| Dale Jarrett is one of the most well known and liked | | | | The 1993 Daytona 500 was a memorable one for |
| drivers in NASCAR. He is famous for driving the #44 | | | | many NASCAR fans. That race has been referred to |
| UPS Toyota Camry and was a part of Toyota's | | | | as "The Dale and Dale Show" because Jarrett was |
| inaugural season into NASCAR. He has driven for | | | | able to pass Earnhardt for the win with only one lap |
| some of the most prestigious car owners like Cale | | | | remaining. Dale Jarrett's dad cheered from the booth |
| Yarborough, Wood Brothers, Joe Gibbs, Robert | | | | where he had called the race. |
| Yates, and Michael Waltrip. | | | | Dale is the one who started the tradition of "kissing |
| A true champion, he has won the Daytona 500 three | | | | the bricks" at Indianapolis after his win of the |
| times. Dale comes from a family that's been very | | | | Brickyard 400 in 1996 when he and his entire crew |
| involved in racing and he is the son of two-time | | | | bent down to give the bricks a smooch. Ever since |
| Grand National Champion Ned Jarrett. Dale's younger | | | | then, every winning NASCAR team has been kissing |
| brother Glenn also drove and was a pit commentator | | | | the bricks. In 2003 the Indy teams caught on and |
| for NASCAR and Jason Jarrett is Dale's son who has | | | | now hold the same tradition. In 1998, Dale began to |
| driven in the Busch Series. | | | | suffer gallbladder problems and ended up having |
| As well as being a talented racecar driver, Dale is | | | | surgery in the offseason. Undaunted, he returned in |
| very good at golf. After he graduated from high | | | | 1999 and won his first Cup title by 201 points. This |
| school in 1975 he was offered a full golf scholarship | | | | same year he retired from driving in the Busch series |
| from USC, but he had other plans. He turned it down | | | | and paired up with Brett Farve to become part |
| and headed to the racetrack. His driving career | | | | owner. They fielded the #11 Rayovac Ford, one of |
| started in 1977 at Hickory Motor Speedway, a track | | | | it's drivers being Dale's son Jason. |
| owned by his dad. In his first race, he started in last | | | | In 2000 Dale hooked up with UPS and they began |
| place and was able to move up and finish in ninth. His | | | | the "Big Brown Truck" campaign which continued to |
| driving talent was beginning to show itself. He spent a | | | | the end of his career. The 2008 Food City 500 at |
| few years honing his driving skills at Hickory before | | | | Bristol was Dale's last race and he passed the torch |
| moving to the Busch Series in 1982. His best finish | | | | to David Reutimann who now drives the #44 |
| that first year was third and he finished sixth in the | | | | Toyota. In a driver's meeting before that last race, |
| points standings. It didn't take Dale long to be ready | | | | he spoke to his fellow drivers: "Enjoy this. We all |
| to face the big dogs in the Cup Series and he | | | | have our time in this, and mine has been fantastic. To |
| debuted at Martinsville in 1984. He qualified 24th and | | | | me, it has been an honor and a privilege to be able |
| finished fourteenth. | | | | to race in this series and say I raced with and against |
| In 1987 he was in contention for Rookie of the Year | | | | and sometimes beat the best in the world. Thanks |
| honors, but came in second to Davey Allison. Dale | | | | for allowing me to do that. Enjoy it. It's a great sport, |
| was hungry for that first cup win and finally got it at | | | | and you guys make it what it is." After his |
| Michigan International Speedway in 1991. He finished a | | | | retirement, Dale joined the ESPN broadcasting team |
| career best 17th that season in the points standings. | | | | as their lead racing analyst. |