Dale Jarrett is one of Nascar's my respected drivers in garage who never showed his temper which allowed him to show his skills behind wheel while earning respect from his peers and becoming legend of sport he raced for 24 years.
Chapter 1
Learning Sports From His Father
Dale Jarrett was born on November 26, 1956 in Conover, North Carolina with 2 other siblings in Jarrett family while his father Ned Jarrett was racing in Nascar during 1953-1966 Seasons before retiring from racing but Dale Jarrett remained active in racing community as manager of Hickory Motor Speedway while having interest in broadcasting. Dale Jarrett would get introduced to golf at age of 12 when his father was racing which allowed him to play multiple sports in school which included him leading his golf team to conference championship 3 times before graduating from Newton-Conover High School while returning back working at Hickory Motor Speedway while turning down scholarship offer for University of South Carolina but his real interest was racing like his father did.
Chapter 2
Finding His ion For Racing
Dale Jarrett made his 1st start in Limited Sportsman Division on April of 1977 at Hickory Motor Speedway while driving 1968 Chevrolet Nova built by Andy Petree and Jimmy Newsome were he started last place and finished 9th in his debut race. Dale Jarrett would continue racing in Limited Sportsman Division for years before moving through Dash Series and Late Model Sportsman Division while earning his 1st career win during that span that helped him gain interest from car owner in Xfinity Series.
Chapter 3
Xfinity Series Tenured
Thackston Racing hired Dale Jarrett to full-time deal for 1982 season to drive 24 car where he scored 14 top 10 finishes while having 1 top 5 finish at Hickory Motor Speedway where he finished in 3rd place while finishing 6th in points. Dale Jarrett would move to Isenhower Racing for next 5 full-time seasons in Xfinity Series where he was solid contender for championship where he finished inside top 5 in points for every full-time season then scored his 1st career win at Rougemont in 1986 then scored his 2nd win at Hickory Motor Speedway in 1987 which helped him move up to Cup Series.
Chapter 4
Tough Challenge to Find Place to Stay
Dale Jarrett would run remainder of 1987 Cup Series season for Freelander Motorsports 18 car where he scored 2 top 10 finishes while finishing 26th in points but struggled to find home in 1988 where he raced for multiple race teams with 1 top 10 finish during entire season and finished 23rd in Points then Cale Yarborough Racing would hire Dale Jarrett to drive the 29 car full-time for 1989 season where he scored 2 top 5's and 5 top 10's while finishing 24th in points. Following 1989 season he was lefted without for first 5 races of 1990 but would get fully signed by Wood Brothers Racing after Neil Bonnett's life threatening crash where he finished the 1990 season in 25th in points with 1 top 5 and 7 top 10's then scored his 1st career at Summer 1991 Michigan race where he finished 17th in Points with 1 win,3 top 5's,8 top 10's but was released from Wood Brothers Racing then ed new Joe Gibbs Racing team to drive 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet for next 3 seasons with breakout season in 1993 where he finished 4th in points while scoring 2 wins which included 1993 Daytona 500 but failed to exceed Joe Gibbs expectations which lefted his career facing uncertainty.
Chapter 5
Finally Home
Dale Jarrett would drive 28 Texaco Havoline Ford for 1995 season while Erine Irvan was recovering from his injuries sustained at Michigan in 1994 and Dale Jarrett would have decently good season where he managed 1 win,9 top 5's,14 top 10's and Finished 13th in points. Robert Yates Racing would expand to 2 car operation with Dale Jarrett driving 88 Quality Care Ford where he was championship contender from 1996-1999 where he finished inside top 5 in points during each season while capturing 1999 championship with 18 wins during that 4 year span.
Chapter 6
Rapid Decline
Dale Jarrett was unable to capture his 2nd championship but continued to compete at high level with 2 top 5 points finishes in 2000 and 2001 while scoring 6 wins during that span but then he would collapse by finishing inside top 10 in points for 1 of next 5 seasons while scoring his final 4 wins at Robert Yates Racing before leaving the team in 2006. Dale Jarrett would move to Michael Waltrip Racing to drive 44 UPS Toyota but basically his career was over with no success at MWR and after 5 races into 2008 season Dale Jarrett would announce his retirement at conclusion of 2008 Food City 500 after finishing 37th.
Chapter 7
Dale Jarrett would move into broadcasting for ESPN following his retirement where he currently sits today then 2014 Dale Jarrett would get inducted into Nascar Hall of Fame following his 24 year career in Nascar's highest level
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