Dale Earnhardt Sr. Biography

Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. was an American professional stock car driver who competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1975 to 2001, most notably driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Earnhardt won 76 Winston Cup races, including victories in the 1990, 1994, 1999, and 2000 Winston 500s, the 1986, 1992, and 1993 Cola-Cola 600s, and the 1987, 1989, and 1990 Southern 500s. He also won 24 non-points exhibition events, bringing his total Winston Cup wins to 100, one of only four drivers in NASCAR history to achieve this milestone. Earnhardt is the only driver in NASCAR history to win races in four different and consecutive decades, with his first win in 1979 and final two in 2000. He earned seven Winston Cup championships, a record shared with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson. After the 1983 season, Earnhardt returned to Richard Childress Racing to drive the No. 3 car, replacing Ricky Rudd. During the 1984 and 1985 seasons, he won six races, including events at Talladega, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, and Martinsville.