Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later [PHOTOS]

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

Dale Earnhardt, born April 29, 1951, in Kannapolis, N.C., was the son of a race car driver, Ralph Earnhardt, and ended up dropping out of school to pursue a racing career. Dale, shown here in a 1970s photo at a Late Model Sportsman race, struggled for a few seasons after his 1975 NASCAR debut before finally picking up a full-time ride for the 1979 season.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

Earnhardt, driving the No. 2 car, an unsponsored Chevrolet for owner Rod Osterlund, races in the 1979 Daytona 500 next to Donnie Allison (1) and Cale Yarborough (11). Earnhardt finished eighth, overshadowed by Allison and Yarborough's last-lap crash and brawl during the first live flag-to-flag national broadcast of a NASCAR race.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

Earnhardt won his first Cup race in April at Bristol Motor Speedway and finished the 1979 season as Rookie of the Year. He followed that up by winning the overall points title in 1980, and still remains the only driver to win both awards in consecutive years.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

Earnhardt changed owners, manufacturers and numbers in the early 1980s, driving the No. 15 Ford owned by Bud Moore for two seasons of mixed success. This 1982 crash at Pocono was one of the lowlights in a season in which Earnhardt finished 12th in points, his worst overall finish for a full NASCAR season.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

In 1984, Earnhardt rejoined Richard Childress Racing, a partnership that would last for nearly two decades. Earnhardt drove the blue and yellow No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet to back-to-back points championships in 1986 and 1987.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

The 1988 season brought a new sponsor and paint job -- the nearly all-black scheme became an iconic look for Earnhardt. Combining with his aggressive driving style, Earnhardt's nickname "the Intimidator" was never more apt; he won four more points titles in the next six seasons.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

Earnhardt, shown here during the 1990s, always favored an open-face helmet over the more enclosed styles implemented later in his career.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

Earnhardt celebrates winning his last points title in 1994 at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham; it was he seventh points title, tying him with Richard Petty for the most all time. It was a turbulent season, however, as fellow driver Neil Bonnett died in a Daytona practice crash and Ernie Irvan was critically injured in a Michigan crash during the season.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

In 1998 Earnhardt was 46. He had finished second at the Daytona 500 four times. He led the race with less than 10 laps to go numerous times and lost -- to fuel mileage, cut tires and last lap passes. Finally, in his 20th attempt, Earnhardt won his sport's premiere event and received kudos from crew members down pit road on the way to victory lane.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later

Earnhardt celebrates his Daytona 500 win with owner Richard Childress, right, and wife Teresa in Victory Lane, breaking a 59-race winless streak. It was his only win of the 1998 season, though, as he had one of his worst years since joining RCR.

Dale Earnhardt: Ten Years Later