page_title: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
section_title: 2000
hierarchical_section_title: Dale Earnhardt Jr. / Racing career / 2000
caption_attribution_description: Charlotte, North Carolina (May 28)--The Coast Guard Nascar car, driven by Jerry Nadeau, makes a pit stop to have all four tires changed. The Coast Guard Nascar competed in this years Coca-Cola 600 race. Slug 000528-A-7305W-017 (FR) Location CHARLOTTE, North Carolina United States Special Instructions 000528-A-7305W-017 (FOR RELEASE) Photographer PA3 KIMBERLY WILDER Object Name COAST GUARD NASCAR (FOR RELEASE) Credit U.S. COAST GUARD DIGITAL Server Name cgvi.uscg.mil:80 PLS ImageID 11006 Picture Desk ImageID 008HQ Committed Yes (Platter 2A) Database Photo
context_page_description: Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. is an American semi-retired, professional stock car racing driver. He is a team owner, author, and an analyst for NASCAR on NBC. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro for his team JR Motorsports. He is the son of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He is also the grandson of NASCAR driver Ralph Earnhardt, the brother of Kelley Earnhardt-Miller, the half-brother of former driver Kerry Earnhardt, the uncle of driver Jeffrey Earnhardt, and the stepson of Teresa Earnhardt.
  Earnhardt's success at Daytona International Speedway throughout his career earned him the nickname "Pied Piper" of Daytona. He is a two-time Daytona 500 winner, and has won the Most Popular Driver Award fifteen consecutive times from 2003 to 2017.
  After driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., his father's team in the NASCAR Cup Series, for much of his early Cup career, he moved to Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 88 in 2008. He remained with HMS until his retirement as a full-time driver in 2017.
context_section_description: The 2000 season was Earnhardt's breakout year in the Winston Cup Series. He competed for the Raybestos NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award in 2000. His primary competitor for the award was Matt Kenseth. Kenseth outran Earnhardt in the season-opening Daytona 500. Earnhardt scored his first win in the DirecTV 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, breaking the record held by his father Earnhardt Sr. for fewest starts by a driver to earn his first victory in NASCAR's "modern era" by winning in his 12th start, and also at Richmond International Raceway. He became the first rookie to win The Winston.
  Earnhardt played a part in recreating one Winston Cup milestone in 2000 when he competed with his father and half-brother Kerry in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan International Speedway. That occasion was only the second time that a father had raced against two sons – Lee Petty and his two sons Richard and Maurice had previously accomplished the feat.
  Earnhardt ended the 2000 season with two wins, three Top 5's, five Top 10's, and two poles.
caption: Earnhardt (far right) racing alongside Mike Skinner and Jerry Nadeau (left) at the 2000 Coca-Cola 600
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