1975-1978 - Getting Started

Dale Earnhardt took a unique route in preparing for his 1979 rookie season on the Winston Cup Grand National circuit. Unlike modern-day rookie hopefuls who looks to test stock-car racing's top series on their home tracks configurations they've grown comfortable with, Dale first starts came in some of the biggest Grand National events on the series' biggest and fastest tracks. 

By the time he began his career in earnest, he had run in three World 600s at Charlotte, a Southern 500 at Darlington and had logged valuable miles at Atlanta, Daytona and Talladega.

Dale Earnhardt opened his career at Charlotte in the 1975 World 600, the longest, most grueling event on the Grand National schedule. He drove the No.8 Dodge owned by Ed Negre. Twenty-four years later, his son, Dale Jr., would open his career in the No.8 Chevy, owned by Dale Sr., in the renamed Coca-Cola 600.

There was a trade off to Dale Earnhardt's strategy, however. By choosing the toughest races on the toughest tracks, he had to suffer through poor performances and look to learn than win. 

Indeed, he never got close to the front in his first five races. Then succes began to creep in to his efforts: a Top 10 in his first Daytona race, followed by solid runs at Talladega and Darlington. Finally, in his final tune up for his 1979 rookie campaign, Dale finished in the Top 5 at Atlanta in his first start for Rod Osterlund. With 11 races under his belt and a solid ride locked up with Rod Osterlund, Dale was ready to launch one of the most succesful careers in NASCAR history.