FANTASY NASCAR Racin

DALE EARNHARDT - 04/29/1951 - 02/18/2001
DALE EARNHARDT INC competed in the CUP series from 1996 to 2008, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) operated as a NASCAR-related organization in Mooresville, North Carolina, United States. The company was founded by Dale Earnhardt and his wife, Teresa Earnhardt. Despite his ownership of the DEI racing team, Earnhardt never drove for his team in the Winston Cup Series; instead he raced for his long-time mentor and backer Richard Childress at RCR. In 1996, DEI debuted in the Winston Cup at the Charlotte Motor Speedway with the #14 Racing for Kids Chevrolet driven by Robby Gordon. Jeff Green drove the car in another two races that year. In 1997, sponsored by Burger King, Steve Park, a Busch Series standout, drove the car in five races. In 1998, the team switched the car number from #14 to #1 in an agreement with Richard Jackson, another car owner. DEI received sponsorship from Pennzoil and Park and made a bid for NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors. In the third race of the year, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Park failed to qualify. The following week, he broke his leg in an accident while testing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two weeks later, the team hired Darrell Waltrip, a champion on three occasions. He drove the car while Park recovered from his injuries and twice, finished in the top ten. Park returned at the Brickyard 400. In 1999, Park finished five times in the top ten and ranked fourteenth in points earned. In 2000, Park won his first of two Bud Pole awards; won his first race at Watkins Glen International Raceway, his home track and

ranked eleventh in points earned. In 2001, in the first race after Earnhardt's death, Park beat Bobby Labonte in a photo finish at North Carolina Speedway. Park's career encountered difficulties at a Busch Series race at Darlington Speedway. During a caution flag period, his steering wheel became disconnected from the steering column. Park received serious injuries, and Kenny Wallace drove the car while Park recuperated. Park gradually recovered from his injuries and returned, ironically, at the spring Darlington race in 2002. In mid 2003, he was relieved of driving duties and was replaced by Jeff Green. Both Green and Pennzoil left DEI

when the 2003 season finished and the team moved to a part-time status. Meanwhile Dale Earnhardt Jr had been racing in the Xfinity series. Earnhardt Jr. won championships in both 1998 and 1999. In 2000, Earnhardt Jr. moved to the Sprint Cup on a full-time basis. That year, Earnhardt Jr. won two poles and three races (including the The Winston), 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 restrictor plate race at Daytona after Earnhardt, Sr.'s death. By this time DEI was a multi-car operation with Michael Waltrip drive a second car, and Steve Park a third. Waltrip had won the race that Dale Sr was killed in with Earnhardt Jr finishing second. Waltrip had just moved to DEI wheeling the #15 in 2001 with NAPA Sponsorship.

Between 2002 to 2005, Waltrip won a further three times (twice at Daytona and once at Talladega) then, announcing he would no longer drive for DEI, he took NAPA with him to found his own team, Michael Waltrip Racing. For the 2006 NASCAR, the #15 team moved to a part-time status. Paul Menard, DEI's Busch Series driver drove and sponsorship was provided by Menards Home Improvement stores. Menard finished seventh at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and moved to full-time in the 2007 season. On July 25, 2007, the #01 car was added to DEI as part of the company's merger with Ginn Racing. Regan Smith drove the #01 full-time in 2008. 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. As

far as Dale Earnhardt Jr, on February 15, 2004, 6 years 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; then on June 13, 2007, officially announced his move to Hendrick Motorsports. In 2006 Martin Truex and Paul Menard joined DEI full time. Truex won for DEI at Dover in 2007. Truex stayed with Earnhardt Ganassi through 2009, before moving over to drive for Michael Waltrip's team. When Earnhardt Jr left DEI in 2008, Menard also departed DEI and moved to Yates racing. Also at the end of the 2008 season DEI would merge with Chip Ganassi to form Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing (see next owner below).

DEI also raced in the Xfinity series and in the Truck series. DEI was first formed in 1984 by Dale Earnhardt Sr to field cars for himself to race. DEI only ran select races from 1984-1994. Even though Earnhardt only ran a hand full of races per year; he ran up front. During that 11 year period Earnhardt won 16 times in 110 starts. Earnhardt started fielding a full time Xfinity effort in 1995 with Jeff Green driving the #3 Chevy. Green finished fifth in the points the first year the team ran full time. Also in 1995 DEI started fielding vehicles in the Truck series with Ron Hornaday running for the title. Hornaday won six times, but finished third in the points behind inaugural year champ Mike Skinner. Green returned for 1996 in the Xfinity series, and

improved one spot to finish fourth in the points; but still wasn't able to find victory lane. Hornaday however won four times in the #16 NAPA Chevy truck and claim DEI's first ever Championship. Hornaday would claim seven wins in 1997; but could must only a third place finish in the points. Steve Park was brought in to replace Green in 1997 driving the AC Delco Chevy in the Xfinity series. Park won on three occasions; but could manage only a third place finish in points also. 1998 would be the year of dual Championships. Dale Earnhardt Jr drove the Xfinity series car replacing Park, won seven times and claimed the points Championship. Hornaday visited victory lane six times on route to his Truck Series Championship. 1999 saw Dale Earnhardt Jr again win the series Championship while Hornaday placed seventh in the Truck series. This be the

final year DEI fielded a race truck. Hornaday moved up to the Xfinity series in 2000 and posted two wins that season. He managed to finish fifth in the points chase. After Dale Earnhardt Sr's untimely death in the season opening Daytona 500; the Xfinity Series team didn't compete in 2001. In 2002 and 2003 the Xfinity program only raced in select races. It wasn't until 2004 that DEI once again ran full time. They put Martin Truex into the #8 car; he won six races and claimed the Championship. The team expanded to two full time cars in 2005 with Truex again driving one car and Paul Menard was brought on board to drive the #11 team car. Menard was able to finish sixth in the points; while Truex won six times and once again claimed the Championship. In 2006 Truex moved up to the CUP Series so DEI contracted back to only being a single full time team.