TIMELINE

Apr. 29, 1951: Ralph Dale Earnhardt is born to Martha and Ralph Earnhardt in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

Dale’s first race car, given to him by his neighbors.

May 25, 1975: Dale makes his Cup series debut in the #8 10,000 RPM Speed Equipment Dodge, finishing 22nd, just ahead of future car owner Richard Childress.

Mar. 1, 1979: Dale captures his first Winston Cup victory driving the #2 car for Rod Osterlund.

Jan. 14, 1980: Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated is born. Dale forms his own race team with his wife Teresa as co-owner and 1st employee.

Dale clenches his first Winston Cup Championship, becoming the only driver to win Rookie of the Year and the series championship back-to-back.

1980: Dale named Driver of the Year by the National Motorsports Press Association.

Jul. 7, 1984: Dale takes the checkered flag in the Talladega 500, his first driving the legendary #3.

Mar. 2, 1985: Dale brings home DEI’s first win in the Busch Series at Rockingham.

Dale wins five races, earning his first million-dollar season and a second Winston Cup Championship.

Dale retains his title with an astounding 11 wins, 21 top 5 and 24 top 10 finishes, leading to a 3rd Winston Cup Championship.

1987: Associated Press poll names Dale American Driver of the Year

1988: Dale’s first season with GM Goodwrench sponsorship. New paint scheme leads to nickname ‘Man in Black’.

Dale wins nine races on his way to a fourth Winston Cup Championship, earning a then-record $3,083,056.

Dale edges-out Ricky Rudd by 195 points, winning his fifth Winston Cup Championship.

May 30, 1993: After being assessed a one-lap penalty for rough driving, pit stop crew violations and speeding on pit row, Dale still gets his 55th victory in the first night race at Charlotte.

1994: Dale and Teresa start Chance, Inc. for children Kerry, Kelley and Dale Jr. Each competes a full season in the NASCAR late model series.

Dale wins his seventh Winston Cup Championship, tying Richard Petty for most career titles, topping the $3 million mark in earnings for third time in five years.

Feb. 12, 1995: Dale clinches his 6th Busch Clash victory taking only 15 minutes and 55 seconds to win the 70-lap race.

Aug. 5, 1995: After a four hour rain delay, Dale takes the lead at lap 133, going on to win by 0.37 seconds over the field.

1996: Dale becomes the first American driver to win Autosports Magazine’s Gregor Grant Award for his long-term contribution to motorsports. Award was presented at their awards banquet in London.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Ron Hornaday wins 1st Craftsman Truck Series Championship for DEI.

1997: After many years of planning, construction begins on Dale & Teresa’s new corporate headquarters.

1997: Dale becomes first race car driver to appear on box of Wheaties. Four different designs were used on the cereal box.

Apr. 19, 1997: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Steve Park picks up the first Busch Series win for DEI by a driver not named Earnhardt.

Feb. 15, 1998: On the 50th anniversary of NASCAR and after 20 previous tries, Dale finally conquers the Daytona 500 for his 71st career win.

Nov. 22, 1998: Dale Earnhardt Inc. enters two cars in the Coca-Cola 500 exhibition race in Motegi, Japan.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Ron Hornaday wins second Craftsman Truck Series Championship for DEI.

Deal Earnhardt announces a third DEI Cup team with sponsor NAPA and driver Michael Waltrip.

2000 – Dale named ‘Driver of the Decade’.2000 – Dale named ‘Driver of the Decade’.

Dale holds-off Bobby Labonte by a nose in a neck-and-neck race to the checkered flag.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Kerry Earnhardt gets first win and celebrates with his proud father in Victory Lane.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Steve Park brings home his first Cup Series win.

Dale goes from 18th to 1st in the last three laps for his final career victory at The Winston at Talladega Superspeedway.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Steve Park scores an emotional victory one week after the loss of Dale.

2001: Dale Earnhardt Inc. CEO, Teresa Earnhardt, is named NASCAR Illustrated Person of the Year.

Feb. 15, 2002: The first Candlelight Tribute in memory of Dale is held at DEI.

Teresa Earnhardt unveils the Dale Earnhardt Legacy Program, whose cornerstone is The Dale Earnhardt Foundation.

2003: NC Hwy 136 in Mooresville, NC is designated Dale Earnhardt Highway 3 by Gov. Mike Easley.

2005: DEI Celebrates 25 Years and its 100th NASCAR win.

2005: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Martin Truex, Jr. brings home a second Busch Series Championship.

Oct. 14th, 2009: Dale Earnhardt is named to inaugural class of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees.