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From 1980 to 2009, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) operated as a NASCAR-related organization in Mooresville, North Carolina, United States. The company was founded by Dale Earnhardt and his wife, Teresa Earnhardt. Earnhardt was a seven-time Winston Cup champion. He died in a crash on the closing lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Despite his ownership of the DEI racing team, Earnhardt never drove for his team in the Winston Cup; instead he raced for his long-time mentor and backer Richard Childress at RCR. In the late 2000s, DEI suffered critical financial difficulties when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. left and Anheuser-Busch and the United States Army moved their sponsorships to Gillett Evernham Motorsports and the then newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing, respectively; consequently, DEI merged with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2009 to form Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.

DEI continues to celebrate the life and legacy of Earnhardt through an annual celebration of his birthday, April 29 (Dale Earnhardt Day). DEI maintains a showroom where fans can purchase memorabilia and other goods and pursues partnerships which bring tribute to Earnhardt's memory. The DEI campus is open to visitors from Monday to Friday (in most weeks and on some weekends when there are races). Fans can also join the official "Dale Earnhardt fan club" (Club E), to garner insider information and 'behind the scenes' experiences.

Car #01 history
The #01 car began in 1997 as the #36 MB2 Motorsports Pontiac with Skittles sponsorship. Derrike Cope was the driver and he finished 27th in the final point standings. In 1998, Ernie Irvan, a veteran driver, took over from Cope. The season was highlighted by Irvan's pole win at the Brickyard 400. M&M's replaced Skittles as the team's sponsor in 1999. Irvan retired from racing in September 1999, following a crash at the Michigan International Speedway. Dick Trickle temporarily replaced Irvan before the journeyman, Jerry Nadeau coming over from Melling Racing became the driver of the 36 team. Nadeau left MB2 due to a prior commitment to drive for Hendrick Motorsports to drive the 25 in 2000. MB2 then signed four-time winner Ken Schrader. Schrader drove the #36 for three seasons including 2 Top 20 seasons, before leaving for BAM Racing.

In 2003, the United States Army replaced M&M's as the team's sponsor. The car number switched from #36 to #01 to support the Army's slogan, "An Army of One." Nadeau agreed to return to MB2 as the driver of the #01 car. In May, Nadeau was seriously injured in an accident while practicing at Richmond International Raceway. (Nadeau is not expected to return to motor sports). The team employed several temporary substitutes before signing Joe Nemechek to drive the #01 car. Nemechek won the "NASCAR Nextel Cup" race at Kansas Speedway in 2004 and, in July 2005, signed a multi-year agreement to remain with MB2. In 2007, Mark Martin drove the car for 23 races (21 points races, the "Budweiser Shootout" and the "Nextel All-Star Challenge"). Regan Smith & Aric Almirola (after the DEI-Ginn merger) drove in the remainder of the races.

On July 25, 2007, the #01 car was added to DEI as part of the company's merger with Ginn Racing. Smith drove the #01 full-time in 2008. Smith became the first rookie to finish every race he entered during the 2008 season and was named "Rookie of the Year" at the season's end. No full-time primary sponsor was named; Principal Financial Group sponsored at the Daytona 500, followed by Coors Light for two races. Principal Financial became an associate sponsor following those races. As a result of the merger with Ganassi, the #01 team disbanded after the 2008 season and the owner points were sold to Richard Childress Racing to field their new #33 car. Bobby Ginn retained his ownership stake in the team with the transfer.

Car #1 history


In 1996, DEI debuted in the Winston Cup at the Charlotte Motor Speedway with the #14 Racing for Kids Chevrolet driven by Robby Gordon. Jeff Green drove the car in another two races that year. In 1997, sponsored by Burger King, Steve Park, a Busch Series standout, drove the car in five races. In 1998, the team switched the car number from #14 to #1 in an agreement with Richard Jackson, another car owner. DEI received sponsorship from Pennzoil and Park and made a bid for NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors. In the third race of the year, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Park failed to qualify. The following week, he broke his leg in an accident while testing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two weeks later, the team hired Darrell Waltrip, a champion on three occasions. He drove the car while Park recovered from his injuries and twice, finished in the top ten. Park returned at the Brickyard 400, and, following a crash, he finished thirty-fifth. In 1998, Park posted two eleventh place finishes and ranked forty-second in points earned. In 1999, Park finished five times in the top ten and ranked fourteenth in points earned. In 2000, Park won his first two Bud Pole awards; won his first race at Watkins Glen International Raceway, his home track and ranked eleventh in points earned. In 2001, in the first race after Earnhardt's death, Park beat Bobby Labonte in a photo finish at North Carolina Speedway. Park's career encountered difficulties at a Busch Series race at Darlington Speedway. During a caution flag period, his steering wheel became disconnected from the steering column. The car immediately veered to the left and was impacted by the quicker-moving vehicle of Larry Foyt. Kenny Wallace drove the car while Park recuperated and won second place at the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 at the North Carolina speedway. Park gradually recovered from his injuries and returned, ironically, at the spring Darlington race in 2002. Park has since struggled to maintain his career. In mid 2003, he was relieved of driving duties and was replaced by Jeff Green. (Park took over Green's position at Richard Childress Racing, previously Earnhardt's owner.) Both Green and Pennzoil left DEI when the 2003 season finished and the team moved to a part-time status. They occasionally fielded cars for John Andretti, a two-time winner. In the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, DEI ran a part-time schedule. Their driver was Martin Truex Jr. driving a Bass Pro Shops-sponsored car. The team moved to a full-time status in 2006. On June 4, 2007, Truex scored his first career NEXTEL Cup victory in the #1 car at the Dover International Speedway in a COT race. Truex also qualified to race in the Chase For the Nextel Cup that year. He was DEI's only representative in the 2007 Chase Cup and his qualification is, to date, the last for a driver in a DEI car. At the end of 2009, Truex left the team for Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry.

Car #8 history
The #8 car, a Chevrolet, began as the #3 ACDelco car (used by Stavola Brothers Racing, who ceased operations in 1998). As #8, it was driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr.. In this car, Earnhardt Jr. won championships in both 1998 and 1999. Earnhardt (junior) drove the Budweiser #8 in five Winston Cup races. He finished once in the top ten, lead one lap and DNF (did not finish). In 2000, Earnhardt Jr. moved to the Winston Cup on a full-time basis. In this year, despite winning two poles and three races (including the The Winston), Earnhardt Jr. finished runner-up to Matt Kenseth in the competition for NASCAR Rookie of the Year. On July 7, 2001, Earnhardt Jr. won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, the first restrictor plate race at Daytona after Earnhardt, Sr.'s death. Using the #8, Earnhardt, Jr. set a record by winning four consecutive races at Talladega.

On February 15, 2004, 6 years after his father's win, Earnhardt Jr. won the 2004 Daytona 500. He won a further five races that season. Though he failed to qualify for the Chase Cup in 2005, he did race in 2006 when he finished fifth. On May 10, 2007, Earnhardt Jr. announced that he would not return to DEI for the 2008 season; on June 13, 2007, officially announced his move to Hendrick Motorsports (HMS); and on August 16, 2007, that he would not retain the #8 car number. On September 12 DEI announced that sponsored by the U.S. Army, #8 would be shared between Mark Martin and Aric Almirola for the 2008 season. Martin left DEI after the 2008 season to drive the #5 car for HMS. In 2009, the Army withdrew their support in favour of Ryan Newman's #39 car at Stewart Haas Racing.

Almirola was engaged to drive the #8 Guitar Hero World Tour Chevrolet for the full 2009 season but the sponsorship lasted only five races. Following the 2009 Samsung/Radio Shack 500, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing announced that the operations of the #8 team were being suspended indefinitely due to a lack of sponsorship (which had been operating on a race to race basis). Almirola sued EGR but was settled out of court.

Car #15 history
The #15 team began at NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as the #16 NAPA Chevrolet Silverado driven by Ron Hornaday. Between 1995 and 1999, the team won two championships and 23 races. In 2000, the team moved to the Busch Series as car #3. Hornaday won two races and was ranked eighth in points earned but in the competition for 'Rookie of the year' finished second to Kevin Harvick. Ironically, Harvick drove Earnhardt's car after Earnhardt's death. In 2001, the team once again moved to a different series, but this time, without Hornaday. The team now raced the NAPA sponsored #15 (a possible reference to the #15 Ford Thunderbird that Earnhardt drove in the early and mid-1980s). Michael Waltrip was the #15 driver and won his first race at the Daytona 500. However, his win was overshadowed by Dale Earnhardt's death. Between 2002 to 2005, Waltrip won a further three times (twice at Daytona and once at Talladega) then, announcing he would no longer drive for DEI, he took NAPA to found his own team, Michael Waltrip Racing. For the 2006 NASCAR, the #15 team moved to a part-time status. Paul Menard, DEI's Busch Series driver drove and sponsorship was provided by Menards Home Improvement stores. Menard finished seventh at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and moved to full-time in the 2007 season. After the merger of Ginn Racing and DEI, the #15 team absorbed the owner points of the #14 car (formerly driven by Sterling Marlin), so they would be guaranteed a spot in each race for the remainder of the 2007 season. After the 2008 season, Menard left along with his sponsorship to Yates Racing. The DEI #15 team was disbanded.

Car #3 history
Between 1989 and 2000, the #3 car won two championships (in 1998 and 1999 with Earnhardt Jr. driving). The car has been driven by Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Michael Waltrip, Neil Bonnett, David Bonnett, Andy Petree, Jeff Green, Steve Park and Ron Hornaday Jr,

Car #8 history
The #8 car was raced by DEI from 1984 with Dale Earnhardt the driver. The car ran from 1984 to 1988 and then again from 2002 to 2008. In 2004 and 2005, it won two championships with Martin Truex Jr driving in 2004 and 2005. The car has been driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jody Ridley, Kenny Wallace, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Hank Parker Jr, Steve Park, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr and Kerry Earnhardt.

Car #11 history
The #11 car was run by DEI in the Busch Series. During part of 2004 and through all of the 2005 and 2006 NASCAR seasons, Paul Menard was the driver. There was one win in 2006 at Milwaukee. In 2007 Paul Menard left the Busch Series for the Nextel Cup Series. The car raced on a partial schedule with Truex and Menard sharing the driving.

Car #81 history
In 2003, the #81 car raced occasionally in the Winston Cup. Jason Keller and John Andretti did most of the driving. In 2005, the #81 was driven in a limited schedule by Earnhardt Jr. at the Daytona, Talladega (restrictor place races), and Charlotte races in the Busch Series. Since that time, Tim Brown, the National Football League player has acquired the 81 number for his NEXTEL Cup team, backed by Roush Fenway Racing.

Chance 2 Motorsports
Chance 2 Motorsports was a jointly owned subsidiary of DEI and Earnhardt Jr. The organisation was operated by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Teresa Earnhardt. The team won two Busch Series championships with Martin Truex, Jr. in 2004 and 2005. After this, Dale Earnhardt Jr. left the partnership with his stepmother to focus on his own race team, JR Motorsports.

Ginn Racing
On July 25, 2007, DEI announced it had merged with Ginn Racing. The #01 team joined the #1, #8 and #15 teams. The merger did not affect the DEI team name.
 * The #01 (Mark Martin/Aric Almirola) team was added to the DEI teams.
 * The #15 (Paul Menard) inherited the owner points from the former #14 (Sterling Marlin), which guaranteed a starting spot for Menard at Indianapolis.
 * The #13 (Joe Nemechek) team of Ginn Racing was disbanded.
 * Bobby Ginn was listed as the owner of the #01 and #15 for the remainder of 2007.
 * The shops of Ginn Racing housed the #15 and #01.
 * Fabrication work was to be done out of the Ginn Racing shops.

Chip Ganassi Racing

 * Further information: Chip Ganassi Racing

On November 12, 2008, DEI and Felix Sabates' Chip Ganassi Racing (Dodge) merged their NASCAR operations into one organisation. The team, now known as Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, remained a Chevy team. As a result of the merger there were further changes:
 * Ganassi's #41 and #42 became part of the merged team.
 * DEI retaining the #1 and #8 cars and Martin Truex, Jr., Aric Almirola, and Juan Pablo Montoya drove the same cars in the 2009 season.
 * The #01, #15, #40, and #41 cars did not run.
 * Bass Pro Shops and Target remained the teams' full-time sponsors (of the #1 and #42 cars, respectively).
 * The #1 and #42 cars continue to run a full NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule in 2013 with Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya respectively.

Championships

 * 1996 Craftsman Truck Series
 * 1998 Craftsman Truck Series
 * 1998 Busch Series
 * 1999 Busch Series
 * 2004 Busch Series
 * 2005 Busch Series

Earnhardt Technology Group
Earnhardt Technology Group (ETG) was created in August 2009 to assist up-and-coming teams. It was founded to contribute resources and opportunities to race in championships. It serves the engineering and parts needs of more than thirty teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. ETG provides a broad range of engineering services to all levels of the racing industry; distribution of Renton springs; machine shop services (now contributing to many varied fields of mechanical engineering); a leasing service; sales of vehicles and component parts; and consultation and support.

Club E
Club E is the official fan club for Dale Earnhardt. It is a membership based fan club with three different levels based on contribution level (ranging from no fee to $49.99). Members of Club E have access to Dale Earnhardt footage, personal items, discounts at the DEI retail store, Carowinds, Kings Dominion, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Kannapolis Intimidators games, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet, and Great Wolf Lodge, Inc. and member only events.

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation was founded with a mission to continue the legacy of Dale Earnhardt through charitable programs and grants reflecting Earnhardt's commitments to children, education and environment and wildlife preservation.

RAD Engine Partnership
After the Ford's were dominating the restrictor plate tracks in the late 1990's, Earnhardt, Richard Childress Racing, and Andy Petree Racing partnered up with each other and formed the RAD Engine Program. There first win was at the 2000 Winston 500 with Dale Earnhardt (Wich ended up being his 76th and final win). DEI Won the 2001 Daytona 500, 2001 Pepsi 400, 2001 EA Sports 500, 2002 Aaron's 499, 2002 Pepsi 400, 2002 EA Sports 500, and the 2003 Daytona 500. RAD ended after Petree pulled out of the series in 2003 to focus on his Busch series program.

Earnhardt Childress Racing Technology
Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR) was formed in May 2007 with cooperation between DEI and Richard Childress Racing. The organisation develops and builds engines common to the Chevrolet NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series teams. In mid-2008, a stand-alone facility north of Salisbury in Welcome, NC (off exit 85 of I-85). was completed. ECR employs 130 technicians. It participated in the 2010 Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 with Jamie McMurray, the 2011 Southern 500 with Regan Smith, Coca Cola 600 with Kevin Harvick, and Brickyard 400 with Paul Menard.

JR Motorsports, Richard Childress, and Wrangler
On 29 April 2010, at the time of Earnhardt's induction to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, DEI announced a partnership with JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Wrangler Jeans where, for one race, as a tribute to his father, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would drive the #3, the blue and gold race car driven by Dale Earnhardt in the 1980s. The car was raced in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway on 2 July 2010. It was the first Nationwide Series race in the Car of Tomorrow event. Earnhardt Jr. started third, led for thirty-three and won the race. This was his first competitive NASCAR win since 2008.

Morgan-Dollar Motorsports
In 2007, DEI made a driver development contract with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports to provide trucks for developing drivers in 2007. This was inherited in the merger with Ginn Racing.

Drivers
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