt Jr

Michael Jordan’s Opponent’s Warning Comes True as Roger Penske Shuts Down
NASCAR’s Infiltration

Joey Logano Leaks NASCAR’s Threat to Kick Teams Out of Daytona 500 After Chevy’s
Defiance to $400,000 Fine

Chevy Prodigy Loses NASCAR Seat, Fans Allege Ignorance to Kyle Busch’s Daytona
Setback Behind It

Brad Keselowski’s Trump Card Move Could Be a Career-Altering Transfer for Tony
Stewart’s Underwhelming Driver

NASCAR Rumor: Despite Lawsuit Uncertainty, Tony Stewart’s Veteran Eyeing FRM
Switch After Noah Gragson’s Lead

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ <em>"the duels".Â </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daytona 500

What is the Daytona 500? For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial &#8220;birthplace of speed&#8221;, Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races. Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America &#8211; ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx Origins of the Daytona 500 While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year. And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps. The first-ever Daytona 500, called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650. Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™ As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR&#8217;s crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven&#8217;t been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl. The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President&#8217;s Day weekend in every NASCAR fan&#8217;s heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President&#8217;s Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that&#8217;s definitely a win-win! While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn&#8217;t any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure. One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway. Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme &#8211; (ZUMAse4) Highlights of the Daytona 500 The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty&#8217;s father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions. &nbsp; Lee Petty&#8217;s son isn&#8217;t much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981. While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn&#8217;t see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison&#8217;s car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne. Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011. Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks. The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While &#8216;Captain America&#8217; famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event&#8217;s grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively. Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500 Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter. In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ &#8220;the duels&#8221;.Â The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels. The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of Dale Earnhardt&#8216;s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt&#8217;s death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today. US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564Image Credits &#8211; Imago &nbsp; The changes of the name of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt&#8217;s passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that&#8217;s the very name that has stuck around. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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Dale Earnhardt Jr

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Net Worth Born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a former NASCAR Cup Series racer. He also goes by the name &#8220;Dale Jr.&#8221; or &#8220;Junior&#8221;.  Nowadays, he&#8217;s a part-time racer in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Additionally, he&#8217;s a NASCAR analyst and commentator for NBC. Dale Jr. comes from a family of motorsport drivers with his late father Dale Earnhardt Sr. a record seven-time Cup Series champion in NASCAR. Having competed in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1999 to 2017, Dale Jr. remains one of the most successful drivers of his time. HOMESTEAD, FL &#8211; NOVEMBER 18: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 AXALTA Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) As per reports, Junior has an approximate net worth of $400 million. Having come from a well-established background, he has made good use of the resources at his disposal. From 2008 to 2015, Dale earned approximately, $20-24 million, making him the highest-paid NASCAR driver then. In fact, he earned a record $30 million in 2008. Dale Jr was made it to the Forbes list of the World&#8217;s Highest Paid Athletes in 2017. He earned $21.4 million then as it marked his last season in the NASCAR Cup Series. The majority of Dale&#8217;s earnings have come through endorsements and sponsorship deals. Some of his well-known endorsement partners include Chevrolet, Goody&#8217;s, Wrangler, Axalta, Gillette, EA Sports, and many others. Dale Jr. also owns a media production company named Hammerhead Entertainment. He also works as an analyst for NBC Sports. Additionally, his book &#8220;Racing To The Finish: My Story&#8221; was released in 2018. The book received positive feedback from the fans. Dale&#8217;s a thorough businessman and has ventured into different industries so far. Most relatably, he co-owns JR Motorsports, the racing team that participates in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In addition to this, he also owns a number of automobile dealerships and restaurants. In 2013, he started his podcast The Dale Jr. Download under his Dirty Mo Media productions. Along with his wife, Junior runs a vodka brand named High Rock Vodka. As far as stores are concerned, Dale Jr has his own merchandise store. In addition to that, his team, JR Motorsports, too has its own merchandise store Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Early life Dale Jr was born and brought up in Kannapolis, North Carolina. At an early age, he saw his mother Brenda Lorraine and father Dale Earnhardt Sr. get divorced. With his father being away racing, his stepmother played a major role in raising him. Prior to racing, Junior used to service cars and carry out their maintenance at Dale Sr&#8217;s car dealership. As for his educational qualifications, he is an alumnus of Mitchell Community College with an associate degree in automotive technology. Prior to that, he attended Oak Ridge Military Academy. A few years down the line, he started attending and graduated from Mooresville High School. Even Rodney Childers, the current Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief, and Junior&#8217;s close friend graduated from the same school. In 1996, his NASCAR career officially began with the Xfinity Series. Dale Jr competed in the series for a while, winning two championships in the process. In 1999, Dale Earnhardt Jr made his Cup Series debut, competing in just five races. A year later, he made his full-time debut in the premier class. Dale Jr officially made his Xfinity Series debut in 1996 at the age of 21. Having won the competition twice, he started his NASCAR Cup Series campaign with only fives races in the 1999 season. A year later, he competed full-time and became the first rookie to win NASCAR&#8217;s All-Star race. Dale Earnhardt Jr’s family and personal life Dale Jr. has been happily married to his wife, Amy Reimann. It was in 2009 that the couple first met each other. Amy was hired as the interior designer for Dale’s house in Mooresville, North Carolina. Interestingly, she did not have any idea who Dale was back then. They clicked instantly and started dating. After six years of dating, Junior proposed to Amy in 2015 and tied the knot a year later in December 2016. The wedding took place at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina. With just more than a year of their marriage gone, Junior and his wife Amy announced the arrival of their first child, Isla Rose Earnhardt. Interestingly, Amy even took a ride in a NASCAR car while she was pregnant with Isla at Martinsville in 2017. MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA &#8211; APRIL 08: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 Hellmann&#8217;s Fridge Hunters Chevrolet, poses for photos with his wife Amy Earnhardt, and their daughters Isla Rose (R) and Nicole on the grid prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811 Before You Dig 250 powered by Call 811.com at Martinsville Speedway on April 08, 2022 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) In October 2020, Isla got promoted to the elder sibling with the arrival of Dale Jr’s second child, Nicole Loraine. Despite racing being in their blood, Junior isn’t that keen on encouraging his daughters to join the sport. He thinks he would rather love it if they get a degree and thereafter get a super job. Dale Earnhardt Jr and his NASCAR journey Dale Earnhardt Jr had an impressive NASCAR Cup Series career. He started his 19-year-long Cup Series career started at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. His debut came in the Coca-Cola 600 where he finished 16th despite finishing the qualifying lap in the eighth-quickest time. Dale Jr&#8217;s one Cup Series season saw him participate in only five races in 1999. That being said, he never had to look back from the 2000 season as he participated full-time and graced the tracks with aggression and passion. He went on to win 26 races in his Cup Series career, taking part in 631 races in total and finishing 149 and 260 times in the top five and top ten respectively. Having won a good amount of races, Dale Jr provided some memorable on-track performances. One of his finest victories came in the Daytona 500 in 2004. It just took Junior four years into his Cup career to win his first Daytona. The race saw him go head-to-head with NASCAR great Tony Stewart. In addition to that, the 2001 Pepsi 400 will also remain a special one for Dale Jr. It was just five months since Dale Sr. died at the 2001 Daytona 500. Junior was making a return to the sport and went on to win the race by overtaking six cars in the final lap. The victory saw Dale celebrate in front of 1,00,000 fans. In his Cup Series career, Dale Jr preferred either the #8 or #88 on his cars. From 1999 to 2007, he drove the Chevrolet #8 for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Post 2007, he joined Hendrick Motorsports and drove the Chevrolet #88. He enjoyed more success while driving the #8 car as he registered 17 wins using that. Dale announced his retirement from the top division of NASCAR in 2017. His last race was at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. He finished 25th in his final race, failing to make it to the playoffs in his ultimate Cup Series season. Since then, Dale Jr has been a regular figure in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Dale Earnhardt Jr’s awards and achievements Dale Earnhardt Jr has enjoyed a good amount of success in his NASCAR career. He started off with his first NASCAR Cup Series win in 2000 at the Texas Motor Speedway whilst driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. The victory saw him break his father&#8217;s record for requiring the fewest starts by a driver to secure his first victory. Dale Jr recorded the win in just his 12th start. One of the most notable achievements of his Cup Series Career would be to win the Daytona 500 twice. He did this in 2004 and 2014, with two different teams. By doing so, he became the 11th driver to win it multiple times. In addition to his victories, Dale Earnhardt Jr has a tremendous record when it comes to winning the Most Popular Driver award. Dale Jr has won the award 15 times in his career. What makes it even more amazing is that he did it for consecutive 15 years from 2003 to 2017. Only Bill Elliott, the father of Chase Elliott, has won it more (16 times). Junior has also two Xfinity Series championships to his name when he won it back-to-back in 1998 &amp; 1999. As a motorsport team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr has won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship five times in his career. With Dale Earnhardt Inc, he did it in 2004 and 2005. The other three have come with JR Motorsports in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Like his father, Dale Jr is also a NASCAR Hall of Famer. Dale Earnhardt Jr’s NASCAR team Along with his sister Kelley Earnhardt, his brother-in-law L.W. Miller and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, Dale Jr runs the JR Motorsports. The team was started in 2006 and is currently strongly competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. JR Motorsports has more than 140 employees and fields four full-time entries in the Xfinity Series. Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Miguel Paludo, and Dale Jr himself form the Xfinity drivers&#8217; lineup for the 2023 season. Their superstar driver Noah Gragson left to join Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series for the new season. If that wasn&#8217;t enough, Gragson poaching some of the JR Motorsports crew surely wouldn&#8217;t have boded well with Dale Jr. It is going to be an uphill task for Junior&#8217;s team this season without the presence of last season&#8217;s runner-up Gragson. Dale Earnhardt Jr and North Wilkesboro Speedway After hosting over 90 races, the North Wilkesboro Speedway was shut in 1996 citing arguments that the track wasn&#8217;t large or fancy enough. Dale Jr along with local boosters and state officials have been pushing hard for years to revive the venue. Eventually, they succeeded in reviving the Speedway with a late-model stock race in August 2022. Dale Earnhardt Jr was taking part in a late-model stock race for the first time since 1997. For this historic race, he drove a green no. 3 Sun Drop Chevrolet which bore a throwback paint scheme resembling the late model he used to drive in the early 1990s. Most notably, it was his first race at North Wilkesboro since 1995. After qualifying sixth, Dale Jr stayed in and around the top 10 positions. Unfortunately, midway through the race, his rear quarter panel sustained some damage. Despite the event, he came back strongly to finish third, lagging just behind second-placed Mason Diaz and the winner of the race, Travis Kvapil. Dale Earnhardt Jr and the plane crash It was on August 15, 2019, that Dale Jr was traveling with his wife Amy, just over a year-old daughter Isla and their family dog on their private Cessna aircraft. While attempting to land at an airport in Elizabethton, Tennesse, the aircraft crashed because of issues with the landing gear and a section of the right wing. Unfortunately, the plane ran off the runway and went 400 feet down a hill before slamming through a chain-link fence. The aircraft eventually caught fire but all five passengers including the two pilots and the dog escaped in time through the main cabin door. Luckily, all of them survived with no major injuries suffered because of the crash. Junior was back in action at Darlington Raceway just two weeks after the race. Back then, he said, &#8220;It was a very tough experience to go through. I try not to get into that, think about (it happening to my family) too much. Things happen for a reason. You just try to learn from it and move on. Dale Jr added, “I love my daughter so much and enjoy being around her and look forward to watching her grow up and experiencing a lot of things with her going forward. That just made you realize that that much more. I’m just thankful and ready to live our lives.” What is Dale Earnhardt Jr doing post-retirement You can take the driver away from the racing but you cannot take the racing away from the driver. That has been the case with Dale Jr post his retirement from the NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. Despite hanging his helmet, he has been quite actively involved in off-track ventures. He has been seen regularly featuring for NBC as a commentator and as a NASCAR analyst. Dale&#8217;s podcast &#8220;The Dale Jr Download&#8221; has been doing wonderfully well, attracting a lot of listeners. He prefers to give more insights to his fans and relishes discussing controversial topics. Junior is bold and outspoken with his comments on the podcast. In fact, he once even encouraged NASCAR drivers to be outspoken and hold everyone accountable if it&#8217;s bothering their safety in the cars in any fashion. Dale Earnhardt Jr is very active on social media, especially on his Twitter account. He uses it to voice out his opinion time and again, sometimes either using sarcasm or hilarious remarks. He once used the medium to make fun of former Richard Childress Racing driver Clint Bowyer. In addition, he provides his fans with regular updates about his personal and professional life using social media. Of course, Dale Jr has his own team JR Motorsports with which he is very much involved. Furthermore, he and his wife Amy, have collaborated with Sugarlands Distilling Company to start a new vodka brand. It&#8217;s named &#8220;High Rock Vodka&#8221; and is a premium, handcrafted vodka. Dale Jr released his book &#8220;Racing To The Finish: My Story&#8221; in 2018, narrating his story behind the wheel. Since announcing his retirement from the NASCAR Cup Series in 2017, it looks pretty clear that Junior has zero interest in returning back to race at the highest level. His off-the-track ventures keep him heavily occupied. It would take something special to bring him back to the Cup Series and maybe challenge his two-faced rival Kyle Busch. As of now, Dale Earnhardt Jr is at peace and keen on running his team, podcast, and other ventures successfully.  Name Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Born 10th October 1974  Place of Birth Kannapolis, North Carolina  Nationality American  Education Associate Degree  Parents Dale Earnhardt Sr and Brenda Lorraine  Wife Amy Reimann  Children Isla Rose (2018) and Nicole Loraine (2020)  Height 6’00”  Weight 165 lbs/75 kg  Team JR Motorsports  Car #88 Chevrolet Camaro  Social Media Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website

Michael Waltrip Fondly Remembers This Iconic Moment With Dale Earnhardt Jr

This was a special moment for Dale Earnhardt Jr and Michael Waltrip