Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 5
- Chevrolet
- Height: 6-0
- Weight: 165
- Born: Oct 10, 1974, Kannapolis, NC
News and Notes
May 14
This week: Earnhardt won this race in 2000, his rookie season, after he started fifth. He was runner-up in 2002 and fifth in 2004 for his only other top-five finishes and has finished ninth the last two years.
Last week: Earnhardt took fourth at Darlington.
Etc.: Earnhardt's car Saturday will resemble the "Gray Ghost" that Buddy Baker drove to win the 1980 Daytona 500. The car earned its nickname because the colors made it difficult to see on the track, and a camouflaged Baker would sneak up and overtake the competition. After Baker's Daytona win, drivers complained to NASCAR, and Baker had to put reflector strips on his car. "I had a lot of input into this paint scheme," Earnhardt said. "Over my career I would like to pay respect to the heritage of this sport. Buddy Baker is someone I respect tremendously, and I loved that car he ran in the 1980 Daytona 500. When we were thinking of ideas for the All-Star Race, I asked for something like this car. The biggest difference is that NASCAR doesn't let us run chrome numbers anymore, but believe me, I asked."
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