From 1980 to 2009, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) operated as a NASCAR-related organization in Mooresville, North Carolina, United States. The company was founded by Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001) and his wife, Teresa. Earnhardt was a seven-time Winston Cup champion. He died in a crash on the closing lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Despite his ownership of the DEI racing team, Earnhardt never drove for his team in the Winston Cup; instead he raced for his long-time mentor and backer Richard Childress at RCR. In 2009, DEI suffered critical financial difficulties when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. left and Anheuser-Busch and the United States Army subsequently withdrew their sponsorship. DEI merged with Chip Ganassi Racing to form Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. DEI continues to celebrate the life and legacy of Earnhardt through an annual celebration of his birthday, 29 April (Dale Earnhardt Day). DEI maintains a showroom where fans can purchase memorabilia and other goods and pursues partnerships which bring tribute to Earnhardt's memory. The DEI campus is open to visitors from Monday to Friday (in most weeks and on some weekends when there are races). Fans can also join the official "Dale Earnhardt fan club" (Club E), to garner insider information and 'behind the scenes' experiences.
Read more about Dale Earnhardt, Inc.: Championships, Earnhardt Technology Group, Club E, The Dale Earnhardt Foundation
Famous quotes containing the word dale:
“The only difference between a man and woman climbing the ladder of success is that a woman is expected to put it in the closet when she’s finished with it.”
—Barbara Dale (b. 1940)