LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Seasons
built 185 days ago
Thursday's announcement may have come as a shock to some, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still his own man. He still has hopes and dreams. The only difference now is that after the 2007 season he will be a free agent and won't be driving the family's flagship car in '08. He has stepped out of that shadow.
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Rondeau served as Earnhardt's crew chief until the Coca Cola 600 weekend when he was replaced with DEI chief engineer Steve Hmiel, who helped Jr. score his lone win of 2005 at Chicagoland in July. Earnhardt was eliminated from any possible competition for the NEXTEL Cup championship after suffering an engine failure at the California Speedway. Earnhardt was reunited with cousin Tony Eury, Jr after the fall Richmond weekend, and results improved immediately. Earnhardt statistically had his worst season in 2005, with only 1 win and a 19th place points effort.
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Before his Cup rookie season in 2000, many thought Earnhardt Jr. was the front-runner for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. It didn't pan out that way, as frequent challenger Matt Kenseth outran Junior in the Daytona 500, and never let up in his run to the title. Kenseth ultimately scored a 42-point victory in the rookie race.
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