LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Dale Earnhardt: Winston Cup
built 200 days ago
In February 1998 after 20 attempts, Dale Earnhardt captured the only major victory that had eluded him throughout his career, the Daytona 500. The win was the 71st of his career and came in his 575th Winston Cup start, placing him sixth on the all-time wins list. Earnhardt added to his legacy in 1998 when NASCAR honored him and his father Ralph as two of the 50 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR history.
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Dale Earnhardt began his Winston Cup career in 1975, making his first start at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the longest race on the Cup circuit, the World 600. Earnhardt drove an Ed Negre car and finished 22nd in the race, one place ahead of his future car owner, Richard Childress. Earnhardt competed in 8 more races until 1979, when he joined Rod Osterlund Racing, in a season that included a rookie class of future stars - Earnhardt, Harry Gant and Terry Labonte.
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Earnhardt's wife, Teresa, received $3.5 million under a separate life policy issued by National Life of Vermont, the team said. Payments under the United of Omaha policy would ... have gone to her, it said. The team accused United of Omaha of violating North Carolina laws barring unfair and deceptive trade practices by insurance companies. United of Omaha is one of the Mutual of Omaha insurance companies. Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr., ranks 17th in this year's Nextel Cup driver standings with 1,670 points, trailing leader Jimmie Johnson, who has 2,173. © Reuters 2005.
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In his sophomore season, Earnhardt, now with 20-year old Doug Richert as his crew chief, began the season winning the Busch Clash. With wins at Atlanta, Bristol, Nashville, Martinsville, and Charlotte, Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup championship. To this day, Earnhardt is the only driver in NASCAR Winston Cup history to win Rookie of the Year honors, and the following season win the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship.
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Two years later, Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr. followed in his father's tire tracks, joining his dad on the Winston Cup circuit. The father experienced a career renaissance — nearly winning a record eighth Winston Cup championship — finishing second to Bobby Labonte in 2000.
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Earnhardt began his Winston Cup career in 1975, finishing 22nd in the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a car owned by Ed Negre. He competed sporadically in Winston Cup races until 1979, when he got his first full-time ride driving for owner Rod Osterlund.
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