Ralph L. Earnhardt

1949 began his Racing career on local dirt tracks where he was famous for keeping his cars in top condition every race. 1953 began Racing Full time as a Career. His legend began by building engines for local teens in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  He was the first car builder/driver to understand and use tire staggering.

1956 Won the NASCAR Sportsman National Championship winning 34 of the 76 races he entered.

1956 Made his NASCAR Grand National debut in Hickory, NC as a replacement driver for “Fireball” Roberts who had another GN race to attend   He won the Pole and led most of the race finishing 2^nd.

1957 Holman-Moody Racing Team offered him a sponsorship on the GN circuit.  Later that year he raced for the Lee Petty Engineering in 8 races.

1959 raced in the Limited Sportsman Division winning over 60 races and the Limited Sportsman Championship. Raced in Hickory, NC in 24 events winning 22 races. In 1960 he repeated as NASCAR’s Limited Sportsman Champion winning 50 races

1961 Was a relief driver in the Daytona 500 for “Cotton” Owens finishing in 5^th place.  For the remainder of 1961 he raced for the “Cotton” Owens Team. At the Atlanta 500 finished 3^rd, at the Darlington Rebel 400 he finished 8^th and at the Charlotte World 600 he finished 11^th. He finished 17^th in the Grand National Championship Points Total

1962-1967 Raced in 33 Grand National events and was the SC State Champion 4 times. From 1969-1973 he Won 4 GASCAR Championships.

1989 Inducted into National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, 1997 Motorsports Hall of Fame, 2004 Daytona Beach Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame, and the 2007 National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.

1998 Was voted as one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers”.