 Dale Earnhardt Jr.., who had seemed invincible in consecutive marches
to Busch Series crowns in 1998 and 1999, learned a major lesson in career focus in 2000.
Before the season many thought Earnhardt Jr.. was the
favorite in what would become a two-man race for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award.
It didn't pan out that way when Busch Series subordinate Matt Kenseth outran Jr.. in the
Daytona 500, 10th to 13th, and never let up in his run to the title. Kenseth ultimately
scored a 42-point victory in the rookie race.
The younger Earnhardt's campaign had two distinct faces to it
and in the end, that dichotomy relegated him to 16th in the final point standings.
"Little E" scored three victories -- two of them in Winston Cup points races --
but totaled only five top-10s the entire season. Amazingly, his 10th place finish at Dover
in early June was his last top-10 of the season.
Earnhardt Jr..'s close relationship with his cousin, car
chief Tony Eury Jr..; crew chief Tony Eury; and his crew, many of which had been with his
Busch program, was both a blessing and a curse. The continuation of his Busch Series
success to Winston Cup created an atmosphere that was too distracting and disruptive for
the operation's success to continue.
 In the second half of the season he had six finishes of
30th or worse, and by the time he figured out what had disrupted the smooth flow of
success he experienced earlier in the year the season was over. Still, Earnhardt Jr..
became the second driver to score his first Winston Cup win at Texas Motor Speedway, with
1997 inaugural winner Jeff Burton; and also became the first rookie to win The Winston all
star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With his victories and two Bud Poles, he qualified for
2001's two special events, the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona and The Winston.
He did have a part in recreating one Winston Cup milestone
when he competed with his father and older half brother, Kerry Earnhardt, in the Pepsi 400
at Michigan International Speedway, making only the second time a father had raced against
two sons. Lee, Richard and Maurice Petty had previously accomplished the feat.
In his sophomore year the pressure will be on the Kannapolis,
N.C., native, but Jr.. has been faced with big expectations ever since he's been in
racing. He's always met the challenge in his own carefully crafted and adhered to fashion.
Jr.. started 2001 with vivid dreams of a Daytona 500 victory
in his No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet, pulling strongly in the same direction with the Eurys
and his crew. Despite the idiosyncrasies of his rookie year, Earnhardt Jr.. has proven
beyond any doubt that his name isn't the only thing that's gotten him to the level where
he is.
The young man can drive a race car. In his two Busch Series
championship seasons he scored 13 victories after giving little forecast before that, that
he would be a threat to dominate his division.
Earnhardt Jr.. began his professional driving career at the
age of 17, competing in the Street Stock division at Concord (N.C.) Motorsport Park. His
first race car was a 1978 Monte Carlo that he co-owned with Kerry. Within two seasons, the
young Earnhardt had honed his driving abilities to the point of joining the Late Model
Stock Car division, where he developed an in-depth knowledge of chassis setup and car
preparation while at times racing against Kerry Earnhardt and their sister Kelley. With
his father's guidance and his own experience on the short tracks throughout the Carolinas,
he was ready to take a bold step forward. In his inaugural Busch Series event at Myrtle
Beach, S.C., in 1996, Earnhardt Jr.. posted a seventh place starting position and a
respectable 14th place finish.
 Earnhardt Jr.. says he's never worried about living up to his surname and his
success in NASCAR racing didn't really come as a surprise to the third generation driver.
"I don't really think about carrying on the family racing name," Earnhardt Jr..
said of his grandfather, NASCAR national Sportsman champion Ralph Earnhardt and his
seven-time Winston Cup champion father. "I'm just so proud of my family and real
proud to be involved with my father in racing. It's a good relationship. I'm proud of my
father and grandfather and what they've done."
Jr.. uses the No. 8 on his car fielded by Dale Earnhardt
Inc., in honor of his grandfather's racing number. |
