Classic Photos of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced on Tuesday that he will retire from NASCAR racing at the end of the 2017 season. The two-time Daytona 500 winner has spent 18 seasons racing in the top NASCAR series, racking up 26 wins along the way. SI looks back at some of Junior's best photos.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Feb 24, 2014

Classic Photos of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Junior has never been a stranger to the racing circuit, captured here as a six-year-old atop a camper at the 1981 Richmond 400.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The third of Dale Sr.'s four children, Dale Jr. is shown here with his father, stepmother, Teresa, and sister, Kelley.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Junior and his father would become only the third father-son pair to win the Daytona 500, joining Lee and Richard Petty, and Bobby and Davey Allison. Here the two sit outside their Mooresville, N.C., home in 1984.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"Little E" grins for the camera as his father distractedly looks away in this shot from 1985. Three generations of Earnhardts took the driver seat, amassing 10 NASCAR championships.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt, seen here in his military school uniform, has always been close to his family and shared a special relationship with his sister. "When I went to military school in seventh grade, she went with me because she was worried about me," he told USA Today. "Nobody goes to military school willingly. Sometimes I take it for granted how much she cares for me."

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Junior was on hand when his dad took the checkers at Martinsville Speedway in the Pannill Sweatshirts 500.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Perched on a tire in pit row, Junior looks rather bored during the 1990 Pontiac Excitement 400. His father finished second to Mark Martin.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt Jr., seen here in 1992 with his Legends car.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In only the second time in NASCAR history that a father and two of his sons competed against each other, Dale Earnhardt, Junior and Kerry raced in 2000's Winston Cup.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Junior looked to his father for reassurance when he made the leap into NASCAR's Busch Series. "When I started running Busch, I got serious. Everything about that was cool," he told the Sporting News. "Sure, I was seeking my father's approval. I wanted to make him proud. I'd been trying to do that all my life." Junior did just that, winning 13 races within the next two years.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Getting his feet wet early, Junior's first race car was a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that he co-owned with his brother Kerry.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

After winning the Busch Series Championship, Junior made his way into a part-time stint with the family business for the Nextel Cup and a full-time gig in 2000.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Seen here receiving the Busch Series Championship Cup, Junior would go on to win the title again in 1999.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Father and son competed in their first race together in Motegi, Japan, in 1998. Little E finished sixth, two spots ahead of his dad.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Father and son share a few words.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Father and son share a moment before the Miller 500 at Dover International Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The Pepsi 400 always held special memories for Junior as it was one of the few races that he and his siblings could watch in person while they were in school. "We liked to go to as many races as we could when we were kids, but school prevented us from going, but we always got to go to the 400," Earnhardt Jr. said. "It's just been a mainstay in my life and a part of what I got excited about year after year."

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Junior takes SI swimsuit stunner Marisa Miller out for a spin.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Junior poses with the Dahm triplets on the set of a Playboy shoot.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Over the course of his 15-season career, Junior has racked up more than $77 million in winnings and 19 victories.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The 2004 season was Junior's most successful to date, with a career-high six victories, including the Daytona 500.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Pictured here with his then girlfriend, Junior has said that he would like to settle down and start a family, but said he is definitely in no rush to do so.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Junior wound up in a little bit of trouble for a four letter word he let slip during a post-race press conference in 2004. It cost him $10,000 and his first-place standing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt, Jr. is seen here with Jeff Gordon and Belgian model (and Gordon's future wife) Ingrid Vandebosch at the Ford 400.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Pictured here with then-crew chief Steve Hmiel, Junior would have a successful run under Hmiel before going back to Tony Eury Jr. later in the 2005 season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Junior has a good time celebrating with the "Crown Royal Girls" after winning the Crown Royal 400 in 2006.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

A disappointing end to 2008 and a disheartening 2009 season caused crew chief Tony Eury, Jr. to be pulled off of Earnhardt, Jr.'s team. Lance McGrew was tapped as Eury's replacement.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

After spending the majority of his career racing under the family's Dale Earnhardt Inc., Junior headed over to Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the 2007 season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt, Jr. is pictured here with Tony Eury, Jr. before the 2008 Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt, Jr. and the other 2008 Chase drivers headed to the Late Show with David Letterman to present the Top 12 Perks of Being a NASCAR driver.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Little E just can't seem to stay away from SI's swimsuit models. Here he is pictured with Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., Julie Henderson and 2010 SI swimsuit cover girl Brooklyn Decker.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt, Jr. struggled throughout much of 2009, finishing a disappointing 25th in the points.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In 2009, Forbes named Dale Earnhardt 10h on its list of the world's richest athletes. Others who made the cut that year: Tiger Woods, Manny Pacquiao, LeBron James and David Beckham.