Earnhardt News
2000 Season

GM Goodwrench Service Plus team staying focused
Champion Sports Group

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 3, 2000)
"We had a good run at Martinsville," remarked Kevin Hamlin. "We didn't abuse our car and the GM Parts under the hood did their job. We've been close to winning these races. One of our goals was to turn the top-10's into top-fives and we're starting to do that on a more consistent basis."....The GM Goodwrench Service Plus team has posted one win, 11 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes in the 27 NASCAR Winston Cup events already run on the 34 race schedule, including four top-five finishes in the last six events. The Earnhardt driven team has finished outside of the top-10 only four times since leaving Charlotte on Memorial Day weekend in May.

After starting from the 15th position in May, Earnhardt and the GM Goodwrench Service Plus team finished the 600 mile marathon at Charlotte in third position. The No. 3 Monte Carlo lead the field for 23 laps, while taking home $103,250 in winnings. 

The GM Goodwrench Service Plus team is currently 213 points behind leader Bobby Labonte. With six events remaining on the schedule they must gain 35.5 points on the leader in each of the remaining events. 

Charlotte's fall event has played a big part in Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress' Championship chases over the years. One of the biggest impacts came in 1989 as Earnhardt was leading the point's battle by 75 points over Rusty Wallace entering the CMS event. On lap 13 Earnhardt's machine broke a camshaft ending their day with a 42nd place finish. Wallace took advantage when the opportunity came by, finishing eighth and taking a 35 point lead over Earnhardt leaving Charlotte. 

Kerry Earnhardt, the oldest son of Dale Earnhardt, will attempt to qualify for the UAW-GM 500 this week. Kerry will be driving the No. 71 Realtree Chevrolet owned by NASCAR legend Dave Marcis. The eldest Earnhardt made his NASCAR Winston Cup debut this past summer at Michigan International Speedway marking the first time in NASCAR's "Modern Era" that a father has raced with his two sons (Dale Jr. & Kerry) in a NASCAR Winston Cup event.

QUOTES
"We're doing everything we can do," stated Dale Earnhardt. "We have to keep focused on our program and gain points every race. Charlotte is next on the list and we'll take it one race at a time. There is a good battle for second and third. We haven't forgotten about those two. I'm sure they'll be there every race like we will."

"The guys have been doing a tremendous job in the pits," commented Earnhardt. "Last week was good example of that. Martinsville has close quarters for pit boxes and those guys didn't flinch a bit. They put our Monte Carlo back on the track without incident every time. They want to win as bad as I do, it's a team effort and we're all focused."

"I'm very proud of this GM Goodwrench Service Plus team," remarked Richard Childress. "All season they've pulled together and have never given up. No matter where we finish or what the outcome is. I'm proud to have them on my team."

"Kerry didn't get to race much in Michigan," stated Dale Earnhardt "Dave Marcis and I want Kerry to get a chance to race at this level. He's shown patience in the ARCA series and has a chance to show what he's got in Winston Cup. He needs to cut a good lap in qualifying. If he does that, I look forward to seeing him Sunday."

Dale Earnhardt's Charlotte Record Book
First race: 1975 World 600 Started 33rd Finished 22nd
Wins: five in 47 attempts
Monies won: $1,876,133
Worst Start/Best Finish: 1995 started 43rd finished 2nd to Mark Martin
Last Victory: 1993 Coca-Cola 600

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