Two Dales or Not two Dales, That is the Question (or is it?).

As we near the end of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup (WC) season, the Earnhardt story begins to heat up. The elder Earnhardt is in a tight points battle with Bobby Labonte for his record breaking eighth Winston Cup title. The yonger Earnhardt, who hasn't had a top 10 finish since early June (Dover), will be looking forward to going to Miami in two weeks. No not because of the beautiful women but because he has done well at this track in the Busch Series. Maybe we can see the first ever 1-2 Earnhardt finish.

The elder, Dale Earnhardt (he does not like to be called "senior"), is one of the most legendary figures that ever graced NASCAR. He is a seven-time winner of the sports biggest prize, the season championship (also known as the Winston Cup), which ties him with the "King" Richard Petty. Dale is on pace in 2000 to win his record setting eighth championship just an arm's length behind points leader Bobby Labonte. Dale started racing full time in the Cup series in 1979 and won the Rookie of the Year title in that same year. One year later he won the first of his 7 championships in the famed blue and yellow Wrangler car. Most of us know the "Intimidator" in his trademark black # 3 that he won his last four championships in and the same car that he currently drives on the Cup series. He is doing an excellent job at attempting to win the title this year as he has a thrilling wins in March at Atlanta and in October at Talladega (coming from 18th to win in five laps). He is looking forward to returning to Atlanta where He could win the second of two championships this year, the first was the International Race of Champions (IROC) championship which he won earlier this year at Indy. However, nothing makes him more happy than racing his son on Sunday for the win and banging each other door-to-door (let's all remember Michigan's IROC race of a year ago).

The younger Earnhardt has made is mark on the Winston Cup series in just a short time. Dale Earnhardt Jr. as been a winner at every form of racing that he has competed in and although his first five starts in Winston Cup in 1999 were not very memorable, this year at the Texas Motor Speedway he added Winston Cup to that long list of victories. On an overcast and cloudy afternoon on April 2, Junior (as he is commonly referred to as) dominated the race and led the most laps. When the race was over the first face he saw in Victory Lane was none other that the proud father himself, who finished 7th that day as well. The victory came in Junior's 12th Winston Cup start and at the same track that he won his first NASCAR Busch Grand National (BGN) series race. Junior also won in Cup at another of the tracks that he won on in BGN on May 6 at the Richmond International Raceway. Dale Jr. aslo has two poles to go along with his two victories, coming at Charlotte and Michigan (August). He also became the first rookie to win NASCAR's All-Star event, The Winston, this past may at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte. With 2000 being his rookie season in Winston Cup, Junior is trying to become, along with his father, the first father-son tandum to win Cup's Rookie of the Year award. Junior is coming of back-to-back Busch Grand National series championships and his most competitive rival from BGN Matt Kenseth has made the move to Winston Cup this year as well. Junior also admits that he enjoys racing with his dad on Sundays, he says that it is a lot of fun.

Update: Dale Earnhardt Sr. now has a million reasons to cerebrate after this past weekend in Talladega. For the first time in the seven opportunities that he was had, Big E was able to drive off with the Winston No Bull 5 bonus from the R. J. Reynolds people. Not only did the win line cap-E's pocket, it also moved him within 210 points of Bobby Labonte for the series title. With four races remaining on the schedule, Senior has to gain an average of 53 points on Labonte each race. Also at Talladega we saw Junior come away with one of his best runs in a long time. Even though he did not earn a top 10, as his streak now goes to 17 races, he looked strong in last week's race posting a 14th palce finish and leading some laps.

To find out more information about the Winston Cup series and all of the other NASCAR sanctioned series' as always check out NASCAR Online at www.nascar.com. I also have a page where I have added my own personal flavor to the Winston Cup Series and you can check that page out at www.fortunecity.com/campus/art/88/nascar.html.

Pictures
Dale Earnhardt	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Who says that drivers don't do any work? Dale proves that NASCAR racing is a very "shocking " experience.	Junior spends so time conversing with the media showing that NASCAR drivers are never too busy to give an interview. And that they are never to busy for the fans.
The Intimidator strapped in as he prepares for battle in his famous black # 3 on raceday. His car is a Chevy Monte Carlo and it is sponsored by GM Goodwrench Service Plus.	Like father like Junior, he too is strapped in and ready for racing in his # 8 Budweiser sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo.

Places to go from here:

NASCAR Online	NASCAR 2000	The Jiggy Juls NASCAR Site Devoted to all of the current happenings in the NASCAR world.
Adam Petty: A Friend That Will Never Be Forgotten My tribute to the late Adam Petty	Kenny Irwin Jr. - Lost Too Soon My tribute to the late Kenny Irwin Jr.	Kenny's Responses Reactions from some of the followers of the sport on Kenny's Passing
Back to: The Real Jiggy Juls

Last Updated: October 21, 2000