Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Past News June '05 - June '06

June 23, 2006:

Earnhardt, Jr. thinks NASCAR can race in WA., and even South America? The biggest name in NASCAR used his one-evening cameo in Seattle this week as an opportunity to amplify the need for building a racetrack in Washington state. But Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not stopping here. "I've always just wanted to race everywhere I could, as many places as I could," said the 31-year-old driver. "I hope there comes a day when we have one race at each track and we're racing all over the place." As in, beyond the Northwest. "I think we should be racing up in Canada a little bit. Mexico is an opportunity. Maybe South America a little bit," Earnhardt said. (Seattle Times)

June 22, 2006:

Earnhardt, Jr. on TV Guide for 12th time: As NASCAR approaches the midpoint of its 2006 Nextel Cup season, TV Guide magazine roars into newsstands with annual mid-season special issue, featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr., (June 26 issue, on sale June 22). In an exclusive interview with TV Guide’s resident NASCAR expert Robert Edelstein, Earnhardt speaks candidly about his reemergence at the head of the pack--after enduring his worst season ever last year, finishing 19th—and how adopting a new attitude has made all the difference. (TV Guide PR)

June 18, 2006:

Earnhardt, Jr. and DEI agree to trademark terms:  Earnhardt told NASCAR.COM on Saturday that he and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. had agreed to terms Friday evening that awarded him sole ownership of the trademark rights to his lucrative name. Amazingly, it won't affect the earning potential of an asset estimated at some $5 million annually. Earnhardt said the current agreements between he and DEI won't change. (NASCAR.com)

June 16, 2006:

Budweiser/Earnhardt Legacy ads: Budweiser honors the Earnhardt family’s three generations of NASCAR success this Father’s Day with a “NASCAR History” ad showcasing imagery representing more than 50 years of the family’s racing legacy and Budweiser’s long-time support for auto racing. The 60-second ad will debut Friday on Budweiser.com, and will premiere on national television during Sunday’s broadcast of the 3M Performance 400 from Michigan International Speedway at 1pm/et on FOX. The spot melds black and white images of six-time NASCAR Sportsman Series champion Ralph Earnhardt racing a cream-colored 1955 Chevrolet, followed by the contrasting black #3 Goodwrench car of “The Intimidator,” Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time NASCAR series champion. Finally, the ad brings into the fold the #8 Budweiser car driven by NASCAR’s only third generation champion, Dale Earnhardt Jr., seamlessly relating how the Earnhardt's, NASCAR and Budweiser have come a long way together over the past 50 years.  (Bud Racing/Fingerprint PR)

June 12, 2006:

Special fan gets opportunity to meet NASCAR hero: Eleven-year-old Codey Buzzard can usually talk up a storm. But when the Quick youngster met his NASCAR hero a couple of weekends ago, he had a case of the clam ups. With help from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Codey got his wish fulfilled last weekend in Dover, Del., by meeting Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the NASCAR Neighborhood Excellence 400. Though Earnhardt came up 10th in the race, his finish didn't damper Codey's spirit. He came away from Delaware with 15 pieces of autographed memorabilia and the actual lug nuts from the winning cars, driven by Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. Codey mingled with Earnhardt in the pit for about 30 minutes before the race, and the Elk Elementary Center student finally warmed up to him after the driver sparked a conversation about PlayStation2. The boy then asked Earnhardt to at least beat Jeff Gordon. Codey has a rare disease called hypomelanosis of Ito, which causes areas of the skin to lack pigment. Codey was born with the disease, which is often seen as just a symptom of other disorders because it causes other birth defects. Codey's mother, Daralene Martin, says Codey also has moderate retardation and experiences seizures. His mother had e-mailed the Make-A-Wish Foundation, who forwarded the request to NASCAR. (Charleston Daily Mail)

June 3, 2006:

Earnhardt, Jr. doesn't like sponsor limitations: There's a reason Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't run more races outside the Nextel Cup Series.  "I got a deal where I can only run X amount [outside Cup] a month,'' Earnhardt said as he prepared for Sunday's Cup race at Dover International Speedway. "They want the consistency for the fans seeing me in a red car. "They really don't want to see me in a Taco Bell or KFC car. Bud would rather have me in a red Bud Car. That's why I don't really get the opportunity to run more than I want.'' Earnhardt said the clause was in his contract before he suffered severe burns in 2004 while driving a Corvette in a road race at Sonoma, Calif. "That's the Bud side of it, which is understandable,'' said Earnhardt, whose performance suffered for several races while the burns healed. "I'd like to drive my own Busch cars, but I don't know if that's possible through your commitments to DEI. You get yourself in a couple of spider webs and it's hard to get out of 'em.'' (NASCAR.com)

June 1, 2006:

Earnhardt, Jr. Father's Day paint scheme, honors 3 generations of Earnhardt's: Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Budweiser will honor three generations of racing success with a commemorative Father’s Day paint scheme for the No. 8 Budweiser car that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will race at Michigan International Raceway on Father’s Day, June 18. The paint scheme is based upon the No. 8 cars driven by Ralph Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt during their NASCAR careers. The predominantly cream-colored car will feature vintage Budweiser bow-tie logos which were introduced in 1956 – the same year Ralph Earnhardt won the NASCAR National Sportsman title, a series that eventually became the modern-day NASCAR Busch Series.  Fans can see the paint scheme at www.Budweiser.com or at www.DaleEarnhardtInc.com. The car is the second DEI paint scheme this season to honor the legacy of a member of the Earnhardt family. Previously, Dale Jr. raced a black and silver #8 Budweiser car at Talladega on April 30 to celebrate his father’s induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. (Fingerprint/Bud Racing PR)

May 16, 2006:

Dale Jr. featured on  ESPN Sportscentury and the Budweiser Hot Seat: The ESPN SPORTSCENTURY documentary of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will debut Monday on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. The one-hour special looks at the life of Dale Jr., as told by his family, friends and competitors. Among the many who appear in the special are interviews with Dale Jr., his sister Kelley, his mom Brenda Jackson, crew chief and cousin Tony Eury Jr., Dale Jarrett and Greg Biffle. The show will debut Monday, May 22 at 2 PM ET on ESPN2. It will then re-air at 8pm and midnight ET that evening on ESPN Classic. The show will also air repeatedly later in 2006. The Budweiser Hot Seat: Dale Jr. makes a return visit via satellite to the Bud Hot Seat on ESPN's Sportscenter tomorrow night (Wed,) at 6 pm ET.
(Budweiser Racing/Fingerprint, Inc. PR)

May 9, 2006:

Eury Jr. Wins WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award: Tony Eury Jr. helped Dale Earnhardt Jr. snap a 27 race winless streak this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. The pivotal moment of the event came when Earnhardt Jr. relinquished his second-place position to pit for fresh tires during the closing stages of the Crown Royal 400. The strategy allowed Earnhardt Jr. to track down the leader and fend off the advances of a hard charging Denny Hamlin before capturing the checkered flag. Eury’s winning call earned him the WYPALL® Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award. “Tony (Eury) Jr. did a great job calling the race,” said Earnhardt Jr. following the event. “My team did a great job on the pit stops. I was real proud of the race car. It says a lot about the guys back at the shop putting the car together and calling the set-up plate and everything. I really didn’t have to work real hard.” A panel of voters; including a member of the local media, Robbie Reiser and a WYPALL® Wipers representative; all cast their vote for Eury Jr. as the Crew Chief of the Race. “The 8 team had a really good car, but Tony made all the right calls today,” said Reiser. “He chose the right time to come into the pits and made the right adjustments to the car. It was its best at the end of the night. He’s got that team back on track this year and tonight proved that.” (WYPALL PR)

May 6, 2006:

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. wins the Crown Royal 400: Fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Crown Royal 400 Nextel Cup race at the Richmond International Raceway. The No.8 Budweiser Chevrolet crossed the finish line 0.572 seconds ahead of Denny Hamlin. The victory was Earnhardt Jr.'s first of the season and 17th of his "Cup" career. His last win was in July 2005 at the Chicagoland Speedway. "I'm real proud of the team I've got," said Earnhardt Jr. "I've got a great group of guys and I really enjoy coming to the race track with this group." (Sporting News - Results - Points - RaceCast!)

May 5, 2006:

NASCAR race to named after Fan, and hey, Dale Jr. what do you think? Next year’s NEXTEL spring race at Richmond International Raceway will be named after one lucky NASCAR fan. Crown Royal, the sponsor for tomorrow’s NEXTEL Cup Race, announced the landmark promotional event Friday afternoon in the infield of RIR. The event will mark the first time in history a major-sporting event will be named after a fan, Crown Royal said. Jamie McMurray, driver of the No. 26 Crown Royal Ford Fusion, made the announcement along with super-vixen Jaime Pressley, who currently stars on NBC’s "My Name is Earl." Pressley, a native of Kinston, N.C., said she grew up watching NASCAR with her dad. The former Playboy model said she’s proud to be involved with the promotion because a large portion of the proceeds go toward the RADD (Recording Artists, Actors & Athletes Against Drunk Driving) charity. "Celebrity's only good for two things: charity work and getting a good table at a restaurant," she said. I pegged Pressley for a whiskey drinker, so I asked her what distinguished Crown Royal from other poisons of its kind. "It's smoothe, it's just smoothe,” she said convincingly. "My dad has been drinking Crown Royal since I was 8, so of course I had my first taste with him." Earlier in the day, a reporter asked Dale Earnhardt Jr., who drives the Budweiser car, his thoughts on a hard liquor brand sponsoring a NASCAR race for the first time. “I don’t pay too much attention to sponsors of any race, unless I’m looking at them on a trophy,” he said. (Richmond.com)

April 25, 2006:

Earnhardt, Jr. to drive black #8 at 'Dega: The No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet piloted by Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have a new look for this weekend’s activities at Talladega Superspeedway. The usually red No. 8 will be predominantly black with white lettering and silver and red stripes in honor of the life and brilliant career of the late Dale Earnhardt. The paint scheme mimics the design the elder Earnhardt made famous in his career while driving for Richard Childress Racing in the Cup Series and Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) in the Busch Series. Ten of Earnhardt’s 76 career wins came at Talladega – more than any other driver. His son, Dale Jr., is second in all-time Nextel Cup victories at Talladega with five, including a record four-in-a-row for DEI between October 2001 to April 2003. The elder Earnhardt will be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall-of-Fame at Talladega Thursday evening, and Saturday, April 29th would have been his 55th birthday. Among the most memorable of Earnhardt’s 10 victories at Talladega was the last of his 76 career victories, where he came from 18th place with five laps remaining to take the win in October 2000. Anheuser-Busch and the Busch family had a personal and business relationship with Dale Earnhardt for many years, promoting the Busch brand. Earnhardt won the first-ever race run under the “Busch Series” name in 1982 at Daytona. (Budweiser Racing/Fingerprint, Inc. PR)

April 20, 2006:

Dale Jr. shoots SportsCenter commercial: “Maybe the most fun I’ve ever had shooting a commercial. It was hilarious. I’ve watched those SportsCenter commercials for years, and they’re always really good, really funny. I was honored when I heard they wanted me for one of their new ones. We left the Richmond test session Wednesday night and flew straight to Bristol, Connecticut to shoot it. It was a long day with the test, but the scripts were really good, which made it fun. John Anderson was the SportsCenter anchor I worked with, and he was a real pro. As soon as we finished, he took off like a bat out of hell to go shoot the next morning’s SportsCenter. Man, I thought that was impressive. After shooting a commercial, I’m looking for a couch and a cold beer. He had to go tape the next morning’s SportsCenter, watched by millions of people. It was an all-around great experience, and I can’t wait to see it. We actually shot two commercials that night. Not sure which one they’re going to use… We’ll have to wait and see.” (DEI/Dale Jr. Weekly Release)

April 5, 2006:

Tony Eury Jr. Wins Wypall Crew Chief of the Race Award: Martinsville Speedway delivered 500 laps of incensed racing excitement in this weekend's DIRECTV 500. Pushing, bumping and shoving were the norm at the half-mile bull ring, leaving the garage littered with numerous torn up vehicles by the event's end. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. weren't exempt from the action, as the #8 Budweiser Chevy was involved in two separate incidents on the race track, forcing lengthy pit stops to fix the damage after each episode. Still, with Eury Jr.'s guidance, Earnhardt Jr. was able to climb back and finish inside the top-five. Eury Jr.'s comeback earned him the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. Earnhardt Jr. suffered extensive damage to the right side of his Monte Carlo after getting collected in a multi-car accident during the opening stages of the DIRECTV 500. Eury Jr. ordered vast repairs to the #8 Chevy and worked his driver inside the top-10 following the maintenance, but contact wit the #12 car on lap 318 forced another unscheduled stop. Despite the two setbacks, the Earnhardt Jr. and Eury Jr. combination fought to a fourth-place finish. A panel of voters; including Robbie Reiser, Mike Mulhern of the Winston-Salem Journal and a Wypall Wipers representative; unanimously agreed that Eury Jr.'s comeback deserved Crew Chief of the Race accolades. For winning the Crew Chief of the Race award, WypAll Wipers gave Eury Jr. $1,000. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000 and be crowned the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. This was Eury Jr.'s first Crew Chief of the Race award in 2006, which ties him with Darian Grubb, Kenny Francis and Roy McCauley for second-place in the standings. Robbie Reiser is in the lead with two wins. (Wypall PR)

Mar. 3, 2006:

Alert Dale Jr. fans, Bud webcast: Budweiser.com will provide a live webcast of the "One Night Stand with Dale Jr." starring NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Thursday night, March 9, from Las Vegas. The concert-style Budweiser event will begin at 11 pm ET/ 8 pm PT with the opening musical act, Sabotage, followed by a Dale Jr. Q&A session featuring video from some of his most memorable victories and moments from his Nextel Cup career. The "One Night Stand with Dale Jr." series of events are held in major cities across the United States in nightclubs and concert venues. Tickets for the events are not available for purchase, and must be secured through radio or Budweiser vendor and retail promotions. Fans 21 years of age or older may watch the live feed by logging in to http://www.budweiser.com ( Budweiser Racing PR/Fingerprint, Inc.)

Feb. 28, 2006:

Earnhardt and McFarland take a flight: Mark McFarland, driver of the #88 Navy Chevy in the Busch Series and his team owner, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have a new perspective on the word. On Monday the two flew with the Navy's Flight Demonstration Crew, the famous Blue Angels [F/A 18 Hornet], in El Centro, Cal. There they were introduced to speeds in excess of mach 1.2, or 890 mph, and G-forces seven times that of their body weight. "That is the roller coaster that they can't build," sounded Earnhardt, Jr. "I thought we pulled a lot of G's at places like Bristol and Atlanta, but riding with these guys gives you a new perspective. This is a testament to the condition they are in." Lt. Kevin Davis, Blue Angel No. 7, put the two through roughly an hour each of twists, turns and rolls over the mountains that border NAF El Centro, which is the winter home of the Blue Angels. Pensacola, Fla., The Cradle of Naval Aviation, is their home during the "flight season." A "season" can be made up of 35 locations, the same as a NASCAR Busch season The Blue Angels are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.. (image and more at Jr. Motorsports )

Feb. 26, 2006:

Dale Jr. "Back in the Day" gets 8 more episodes: Speed Channel has picked up an option for eight additional episodes of "Back in the Day" with Dale Earnhardt Jr. The 30-minute program, which airs Mondays at 9:00pm/et on the Charlotte-based network, is a journey through the history of NASCAR with an emphasis on the 1970s. "This is the right show on the right network at the right time," Speed vice president of programming Robert Ecker said in an e-mail. "The decision to place the full-season order was a virtual no-brainer. Dale Jr.'s obvious affection for the material and his clever approach to presenting it instantly and understandably struck a responsive chord with the audience. We are eager to respond to the demand for additional episodes as quickly as we can." (AJC)

Feb. 25, 2006:

Earnhardt on Car of tomorrow and Charlotte getting NASCAR HOF: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Charlotte will almost certainly get NASCAR's new Hall of Fame - for a very simple reason: "I'm sure NASCAR is going to ask the drivers to make a few appearances over there, and it would be right in my backyard and I wouldn't have to go too far." Earnhardt on NASCAR's proposed car of tomorrow - "I don't ever want to see it. I don't ever want to race it. I think it's a big mistake. "Given the state of the sport and how expensive it is, the timing is not right. "Obviously it's a great idea, and there's nothing wrong with the car in particular. But the timing of the whole deal is going to be hard on a lot of these teams." (Salem-Journal)

Feb. 14, 2006:

Betters like Dale Jr. in Daytona 500 odds: Just days away from the biggest race of the year, NASCAR fans are envisioning Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the podium in Florida. He is the runaway choice with 15.3% of all bettors' wagers backing him to repeat his 2004 victory. The odds makers' favorite is three time Daytona 500 winner and defending champion Jeff Gordon who has captured only 5.5% of wagers. "Everybody bets on NASCAR at sportsbook.com and our players have spoken," says Alex Czajkowski, Marketing Director, Sportsbook.com. "If betting sentiment is any indication it should be a great season. There are a lot of elite drivers in the running, from Gordon and Earnhardt Jr. to Stewart and Johnson, it'll be interesting to see how the season shapes up and the Daytona 500 is the first big test." Tony Stewart topped the NASCAR leader board in 2005 and posts 5-1 odds to take the race The Daytona International Speedway. Stewart has received 11.1% of wagers, second to Earnhardt Jr. (Sportingbet PLC PR)

Feb. 11, 2006:

Earnhardt, Jr. predicts 6-7 wins, won't lose Championship by much: Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't look like a driver that failed to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup last season judging by his big smile when he walked into the tent outside of Daytona International Speedway. He didn't sound like one, either.  "We're going to come into the Chase and be in the top three in points,'' he said during Thursday's media day. "We'll have six or seven wins, if not more. If we lose the championship it won't be by much.'' The son of seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt didn't stop there, adding he would have won the Daytona 500 last season had he "made a certain move'' and predicting he would win next Sunday's 500. "I got the car to beat over there in the garage,'' Earnhardt said. "It's the fastest car. It won't run fast in qualifying, but that's the way we build it. We build it to race good and a lot of guys build their cars to go fast in straight line. "And that's not how you win.'' (more at NASCAR.com)

Jan. 19, 2006:

Earnhardt Jr. new show on XM Radio: NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins XM Satellite Radio for a weekly show to debut Feb. 13 during Daytona Speedweeks. The program will air on XM’s NASCAR Radio channel (144). Earnhardt will discuss the latest happenings on the NASCAR circuit, as well as music, video games and other personal interests. He will also play a role in various XM promotions as part of a multi-year agreement with XM. "I love racing and I love XM, so I definitely couldn't pass up on an opportunity to combine the two. It's a perfect fit," Earnhardt said in a release. "Listeners will get a real sense of who I am both on and off the track.” Earnhardt has been voted by NASCAR fans as the most popular NASCAR Nextel Cup driver for the past three years in a row. In 2005, his merchandise led NASCAR-related sales and accounted for about 25% of all driver-licensed products. Ironically, in 2007, XM loses it exclusive contract with NASCAR. As reported by Billboard Radio Monitor last February, Sirius becomes the “official” home for the spectactor sport a year from now, when it will broadcast the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races live on a specially created 24/7 NASCAR channel. (Billboard Radio Monitor)

Dale Jr. new show:  #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is putting his newly formed production company to work, as Hammerhead Entertainment has reached a deal with Speed Channel to deliver up to 13 30-minute episodes of Back in the Day, a modern adaptation of the vintage race program Car and Track with Bud Lindemann. Back in the Day will make a Prime Time premiere during Daytona Speedweeks on Feb. 13 at 9:30pm/et. Car and Track, a collection of American racing footage from the 1960s and early 1970s, ran in replays on Speed from 1996-2000. Earnhardt Jr., a longtime fan of the series, will host the updated version, which will revisit NASCAR in its infancy, touching on not only what was going on at the race track, but what was going on in America. "I've always been a big fan of Car and Track," Earnhardt said. "Bud Lindemann had the vision to bring auto racing to television over 30 years ago. I watched every episode as a kid and still watch them today. We're going to show everyone the grassroots of our sport and bring the past to the present in a fun and entertaining way." (SPEED Channel )

Dec. 16, 2005:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. loses out:  Americans Most Want to be Driven Home in a Hummer by Designated Drivers of Choice Katie Couric and George Clooney: Hoping to help "drive home" the message of responsible celebrating this holiday season, Anheuser-Busch today released the results of its annual Designated Driver survey to kick off National Designated Driver Awareness Week. The survey found that most Americans (41%) would prefer to be driven home in a Hummer by their designated drivers of choice Katie Couric and George Clooney. In addition, according to the poll, respondents favor a sleigh ride (45%) over a speedy ride in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 8 Chevrolet (27%) as their favorite mode of transportation. Additional survey results include: * Almost three-fourths (72%) of American adults ages 21 and older have been or have used a Designated Driver. * Nearly all Americans (97%) are familiar with the concept of a Designated Driver. * Those aged 21-44 have the most experience with the Designated Driver concept (46%), followed by those aged 45-54 (28%) and then 55-64 year olds (23%). * "Jingle Bell Rock" won with 28% of the votes as the holiday song Americans would request their Designated Driver to play on their ride home. "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" came in a close second (25%) and third place was "Let it Snow" (17%). * In addition to Katie Couric and George Clooney, Americans also chose Mariah Carey (18%), Tom Cruise (13%) and Orlando Bloom (8%) as their preferred Designated Drivers. * After the Hummer, top picks for cars to be driven home in are a Mustang (18%), a Mini Cooper (12%) and a Corvette (10%). National Designated Driver Awareness Week launches with full-page advertisements in USA Today, People Magazine and US Weekly, in tandem with nationwide radio promotions. The designated driver survey was conducted from September 9-10, 2005 utilizing Random Digit Dialing procedures. The findings were based on telephone interviews with a representative sample of 991 Americans ages 21 and older. For more information on designated drivers and responsible drinking programs visit www.designateddriver.com - (G.S. Schwartz & Co. Inc, PR)

Dec..15, 2005:

Dale Jr. to test at Daytona: Dale Earnhardt Jr. says the Dec. 9 surgery he had on his left wrist will not keep him from preseason testing at Daytona. This week's edition of NASCAR Scene reports that Earnhardt Jr. said he would be able test a car approximately 10 days after the surgery, if necessary. (NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)

Dec.. 13, 2005:

Earnhardt, Jr. & NASCAR among top searched terms and athletes:   AOL Search today announced the year's top searches based on the topics that received the highest volume of online queries on AOLSearch.com (http://www.aolsearch.com/), the AOL.com portal (http://www.aol.com/) and the AOL service during 2005. "Millions of people search online through AOL Search for a wide spectrum of things, but there are those terms that are looked-up more frequently than others," said Jim Riesenbach, senior vice president of AOL Search and Directional Media. "From news and people that grab attention to popular products and common queries, the most searched for topics online during 2005 are a reflection of what was top of mind or what people wanted to find more information about." "Lottery" emerged as the most searched word in 2005, followed by "horoscopes" (no. 2) and "tattoos" (no. 3). New search terms that emerged in 2005 include the addictive puzzle "Sudoku," the irregular minting of the new "Wisconsin Quarter" and the global music event "Live 8."  Top Words: 1) Lottery; 2) Horoscopes; 3) Tattoos; 4) Lyrics; 5) Ringtones; 6) IRS; 7) Jokes; 8) American Idol; 9) Hairstyles; 10) NASCAR. Top Athletes: 1) Danica Patrick; 2) Lance Armstrong; 3) Serena Williams; 4) Eddie Guerrero; 5) John Cena; 6) Maria Sharapova; 7) Derek Jeter; 8) Anna Kournikova; 9) Jackie Robinson; 10) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (AOL) Find what's hot on AOL in 2005 review.

Earnhardt at Sound & Speed Fest: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will participate in the Sound & Speed festival at Gaylord Entertainment Center (Nashville, TN) on Jan. 13-14. Earnhardt’s commitment was announced yesterday by organizers of the event. Top NASCAR drivers and country music entertainers will be on hand. Activities will be held at the GEC and County Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the latter of which will receive a portion of the proceeds. The remainder will go to the Victory Junction Gang Camp for children with life-threatening ailments. The camp was founded by the Petty family, and Kyle and Richard are among the drivers and racing personalities who will be here. Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart has also agreed to appear. LeAnn Rimes, Keith Anderson and Montgomery Gentry are scheduled for a concert. In addition to the autograph sessions, other activities at Sound and  Speed include the display of the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series and Grand-Am show cars,  an exhibit of vintage cars, historic artifacts from racing and country music, interviews with both current and legendary stars of NASCAR and country  music, performances by country music's top up-and-comers and a concert finale. Tickets are available through TicketMaster. For details visit www.soundandspeed2006.com.

Dec.. 11, 2005:

Earnhardt, Jr. fine after minor surgery: From Fingerprint/Jade Gruss Blog: I'm no doctor. And I don't play one on TV. But everyone can take a deep breath and step away from the ledge. Despite some panicked e-mails claiming otherwise, Junior does not have any fractures of his right or left arm. He had a minor procedure done to remove calcium build-up in his wrist. It's a chronic condition he's had for several years, and apparently decided to have it taken care of Friday morning. If anything serious were to happen - we'd let you know about it.

Dec.. 7, 2005:

NASCAR disappointed with Earnhardt, Gordon and others: NASCAR officials are “extremely disappointed” in Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and other drivers who failed to attend the season-ending awards ceremonies. “It was very disappointing to NASCAR and the entire industry that drivers did not show up for various awards,” spokesman Jim Hunter said Tuesday. “It shows a lack of respect for the history and tradition of the sport.” NASCAR president Mike Helton plans to speak with the drivers who failed to attend last week’s ceremonies in New York, Hunter said. The sanctioning body also is considering ways to ensure future attendance. NASCAR has held its season-ending ceremonies in New York the past 25 years, handing out numerous awards during a weeklong celebration capped by a black-tie banquet in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. Gordon, who finished 11th in the standings, skipped the banquet because he was in Paris preparing to compete in the Race of Champions all-star event. Actor Will Ferrell, pretending to be Gordon, accepted the $1,075,386 payout — which included a $250,000 bonus for finishing 11th — on Gordon’s behalf. Gordon’s absence was glaring because under NASCAR’s new points system the 11th-place driver is awarded a spot at the banquet as a reward for being the highest finishing driver outside of the Chase for the championship. (MSNBC.com)

Earnhardt, Jr. and Fantasy Racing:  ISC Interactive has launched Dale Jr. Reality Cup Racing, an online NASCAR fantasy racing game that will take the green flag in 2006. The game partners with NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. and offers fans a chance to win prizes. Among the prizes that will be awarded to game winners are race weekend tickets, travel accommodations, merchandise and cash. The season will conclude with an awards banquet at Daytona International Speedway, featuring an appearance by Earnhardt and other industry celebrities.  Potential interactive racers can register at www.realitycupracing.com.

Dec. 3, 2005

Surprise Earnhardt, Jr. wins most popular driver of the year award again: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won his third straight Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award. The announcement was made today during the National Motorsports Press Association’s (NMPA) Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City that a record number of fans nationwide have again voted the North Carolinian as the most popular driver in the most popular form of motorsports in the United States. "It's a huge honor to win the Most Popular Driver award just one time, but to win it three times in a row is pretty overwhelming. I just want to thank the fans, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for the award,” Earnhardt said. “This one probably means more to me than the others because of the kind of year we had. It's one thing to have fan support when you're riding high and winning races. It's another thing to have it during the rough times,” he continued. “No matter what we went through this year, I never once felt like my fans were turning on me and the Budweiser team. It's amazing to have that kind of support. It makes the team want to work that much harder and me drive that much faster. I can't thank the fans enough for what they've meant to me in my career." A record 4,157,443 votes were cast in 2005, a huge jump for an award which never had more than 400,000 votes in a year prior to General Mills sponsorship. Chex began sponsorship of the award this season, replacing Grands! Biscuits, which had sponsored it since the beginning of the 2002 season. Earnhardt, Jr. has led the voting since the start of the 2003 season, and easily captured enough votes in the record-setting 2005 year to again win the award. He finished with 1,403,544 votes, which is also an all-time record. “The fans have pretty well made a statement in regards to their favorite driver in this era,” said Kenny Bruce, president of the NMPA. “They have also made a statement as to the importance of this award. We appreciate every fan who voted, and we really appreciate Chex for its sponsorship.” “On behalf of Chex and General Mills, I want to congratulate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on winning this award for the third straight year,” said Chex Marketing Manager Trevor Bynum. “We also want to thank the millions of fans who voted and made this award possible with their continued strong support.” Jeff Gordon finished second in the voting at www.mostpopulardriver.com with 594,434 votes. Kasey Kahne was third with 343,154; 2005 Champion Tony Stewart fourth with 246,026; and retiring Rusty Wallace fifth with 214,026. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson.  (Williams Co., Of America PR)

Dec. 1, 2005:

Earnhardt, Jr. cousin dies: Orange County (FL) Deputies tased a man on the West side, who later died. They say he was likely high on drugs and running into traffic early this morning. Barbara Miller with the Sheriff's Office says the first deputy on scene couldn't calm him down, so he tased Jeff Dean Earnhardt. "He tried it a second time and again it had no effect on the subject. Unfortunately when more deputies arrived, they were able to restrain the subject and he was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but he died at around 7:25 this morning." WDBO has now confirmed Jeff is the first cousin of Dale Earnhardt Junior. (WDBO)

Nov. 15, 2005:

Dale Jr. on CNBC: CNBC will feature Dale Jr. during the "On the Money" program Friday night at 7:00 pm. ET. The segment will also be seen on "Dollars and Sport" on CNBC, Thanksgiving morning at 9:30 am and again at 2:30 pm ET. (Budweiser Weekly PR)Nov. 14, 2005:

Dale Jr. weighs in on Busch:  "It's a dangerous game, man, when you get behind the wheel of a car," Earnhardt said. "Even if you just had a couple of martinis. It don't matter. "Alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed and you can have a good time. But you have to know where to draw the line. You can't make poor decisions. That's what drinking responsibly is all about." Busch was charged with reckless driving but was held under suspicion of drunk driving before a Breathalyzer test machine malfunctioned. "Unfortunately, Kurt made a mistake," Earnhardt said. "Lots of people make mistakes. Hopefully, he'll learn from it. If he gets back to full form as a race car driver and takes care of business, he can tell everybody just how close he was to screwing it up." (Dallas Morning News)

Nov. 8, 2005:

Dale Jr on QVC "For Race Fans Only": Dale Jr. will appear on QVC Network’s call-in show “For Race Fans Only” Friday at 8 p.m. ET, live from Phoenix International Speedway. This will mark Dale Jr.’s second time on QVC this season. (DEI Weekly Release)

Nov. 4, 2005:

Earnhardt, Jr. still thinks about driving #3: Dale Earnhardt Jr. hasn’t given up on the idea of one day driving the No. 3 car that his dad made famous with Richard Childress Racing. The son of the late Dale Earnhardt, a four-time Nextel Cup champion, left the door open this past week during an appearance on Dave Despain’s “Wind Tunnel” television show. “That is something that is an opportunity for us, and it would be fun for me and Richard to do something like that in the future,” Earnhardt said. “We haven’t sat down and decided that is what we will do, but maybe the last one or two years in my career, that’s a possibility. “I look forward to it. That is just something we just leave laying out there and joke about it, but it is something that we want to do, and we will do.” (The State)

Earnhardt, Jr. wins Wix award: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his first award of the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. The WIX Filters Lap Leader Award is presented to the driver who leads the most laps during each race in NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck racing series. The award includes a cash prize presented to the winning driver during a ceremony before the next race and an end-of-year payout and trophy for the driver who earns the most WIX Filters Lap Leader awards over the course of the entire season. Cash awards for the end-of-year honor are: $75,000 for the NEXTEL Cup Series; $20,000 for the Busch Series; and, $10,000 for the Craftsman Truck Series. In order to be eligible for the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award for a single event, drivers and teams in each series must run the WIX Filters decal on the front fender and use WIX oil or air filters in their vehicles. Additionally, for any year-end payout, teams must run the decal on the front fender for every race they participate in, with an allowance for one race, and they must always use WIX oil or air filters. Fans can sign up for the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award contest, make picks and try to beat Speed's John Roberts by visiting www.wixlapleader.com.

Oct. 26, 2005:

Budweiser.com Hosts Live Dale Jr. Webcast: Budweiser.com will host a live webcast of Dale Earnhardt Jr's "One Night Stand" appearance from Atlanta this Thursday evening, October 27. (You must be 21 years of age or older to enter the Budweiser site at www.budweiser.com The webcast will begin at 8:00 pm Eastern, with the Budweiser True Music band State of Man live in concert from the secret venue in Atlanta. At approximately 9:00 pm ET, Dale Jr. will take the stage to discuss video highlights of some of his most memorable race victories. Earnhardt Jr. will also answer questions submitted by the live audience with host Katie Daryl of Budweiser.com. Budweiser and Dale Jr. have hosted a series of "One Night Stands" in major race markets the past two seasons, giving Budweiser fans the chance see him in person before he takes to the race track that weekend. The events, which also include Budweiser True Music bands, have been held in small clubs, concert halls and large sports arenas. (The location of each event remains secret in advance, except to those who receive tickets. Tickets to the events cannot be purchased: they must be won through radio station promotions or via Budweiser retailers.) (Budweiser Racing PR/Fingerprint, Inc.)

Dale Jr. driving a Petty car: Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving cars owned by Richard Petty?Yes, and it will happen today at Lowe's Motor Speedway. But no, the driver of the No. 8 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series is not joining the Petty Enterprises team. Today's activities involve Earnhardt Jr. driving cars owned by the Richard Petty Driving Experience. He will be giving rides to 10 winners in a "Test Drive" sweepstakes conducted by Wrangler, one of his team's associate sponsors. Earnhardt Jr. will give another spin around the track to Debbie Crawford, from Ocala, Fla. Crawford's husband, Don, bid $42,100 to win the ride-along through an eBay auction to raise money for the American Red Cross and its hurricane relief efforts. (Charlotte Observer)

Oct. 13, 2005:

Earnhardt, Jr. turns 31: Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrated his 31st birthday on Monday without much fanfare. Earnhardt, like most of the Cup stars, loves racing at Lowe's, the track in suburban Charlotte. "It's home. That alone makes it one of my favorites. It's late in the season, so there ain't a whole lot that beats sleeping in your own bed," he said. As for turning 31, Earnhardt said his celebration was "just the usual hell-raisin' me and my buddies do any other week. That's usually better than what most people do on their birthdays, anyway." (KFMB.com)

Oct. 7, 2005:

Dale Jr, Wrangler and bidder raise over 42k for Red Cross: After spending seven days at the top of eBay's "Most Watched" list, the opportunity to ride shotgun with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., sponsored by the Wrangler* brand, went for $42,100 with 100 percent of the winning bid benefiting the American Red Cross. NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt, Jr., The Dale Earnhardt Foundation, and the Wrangler* brand conceived the auction to raise funds for relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and subsequent hurricanes during the 2005 season. The winning bidder will ride with Dale Jr. on Oct. 26, 2005, at the Wrangler* brand's "Take a Test Drive with Dale Jr." event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. A check ceremony will be held that same day recognizing the donation with officials from the American Red Cross. The winning bidder was Don Crawford of Ocala, Fla. Mr. Crawford bid on the auction as a gift for his wife Debbie, who is a Dale Jr. fan. Having felt the impact on Florida from last year's hurricanes, Don wanted to do something to help the people along the Gulf Coast. "We knew we had to help; we just weren't sure which charitable organization was the best conduit for our donation," said Crawford. "When we learned of the Dale Earnhardt Foundation's 'Ride with Dale Jr.' auction and that 100 percent of our contribution would pass through to the Red Cross, our decision was made. We are both huge fans of Dale Jr. as well as the entire Dale Earnhardt, Inc. organization. We are confident that our donation will reach those who need it most and as an added bonus Debbie will get a few laps around the track with her favorite driver, Dale Jr." With a total of 65,703 visitors and 61 bids, the eBay-hosted auction opened at $888 on Friday Sept. 23 and ended Friday, Sept. 30. Bidding exceeded $10,000 after just 10 minutes. For those not bidding, the auction became a forum to congratulate Dale Jr. and thank the corporate partners for sponsoring the opportunity. Emails ranged from the personal, "I want to thank the winning bidder for being so generous. I have friends with family in an area hit by Katrina. Thank You Dale Jr., DEI, Wrangler*, and everyone involved," from "Rebecca;" to the general, "thanks for restoring some faith back into professional sports and its members," from "Anonymous." (Wrangler PR)

Oct. 1, 2005:

Parts confiscated from Talladega: NASCAR officials confiscated unapproved fuel cell foam from the #8 Budweiser Chevy of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #89 Dodge of Morgan Shepherd during pre-qualifying inspections. Shepherd failed to make the field. An unapproved window net was also taken from the #25 GMAC Chevy of Brian Vickers. (Alabama Live)

Sep. 14, 2005:

DEI officially announce Eury and Earnhardt, Jr. reunion: Dale Earnhardt Incorporated announced Wednesday that, starting this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway, Tony Eury Jr., will take over as crew chief for the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet. Eury Jr., who has been crew chief for DEI’s No. 15 Chevrolet this season, will be reunited with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who Eury Jr. worked with for eight seasons prior. The two will be paired for the remaining races of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season in preparation for 2006 where they will compete together for the NASCAR championship. “This is the best plan for us as a company,” Eury Jr. said. “We haven’t been in the same pit box this year, but we’ve been working closely as a team. Looking at where we want to be for 2006, it made sense to switch now and get that much further ahead.” With the 2005 chase contenders decided, Richie Gilmore, DEI’s Vice-President of Motorsports, knew now was the best time for the restructuring. “After evaluating our programs for next season, we went back and looked at all the resources at our disposal,” Gilmore said. “By putting Tony Jr. back with Dale Jr. now, it enables us to start working towards our goals for next season. Those two can start finding their rhythm for next year, while Steve Hmiel can return his full focus on the technical aspect of our programs.” Hmiel, who has been the interim crew chief for the No. 8 team since May, will return to his position as Technical Director for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Tony Gibson, car chief for the No. 15 team, will serve as the No. 15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet crew chief for the remainder of this season. (DEI PR)

Sep. 12, 2005:

Dale Jr. and Eury Jr. back together this week:  Dale Earnhardt Jr. and former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. will be reunited in time for Sunday's race at New Hampshire. Eury has been Michael Waltrip's crew chief this season. Tony Gibson, Waltrip's car chief, is likely to succeed Eury as crew chief and stay with the No. 15 team for the remainder of the season. Waltrip is leaving with NAPA at the end of the year to drive the No. 23 car for Bill Davis Racing. (Sporting News/Lee Spencer)

Hmiel to work on car of tomorrow: With Tony Eury Jr. moving back to the No. 8 team, Steve Hmiel will return to his previous post as head of DEI's research-and-development operation and concentrate on building the intermediate-track version of "the car of tomorrow (COT)" for 2007. Hmiel says that several organizations are participating in the process, but it was important for DEI to get a head start, "since this will be the biggest change to come along in Cup since NASCAR moved to smaller cars in '81." (Sporting News/Lee Spencer)

Sep. 11, 2005:

Dale Jr. leads most popular driver award: With voting now well past 3 million for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award, smashing the record for total votes in a season appears to be a foregone conclusion. A total of 3,119,000 votes have been cast, and the record of 3.8 million votes set last year should fall before fan voting ends in 10 weeks. Race fans have been voting at www.mostpopulardriver.com, the official voting site, since February 1. Since General Mills began sponsoring the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award at the beginning of the 2002 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, well over 13 million votes have been cast by fans throughout the world. Fans vote at www.mostpopulardriver.com for the only fan-based official award in motorsports. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. continues to lead in the voting. Behind him in the current balloting are second-place Jeff Gordon, followed by Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Rusty Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, and Jimmie Johnson. Voting for the more than 40 drivers eligible for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award, the only fan-based award in motorsports, began Tuesday, Feb. 1, at www.mostpopulardriver.com and continues through 11:59 a.m. CST, Monday, Nov. 21. Fans may vote once each day at the site. - (Williams Co., Of America, Inc.)

Sep. 10, 2005

Eury and Earnhardt back together sooner then later? Richie Gilmore, vice president of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., hinted Friday that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. could be reunited as soon as next week at New Hampshire International Speedway. "If me and Tony Jr. are going to work together next year, that'd be a good idea to begin working on that relationship,'' Earnhardt said. Gilmore said the team announced all its changes for next year to its employees but is waiting to make those decisions public. "We don't really feel like we need to take away from anybody in the chase,'' Gilmore said. "Maybe at Loudon, we'll go there and we'll announce our plans there.'' Gilmore said the team plans to use the last 10 races preparing for next season. (Roanoke)

Sep. 9, 2005

Earnhardt, Jr., Brian France, Helton, among those visiting Walter Reed: With the late afternoon sun glistening off of polished car hoods and new prosthetic limbs, wounded troops recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here gathered to take a peek at a row of NASCAR racecars parked in front of the hospital's Mologne House hotel. The cars were lined up at Walter Reed on Sept. 7 as part of a daylong NASCAR tribute to American servicemembers, many who sacrificed body parts in service to their country. Several NASCAR drivers and executives were on hand to show just how much they appreciated this sacrifice. "They defend everything we believe in. It's very important that the troops know that all Americans support them. And although their job may be difficult, they've got a lot of people behind them," driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. hroughout the day, the drivers and executives visited wounded troops in the hospital wards and hosted a dinner and evening of entertainment for servicemembers and their families. "We live in a great country, and one reason is because of the armed forces," driver Terry Labonte said. "It is nice for us to be able to come here and in a very small way say thank you." Joe Nemechek, driver of the U.S. Army No. 01 car, echoed this sentiment. "All the men and women in uniform who serve this country give us our freedom, and we shouldn't take that freedom for granted," he said. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Shellhammer, 26, who lost his left leg when he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan on April 5 returned the appreciation. "It's awesome that the NASCAR guys have come out to support the men and women who got hurt. The support is important because it shows that what we're doing is not going unnoticed," he said. Army Staff Sgt. Troy Barns said the NASCAR visit was a good way to lift the "spirits of the guys in the hospital." The drivers attending the dinner, at the Karen Wagner Sports Center on the Walter Reed campus included Labonte, Justin Labonte, Earnhardt, Nemechek, Jamie McMurray, Travis Kvapil, Martin Truex Jr., Ashton Lewis Jr., Carl Edwards and Jon Wood. NASCAR executives in attendance were Brian France, NASCAR chairman and chief executive officer; Mike Helton, NASCAR president; Bill France Jr., NASCAR vice chairman; and Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president of corporate communications. (Lincoln Tribune)

Earnhardt, Jr. attends fan event talks about team, fans and more: "I'm pretty disappointed that we didn't make the Chase," he said (Earnhardt, Jr.) at a pre-shindig press conference. "But we've got to look forward to what we can do these [closing] 10-11 races to make next year a better year." What went wrong? Got a week? Earnhardt says his engines have been deficient ("I need for my motors not to blow up -- but I don't do motors"). He believes his team has personnel issues ("We'll make some changes"). He concedes he isn't blameless ("I made a lot of mistakes"). He indicated he'll reunite with cousin and 2004 crew chief Tony Eury Jr., whom he scuttled between seasons. He was asked if he thought the partnership would fix what's ailed No. 8 this year. "I damn sure hope so," he replied. He wasn't being testy. Not at all. In fact, for a guy coming off a California-screaming Sunday when he started 41st and wound up 38th after his engine went poof, Earnhardt was in good spirits. He carried that mood on stage a half-hour later. Man's a trouper. Plus, he knows devotion when he sees it. "My fans have been real loyal to me whether we're in the Chase or not," he said. "That's one thing you learn at an early age. If you crash on the first lap, you're not going to look in the stands and see 'em swapping T-shirts." (Times Dispatch)

Sep. 1, 2005

Earnhardt Jr.in a chase with local Texas PD:  NASCAR NEXTEL Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr. was chased by two police cars Wednesday - and when the chase ended he got a pack on the back and a handshake from the officers instead of a ticket. Earnhardt Jr. participated in a pursuit training exercise with the Roanoke Police Department on the Texas Motor Speedway infield road course. Earnhardt Jr., wheeling a silver 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, was the chase subject as Roanoke's finest were in hot pursuit in fully loaded squad cars with the sirens blaring and lights flashing. Roanoke Lt. Robert Crawford, Officer James Johnson and Traffic Officer Gary Stroud joined Earnhardt Jr. during the simulation with Lt. Crawford and Officer Johnson driving the squad cars. Traffic Officer Stroud helped end the pursuit by pulling his vehicle across the road course to block Earnhardt Jr.'s path as well as throw down a "spike" strip to simulate an actual highway situation. Earnhardt Jr. admitted that this was the first time he has been involved in a police "chase." "I have had them pull some lights on me, but I always pull over and the cut the job short for them," Earnhardt Jr. joked. "This was a lot of fun. The officers were really excited about it and I had a lot of fun with it. I think they learned some things they can use on the streets every day. It was an experience for them. I had a lot more power, but those guys definitely cornered with me. I am sure if we were on a highway or interstate, they would have been more crafty cutting corners and keeping me in sight." (TMS)

Aug 25, 2005

Earnhardt, Jr. hopes Gordon misses Chase too: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is done talking about the points standings. In fact, he says he hasn't even looked at them this week. In serious danger of missing the playoffs, Earnhardt has found the best strategy for him is to not worry about it. But should he get shut out, he doesn't want to be alone. He wants Jeff Gordon to miss the cut, too. "I'm sorry, Jeff, but if I don't make it, I hope you don't either," Earnhardt said this week. "That way I am not the only one talking (about missing it)." Misery loves company, and Earnhardt knows he's going to need some companionship if he's not racing for the Nextel Cup in NASCAR's 10-race playoff series. With three races left to qualify, Earnhardt is 16th in the standings - 158 points out of the 10th and final qualifying spot. Gordon is a little closer at 12th, only 58 points out. (Cincinnati.com)

Earnhardt, Jr. on newsstands: Find a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. articles in the latest September issue of ESQUIRE Magazine, now on a newsstand near you. (FingerPrint)

Kansas Speedway, Earnhardt, Jr., Busch, Truex and others at Pub: Some of NASCAR's most popular drivers will be at Kansas Speedway's Pit Stop Pub in October. Dale Earnhardt Jr., named by race fans as NASCAR's most popular driver the past two years, will be in the Midwest Ford Dealers Pit Stop Pub during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series weekend at Kansas Speedway, Oct. 8-9. Other drivers featured in the Pit Stop Pub that weekend include reigning series champions Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr., and NEXTEL Cup Series drivers Joe Nemechek and Carl Edwards.  Fans will enjoy catered breakfast and lunch, beverages, live entertainment, guided pit tours and a special gift pack in the Pit Stop Pub on Saturday and Sunday of Kansas Speedway's October NASCAR weekend. The Pit Stop Pub is open from 8 a.m. until one hour after the checkered flags both days. If you already have your season ticket to Kansas Speedway, call 913.328.3300 to buy your Pit Stop Pub pass. Admission is $300 per person. (Kansas Speedway)

Aug 24, 2005

Dale Jr. to start own Busch team: Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has announced this week his plans to field a full-time Busch Series effort in 2006. JR Motorsports, owned solely by Junior independently of his other ventures, will campaign driver Mark McFarland in the No. 88 Chevrolet with sponsorship from the U.S. Navy. McFarland and JR have spent this season racing in the Hooters Pro Cup Series, achieving success with one win and ten top-10s in 13 starts. JR is not linked to either Dale Earnhardt Inc, which employs Junior in Cup racing and is owned by his stepmother Teresa, or Chance 2 Motorsports, co-owned by Junior and Teresa and reigning Busch champions with driver Martin Truex Jr. (SPEED)

Aug 12, 2005

Dale Jr. on QVC: Be sure to circle Friday, Aug. 19 on your calendars and set your Tivo, VCR, DVDR, or whatever you use to record shows if you can’t watch them live.  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will be making an appearance on the popular shopping network that evening from Michigan International Speedway. He’ll be talking about some new die-casts, jackets and maybe even a new DVD project where he helped out a friend. (DEI Newsletter)

Earnhardt, Jr. visits Redskins camp, talks about driving for Gibbs: Talk about distracted driving: Dale Earnhardt Jr. loves the Washington Redskins so much that he has the scores relayed to him during his NASCAR races. Earnhardt got a chance to see his favorite team up close Thursday, watching training camp practice as a guest of owner Dan Snyder and coach Joe Gibbs. "During the race season, I'm under caution, I'm getting stats and numbers told to me over the radio during the race," Earnhardt said. "I've got to know. I can't concentrate on what I'm doing if I don't know what the Redskins are doing. My fans tell me if I lose, it ruins their week. But if the Redskins lose, it ruins my week." On the NASCAR circuit, Gibbs and Earnhardt are rivals - Joe Gibbs Racing vs. Dale Earnhardt Inc. - but Earnhardt's worship of the Redskins is such that he's always been shy around the coach who's won three Super Bowls. "As a kid, I remember seeing a glimpse of him walking through the garage, and it was like seeing Elvis," Earnhardt said. "I didn't even have the guts to go up and speak to him. Up until 15 minutes ago, I might have said 10 words to him my whole life, so this is really a treat." Earnhardt signed autographs after practice and was invited to eat dinner with the team. He said if he ever got a chance to drive for Gibbs, he'd have to "seriously consider it."  "That'd be awesome," he said. Gibbs, though, didn't see that happening. "If I had about $100 million, I could do that - that's what he left out," Gibbs said, laughing. "He makes about $50 million a year, so if I could pop that, he might have a chance. You know you're in the wrong sport when both your drivers have Lear jets and helicopters, and I don't." (ABC 7)

July 27, 2005

Hanging out with Dale Jr.:  Oh-so-lucky fans of Budweiser’s No. 8 man Dale Earnhardt Jr. could win the chance to get up close and personal with the NASCAR star at a super-secretive event Sept. 8 in Richmond. As many as 3,000 people are expected to attend what’s being billed as “Hangin’ with Dale Jr.,” featuring the young Earnhardt himself in a question-and-answer session following a performance by the band Foreplay. But here’s pause for fans and speed-dialers: You won’t know where the event’s taking place until three weeks before the gig. Even then, you won’t be able to buy tickets. Beer giant Anheuser-Busch has awarded the “Hangin’ with Dale Jr.” event — held in Daytona, Charlotte and, now, Richmond — to local beverage firm Brown Distributing. “This is huge for Richmond because Dale Jr. doesn’t go out in public,” Sorokowski says, explaining that’s why area event planners consider Earnhardt’s appearance here more of a coup than that of Cher or Bruce Springsteen. Those angling to go can try their chances at winning a spot on area Cox radio stations such as B103.7-FM, Y101-FM or K95-FM. Brown’s loyal customers will be well-represented, too, Sorokowski says. Only those 21 and older may attend. Naturally, the event will feature “day-fresh draft beer from Williamsburg,” Sorokowski adds. “Hangin’ with Dale Jr.” takes place just two days before the 26th race of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season — the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, set for Saturday, Sept. 10. Despite the absence of tangible passes to Dale’s party, Sorokowski says, “It’ll be quite the hot ticket.”  (Style Weekly) (No Word on where the event is to be held)

Schrader, Earnhardt, Jr. among NASCAR stars at Shootout: M&M’S Chocolate Candies announced today it will return as the title sponsor for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Ken Schrader’s charity event, “M&M’S Night of Stars.” After a year hiatus, the All-Star event is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri in benefit of the Victory Junction Gang Camp. “We’re proud that our association at M&M’S has continued with Kenny Schrader through our participation in his ‘Night of Stars,’” said William Clements, Director of Sponsorships and Sports Marketing for Masterfoods USA. “Kenny hosts an amazing event where the focus is on fun, not only for the fans who come out to see a great dirt race but for the drivers as well. Again this year, Kenny has an outstanding lineup of racers joining him. We’re glad to be back supporting him as well as the Victory Junction Gang Camp.” Joining Schrader for the event are several NASCAR Series competitors including fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr, who will serve as the flag man for the celebrity shootout. Kyle Petty, the co-founder of the Victory Junction Gang Camp will be on-hand along with NEXTEL Cup regulars Carl Edwards, Casey Mears and Dave Blaney. Additionally reigning Busch Series champion Martin Truex, Jr., will be in attendance joined by Kenny Wallace, reigning Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton, Sr., and Jimmy Spencer. All drivers are scheduled to participate in an autograph session at the track on Wednesday afternoon from 5 – 7 p.m. before the green flag falls at 7:30 p.m. on the celebrity filled 10 lap dirt Modified shootout. The shootout race is the opening act to the night’s feature races, winged Sprint cars and UMP Late Models. Schrader and Wallace will again suit up for the UMP Late Model event. Reserved tickets for the ‘Night of Stars’ event on Aug. 3 are $30, and are on sale now. Fans can purchase the tickets by calling 636-479-3219. For more information on the ‘Night of Stars’ night, visit www.i55raceway.com.

July 26, 2005

Earnhardt, Jr. leads in Most Popular Voting: Race fans worldwide have cast more than 2.5 million votes for their favorite drivers, chasing the record 3.8 million recorded last season in most popular driver balloting. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. continues to lead this season's balloting. Following him are Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Rusty Wallace, Tony Stewart, Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson, in that order. Voting for the more than 40 drivers eligible for the Chex NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award, the only fan-based award in motorsports, began Feb. 1, at www.mostpopulardriver.com and continues through Nov. 21. (Kentucky.com)

July 25, 2005

Earnhardt, Jr. called to NASCAR hauler: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was called into the NASCAR trailer after the race to be reprimanded for exceeding the pit road speed on lap 53 when he raced out of the pits in an attempt to stay on the lead lap. He was penalized with a drive-through. His pit road exit speed was clocked at 143 mph. The pit road speed limit was 55 mph. Junior was told by NASCAR officials that they understood his desire to remain on the lead lap, but that they wouldn't tolerate his methods. (Yahoo! Sports)

July 17, 2005

Earnhardt, Jr. "Its going to be weird with Waltrip": Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will start 24th in Sunday's race, said he will miss having Michael Waltrip as his teammate at Dale Earnhardt Inc. next year. "He's taught me a lot and he's just a fun guy to be around," Earnhardt Jr. said. "It's going to be weird, I guess." Earnhardt Jr. was a Nextel Cup rookie in 2000, and the following year Waltrip joined DEI. Waltrip and the team announced Friday that he'd leave at the end of this season. (More at Charlotte Observer/David Poole)

July 11, 2005

Hmiel wins WYPALL Crew Chief Award: Dale Earnhardt Jr. may not have had the fastest car in the race, but the driver of the #8 Chevrolet, along with crew chief Steve Hmiel, outfoxed the competition and brought their team their first victory in twenty races. Hmiel made the gutsy call to take only two tires on the final round of pit stops, setting up Earnhardt Jr. to take over the lead on the ensuing green flag run. Hmiel's bold strategy brought the Budweiser team a win and earned him the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award. Earnhardt Jr. was in fourth place when the caution flag waved on lap 243. After taking only two tires on his pit stop, Earnhardt Jr. was the first car to exit pit road, moving him into the second position. When the race returned to green, Earnhardt Jr. scooted past Scott Wimmer for the lead and held off the quickly ensuing #17 USG machine piloted by Matt Kenseth. Matt Kenseth held a commanding lead for the majority of the event, staying in the top spot for 176 out of 267 laps. Kenseth's run helped make Hmiel's decision on the final stop. The panel of voters; including Paul Skrbina of the Times of Northwest Indiana, a Wypall Wipers representative and Robbie Reiser; all gave the nod to Hmiel as the Crew Chief of the Race. Doug Richert leads the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings with five wins. Alan Gustafson and Robbie Loomis are tied for second place with two wins. Tommy Baldwin, Scott Miller, Bob Osborne, Fatback McSwain, Greg Zipadelli, Steve Hmiel and Pete Rondeau are in a tie for third place, each with one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. Fans can also vote for their choice at www.wypall.com (SMC 500)

July 10, 2005

Earnhardt, Jr. Finally Wins. A jubilant Dale Earnhardt Jr. broke through for his first NASCAR Nextel Cup victory of the season Sunday, using a two-tire strategy and holding off Matt Kenseth to win at Chicagoland Speedway. “I was worried I was going to go winless this year,” the relieved Earnhardt said after smoking the tires on his No. 8 Chevrolet and celebrating with his crew in the infield grass. “Now, let’s go out and do it again, win some more.” Kenseth led 176 of the 267 laps but wound up second after choosing to change four tires and falling behind on his final pit stop in the USG Sheetrock 400. (MSNBC - Results - Points)

July 2, 2005

Truex on standby for Earnhardt, Jr.: Martin Truex Jr. won Friday night's NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway and agreed to re-sign at Dale Earnhardt Inc., but his work this weekend may still not be complete. Truex has been asked to remain at Daytona to stand by should driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. need a relief driver in Saturday night's Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup race, team officials said. Earnhardt Jr. has been battling flu-like symptoms the past two weeks and as of Friday had already made at least one trip to the infield care center this weekend for intravenous fluids. (ThatsRacin)

July 1, 2005

Eury suggest swap was mistake: The director of competition for Dale Earnhardt Inc. became the first team executive to suggest the switching of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s and Michael Waltrip's teams this offseason was "a bad move." Earnhardt has slumped from a six-time winner and fifth in points last season to well out of the Chase for the Championship field. Waltrip has improved from 20th in points to within reach of the 400-points-from-the-leader line but has not won and DEI appears adrift. "When you've got something good, I guess you should leave it alone, you know," said Eury, Earnhardt's uncle and crew chief from the beginning of his NASCAR career until 2004. "We won six races with him last year. Maybe it should have been left alone. I don't know."  Earnhardt and Waltrip's entire fleet of cars were swapped, with Earnhardt's former car chief, Tony Eury Jr., becoming Waltrip's crew chief. Pete Rondeau replaced Eury Sr. as crew chief for Earnhardt but was fired after 11 races. Eury Sr. said he bears as much responsibility for Earnhardt's poor start as anyone, including overestimating the quality of the No.8 Chevrolet fleet. That said, Eury Sr. suggested Earnhardt's team was probably "led wrong a little while" and suggested Rondeau, who served as Waltrip's crew chief when "Slugger" Labbe left late last year, hurt the program. "In our place, we let the crew chiefs build their cars. They're responsible for them," Eury Sr. said. "When Slugger left in the middle of the year last year, it went down from there and we never recovered from it." (St. Petersburg Times)

Earnhardt, Jr and #3 Childress? If Junior is gonna drive the No. 3 car someday, could it happen under the DEI roof? If so, Childress would have to give up ownership of the number -- and all the potential business opportunities that accompany it. "He's always said, ever since his daddy got killed, one of these days he's gonna drive a 3 car," Eury said of Junior. "Just a remark he made a long time ago. Someday Richard might give us the number and we'll run it out of DEI. Depends on how long Richard wants to keep doing it, you know." Richard? Any chance of giving up the No. 3? "No." "As far as the 3, it's registered," Childress elaborated. "It's one of those deals . . . we're gonna keep doing what we've been doing, what Dale and I talked about years ago. We knew it was our number, and we had plans of doing things with it after he retired. We're gonna put those plans in effect soon." (News-Journal)

June 28, 2005

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. makes 200th career start:  Dale Jr. will make his 200th career start this weekend at Daytona. He has 15 victories through five-and-a-half seasons, 24th on NASCAR’s modern-era win list. The following is a quick glance at Dale Jr.’s career totals and averages through 199 Nextel Cup starts:

Starts: 199 (First was 5/30/99 -- Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway)
Wins: 15 (First was 4/2/00 -- DIRECTV 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in his 12th start … Currently tied for 24th with Ernie Irvan and Buddy Baker on NASCAR’s Modern-Era win list)
“Non-Points” Wins: 4 (2000 Winston All-Star race, 2003 Budweiser Shootout, 2003 Daytona Twin-125, 2004 Daytona Twin-125).
Most Wins in a Season: 6 (2004)
Most Wins at a Track: Talladega (5)
Top-3 Finishes: 38
Top-5 Finishes: 55
Top-10 Finishes: 84
Average Race Finish: 16th
Career Winnings: $32,309,342
Did Not Finish (DNFs): 24 races
Bud Pole Awards: 6 (First was 5/24/00 -- Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in his 17th career start)
Top-10 Starts: 86
Average Start: 14
Races Led: 94
Laps Led: 4,446
Led Most Laps: 17 races
Weeks as Point Leader: 11
Average Point Position (after 199 races): 10th (excludes the 1999 season, in which he made only five starts)
Average Season-Ending Point Finish: 8.6
Best Season-Ending Point Finish: 3rd (2003) (Budweiser Racing PR/Fingerprint, Inc.)

June 27, 2005

Earnhardt denies RCR rumors: DEI, founded by Earnhardt Sr. when he was driving for Richard Childress, is now run by Earnhardt's widow, Teresa. Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother have had a rocky relationship. In an interview in Saturday's Orlando Sentinel, Earnhardt reiterated the notion that he might someday leave DEI. Reached Saturday at the track, Earnhardt said he was simply restating his desire to drive for Childress "years and years" down the road. "Nothing's going on, I promise you that," he said. Childress noted that Earnhardt was under contract to DEI through 2007. But should Earnhardt ever choose to leave DEI, Childress said, "He knows he's always got somewhere he can come and drive." (USA Today)

DEI Engine Changes?

Everything but California Dreams for Earnhardt, Jr.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s hopes of turning around a miserable season came to an early end Sunday - also as a result of a broken transmission. "I didn't have first or second gear from the first lap," the downcast Earnhardt said. "We tried a new transmission here and it hadn't given me troubles all weekend. Right from the first corner ... I couldn't get into second. Then it just tore it all out." He bounced off Mike Bliss then spun and slammed hard into the first turn wall, heavily damaging his car. Junior came into Sunday's race 17th in the standings after finishing 14t