Daytona 500 was worth the long wait, but after that it was back to maddening mediocrity. Earnhardt keeps talking about an eighth championship, but nothing from the past two seasons indicates that's likely. Still, anybody who doesn't think he can still win races needs to pop in the tape of 1998's Daytona 500.
Career
1998 Outlook: Is "The Intimidator" past his prime, or will he come roaring
back? Remember this: In 1992, he slipped to 12th in the points standings;
the next two years, he won the championship. "We started to get things
right toward the end of last season," Earnhardt said. "I am eager to get
started. I think we're going to win plenty of races and championships."
Finally won Daytona 500 in 1998 on his 20th try, increasing record of overall victories at Daytona International Speedway to 33. Seven-time Winston Cup champion has 71 career victories, but only one in last 92 starts.
1997 Season in Review: Only word for season -- bizarre. Seven-time champion didn't
win for first time since 1981, but his car finished every race. Best
stretch came after mysterious and scary seizure in Southern 500 that never
could be fully explained. Still fifth in points, finished second four
times, won more than $2 million and extended career winnings past $30
million.
Earnhardt and his team were in cruise control for much of the first half of the 1996 season, posting one solid finish after another. But all of that changed at Talladega.
With 11 top-5 showings in the 17 starts before Talladega, Earnhardt was in the thick of the points race and making a move on leader Terry Labonte. After the accident, he slipped back a spot in the standings and managed only two more top-5 finishes in the final 13 starts.
Two races in Dale Earnhardt's 1995 season cost him a record eighth Winston Cup championship. Dual 35th-place finishes at Michigan mixed with Jeff Gordon's second and third places resulted in a 234-point difference. Gordon won the crown by 34 points. He won five races in 1995, including the Brickyard 400.
Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion. 1979 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. Won Winston Cup championship following season, becoming first driver in sport's history to win Rookie of the Year honors and Winston Cup championship in successive seasons. First win came in 16th start, Southeastern 500 in April of '79 at Bristol.
First pole came in 24th attempt, NAPA 400 in June of '79 at Riverside. Won all-time motorsports record $3,353,789 in 1993. Seven NASCAR Winston Cup championships came in 1980, '86, '87, '90, '91, '93, '94, tying him with Richard Petty. Motorsports Driver of the Year in 1987 and again in 1994. NMPA Driver of the Year in 1980, '87, '90 and '94 and shared award with Tim Richmond in '86. First three-time winner of The Winston Select ('87, '90 and '93); Won Busch Clash five times ('80, '86, '88, '91, '93). Won 125-mile qualifier at Daytona seven times ('83, '86, '90, '91, '92, '93, '94); Competed in 9 IROC Series, winning IROC championship in 1990. Won four races in '94.
Inspired by his father, the 1956 NASCAR Sportsman champion. Ralph died of heart failure while working on a car in 1973. Credits Rod Osterlund for offering his biggest break, in 1978. Won championship for Osterlund in 1980. An avid hunter and fisherman. Owns a farm in Mooresville. Favorite food is steak. One steak house in southeast named its largest steak after one of Dale's monikers, "The Intimidator." Owns a 76-foot Hatteras boat and a Lear Jet 31A with two full-time pilots. Favorite sports figures are Joe Montana and John McEnroe. Wife, Teresa, and children, Taylor Nicole (12/20/88), Kelly King (8/28/72), Kerry (2/7/70), Ralph Dale Jr. (10/10/74).
Sources: NASCAR Press Guides, Star and News staff reports.
