August 6, 1999 Earnhadt to make it 600 at the Glen

EARNHARDT TO MAKE IT 600 AT THE GLEN
August 6, 1999 - Watkins Glen, NY

Dale Earnhardt, seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion, is scheduled to make history at Watkins Glen on August 15th when he is scheduled to make his 600th consecutive career start. Earnhardt will attempt to qualify for Sunday's Frontier @ The Glen on Kendall Qualifying Day, Friday, August 13th.

"It's amazing how time flies," said Earnhardt. "600 consecutive starts is a lot of years of races without missing the show. This goes back to 1979 and there were one or two of those races that I probably shouldn't have started. The one at Watkins Glen when I was all broken up from the wreck at Talladega was probably one of those. But I was determined not to let that keep me down and we came to Watkins Glen and sat on the pole. It hurt, but it felt so good I didn't notice until Monday morning after the race."

In 1996, Earnhardt demonstrated tremendous physical and mental toughness. Despite suffering a broken collarbone and sternum in a horrifying flip at Talladega two weeks earlier, Earnhardt won the pole at Watkins Glen and set a NASCAR Winston Cup track record of 73.054 seconds at 120.733 mph. His record still stands today. With David Green ready to relief-drive at the first pit stop, Earnhardt decided he felt good enough to race. Dale proceeded to lead the most laps in the 1996 Bud at The Glen, but faded late in the race to finish sixth.

Geoffrey Bodine, a native of Chemung, New York, was the eventual winner in a race overshadowed by Earnhardt's gutsy performance.

Earnhardt, current record holder for qualifying at the 2.45 mile road course, has taken the Pole three times at Watkins Glen. In his 600 consecutive career starts, none was more thrilling than the 1996 Bud at The Glen.

As Earnhardt prepares to make his 600th consecutive career start at Watkins Glen, NASCAR Winston Cup fans will be watching to see if he can finally claim the Reisbeck Cup by winning this year's Frontier @ The Glen.

"Watkins Glen has its own history in motorsports and we've made some there by winning the pole a couple of times, but have never made it to victory lane," said Earnhardt. "It would be a great way to celebrate 600 consecutive starts, by making it to winner's circle." Watch Earnhardt try for his 600th consecutive career start August 12-15 at Watkins Glen.

The Frontier @ The Glen NASCAR Winston Cup Series race is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, August 15.

Tickets are still available. For ticket, camping, or additional information contact the Watkins Glen ticket office at 607-535-2481 or log on to the official Watkins Glen web site at www.theglen.com .

GMGoodwrench #3 Monte Carlo

NASCAR
Winston Cup Series

Earnhardt fans, check out That's Racin's new wallpapers

The Life and Times of the "Intimidator"

We are a Link Partner with:

Blk3GM's Dale Earnhardt Site was born on July 26, 1998 and is owned and maintained by Gary Harris. This site is a tribute to "NASCAR's Greatest Driver" and his up and coming son. We are not affiliated with any official Team, Sponsors, Media Group or NASCAR. This site is solely for entertainment purposes. Information and statistic's on this site have been collected from various NASCAR related sites on the internet, from Winston Cup Scene, Newspapers, Television and our personal experience at Winston Cup and Busch Grand National races. All statistics are believed to be accurate at the time they are updated but cannot be guaranteed.