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Original race car from NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt up for bid at Goldin
NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt was one of the most accomplished racers in the history of the sport and arguably the most popular driver in all of motorsports.
Earnhardt, who was tragically killed in a crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, won a record-tying seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, matching legendary driver Richard Petty and now sharing the record with seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson.
Known as the “Intimidator” for his aggressive driving style and black-hat persona, Earnhardt is eighth on the all-time win list with 76 career victories. One of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, his biggest win came in the 1998 Daytona 500, his lone victory in the sport’s biggest race.
Late in his career, while still driving for Richard Childress Racing, Earnhardt also started his own race team. Dale Earnhardt Inc. fielded cars in both the Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series (now Xfinity Series).
One of the cars built by DEI is now up for bid at Goldin Co. The car carries the No. 8, which was used by Earnhardt’s popular son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., throughout his own NASCAR career. It has a current bid of $50,000 in the September Elite Auction at Goldin Co., which runs through Oct. 1. All proceeds from the winning bid will be donated to Grow with Grey, a non-profit organization for Autism Awareness.
Earnhardt started Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1996. The No. 8 Busch Series car was driven by several different drivers, including Earnhardt Jr. and current Cup star Martin Truex Jr. Earnhardt Jr. and Truex both also drove for DEI’s Cup Series team. Ironically, DEI cards driven by Michael Waltrip and Earnhardt Jr. finished first and second in the 2001 Daytona 500, in which Earnhardt was killed.
The car up for bid features all original technology, including the rare first TD1 Chassis, with fully functioning instruments on the dashboard. It is decorated with the original sponsorship stickers, including the Busch Series decal and longtime NASCAR sponsor Bass Pro Shops.
“Dale Earnhardt is one of the well-known names in NASCAR, who dominated the sport throughout his career,” said Dave Amerman, head of Revenue & Sports Consignment at Goldin. “It’s incredibly exciting for us to be able to auction one of his very own cars that was made by his family company, as he continues to inspire countless drivers in NASCAR and his son, Dale Jr., makes a name for himself in the sport.”
This car also contains all original technology, including fire suppression and communications devices, brand-new Goodyear Eagle racing tires, and the original engine, which still roars with thunder. All the inside switches, gauges, and other dashboard accouterments are also intact. The car contains a few scratches and dents typical of a racing stock car.
