Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., also known as Dale Jr., or commonly referred to by his nickname, Junior, is a former race car that competed in the Piston Cup Racing Series with the number 8. He started racing in the Piston Cup in the year 2000 and won the Piston Cup Rookie of the Year award that year. He also was awarded the title of The Piston Cup Most Popular Driver four times between 2000 and 2005. In the mid-2000s he competed for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which he owned.
==History==
===Cars===
In Cars, Dale competes in the 2005 Dinoco 400 at the Motor Speedway of the South. When Chick Hicks causes a huge crash, Dale is involved in the wreck, he slides and hits the wall. Dale finishes the race around the middle positions.
After Lightning McQueen is discovered as missing, Dale is interviewed by the Racing Sports Network, and he expresses his worries and concerns for the rookie race car.
Dale attends the tie-breaker race between Weathers, Hicks, and McQueen at the Los Angeles International Speedway, where he wishes Weathers good luck prior to the start of the race.
Dale also appears during the film's epilogue, where he, The King, and Lynda Weathers visit the Racing Museum in Radiator Springs. While touring, Dale voices his admiration of Doc's win record during a single season. When the three visitors ask Mater about Doc Hudson's current whereabouts, he informs them that he and McQueen are out practicing at Willy's Butte.
Dale is last seen next to Red watching Toy Car Story at the Radiator Springs Drive-In Theatre.
===The World of Cars Online===
In, The World of Cars Online, Dale appears together with Rusty Cornfuel, Ruby "Easy" Oaks, Al Oft and some Tractors in a poster for the Big Heartland Speedway.
===Between Cars and Cars 3===
Between the events of Cars and Cars 3, Dale retires from racing in the Piston Cup. It's unknown what happened to him specifically, but his sponsor doesn't return either, meaning that the company retired from being a sponsor in the Piston Cup as well.
==General Information==
===Physical description===
Dale is an Axxelo Fission, which is identical to the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo (NASCAR). He is painted red with the number 8 painted in white on his doors and roof. He has the Dale Earnhardt Inc. logo on his hood, as well as his own tires' "Lightyear" lettering on his front wheel wells (unlike all other Piston Cup racers from the first film), and several Piston Cup sponsor stickers on his doors.
===Personality and traits===
Despite the large amount of attention that Earnhardt receives, he is actually shy and reserved, and enjoys spending quiet time with his friends and family. Dale speaks with kindness and respect, often expressing care for his fellow racing stars. He is also kind and caring.
==Official profiles==
===Car Finder Game===
==Gallery==
File:Junior3.jpg|Promotional image showcasing Dale's model.
Todd, Mac and Dale.jpg|Dale’s first appearance on-screen
Dalemathew.jpg|Cars
File:IMG 4492.jpg|Cars
File:Cars-disneyscreencaps.com-112.jpg|Cars
File:CFTF3.jpg|Cars
File:James xxxxxx.png|Cars
File:Floyd Mulvihill and Rusty Cornfuel froze in shock as Lightning McQueen squeezed the gap between them and passed them.jpg|Cars
File:PC Racers 1.jpg|Cars
File:Cars-disneyscreencaps.com-450.jpg|Cars
File:Winford in the crash.jpg|Cars
Haul, Misti and Dale.png|Cars
File:Cars-disneyscreencaps.com-479.jpg|Cars
File:HaulInngasCars.jpg|Cars
File:ChuckArmstrongCars.jpg|Cars
File:CarsScreen39.jpg|Cars
File:117 Crash.png|Cars
4k-cars-animationscreencaps.com-808.jpg|Dale in the crash Cars
Billy, Dale Jr, Ralph.png|Cars
File:Screenshot 2018-12-08 at 11.40.56 AM.png|Cars
File:IMG 0682.jpg|Cars
File:Darren-leadfoot-personnage-cars-01.jpg|Cars
File:Cars-disneyscreencaps.com-669.jpg|Cars
File:Cars-disneyscreencaps.com-672.jpg|Cars
File:Chuck Armstrong in restart.PNG|Cars
File:Ernie-gearson-personnage-cars-02.jpg|Cars
IMG 0094.jpeg|Cars
File:Captura de tela 2023-09-18 210342.png|Cars
File:TheKing4.jpg|Cars
IMG 0096.jpeg|Cars
IMG ddddd.jpeg|Cars
Cars-disneyscreencaps.com-3181.jpg|Dale is interviewed by the Racing Sports Network.
Dale -1.png|Earnhardt wishes Weathers good luck.
Cars-disneyscreencaps.com-12864.jpg|Dale visits the Racing Museum in Radiator Springs with Weathers and Mrs. Weathers.
File:Circle on Dale.webp|Dale at the drive-in theater
DaleEarnhardtJr.jpg|Car Finder Game profile
Cars 02 rev 03.jpg|Dale appearing in a comic
BHSposter.png|The World of Cars Online
Dale Earnhardt Inc. (Dale Earnhardt, Jr.).jpg|Diecast
Dale earnhardt, jr supercharged single.jpg|2007 release 
Dale earnhardt, jr world of cars single.jpg|2008 release
Dale earnhardt, jr race o rama single.jpg|2009 release
File:Dejrt10.jpg|2010 Release (Rubber Tires)
File:Dale-Jr-WM.jpg|Micro Drifters(cancelled)
==Trivia== 
*Junior is based on NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who voices the racer in Cars. Dale's physical design is based on the Chevrolet Monte Carlo that Earnhardt Jr. drove from his Sprint Cup debut through the end of 2007. The Cars character's appearance is nearly identical to his car, with the only exception of the Budweiser logo, which was changed to "Dale Earnhardt Inc." itself to prevent controversy regarding the presence of an alcohol trademark in a G-rated film. This trademark change was also utilized in NASCAR video games that featured Dale Earnhardt Jr’s vehicle, along with merchandising of him as well to make it kid friendly.
*Junior's team is one of the few characters from Cars that didn't reappear in Cars 3. This is probably due to the copyright issues with the Dale Earnhardt licensing. It is also because of the retirement after the events of the first film.
*There was a planned Micro Drifter for Dale, but was never officially released. This is most likely due to copyright issues too.
**Not only just all of that, the character never even saw a newer diecast release since the early 2010's, this is also most likely due to copyright issues.
*Despite being one of the most popular Piston Cup racers in the film, he (alongside half of the other racers) very strangely never had a visible pit crew, his absent pit crew nor had a visible pit row slot in the Motor Speedway of the South, making it currently unknown what his pitties and crew chief actually look like.
*In the 15th December 2005 workprint of Cars, when Junior was speaking on CRSN, he was replaced with Kevin Racingtire. This was likely done as a stand in during production in case the filmmakers could not get Junior on the project and secure licensing for him and his company to be in the film.Cars Rev'd Up DVD This also means that in the same workprint, Kevin would of had Junior's role in his other scenes.
* In The World of Cars Online, despite not appearing in the actual race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. appears in the poster for the Big Heartland Speedway.
==Quotes== 
*"I just hope Lightning's OK. I sure would hate to see anything bad happen to him." - Cars
*"Hey, King! Good luck in your last race. You've sure been an inspiration to me." - Cars
*"Wow. Unbelievable. That many wins in a single season." - Cars
==References==
Category:Axxelo
Category:Chevrolet
Category:Team members
Category:Racers
Category:Piston Cup racers
Category:Cars characters
de:Dale Earnhardt
es:Dale Earnhardt Jr.
pl:Dale Earnhardt, Jr
pt-br:Dale Earnhardt Jr.
ru:Дейл Эрнхардт Младший
Category:Comic characters
Category:The World of Cars Online characters
Category:Radiator Springs townies
Category:Celebrities
Category:Magazine models
Category:Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Category:Characters with Lightyear tires
Category:Male characters
Category:Race Fans