Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
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Owner(s) | Teresa Earnhardt |
---|---|
Base | Mooresville, North Carolina |
Series | Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA |
Race drivers | Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, Darrell Waltrip, Robby Gordon, Mark Martin, Kenny Wallace, Paul Menard, Martin Truex, Jr., Regan Smith, Aric Almirola, Kerry Earnhardt |
Sponsors | Budweiser, NAPA Auto Parts, Pennzoil, Bass Pro Shops, Menards, U.S. Army, Burger King, Quaker State, Nilla Wafers, Oreo, Peak, Papa John's Pizza, Smith & Wesson, Taco Bell, KFC, Goodwrench, Coca-Cola, Ritz, Wrangler, ACDelco |
Manufacturer | Chevrolet |
Opened | 1980 |
Closed | 2009 |
Career | |
Drivers' Championships | 7 |
Race victories | 106 |
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) was a race team founded by Dale Earnhardt and his wife, Teresa Earnhardt, to compete in the NASCAR series, the highest level of competition for professional stock car racing in the United States. From 1998 to 2009, the company operated as a NASCAR-related organization in Mooresville, North Carolina, United States. Earnhardt was a seven-time Winston Cup champion. He died in a crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Despite his ownership of the DEI racing team, Earnhardt never drove for his team in the Winston Cup; instead, he raced for his long-time mentor and backer Richard Childress at RCR. In the late-2000s, DEI suffered critical financial difficulties after drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., and sponsors Anheuser-Busch, National Automotive Parts Association and United States Army left the team; DEI consequently merged with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2009, moving their equipment into the latter's shop, while the former's closed down.[1] Chip Ganassi Racing's NASCAR operations was subsequently purchased by Trackhouse Racing Team in 2021.[2]
DEI celebrated the life and legacy of Earnhardt through an annual celebration of his birthday on April 29, also known as Dale Earnhardt Day. DEI maintains a showroom at the former race shop in Mooresville where fans can purchase memorabilia and other goods. The organization also pursues partnerships which bring tribute to Earnhardt's memory. Notable drivers for DEI included Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin, John Andretti, Kenny Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, and Aric Almirola.
Cup Series history[]
Car No. 01 History[]
- Mark Martin (2007)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/ReganSmith_army.mil-2007-09-18-130829.jpg/220px-ReganSmith_army.mil-2007-09-18-130829.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/California_Speedway%2C_NEXTEL_Cup.jpg/220px-California_Speedway%2C_NEXTEL_Cup.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Regan_Smith_2008_Principal_Chevy_Impala.jpg/220px-Regan_Smith_2008_Principal_Chevy_Impala.jpg)
Before the 01 car ran under the DEI banner, the team ran as MB2 Motorsports, with their cars driven by drivers such as Ernie Irvan, Ken Schrader, and Joe Nemechek. Veteran Mark Martin, coming off his final year with Roush Racing, was signed to drive MB2's No. 01 car for 23 races (21 points races plus the Budweiser Shootout and Nextel All-Star Challenge) in 2007, with Joe Nemechek moving over from the 01 team to the team's new 13 team. Regan Smith was pinned to fill the remaining 16 races of the season, while driving in the Busch Series for the team as well. MB2 Motorsports also changed its name to Ginn Racing to reflect Bobby Ginn's new majority interest in the team.[3] Martin was leading in the final turn of the season-opening Daytona 500, after lining up on the final restart with former Roush teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth behind him. Coming down the front stretch, and with the field wrecking behind him, Martin looked to have finally come through at Daytona. But the caution was not called, and Kevin Harvick caught Martin on his outside, beating him to the line by two-hundredths of a second.[4] Martin put together more strong finishes, and after the fourth race at Atlanta was leading the points standings in what was supposed to be his first season of semi-retirement. Resisting the chance to capture his first championship, Martin did step out of the car as scheduled, breaking a streak of 621 consecutive starts.[5] In 24 starts for the team, Martin scored 11 top 10s, and finished 27th in points despite missing 12 races.
- Regan Smith (2007-2008)
Rookie Regan Smith meanwhile made his debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, finishing 25th. Smith would run 6 more races in the car, with a best finish of 24th at Talladega Superspeedway. On July 17, it was announced that Smith would move to the 14 car on a full-time basis, replacing veteran Sterling Marlin. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Aric Almirola, who was granted his release from Joe Gibbs Racing after being pulled out of a car he qualified on the pole during a Busch Series race in favor of Denny Hamlin, signed on to be the new co-driver of the 01.[6] With the merger of Ginn and DEI not long afterwards, Smith was left on the sidelines while Almirola ran 5 races. Aric's results were not much better than Regan's, with a best finish of 26th at Phoenix. Martin and Almirola would move to the 8 car for 2008.
In 2008, Smith was named the full-time driver of the 01 car (now fully operated by DEI), with Martin and Almirola as well as sponsor U.S. Army moving to the 8 car to replace the departing Dale Earnhardt Jr. Principal Financial Group was signed as the primary sponsor for the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.[7] Principal often ran as a secondary sponsor on the sides of the car, with a DEI logo on the hood in lieu of full sponsorship. Steak-umm and Coors Light were also sponsors in one-race deals. Ron Fellows replaced Smith at the two road course races, scoring a 13th-place finish at Watkins Glen. Smith almost won the 2008 AMP Energy 500, passing Tony Stewart on the final lap and crossing the finish line in first. Smith, however, was found to be passing below the yellow line upon video review, and per NASCAR had his position revoked, leading to an 18th-place finish.[8] Though he finished 34th in points with no top 10 finishes, Smith became the first rookie to finish every race he entered during the 2008 season and was named Rookie of the Year at the season's end. The 01 team disbanded after DEI merged with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and Smith moved on to Furniture Row Racing.
Car No. 01 Results[]
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts | |||
2007 | Mark Martin | 01 | Chevy | DAY 2 |
CAL 5 |
LVS 5 |
ATL 10 |
TEX 3 |
PHO 12 |
RCH 17 |
DAR 14 |
CLT 11 |
DOV 7 |
POC 7 |
MCH 29 |
DAY 17 |
CHI 14 |
IND 6 |
POC 9 |
MCH 42 |
RCH 21 |
DOV 4 |
KAN 12 |
CLT 16 |
ATL 43 |
TEX 34 |
HOM 9 |
17th | 3793 | |||||||||||||||
Regan Smith | BRI 25 |
MAR 26 |
TAL 24 |
SON 30 |
NHA 32 |
GLN 37 |
NHA 36 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aric Almirola | BRI 36 |
CAL 31 |
TAL 30 |
MAR 43 |
PHO 26 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | Regan Smith | DAY 37 |
CAL 31 |
LVS 34 |
ATL 38 |
BRI 26 |
MAR 14 |
TEX 35 |
PHO 35 |
TAL 21 |
RCH 21 |
DAR 29 |
CLT 19 |
DOV 21 |
POC 28 |
MCH 32 |
NHA 27 |
DAY 24 |
CHI 34 |
IND 31 |
POC 25 |
MCH 29 |
BRI 14 |
CAL 26 |
RCH 23 |
NHA 23 |
DOV 37 |
KAN 32 |
TAL 18 |
CLT 23 |
MAR 42 |
ATL 30 |
TEX 34 |
PHO 23 |
HOM 34 |
32nd | 2872 | |||||||
Ron Fellows | SON 29 |
GLN 13 |
Car No. 1 history[]
- No. 14 (1996-1997)
In 1996, DEI debuted in the Winston Cup Series for the first of two appearances at Pocono Raceway with the No. 14 Racing for Kids-sponsored Chevrolet driven by Jeff Green. Robby Gordon also drove the car in an appearance for DEI at Charlotte Motor Speedway later in the season. In 1997, sponsored by Burger King, Steve Park, a Busch Series standout, drove the car in four races, with the team failing to qualify in another four.
- Steve Park (1997-2003)
In 1998, the team switched the car number from No. 14 to No. 1 in an agreement with $100,000 , another car owner. DEI received sponsorships from Pennzoil and Park and made a bid for NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors. In the third race of the year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Park failed to qualify. The following week, Steve suffered a broken femur, collarbone and shoulder blade in a severe crash during practice at Atlanta. Ron Hornaday Jr. failed to qualify the car in the following weekend at Darlington before the team brought in 3-time champion Darrell Waltrip. He drove the car for 13 races while Park recovered from his injuries and finished in the Top 10 twice. Park returned at the Brickyard 400 and following a crash, he finished 35th. In 1998, Park posted two 11th-place finishes and finished 42nd in points.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Kenny_Wallace_DEI_Chevrolet_Dover_September_2001.jpg/220px-Kenny_Wallace_DEI_Chevrolet_Dover_September_2001.jpg)
In 1999, Park finished in the Top 10 five times and 14th in points. In 2000, he won his first two Bud Pole awards and won his first race at Watkins Glen International, his home track. He finished the season 11th in points. In 2001, in the first race after Earnhardt's death, he beat Bobby Labonte in a photo finish at North Carolina Speedway. Park's career encountered difficulties at a Busch Series race at Darlington Raceway. During a caution, his steering wheel became disconnected from the column. The car immediately veered to the left and was impacted by the quicker-moving vehicle of Larry Foyt. Kenny Wallace drove the car while Park recuperated and won second place at the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 at the North Carolina speedway. Park gradually recovered from his injuries and returned, ironically, at the 2002 spring Darlington race. Park ran strong in his return, taking the lead at lap 18, and proceeding to lead 19 laps. Park, however, crashed when trying to pass Stacy Compton's lapped car, and proceeded to collect polesitter Ricky Craven. Park would finish 39th, 160 laps down.[9] This was one of many signs the accident was still affecting Park, and he struggled to regain his form. Park would suffer another hard crash on the opening lap of a race at Pocono, in which Rusty Wallace collided with Park exiting turn 1. The No. 1 then turned dead left and dragged teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s No. 8 car through wet grass towards the short and relatively unreinforced inside guardrail (prior to SAFER Barriers). Park hit the metal rail, then proceeded to flip several times and land on the driver's side.[10] In mid 2003, he was relieved of driving duties and was replaced by Jeff Green. (Park took over Green's No. 30 AOL Chevy at Richard Childress Racing, previously Earnhardt's car owner)
In a last-second decision in June 2003, Ty Norris suggested a former student of Earnhardt's, Ron Fellows, to drive the No. 1 for the road course events as a road course ringer. In 2001 Fellows was finalizing a deal to drive a Dale Earnhardt Inc. car full-time in 2002 but Earnhardt's death left this invalid. Using advantage of this rare opportunity, Fellows almost won the 2003 Dodge Save/Mart 350 in which he controlled the race late in the event and lost when he waited too long for his final pit stop.
- Part time (2004-2005)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Martin_Truex%2C_Jr._2008_Bass_Pro_Shops_Chevy_Impala.jpg/220px-Martin_Truex%2C_Jr._2008_Bass_Pro_Shops_Chevy_Impala.jpg)
Both Green and Pennzoil left DEI when the 2003 season finished and the team moved to a part-time status with Pete Rondeau as the crew chief. They occasionally fielded cars for John Andretti, a two-time winner. Ron Fellows returned to the No. 1 for the 2004 Watkins Glen race bringing sponsorship of Nilla Wafers and Nutter Butter with him. During the race, Ron qualified 43rd after qualifying was cancelled due to rain. Despite this, Ron put up an amazing drive through the field in which he charged from 43rd place to finish second behind winner Tony Stewart.
- Martin Truex Jr. (2005-2009)
In the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, DEI ran a part-time schedule with Martin Truex Jr. making seven starts in the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. The team returned to full-time status in 2006, collecting five Top 10’s and finishing 19th in points. On June 4, 2007, Truex scored his first career NEXTEL Cup victory in the No. 1 car at the Dover International Speedway in a COT race. Truex also qualified to race in the Chase for the Nextel Cup that year. He was DEI's only representative in the 2007 Chase for the Cup and his qualification is, to date, the last for a driver in a DEI car. At the end of 2009, Truex left the team for Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry.
Car No. 1 Results[]
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts | |||
1996 | Robby Gordon | 14 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | SON | CLT | DOV | POC 36 |
MCH | DAY | NHA | POC 41 |
TAL | IND | GLN | 47th | 147 | |||||||||||||||||||
Ron Hornaday Jr. | MCH DNQ |
BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robby Gordon | CLT 38 |
CAR | PHO | ATL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1997 | Steve Park | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | TEX | BRI | MAR | SON | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | MCH | CAL | DAY | NHA | POC DNQ |
IND | GLN 33 |
MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | NHA DNQ |
DOV DNQ |
MAR | CLT DNQ |
TAL | CAR 33 |
PHO 41 |
ATL 15 |
48th | 294 | |||||||||
1998 | 1 | DAY 41 |
CAR 31 |
LVS DNQ |
IND 35 |
GLN 18 |
MCH 11 |
BRI 34 |
NHA 41 |
DAR 24 |
RCH 27 |
DOV 11 |
MAR 24 |
CLT 36 |
TAL 41 |
DAY 33 |
PHO 24 |
CAR 35 |
ATL 17 |
26th | 2857 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Phil Parsons | ATL DNQ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ron Hornaday Jr. | DAR DNQ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Darrell Waltrip | BRI 23 |
TEX 36 |
MAR 40 |
TAL 15 |
CAL 5 |
CLT 17 |
DOV 20 |
RCH 32 |
MCH 12 |
POC 6 |
SON 13 |
NHA 13 |
POC 13 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | Steve Park | DAY 34 |
CAR 26 |
LVS 16 |
ATL 32 |
DAR 12 |
TEX 32 |
BRI 23 |
MAR 25 |
TAL 37 |
CAL 24 |
RCH 34 |
CLT 42 |
DOV 16 |
MCH 6 |
POC 13 |
SON 42 |
DAY 42 |
NHA 12 |
POC 8 |
IND 15 |
GLN 12 |
MCH 20 |
BRI 31 |
DAR 10 |
RCH 16 |
NHA 15 |
DOV 9 |
MAR 12 |
CLT 10 |
TAL 14 |
CAR 15 |
PHO 15 |
HOM 19 |
ATL 12 |
14th | 3481 | |||||||
2000 | DAY 31 |
CAR 9 |
LVS 43 |
ATL 4 |
DAR 39 |
BRI 7 |
TEX 19 |
MAR 25 |
TAL 32 |
CAL 16 |
RCH 11 |
CLT 9 |
DOV 19 |
MCH 29 |
POC 15 |
SON 17 |
DAY 33 |
NHA 28 |
POC 15 |
IND 16 |
GLN 1* |
MCH 33 |
BRI 5 |
DAR 10 |
RCH 4 |
NHA 34 |
DOV 4 |
MAR 11 |
CLT 7 |
TAL 19 |
CAR 6 |
PHO 3 |
HOM 8 |
ATL 18 |
11th | 3934 | ||||||||
2001 | DAY 31 |
CAR 1 |
LVS 7 |
ATL 43 |
DAR 2* |
BRI 9 |
TEX 2 |
MAR 19 |
TAL 31 |
CAL 15 |
RCH 4 |
CLT 22 |
DOV 2 |
MCH 23 |
POC 32 |
SON 40 |
DAY 20 |
CHI 41 |
NHA 6 |
POC 13 |
IND 7* |
GLN 10 |
MCH 9 |
BRI 7 |
16th | 3782 | ||||||||||||||||||
Kenny Wallace | DAR 41 |
RCH 21 |
DOV 22 |
KAN 17 |
CLT 23 |
MAR 20 |
TAL 6 |
PHO 11 |
CAR 2 |
HOM 14 |
ATL 28 |
NHA 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | DAY 30 |
CAR 10 |
LVS 27 |
ATL 22 |
30th | 2912 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Steve Park | DAR 39 |
BRI 24 |
TEX 20 |
MAR 24 |
TAL 34 |
CAL 22 |
RCH 34 |
CLT 38 |
DOV 39 |
POC 23 |
MCH 32 |
SON 23 |
DAY 34 |
CHI 27 |
NHA 32 |
POC 43 |
IND 7 |
GLN 39 |
MCH 41 |
BRI 26 |
DAR 36 |
RCH 11 |
NHA 29 |
DOV 26 |
KAN 30 |
TAL 6 |
CLT 15 |
MAR 16 |
ATL 15 |
CAR 24 |
PHO 21 |
HOM 17 | ||||||||||||
2003 | DAY 29 |
CAR 21 |
LVS 10 |
ATL 16 |
DAR 20 |
BRI 30 |
TEX 39 |
TAL 20 |
MAR 24 |
CAL 40 |
RCH 43 |
31st | 2935 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeff Green | CLT 19 |
DOV 25 |
POC 33 |
MCH 28 |
DAY 29 |
CHI 16 |
NHA 30 |
POC 31 |
IND 20 |
MCH 21 |
BRI 40 |
DAR 18 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ron Fellows | SON 7 |
GLN 38 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Andretti | RCH 14 |
NHA 12 |
DOV 34 |
KAN 19 |
CLT 30 |
MAR 31 |
ATL 22 |
PHO 16 |
CAR 30 |
HOM 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason Keller | TAL 26 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2004 | John Andretti | DAY 13 |
CAR 29 |
LVS | ATL | DAR | BRI | TEX | MAR | TAL | CAL | RCH | CLT 19 |
DOV | POC | MCH | SON | DAY 43 |
CHI 16 |
NHA | POC | IND | 44th | 844 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ron Fellows | GLN 2 |
MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Martin Truex Jr. | NHA DNQ |
DOV | ATL 37 |
PHO | DAR | HOM 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kenny Wallace | TAL 32 |
KAN | CLT | MAR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | Martin Truex Jr. | DAY 34 |
CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | MAR | TEX | PHO | TAL 21 |
DAR | RCH | CLT 7 |
DOV | POC | MCH | SON | DAY | CHI | NHA | POC | IND 42 |
TAL 28 |
KAN | CLT | MAR | ATL 40 |
TEX 15 |
PHO | HOM | 48th | 614 | ||||||||||||
Paul Menard | GLN 27 |
MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | NHA | DOV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006 | Martin Truex Jr. | DAY 16 |
CAL 15 |
LVS 20 |
ATL 19 |
BRI 38 |
MAR 19 |
TEX 8 |
PHO 22 |
TAL 36 |
RCH 41 |
DAR 14 |
CLT 21 |
DOV 22 |
POC 24 |
MCH 15 |
SON 16 |
DAY 29 |
CHI 19 |
NHA 18 |
POC 10 |
IND 19 |
GLN 28 |
MCH 30 |
BRI 18 |
CAL 18 |
RCH 40 |
NHA 22 |
DOV 6 |
KAN 11 |
TAL 5 |
CLT 31 |
MAR 36 |
ATL 37 |
TEX 14 |
PHO 12 |
HOM 2 |
19th | 3673 | |||||
2007 | DAY 29 |
CAL 42 |
LVS 12 |
ATL 8 |
BRI 37 |
MAR 29 |
TEX 7 |
PHO 20 |
TAL 10 |
RCH 28 |
DAR 11 |
CLT 16 |
DOV 1* |
POC 3 |
MCH 2 |
SON 24 |
NHA 3 |
DAY 13 |
CHI 39 |
IND 12 |
POC 22 |
GLN 6 |
MCH 2 |
BRI 11 |
CAL 6 |
RCH 15 |
NHA 5 |
DOV 13 |
KAN 38 |
TAL 42 |
CLT 17 |
MAR 19 |
ATL 31* |
TEX 3 |
PHO 7 |
HOM 6 |
11th | 6164 | ||||||
2008 | DAY 20 |
CAL 6 |
LVS 15 |
ATL 21 |
BRI 13 |
MAR 21 |
TEX 36 |
PHO 8 |
TAL 37 |
RCH 5 |
DAR 14 |
CLT 34 |
DOV 6 |
POC 17 |
MCH 17 |
SON 16 |
NHA 4 |
DAY 17 |
CHI 9 |
IND 24 |
POC 15 |
GLN 5 |
MCH 16 |
BRI 35 |
CAL 19 |
RCH 16 |
NHA 7 |
DOV 20 |
KAN 43 |
TAL 41 |
CLT 14 |
MAR 10 |
ATL 15 |
TEX 8 |
PHO 43 |
HOM 10 |
15th | 3839 |
Car No. 8 History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/DaleEarnhardtJr.Texas2007.jpg/220px-DaleEarnhardtJr.Texas2007.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Daleearnhardtjr.jpg/150px-Daleearnhardtjr.jpg)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1999-2007)
The No. 8 car was DEI's second cup series entry, the team was formed to bring Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the Winston Cup Series and opted to use the No. 8 which was formerly used by Stavola Brothers Racing, who ceased operations in 1998. Earnhardt Jr. drove the Budweiser-sponsored No. 8 in five Cup races in 1999, making his debut at Charlotte in the 1999 Coca-Cola 600. He finished in the top ten once and led one lap.
In 2000, Earnhardt Jr. moved to the Cup Series on a full-time basis. That year, Earnhardt Jr. won two poles and three races (including The Winston, where he became the first rookie to win the event), but finished runner-up to Matt Kenseth in the competition for NASCAR Rookie of the Year. On July 7, 2001, Earnhardt Jr. won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, the first Cup race at Daytona after Earnhardt, Sr.'s death. Using the No. 8, Earnhardt, Jr. set a record by winning four consecutive races at Talladega.
In 2002, Earnhardt Jr. had a roller-coaster season. He struggled after enduring an April concussion at the NAPA Auto Parts 500—an injury he did not admit to until mid-September. In the three races following Fontana, he finished no better than 30th. However, Earnhardt Jr. rallied to sweep both Talladega races (leading a dominating 133 of 188 laps in the spring race), a pair of Bud Pole Awards and an 11th-place finish in the standings with eleven Top 5s and sixteen Top 10 finishes.
In 2003, Earnhardt Jr. became a true title contender, scoring a record-breaking fourth consecutive win in the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega, after being involved in a 27-car crash on lap 4. He struggled for most of the race, and was at points a half-lap down, only catching back up to the pack through a caution. The win was controversial because on the last lap, it appeared that Earnhardt Jr. went below the yellow line to gain position, but NASCAR ruled that Matt Kenseth had forced Earnhardt below the line, making it a clean pass. Earnhardt Jr. scored a victory at Phoenix in October, recording a career best 3rd-place effort in the standings, with thirteen Top 5s and twenty-one Top 10 finishes.
On February 15, 2004, 6 years to the day after his father's win, Earnhardt Jr. won the 2004 Daytona 500. He won a further five races that season. Though he failed to qualify for the Chase Cup in 2005, he did race in 2006 when he finished fifth. On May 10, 2007, Earnhardt Jr. announced that he would not return to DEI for the 2008 season; on June 13, 2007, officially announced his move to Hendrick Motorsports (HMS); and on August 16, 2007, that he would not retain the No. 8 car number.[11]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Mark_Martin_2008_Army_Chevy_Impala.jpg/220px-Mark_Martin_2008_Army_Chevy_Impala.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Aric_Almirola_EGR_Chevrolet_Atlanta_March_2009.jpg/220px-Aric_Almirola_EGR_Chevrolet_Atlanta_March_2009.jpg)
- Mark Martin and Aric Almirola (2008-2009)
On September 12, DEI announced Mark Martin and Aric Almirola as co-drivers of the No. 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet with crew chief Tony Gibson for the 2008 season, both finishing 28th and 42nd in points respectively. Martin left DEI after the 2008 season to replace Casey Mears in the No. 5 Kellogg's/Carquest Chevrolet and join Dale Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports. In 2009, the Army withdrew their support in favor of Ryan Newman's No. 39 car at Stewart-Haas Racing.
Almirola was engaged to drive the No. 8 Guitar Hero World Tour-sponsored Chevrolet for the full 2009 season but the sponsorship lasted only four races. Following the 2009 Samsung 500 at Texas, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing announced that the operations of the No. 8 team were being suspended indefinitely due to a lack of sponsorship (which had been operating on a race to race basis). Almirola sued Earnhardt Ganassi Racing but the matter was settled out of court. Crew chief Doug Randolph would depart and join Richard Childress Racing for the remainder of 2009, while Almirola joined Billy Ballew Motorsports for 16 races in the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Car No. 8 Results[]
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts | Ref | ||
1999 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 8 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | LVS | ATL | DAR | TEX | BRI | MAR | TAL | CAL | RCH | CLT 16 |
DOV | MCH | POC | SON | DAY | NHA 43 |
POC | IND | GLN | MCH 24 |
BRI | DAR | RCH 10 |
NHA | DOV | MAR | CLT | TAL | CAR | PHO | HOM | ATL 14 |
48th | 500 | |||||
2000 | DAY 13 |
CAR 19 |
LVS 10 |
ATL 29 |
DAR 40 |
BRI 38 |
TEX 1* |
MAR 26 |
TAL 42 |
CAL 12 |
RCH 1 |
CLT 4* |
DOV 10 |
MCH 13 |
POC 19 |
SON 24 |
DAY 35 |
NHA 21 |
POC 13 |
IND 13 |
GLN 40 |
MCH 31 |
BRI 21 |
DAR 11 |
RCH 13 |
NHA 31 |
DOV 16 |
MAR 36 |
CLT 19 |
TAL 14 |
CAR 34 |
PHO 27 |
HOM 13 |
ATL 20 |
16th | 3516 | ||||||||
2001 | DAY 2 |
CAR 43 |
LVS 23 |
ATL 15 |
DAR 34 |
BRI 31 |
TEX 8 |
MAR 11 |
TAL 8 |
CAL 3 |
RCH 7 |
CLT 25 |
DOV 3 |
MCH 39 |
POC 20 |
SON 19 |
DAY 1* |
CHI 11 |
NHA 9 |
POC 2 |
IND 10 |
GLN 12 |
MCH 12 |
BRI 14 |
DAR 17 |
RCH 3 |
DOV 1* |
KAN 33 |
CLT 4 |
MAR 27 |
TAL 1 |
PHO 37 |
CAR 15 |
HOM 15 |
ATL 7* |
NHA 24 |
8th | 4460 | ||||||
2002 | DAY 29 |
CAR 26 |
LVS 16 |
ATL 2 |
DAR 4 |
BRI 4* |
TEX 42 |
MAR 5 |
TAL 1* |
CAL 36 |
RCH 36 |
CLT 35 |
DOV 30 |
POC 12 |
MCH 22 |
SON 30 |
DAY 6 |
CHI 10 |
NHA 23 |
POC 37 |
IND 22 |
GLN 35 |
MCH 10 |
BRI 3 |
DAR 16 |
RCH 4 |
NHA 11 |
DOV 24 |
KAN 6 |
TAL 1* |
CLT 9 |
MAR 4 |
ATL 5 |
CAR 34 |
PHO 5 |
HOM 21 |
11th | 4270 | ||||||
2003 | DAY 36 |
CAR 33 |
LVS 2* |
ATL 3 |
DAR 6* |
BRI 16 |
TEX 2 |
TAL 1 |
MAR 3* |
CAL 6 |
RCH 3 |
CLT 41 |
DOV 11 |
POC 4 |
MCH 7 |
SON 11 |
DAY 7 |
CHI 38 |
NHA 6 |
POC 3 |
IND 14 |
GLN 3 |
MCH 32 |
BRI 9 |
DAR 25 |
RCH 17 |
NHA 5 |
DOV 37 |
TAL 2 |
KAN 18 |
CLT 9 |
MAR 4 |
ATL 6 |
PHO 1 |
CAR 13 |
HOM 24 |
3rd | 4815 | ||||||
2004 | DAY 1 |
CAR 5 |
LVS 35 |
ATL 1 |
DAR 10 |
BRI 11 |
TEX 4 |
MAR 3 |
TAL 2 |
CAL 9 |
RCH 1 |
CLT 6 |
DOV 3 |
POC 6 |
MCH 21 |
SON 11 |
DAY 3 |
CHI 22 |
NHA 31 |
POC 25 |
IND 27 |
GLN 5 |
MCH 21 |
BRI 1 |
CAL 34 |
RCH 2 |
NHA 3 |
DOV 9 |
TAL 1 |
KAN 9 |
CLT 3 |
MAR 33 |
ATL 33 |
PHO 1 |
DAR 11 |
HOM 23 |
5th | 6368 | ||||||
2005 | DAY 3 |
CAL 32 |
LVS 42 |
ATL 24 |
BRI 4 |
MAR 13 |
TEX 9 |
PHO 4 |
TAL 15 |
DAR 8 |
RCH 14 |
CLT 33 |
DOV 22 |
POC 33 |
MCH 17 |
SON 42 |
DAY 3 |
CHI 1 |
NHA 9 |
POC 32 |
IND 43 |
GLN 10 |
MCH 18 |
BRI 9 |
CAL 38 |
RCH 20 |
NHA 5 |
DOV 31 |
TAL 40 |
KAN 34 |
CLT 42 |
MAR 18 |
ATL 4* |
TEX 8 |
PHO 40 |
HOM 19 |
19th | 3780 | ||||||
2006 | DAY 8* |
CAL 11 |
LVS 27 |
ATL 3 |
BRI 11 |
MAR 4 |
TEX 12 |
PHO 23 |
TAL 31 |
RCH 1 |
DAR 5 |
CLT 11 |
DOV 10 |
POC 14 |
MCH 3 |
SON 26 |
DAY 13 |
CHI 5 |
NHA 43 |
POC 43 |
IND 6 |
GLN 18 |
MCH 6 |
BRI 3 |
CAL 2 |
RCH 17 |
NHA 13 |
DOV 21 |
KAN 10 |
TAL 23* |
CLT 4 |
MAR 22 |
ATL 3 |
TEX 6 |
PHO 9 |
HOM 19 |
5th | 6328 | ||||||
2007 | DAY 32 |
CAL 40 |
LVS 11 |
ATL 14 |
BRI 7 |
MAR 5 |
TEX 36 |
PHO 19 |
TAL 7 |
RCH 13 |
DAR 8 |
CLT 8 |
DOV 22 |
POC 12 |
MCH 5 |
SON 13 |
NHA 4 |
DAY 36 |
CHI 19 |
IND 34 |
POC 2 |
GLN 42 |
MCH 12 |
BRI 5 |
CAL 5 |
RCH 30 |
NHA 16 |
DOV 3 |
KAN 10 |
TAL 40 |
CLT 19 |
MAR 23 |
ATL 25 |
TEX 14 |
PHO 43 |
HOM 36 |
16th | 3929 | ||||||
2008 | Mark Martin | DAY 31 |
CAL 16 |
LVS 10 |
ATL 22 |
TEX 8 |
PHO 5 |
RCH 3 |
DAR 16 |
CLT 15 |
DOV 23 |
POC 10 |
MCH 25 |
DAY 10 |
CHI 17 |
IND 11 |
POC 8 |
MCH 6 |
RCH 5 |
DOV 4 |
KAN 18 |
CLT 9 |
ATL 22 |
TEX 12 |
PHO 14 |
14th | 4097 | |||||||||||||||||
Aric Almirola | BRI 8 |
MAR 42 |
TAL 33 |
SON 25 |
NHA 23 |
GLN 35 |
BRI 13 |
CAL 30 |
NHA 18 |
TAL 13 |
MAR 20 |
HOM 35 |
Car No. 15 history[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Nascarphx05.jpg/220px-Nascarphx05.jpg)
- Michael Waltrip (2001-2005)
In 2001, the team raced the NAPA sponsored No. 15 (a possible reference to the No. 15 Ford Thunderbird that Earnhardt drove in 1982 and 1983 for Bud Moore Engineering). Michael Waltrip was announced as the driver for the 2001 season. In his first start for DEI, Waltrip won his first race in his 16 year career at the 2001 Daytona 500. An estatic Waltrip's dream come true soon turned into a nightmare, however, as his win was overshadowed by Dale Earnhardt's death. Waltrip soon proved to have prowess at the superspeedways, leading laps at most Talladega and Daytona races. Between 2001 and 2003, Waltrip won four races (three at Daytona and one at Talladega). However, he often struggled to find speed outside of those two tracks. After two disappointing seasons without a win, including a 25th place points finish in 2005, Waltrip announced he would no longer drive for DEI, taking his NAPA sponsorship to Bill Davis Racing for one year before creating his own race team.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Paul_Menard%2C_Homestead-Miami_2006.jpg/220px-Paul_Menard%2C_Homestead-Miami_2006.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Paul_Menard_2008_Menards_Peak_Chevy_Impala.jpg/220px-Paul_Menard_2008_Menards_Peak_Chevy_Impala.jpg)
- Paul Menard (2006-2008)
For 2006, the No. 15 team moved to a part-time status, entering ten races but only qualifying for seven. Paul Menard, DEI's Busch Series driver drove and sponsorship was provided by Menards and PPG Paints. Menard finished seventh at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and moved to full-time in 2007. After the merger of Ginn Racing and DEI, the No. 15 team absorbed the owner points of the No. 14 car (formerly driven by Sterling Marlin), so they would be guaranteed a spot in each race for the remainder of the 2007 season. After the 2008 season, Menard took his talents and sponsorship to Yates Racing driving the No. 98 Ford. The DEI No. 15 team was disbanded.
Car No. 15 Results[]
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts | |||
2001 | Michael Waltrip | 15 | Chevy | DAY 1 |
CAR 19 |
LVS 13 |
ATL 23 |
DAR 25 |
BRI 22 |
TEX 39 |
MAR 24 |
TAL 28 |
CAL 43 |
RCH 35 |
CLT 28 |
DOV 43 |
MCH 29 |
POC 30 |
SON 20 |
DAY 2 |
CHI 22 |
NHA 28 |
POC 19 |
IND 25 |
GLN 18 |
MCH 36 |
BRI 39 |
DAR 36 |
RCH 20 |
DOV 39 |
KAN 38 |
CLT 18 |
MAR 19 |
TAL 37 |
PHO 23 |
CAR 21 |
HOM 2 |
ATL 26 |
NHA 40 |
24th | 3159 | |||
2002 | DAY 5 |
CAR 40 |
LVS 22 |
ATL 40 |
DAR 15 |
BRI 30 |
TEX 28 |
MAR 13 |
TAL 2 |
CAL 10 |
RCH 24 |
CLT 8 |
DOV 21 |
POC 8 |
MCH 4 |
SON 22 |
DAY 1* |
CHI 42 |
NHA 20 |
POC 18 |
IND 16 |
GLN 9 |
MCH 15 |
BRI 22 |
DAR 24 |
RCH 36 |
NHA 8 |
DOV 12 |
KAN 26 |
TAL 8 |
CLT 11 |
MAR 18 |
ATL 11 |
CAR 19 |
PHO 20 |
HOM 41 |
14th | 3985 | ||||||
2003 | DAY 1* |
CAR 19 |
LVS 3 |
ATL 27 |
DAR 5 |
BRI 25 |
TEX 17 |
TAL 24 |
MAR 23 |
CAL 7 |
RCH 12 |
CLT 6 |
DOV 16 |
POC 18 |
MCH 5 |
SON 13 |
DAY 11 |
CHI 5 |
NHA 28 |
POC 4 |
IND 16 |
GLN 13 |
MCH 7 |
BRI 42 |
DAR 37 |
RCH 32 |
NHA 26 |
DOV 42 |
TAL 1 |
KAN 39 |
CLT 14 |
MAR 26 |
ATL 38 |
PHO 5 |
CAR 37 |
HOM 41 |
15th | 3934 | ||||||
2004 | DAY 38 |
CAR 33 |
LVS 37 |
ATL 23 |
DAR 35 |
BRI 10 |
TEX 20 |
MAR 15 |
TAL 12 |
CAL 32 |
RCH 10 |
CLT 2 |
DOV 6 |
POC 33 |
MCH 10 |
SON 4 |
DAY 13 |
CHI 9 |
NHA 6 |
POC 36 |
IND 20 |
GLN 20 |
MCH 17 |
BRI 27 |
CAL 23 |
RCH 13 |
NHA 9 |
DOV 16 |
TAL 25 |
KAN 11 |
CLT 28 |
MAR 19 |
ATL 14 |
PHO 17 |
DAR 33 |
HOM 17 |
20th | 3878 | ||||||
2005 | DAY 37 |
CAL 38 |
LVS 21 |
ATL 7 |
BRI 19 |
MAR 30 |
TEX 6 |
PHO 2 |
TAL 3 |
DAR 34 |
RCH 9 |
CLT 36 |
DOV 13 |
POC 5 |
MCH 7 |
SON 22 |
DAY 40 |
CHI 36 |
NHA 17 |
POC 26 |
IND 16 |
GLN 41 |
MCH 27 |
BRI 15 |
CAL 13 |
RCH 31 |
NHA 15 |
DOV 26 |
TAL 42 |
KAN 40 |
CLT 29 |
MAR 27 |
ATL 11 |
TEX 41 |
PHO 33 |
HOM 29 |
25th | 3452 | ||||||
2006 | Paul Menard | DAY DNQ |
CAL | LVS | ATL 7 |
BRI | MAR | TEX | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT 14 |
DOV | POC | MCH | SON | DAY | CHI DNQ |
NHA | POC | IND DNQ |
GLN 29 |
MCH 20 |
BRI | CAL | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN | TAL 34 |
CLT | MAR | ATL | TEX 41 |
PHO | HOM 17 |
45th | 669 | |||||
2007 | DAY DNQ |
CAL 20 |
LVS 32 |
ATL 31 |
BRI DNQ |
MAR DNQ |
TEX 15 |
PHO 25 |
TAL 43 |
RCH 16 |
DAR 31 |
CLT DNQ |
DOV DNQ |
POC 28 |
MCH 12 |
SON DNQ |
NHA 39 |
DAY 21 |
CHI 42 |
IND 20 |
POC 26 |
GLN 19 |
MCH 39 |
BRI 24 |
CAL 24 |
RCH 26 |
NHA 24 |
DOV 21 |
KAN 27 |
TAL 38 |
CLT 22 |
MAR 24 |
ATL 27 |
TEX 30 |
PHO 22 |
HOM 35 |
34th | 2496 | ||||||
2008 | DAY 22 |
CAL 27 |
LVS 22 |
ATL 19 |
BRI 32 |
MAR 16 |
TEX 17 |
PHO 21 |
TAL 14 |
RCH 31 |
DAR 36 |
CLT 41 |
DOV 22 |
POC 25 |
MCH 11 |
SON 34 |
NHA 29 |
DAY 15 |
CHI 26 |
IND 41 |
POC 42 |
GLN 28 |
MCH 24 |
BRI 16 |
CAL 37 |
RCH 34 |
NHA 21 |
DOV 21 |
KAN 27 |
TAL 2 |
CLT 26 |
MAR 27 |
ATL 31 |
TEX 22 |
PHO 26 |
HOM 30 |
26th | 3151 |
Nationwide Series history[]
Car No. 3 history[]
Between 1989 and 2000, the No. 3 car won two championships (in 1998 and 1999 with Earnhardt Jr. driving). The car has been driven by Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Neil Bonnett, David Bonnett, Andy Petree, Jeff Green, Steve Park and Ron Hornaday Jr..
Car No. 8 history[]
The No. 8 car was raced by DEI starting in 1984, with Dale Earnhardt piloting his self-owned Wrangler Pontiac for the first time in the Mello Yello 300 at Charlotte. The car ran from 1984 to 1988 and then again from 2002 to 2008. In 2004 and 2005, it won two championships with Martin Truex Jr. The car has been driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jody Ridley, Kenny Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hank Parker, Jr., Steve Park, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex, Jr., and Kerry Earnhardt. Under Chance 2 Motorsports
Martin Truex Jr and Kerry Earnhardt drove the last DEI Nationwide team in 2008 at both Daytona in Feb, and Kerry at July at Daytona with sponsorship from Freightliner and Bass Pro Shops!
Car No. 11 history[]
The No. 11 car was run by DEI in the Busch Series. During part of 2004 and through all of the 2005 and 2006 NASCAR seasons, Paul Menard made 83 starts in the car logging 31 Top-10 finishes, collecting one victory at the Milwaukee Mile in June 2006. In 2007, Menard made the full-time transition to the No. 15 car in the Nextel Cup Series, with a season-best finish of 12th in the Citizens Bank 400 at Michigan. Martin Truex Jr. ran the final two races in the DEI No. 11 in 2007 at Daytona and Talladega.
Car No. 81 history[]
In 2003, DEI debuted the No. 81 car sponsored by Kraft Foods at Chicagoland Speedway, an event driver Jason Keller failed to qualify in. Pairing crew chief Kevin Manion with longtime Petty Enterprises driver John Andretti, the No. 81 made its first and only Winston Cup start in the Brickyard 400, crashing after 46 laps and finishing in 43rd.
Chance 2 Motorsports[]
Chance 2 Motorsports was a jointly owned subsidiary of DEI and Earnhardt Jr. The organization was operated by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Teresa Earnhardt. The team won two Busch Series championships with Martin Truex Jr. in 2004 and 2005. After this, Dale Earnhardt Jr. left the partnership with his stepmother to focus on his own race team, JR Motorsports.
Craftsman Truck Series history[]
Truck No. 16 history[]
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was a part of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 1995 through 1999. Ron Hornaday Jr. was the full-time driver of the No. 16 Chevrolet C/K, sponsored by Papa John's Pizza in 1995 and NAPA Auto Parts from 1996 to 1999. Hornaday collected 25 wins for DEI and the 1996 and 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championships.
Truck No. 76 history[]
A second DEI truck, no. 76, only made 4 total starts. Dennis Dyer and David Green each ran one race in 1995 at Sonoma and Phoenix, and Steve Park made a single start in both 1996 and 1997 at Las Vegas and Phoenix. Dyer was sponsored by Papa John's Pizza, while David Green received sponsorship from Smith & Wesson. Both of Steve Park's starts were in the Action Racing Collectables (now Lionel Racing) colors, a company which Dale Earnhardt partially owned.
Mergers[]
Ginn Racing[]
On July 25, 2007, DEI merged with Ginn Racing. The No. 01 team joined the No. 1, No. 8 and No. 15 teams.[12] The merger did not affect the DEI team name.
The No. 01 owned by Bobby Ginn (Ginn Racing) then (DEI).
The No. 1 owned by Teresa Earnhardt.
The No. 8 owned by Teresa Earnhardt.
The No. 15 inherited the No. 14 owner points owned first by Teresa Earnhardt and by then Bobby Ginn.
The No. 14 owned by Bobby Ginn shut down after the merge. The No. 15 inherited the No. 14 owner points.
The acquisition had the following effects:
- The No. 01 (Mark Martin/Aric Almirola) team was added to the DEI teams. (Martin and Earnhardt, Jr. would become teammates again in 2009-2011.)
- The No. 15 (Paul Menard) inherited the owner points from the former No. 14 (Sterling Marlin), which guaranteed a starting spot for Menard at Indianapolis.
- The No. 13 (Joe Nemechek) team of Ginn Racing was disbanded.
- Bobby Ginn was listed as the owner of the No. 01 and No. 15 for the remainder of 2007; these cars were housed at the Ginn Racing shop, renamed DEI West[13] which also houses the team's fabrication work.
- Teresa Earnhardt was listed as the owner of the No. 1 and No. 8 for the remainder of 2007; these cars remain housed at DEI's shops.
Chip Ganassi Racing[]
On November 12, 2008, DEI and Felix Sabates' Chip Ganassi Racing (Dodge) merged their NASCAR operations into one organization. The team, which became Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, remained a Chevy team. The No. 42 team joined the No. 1 and No. 8 for the 2009 Sprint Cup season.[14] In 2014, EGR reverted to the Chip Ganassi Racing name[15] before being sold to Trackhouse Racing Team in 2021.[2]
The No. 01 owned by Bobby Ginn shut down after merge with Chip Ganassi Racing.
The No. 1 owned by Teresa Earnhardt.
The No. 8 owned by Teresa Earnhardt but was shut down after 7 races in 2009.
The No. 15 owned by Bobby Ginn shut down after merge with Chip Ganassi Racing.
The No. 40 owned by Chip Ganassi shut down after merge with DEI.
The No. 41 owned by Chip Ganassi shut down after merge with DEI.
The No. 42 owned by Chip Ganassi.
The merger had the following consequences:
- The No. 40 (Dario Franchitti/David Stremme/Ken Schrader/Sterling Marlin/Jeremy Mayfield/Bryan Clauson) team of Chip Ganassi Racing was disbanded.
- The No. 41 (Reed Sorenson/Scott Pruett) team of Chip Ganassi Racing's number and owner's points were sold to Mayfield Motorsports; the team later disbanded after the owner-driver was suspended indefinitely over a disputed drug test.
- The No. 01 (Regan Smith) and No. 15 (Paul Menard) teams of DEI was disbanded.
- Chip Ganassi was listed as the owner of the No. 42. Ganassi would later be listed as the owner of the No. 1 after Teresa Earnhardt left in 2014.
- Teresa Earnhardt was listed as the owner of the No. 1 and No. 8; the No. 8 team was later shut down after seven races into the 2009 season.[16]
Championships[]
- 1996 Craftsman Truck Series
- 1998 Craftsman Truck Series
- 1998 Busch Series
- 1999 Busch Series
- 2004 Busch Series
- 2005 Busch Series
Earnhardt Technology Group[]
Earnhardt Technology Group (ETG) was created in August 2009 to assist up-and-coming teams. It was founded to contribute resources and opportunities to race in championships.[17] It serves the engineering and parts needs of more than thirty teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. ETG provides a broad range of engineering services to all levels of the racing industry; distribution of Renton springs; machine shop services (now contributing to many varied fields of mechanical engineering); a leasing service; sales of vehicles and component parts; and consultation and support.[18]
Club E[]
Club E is the official fan club for Dale Earnhardt. It is a membership based fan club with three different levels based on contribution level (ranging from no fee to $49.99). Members of Club E have access to Dale Earnhardt footage, personal items, discounts at the DEI retail store, Carowinds, Kings Dominion, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Kannapolis Intimidators games, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet, and Great Wolf Lodge, Inc. as well as member only events.[19] Club E is currently suspended but does offer a Facebook page for fans to follow to receive news.[20]
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation[]
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation was founded with a mission to continue the legacy of Dale Earnhardt through charitable programs and grants reflecting Earnhardt's commitments to children, education and environment and wildlife preservation.[21]
Partnerships[]
RAD Engine partnership[]
After the Fords were dominating the restrictor plate tracks in the late 1990s, DEI, Richard Childress Racing, and Andy Petree Racing partnered up with each other and formed the RAD Engine Program. Their first win was at the 2000 Winston 500 with Dale Earnhardt (which ended up being his 76th and final win). DEI won the 2001 Daytona 500, 2001 Pepsi 400, 2001 EA Sports 500, 2002 Aaron's 499, 2002 Pepsi 400, 2002 EA Sports 500, and the 2003 Daytona 500. RAD ended after Petree pulled out of the series in 2003 to focus on his Busch series program.
Earnhardt Childress Racing Technology[]
Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR)[22] was formed in May 2007 with cooperation between DEI and Richard Childress Racing, developing and building engines common to the Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series teams. In mid-2008, a stand-alone facility north of Salisbury in Welcome, NC (off exit 85 of I-85). was completed.[23] ECR employs 130 technicians. Its engines have won in the 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 with Jamie McMurray, the 2011 Southern 500 with Regan Smith, Coca-Cola 600 with Kevin Harvick, and Brickyard 400 with Paul Menard.[24][25][26] The company is currently operated solely by RCR as ECR Engines.[27][28]
JR Motorsports, Richard Childress, and Wrangler[]
On April 29, 2010, at the time of Earnhardt's induction to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, DEI announced a partnership with JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Wrangler Jeans where, for one race, as a tribute to his father, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would drive the No. 3 Chevrolet Impala. The blue and gold paint scheme paid homage to the car Dale Earnhardt drove in the 1980s.[29] The car was raced in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway on 2 July 2010. It was the first Nationwide Series race in the Car of Tomorrow event. Earnhardt Jr. started third, led for thirty-three and won the race. This was his first competitive NASCAR win since 2008.
Morgan-Dollar Motorsports[]
In 2007, DEI made a driver development contract with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports to provide trucks for developing drivers in 2007. This was inherited in the merger with Ginn Racing.
Drivers[]
Data from[30]
Sprint Cup Series[]
Driver | Races | Wins | Poles |
---|---|---|---|
John Andretti | 16 | 0 | 0 |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 291 | 17 | 7 |
Ron Fellows | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Robby Gordon | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Jeff Green | 14 | 0 | 0 |
Jason Keller | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Mark Martin | 24 | 0 | 0 |
Paul Menard | 74 | 0 | 1 |
Steve Park | 170 | 2 | 3 |
Regan Smith | 34 | 0 | 0 |
Martin Truex Jr. | 117 | 1 | 1 |
Kenny Wallace | 17 | 0 | 1 |
Darrell Waltrip | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Michael Waltrip | 180 | 4 | 1 |
Busch Series[]
Driver | Races | Wins | Poles |
---|---|---|---|
David Bonnett | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Neil Bonnett | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Dale Earnhardt | 117 | 17 | 6 |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 91 | 21 | 9 |
Kerry Earnhardt | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Jeff Green | 52 | 0 | 2 |
Ron Hornaday Jr. | 35 | 2 | 0 |
Paul Menard | 94 | 1 | 2 |
Ryan Moore | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Steve Park | 32 | 3 | 1 |
Hank Parker Jr. | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Andy Petree | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Jody Ridley | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Tony Stewart | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Martin Truex Jr. | 79 | 13 | 10 |
Kenny Wallace | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Michael Waltrip | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Craftsman Truck Series[]
Driver | Races | Wins | Poles |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 0 | 0 | |
David Green | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Ron Hornaday Jr. | 122 | 25 | 12 |
Steve Park | 2 | 0 | 0 |
NASCAR Busch East/Camping World East Series[]
Driver | Races | Wins | Poles |
---|---|---|---|
Aric Almirola | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Trevor Bayne | 13 | 1 | 2 |
Jeffrey Earnhardt | 25 | 0 | 1 |
Jesus Hernandez | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Ryan Truex | 1 | 0 | 0 |
References[]
- ^ [1] Archived 2010-01-13 at the Wayback Machine ("Teresa Earnhardt at the end of No. 8", NBC Sports)
- ^ Jump up to: a b Crandall, Kelly (2021-07-01). "Ganassi selling NASCAR operation to Trackhouse Racing". Racer.com. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- ^ MB2 Motorsports (November 23, 2006). "Busch: MB2 Motorsports gets a new name". motorsport.com. Mooresville, North Carolina: motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
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External links[]
- Dale Earnhardt, Inc. owner statistics at Racing-Reference
- DEI official website
- ECR official website
- ETG website
- American auto racing teams
- Companies based in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Dale Earnhardt
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Defunct NASCAR teams
- ARCA Menards Series teams
- Auto racing teams established in 1996