Dale Jarrett

Sponsor: Quality Care
Car: #88Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Robert Yates
Resides Hickory, N.C.
D.O.B 11/26/56
 

Dale Jarrett's Biography

In 1997, Dale Jarrett must be thinking that the Winston Cup Championship is extremely close. After last season, few changes needed to be made. The #88 Quality Care Ford Credit team is performing up to standards set in the 1996 season. With a win at the PrimeStar 500, Jarrett was first in the standings. The team is not just finishing well, but also setting themselves up for a great run with great starting positions. He qualified third at the Daytona 500, second at the GM Goodwrench 400 and third at the Pontiac Excitement 400. Jarrett is also running in the Busch Series this season with the #32 White Rain team. His best finish was at the GM Goodwrench 200 where he posted a second place finish.

The 1996 season was the best year of Dale Jarrett's career. With wins at Daytona, Indianapolis, The Goodwrench Service 400 and the Coca-Cola 600, and seconds at The Goodwrench 400, The Winston Select 500, The Jiffy Lube 300, The DieHard 500, The AC-Delco 400, The NAPA 500 and The Pontiac Excitement 400, Jarrett finished the year in third place in the Winston Cup Points race. He also won the 1996 Busch Clash at Daytona. All of this in his first season in the Robert Yates owned Ford Quality Care #88 Thunderbird. He just missed winning the Winston Million, which is awarded for winning 3 of 4 selected races.

In 1995, Jarrett drove for the Robert Yates owned Texaco Thunderbird #28 team while current teammate Ernie Irvin was recovering from a near fatal accident. The disappointing season produced just one victory, but had 14 top-10 finishes and a career high in money earned. His lone win was at Pocono. Previously, Jarrett spent 3 years with former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs' team.

His first Winston Cup victory came at the 1991 Champion 400 at Michigan International Speedway. It was the 129th start of his career. Career best fourth in the 1993 Winston Cup Points Race.

Dale's father, Ned, was a legendary NASCAR driver. Ned won the championship in 1961 and 1965 and now is a broadcaster for NASCAR telecasts. Dale is also one of the most athletic driver in the series. He was offered a golf scholarship for college. Also in high school, he played baseball, basketball, and football. Jarrett's son, Jason also drives. He ran in a Busch Grand National race at Hickory Motor Speedway, where he finished 21st.