Facts and Figures: Cup Victories

1. 1979: April 1: Volunteer 500 at Bristol International Speedway - Earnhardt broke through at Bristol International Speedway in only his 16th start on the NASCAR Grand National Tour. Earnhardt made his first trip to victory circle after outdistancing veterans Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip - and capped the season off with rookie of the year honours.
2. 1980: March 16: Atlanta 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - Shortly after signing a contract with Derita-based Osterlund Racing, Earnhardt maneuvered his Monte Carlo around Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough 28 laps from the finish to pick up his first win at a super speedway.
3. 1980: March 30: Valleydale Southeastern 500 at Bristol International Speedway (2 wins in a row) - Defusing any questions about a sophomore jinx, Earnhardt continued to dominate at Bristol with an 8.7 second win over Darrell Waltrip in the Valleydale Southeastern 500. The victory was Earnhardt's second in a row and positioned him atop the Winston Cup standings.
4. 1980: July 12: Busch Nashville 420 at Nashville Speedway - Earnhardt's gritty determination began to shine in a scintillating victory at Nashville. Battling 101-degree heat and standout Cale Yarborough on his rear bumper, Earnhardt collected his third win of the year by holding of the wily veteran for the final 30 laps.
5. 1980: September 28, Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway - Forging his Intimidator legacy, Earnhardt banged metal with leader Dave Marcis in heavy traffic on lap 216 at Martinsville Speedway. After spinning completely around, Earnhardt regained control and passed leader Cale Yarborough with only 13 laps remaining.
6. 1980: October 5: National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2 wins in a row) - Earnhardt's 1.83 second victory over Cale Yarborough at Charlotte Motor Speedway was a dream come true for the 29 year old. Afterward, Earnhardt dubbed the win at the track he often visited with his dad, his most gratifying.
7. 1982: April 4: CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 at Darlington Raceway - After a 39 race absence from the winner's circle, Earnhardt reclaimed his status as one of the sport's elite with a dramatic win at Darlington Raceway. Driving the No. 15 Ford, Earnhardt fended off Cale Yarborough's late passing attempt to capture the checkered flag by half a length at the finish.
8. 1983: July 16: Busch Nashville 420 at Nashville Speedway - Averaging 85.276 miles per hour, Earnhardt outdistanced two-time defending points champion Darrell Waltrip by one-half lap at Nashville International Speedway. The win again broke a 39-race drought for Earnhardt and signified his return to form.
9. 1983: July 31: Talladega 500 at Alabama International Motor Speedway (Talladega) - Pitted against formidable legends Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison in the last lap, Earnhardt mounted a charge on the backstretch and eclipsed Waltrip by half a length at the finish line to claim his second win of the year.
10. 1984: July 29: Talladega 500 at Alabama International Motor Speedway (Talladega) (Defending Race Winner) - Earnhardt became the first driver to win back-to-back Talladega 500's with a thrilling victory that ranked among the best races at Talladega ever. With 10 drivers in the lead aerodynamic draft, Earnhardt forged ahead in turn three and stave off the pack of rivals in the backstretch.
11. 1984: November 11: Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - Displaying tremendous perseverance, Earnhardt, who led only 49 laps, overcame a mechanical glitch and steered his Richard Childress owned Chevrolet across the finish line .75 seconds ahead of home state favourite Bill Elliott.
12. 1985: February 24: Miller High Life 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway - Earnhardt shook off a collision with Terry Labonte in the pits and picked up his first victory at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway. After making a few mechanical adjustments, Earnhardt outdistanced Geoff Bodine and Darrell Waltrip in a Chevrolet showdown.
13. 1985: April 6: Valleydale 500 at Bristol International Speedway - Battling a race car without power steering, Earnhardt displayed remarkable mettle at Bristol Raceway. He overcame arm fatigue and a metal rubbing, side-by-side dual with Ricky Rudd late in the race to capture his third win at Bristol.
14. 1985: August 24: Busch 500 at Bristol International Speedway (sweep track same year) - also got pole and led all 500 laps - In front of a national ESPN television audience, Earnhardt scooted past Tim Richmond en route to his third win of the season. The triumph gave Earnhardt and his No. 3 Chevrolet a sweep of the two Grand National races at Bristol that year.
15. 1985: September 22: Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway - Earnhardt continued his short-track domination with a hard fought victory at Martinsville. Running alongside Darrell Waltrip and Harry Gant, the eternal gambler decided against a late pit stop under caution and stretched his fuel to the finish.
16. 1986: April 13: Transouth 500 at Darlington Raceway - After miscalculations in the pits cost Earnhardt a couple of victories early in the season, the No. 3 team pushed all the right buttons at Darlington. Leading 335 of the 367 laps, Earnhardt nearly lapped the field at the Transouth 500.
17. 1986: April 20: First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway (2 wins in a row) - Earnhardt posted back-to-back victories with an electrifying two-length win at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Although Earnhardt maintained the lead over the final 46 laps, he had to constantly fight off Ricky Rudd, who appeared glued to his rear bumper.
18. 1986: May 25: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Earnhardt switched gears at the Coca-Cola 600 - abandoning his attacking style in favour of patience. Leading for only 25 laps, he parlayed good gas mileage into a 1.59 second win at the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway.
19. 1986: October 5: Oakwood Homes 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (sweep track same year) - A couple of favourable cautions and a hard charging approach helped Earnhardt comeback from a two lap deficit to take the checkered flag at the Oakwood Homes 500. The win was Earnhardt's fourth of the year and all but sealed the Winston Series points title.
20. 1986: November 2: Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - Earnhardt's victory at the Atlanta International Speedway removed any drama from the season finale. The triumph, combined with Darrell Waltrip's 39th place finish left Waltrip mathematically eliminated and Earnhardt with his second Winston Cup crown.
21. 1987: March 1: Goodwrench 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway - After starting in the 14th position, Earnhardt finished the Goodwrench 500 in dominating fashion. The defending Winston Cup champion took the checkered flag with an impressive 10.58 seconds ahead of runner-up Ricky Rudd.
22. 1987: March 8: Miller High Life 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway (2 races in row) - Steering a bent and beater No. 3 car, which he wrecked in practice, Earnhardt proved undaunted as he flashed across the finish line a half second ahead of Geoff Bodine. After the race, Earnhardt deflected much of the credit to his crew, who seamlessly installed a new engine and front suspension.
23. 1987: March 29: Transouth 500 at Darlington Raceway (Defending Race Winner) - Earnhardt capitalized on Bill Elliott's late fuel gamble and passed Elliott as his tank registered empty in turn three of the final lap. It was Earnhardt's second straight Transouth 500 triumph.
24. 1987: April 5: First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway (Defending Race Winner) (2 races in row) - Driving as if possessed, Earnhardt claimed his fourth victory in only six starts in 1987. Earnhardt led for a staggering 319 laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway and was never passed under a green flag.
25. 1987: April 12: Valleydale Meats 500 at Bristol International Speedway (3 races in a row) - Continuing his unparalleled dominance, Earnhardt for the fifth time - in only seven races - at the Valleydale 500. Earnhardt came back from a lap down to finish five lengths in front of runner-up Richard Petty.
26. 1987: April 26: Sovran Bank 500 at Martinsville Speedway (4 races in a row) - Earnhardt's fourth victory in a row, and six in eight races, landed the legend in the record books. Capitalizing on leader Geoff Bodine's late crash, Earnhardt nested Petty's record for the fastest start in NASCAR history and swept the four short track events in the season's first half.
27. 1987: June 28: Miller American 400 at Michigan International Speedway - A mysterious fuel problem transformed the Miller 400 from a laughter into a tense finish. Earnhardt held off the late charging Davey Allison and Ford Thunderbird in turn four to claim a narrow victory.
28. 1987: July 19: Summer 500 at Pocono International Speedway - A fender-to-fender battle with up-and-comer Alan Kulwicki at the triangular Pocono International Raceway ended with Earnhardt's eight victory in 16 races. Earnhardt slipped under Kulwicki on the low side late in the race as the two inadvertently bumped.
29. 1987: August 22: Busch 500 at Bristol International Speedway (sweep track same year) - Earnhardt extended his short track record to 5-0 with an impressive performance at the Busch 500. The No. 3 car was out in front for 414 laps and finished a comfortable 5.59 seconds ahead of Rusty Wallace.
30. 1987: September 6: Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (sweep track same year) (2 races in row) - Earnhardt moved his 1987 win total to Double digits in a rain shortened Southern 500. With dark clouds approaching and lightning flashing, Earnhardt overtook Richard Petty with a daring pass in Darlington's treacherous turn three.
31. 1987: September 13: Wrangler Jeans Indigo 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway (sweep track same year) (3 races in row) - Earnhardt improved his short track record in 1987 to 6-0 in a fierce battle with Darrell Waltrip in the final Wrangler 400. After avoiding a red flag crash, Earnhardt held off Waltrip for his third victory in a row.
32. 1988: March 20: Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - Earnhardt took his first checkered flag in six months in surprisingly easy fashion at the Motorcraft 500. Leading 269 of the 328 laps, Earnhardt crossed the finish live ahead of rusty Wallace, the only other driver on the lead lap.
33. 1988: April 24: Pannill Sweatshirts 500 at Martinsville Speedway (Defending Race Winner) - A pivotal tire adjustment late in the race enabled Earnhardt to pass Sterling marlin for his first short track win in 1988. Earnhardt took the lead late in the race and never looked back on his way to victory at the Martinsville Speedway.
34. 1988: August 27: Busch 500 at Bristol International Speedway (Defending Race Winner) - Battling steering problems at the end, Earnhardt held off Bill Elliott for this fifth victory in the last eight races at Bristol Raceway. A record crowd turned out to see Earnhardt and Elliott fight it out for the last 10 laps.
35. 1989: April 16: First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway - Earnhardt celebrated his 35th Winston Cup victory at the first Union 400 moving into 13th place on NASCAR's all-time victory list. A t the same time, he became something of a pioneer by being the first driver to use Goodyear Tire Co's new racing radial tires.
36. 1989: June 4: Budweiser 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway - Driving one of Chevrolet's new Lumina's, Earnhardt tamed the Monster Mile and overwhelmed the field by leading a mind-boggling 454laps. Earnhardt cross the finish line a half second ahead of Mark martin and broke a five-race win streak for Ford at Dover Down.
37. 1989: September 3: Heinz Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway - Shortly after edging Mark Martin at the finish, Earnhardt dubbed his 37th career victory one of his most satisfying. The memorable win at Darlington came less that 24 hours after his late fathers induction into the Motorsports Press Association Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame.
38. 1989: September 17: Peak Performance 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway (sweep track same year) - Earnhardt again bested perennial runner-up Mark Martin in a highly contested duel at Dover Down that included two fender-bumping incidents. In addition, Earnhardt cut into the lead of rival Rusty Wallace in the $1 million Winston Cup title race.
39. 1989: November 19: Atlanta Journal 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - Earnhardt capped off the 1989 season with his fifth win, but came up 12 points short in the Winston Cup title race. Earnhardt duelled briefly with the eventual Winston Cup champion Rusty Wallace in lap 187 before prevailing in Atlanta.
40. 1990: March 18: Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 at Atlanta International Raceway - Suffering from stomach problems that nearly forced him to request a relief driver, Earnhardt displayed incredible mettle and edged a quartet of drivers at the finish. Running in second on the final lap, Earnhardt executed a bold move down low and passed Morgan Shepherd to capture his 40th career victory.
41. 1990: April 1: Transouth 500 at Darlington Raceway (2 races in row) - After Morgan Shepherd scraped a concrete barrier coming out of turn one, Earnhardt steered the No. 3 car low and into the lead for 60 of the final 61 laps at Darlington. Earnhardt's $61,985 in winnings enabled him to become only the second driver to break the $10 million plateau.
42. 1990: May 6: Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - 'Throttling up' in the corners, Earnhardt fended off Greg Sachs' efforts to pass in the final laps. The win was Earnhardt's 42nd victory and propelled him to the top spot-passing Darrell Waltrip in career earnings.
43. 1990: June 24: Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Michigan International Speedway - A back-and forth duel with Ernie Irvan swayed in Earnhardt's favour after a key pass on lap 195. Earnhardt, who finished a car length ahead of Irvan ended a four race string of bad luck with his fourth win of the year.
44. 1990: July 7: Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway (2 races in row) - After avoiding a huge second-lap wreck with an early dash to the front, Earnhardt never looked back. He coasted to the finish 1,.5 seconds ahead of Alan Kulwicki and collected his first Winston Cup win at the famed Daytona track.
45. 1990: July 29: Diehard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (sweep track same year) - Earnhardt continued his run into the record books by becoming the first three-time winner of the DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Buoyed by savvy fuel strategy, Earnhardt finished two car lengths ahead of Bill Elliott and picked up his sixth victory in the 1990 season.
46. 1990: September 2: Heinz Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (sweep track same year) - Long considered the "track too tough to tame", Darlington was again brought to it's knees by Earnhardt. He notched his seventh overall win at the diabolical track, and for the second time he swept the speedway's two annual Winston Cup events.
47. 1990: September 9: Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway (2 races in a row) - Another fuel gamble worked to near perfection and led to Earnhardt's eighth win of the year. With mark martin on his tail, Earnhardt crossed the finish line at Richmond literally on fumes and had to coast into Victory Lane.
48. 1990: November 4: Checker 500 at Phoenix International Raceway - A dominating performance at Phoenix International Raceway not only provided Earnhardt with an astonishing ninth victory in 1990, but more importantly enabled him to reclaim the Winston Cup Championship lead entering the season finale.
49. 1991: February 24: Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway - After seeing a four second advantage evaporate with a late caution at Richmond Raceway, Earnhardt had to withstand a furious charge from Ricky Rudd in a mad dash to the finish, Earnhardt edged Rudd in the final turn and escaped with a narrow victory.
50. 1991: April 28: Hanes 500 at Martinsville Speedway - Earnhardt eclipsed another milestone by notching his 5th career Winston Cup triumph in the Hanes 500 at Martinsville. Fittingly, the race was a duel to the end between Earnhardt and Kyle Petty, as they battled over the last few laps.
51. 1991: July 28: Diehard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (Defending Race Winner) - Earnhardt and the no. 3 Chevrolet held off a bevy of Ford's in a furious finish at Talladega. While the Ford driver's strategically positioned themselves in the aerodynamic draft, Earnhardt tenaciously maintained his lead and became the all-time victory leader at Talladega Superspeedway.
52. 1991: September 29: Tyson Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway - After a 10-cent brake part failed on the car of leader Harry Gant, Earnhardt capitalized and maneuvered past Gant with nine laps remaining. The victory was Earnhardt's fourth of the season and extended his Winston Cup Championship lead to a commanding 112 points.
53. 1992: May 24: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway - Propelled by a superb 19.40 second pit stop, the five time Winston cup champion fended of a late challenge from Ernie Irvan and secured his only win of 1992 in front of a record crowd of 160,000 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
54. 1993: March 28: Transouth 500 at Darlington Raceway - Aided by a black cloud which cooled the raceway and corresponded with the No. 3 car's set up, Earnhardt rolled to an impressive eighth career win at Darlington. He led for 149 of the last 150 laps, including the final 46.
55. 1993: May 30: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Defending Race Winner) - Earnhardt overcame two penalties - for speeding on pit road and rough driving - to capture the Coca-Cola 600, the first race to finish under the lights in NASCAR history. Earnhardt finished a substantial 4.1 seconds ahead of Winston Cup rookie Jeff Gordon.
56. 1993: June 6: Budweiser 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway (2 races in a row) - Earnhardt displayed unwavering determination in a 4 hour and 44 minute marathon that became a battle of attrition. After 12 wrecks and 14 cautions at Dover Downs, Earnhardt outlasted Dale Jarrett to take the checkered flag.
57. 1993: July 3: Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway - Considered one of the best at saving cars on the ragged edge of control, Earnhardt displayed those skills once again at the Pepsi 400. After making contact with Kenny Schrader in the final lap, Earnhardt regained control of the No. 3 car and eclipsed Sterling marlin by two lengths at the finish.
58. 1993: July 18: Miller Genuine Draft 500 at Pocono International Raceway - After outdistancing long-time rival Rusty Wallace at Pocono, Wallace and Earnhardt paid tribute to drivers Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison - both whom died days before - by circling the triangular-shaped shaped track with a No. 28 flag waving out of the window.
59. 1993: July 25: Diehard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (2 races in a row) - Earnhardt edged fellow Chevrolet driver Ernie Irvan by six inches in a race marred by two airborne crashes. The master at counter attacking moves and navigating in close quarters, Earnhardt put those skills to the test in capturing his sixth win at Talladega.
60. 1994: March 28: Transouth Financial 500 at Darlington Raceway (Defending Race Winner) - The six-time Winston Cup champion notched his 60th career victory at one of his favourite venues - Darlington Raceway. The dominant 7.4 second win over Mark martin was Earnhardt's ninth at the 1.366-mile track, one short of the record.
61. 1994: April 10: Food City 500 at Bristol International Speedway (2 races in a row) - Earnhardt mounted a record-setting charge at Bristol when he took the checkered flag after starting in the 24th position. The win was not only the greatest comeback on the .533mile track, but also positioned Earnhardt atop the points standings in his bid for a record-tying seventh championship.
62. 1994: May 1: Winston Select 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - In a race that was vintage Earnhardt, the racing legend held off furious challenges from Michael Waltrip and Ernie Irvan and crossed the finish line only a few feet in front of his rivals.
63. 1994: October 23: AC-Delco 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway - Reaching perhaps the pinnacle of his career, Earnhardt earned his record-tying seventh Winston Cup Championship - equalling Richard petty - with a scintillating win at "the Rock". In true Intimidator fashion, Earnhardt charged hard to the end and flashed across the finish line .06 seconds ahead of Rick Mast.
64. 1995: April 9: First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway - Earnhardt overwhelmed the field at North Wilkesboro Speedway with a staggering 13.48 second win over his closest competitor, Jeff Gordon. The key to victory for the seven-time champion was tire preservation. Wile most of the teams pitted every 50 laps, Earnhardt drove 86 laps on his last set of tires.
65. 1995: May 7: Save Mart Supermarkets 300 at Sears Point Raceway - After 36 career road course starts, Earnhardt finally broke through with a dramatic triumph at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California. Displaying exceptional versatility, Earnhardt darted inside of leader Mark martin and pulled off a decisive pass on the 73rd of 74 laps.
66. 1995: August 5: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Although rain delayed the start of the Brickyard 400 for four hours, it failed to slow the No. 3 car. Earnhardt, who averages nearly 132 miles per hour on the historic track, took the checkered flag .37 seconds ahead of runner-up Rusty Wallace and revived his title hopes.
67. 1995: September 24: Goody's 500 at Martinsville Speedway - Earnhardt maneuvered past arch rival Rusty Wallace with nine laps remaining and picked up his fourth win of the 1995 season. In the process, Earnhardt cut into Jeff Gordon's points championship lead and signalled his unwillingness to relinquish the crown.
68. 1995: November 12: Napa 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - A dominating win in the NAPA 500 was somewhat overshadowed by a second place finish in the Winston Cup Championship. Earnhardt, who despises finishing second, seized the lead early in Atlanta and never relinquished it, except during pit stops.
69. 1996: February 25: Goodwrench Service 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway - At age 44, Earnhardt continued to throw caution to the wind. Engaged in a fierce back-and-forth battle with Bobby Hamilton at Rockingham, the Intimidator twice exchanged bumps with the No. 43 car en route to his first win of the 1996 season.
70. 1996: March 10: Purolator 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - A well-orchestrated final pit earned Earnhardt a record-breaking eighth win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Running 1.47 seconds behind leader Terry Labonte, the No. 3 team recorded a blazing 19.72 second pit stop helping Earnhardt land his 70th career victory.
71. 1998: February 15: Daytona 500 at Daytona International Raceway - Earnhardt finally exercised the demons at Daytona and put an exclamation point on his legendary career with a spine tingling win at the famed track. Holding off furious challenges from Bobby Labonte and Jeremy Mayfield at the end, Earnhardt took the checkered flag that had eluded him for two decades.
72. 1999: April 25: Diehard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway - Thumbing his nose at talk to retirement, Earnhardt scored his 72nd career Winston cup win on the high banks of Talladega. Earnhardt led for 70 laps - the most of any driver - and defeated Dale Jarrett by .137 seconds after averaging 163.395 miles per hour.
73. 1999: August 28: Goody's Headache Powder 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway - It was classic Earnhardt at Bristol. Trailing Terry Labonte with a half lap remaining, Earnhardt nudged Labonte in the backstretch and dove low to collect his second win of the season and his first short track win since 1995.
74. 1999: October 17: Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (sweep same track same year) - Starting in the 27th position - the furthest back of any Talladega winner - Earnhardt completed a sweep at the super speedway in 1999. He eclipsed Dale Jarrett by .144 seconds in a down to the wire finish.
75. 2000: March 12: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - In one of the closest finishes in Winston Cup history, Earnhardt nipped Bobby Labonte by .01 seconds, or about eight inches, to win the Cracker barrel 500, his ninth victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race features a season-high 30 lead changes before the pair crossed the finish line abreast.
76. 2000: October 15: Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (Defending Race Winner) - Earnhardt capped off his legendary career in unbelievable fashion. Stuck in the 18th position with only five laps remaining, the Intimidator accomplished the unthinkable and roared to Victory Lane. He navigated through a three-wide pack and drafted his way to his 76th victory.