Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Career Highlights

Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr in Daytona Feb 4, 2001
NASCAR National Series Career Highlights Timeline
June 22, 1996 – Made his first NASCAR national series start at Myrtle Beach Speedway in the NASCAR XFINITY Series driving the No. 31 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet; he started seventh and finished 14th.
March 28, 1998 – He won his first career NASCAR national series Coors Light pole at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR XFINITY Series driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. at a speed of 122.217 MPH.
April 4, 1998 – He won his first career NASCAR national series race at Texas Motor Speedway driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
November 15, 1998 – Won his first NASCAR national series title claiming the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship by 48 points over second-place Matt Kenseth.  Finished the ’98 season with seven wins, 16 top fives and 22 top 10s.
May 30, 1999 – Makes Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600 driving the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet; he started eighth and finished 16th. He ran five MENCS races in 1999 posting a best finish of 10th at Richmond. 
June 27, 1999 – Earnhardt Jr. becomes one of seven drivers in NASCAR XFINITY Series history to win three consecutive races (Dover, South Boston and Watkins Glen) following his victory at Watkins Glen International on this date.  He joins Sam Ard, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Harry Gant, Larry Pearson and Ryan Newman. 
November 13, 1999 – Becomes one of six drivers in NASCAR XFINITY Series history to win consecutive titles (1998-1999); joining Sam Ard (1983-84), Larry Pearson (1986-87), Randy LaJoie (1996-97), Martin Truex Jr. (2004-05) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2011-12). 
February 20, 2000 – Competes in his first Daytona 500, starting eighth and finishing 13th, and begins his first full-time season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with crew chief Tony Eury Sr. at Dale Earnhardt Inc.
April 2, 2000 – In his 12th series start he won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway driving the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet. In doing so, he became one of seven drivers in the Modern Era (since 1972) to win in 12 starts or less joining Mark Donohue, Ron Bouchard, Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski and Trevor Bayne.
May 28, 2000 – Wins his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet at a speed of 186.034 MPH.  
July 7, 2001 – Posted his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona International Speedway the summer following the passing of his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, earlier that season in the Daytona 500.
April 6, 2003 – Became the first driver in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history to win four consecutive races at Talladega Superspeedway.
November 16, 2003 – Finished a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career-best third in the final championship standings.
February 15, 2004 – Won his first Daytona 500 driving the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet with crew chief Tony Eury Sr.
September 11, 2004 – Made his first of eight appearances in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, he ultimately finished fifth in the final championship points with a career-high six wins in 2004.
February 17, 2008 – After eight full seasons with Dale Earnhardt Inc. he decided to move to Hendrick Motorsports. On this date, he made his first career start for Hendrick Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway with crew chief Tony Eury Jr.
June 15, 2008 – Won his first race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driving the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
February 23, 2014 – Won his second Daytona 500 of his career – one of 11 drivers to win the Daytona 500 more than once.
November 15, 2015 – His most recent win in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was at Phoenix International Raceway.  
- NASCAR

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