Earnhardt to become Bristol millionaire
The Earnhardt Connection
Bristol, Tennessee (August 20, 1998)

Dale Earnhardt will add Bristol to his list of tracks in which he has winnings of over $1 million at.

Dale Earnhardt holds the all-time American motorsports career winnings record with $33,243,093.  This week at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Winston Cup Goody's 500, he is set to to become a Bristol millionaire, going over the $1 million mark in winnings at the half-mile oval.

When Earnhardt takes the green flag Saturday night his current earnings of $989,136 at the track will surpass the $1 million mark.  Earnhardt ran his first race at Bristol in 1979, and took home $19,800 in winnings that day.

It will be the eighth track where Earnhardt has surpassed the million-dollar mark.

Earnhardt has won eight times at Bristol. The seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion won his first two NASCAR Winston Cup races that he competed in at Bristol.   His first victory came in 1979 in the Southeastern 500, followed by his next race in the spring of 1980.  Earnhardt missed the summer race in 1979 due to injuries while David Pearson filled in as a relief driver.

Earnhardt's GM Goodwrench Service Plus team has moved into eighth place in the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings.  They have moved from 13th position to eighth in the last seven weeks, and are currently 92 points out of seventh.

The Earnhardt name is synonymous with being on the top on the point standings, and this year it is no different.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leading the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division point chase, and listed at the top of the car owners points is Dale Earnhardt.

"We've struggled recently at Bristol," Earnhardt said. "And that's because of our qualifying efforts. We've been pitting on the backstretch, and it's a disadvantage when you're back there. Our first priority is to get in a good qualifying run, then we can worry about the race.

"It's incredible to be in the middle of 100,000 people as they are looking down on you. The race track has changed over the years, but the thrill of racing at Bristol is still the same. They've done some major renovations, and I think it's great for the race fans."

"We've moved from 13th to eighth in the points," said Richard Childress, owner of Earnhardt's No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet. "We just have to go for the next one in line in the points. There is a third of the season left, and we plan on a strong showing the remainder of the season. A lot has to happen for us to claim the championship, so we're shooting for a top-five in points and take it from there."