← Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt — Career Arc
Performance trajectory across 23 Cup Series seasons.
23
Total Seasons
1986-1988
Prime Years
93
Peak Score
7
Championships
Career Phases
Rising (1978-1979)
Prime (1980-2000)
Season-by-Season
| Year | Races | Wins | Avg Finish | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 5 | 0 | 11.2 | 36 |
| 1979 | 27 | 1 | 10.7 | 61 |
| 1980 (C) | 31 | 5 | 8.2 | 89 |
| 1981 | 31 | 0 | 13.5 | 41 |
| 1982 | 30 | 1 | 18.8 | 38 |
| 1983 | 30 | 2 | 15.3 | 57 |
| 1984 | 30 | 2 | 9.6 | 72 |
| 1985 | 28 | 4 | 14.7 | 72 |
| 1986 (C) | 29 | 5 | 7.4 | 90 |
| 1987 (C) | 29 | 11 | 5.9 | 93 |
| 1988 | 29 | 3 | 8.8 | 86 |
| 1989 | 29 | 5 | 10.3 | 85 |
| 1990 (C) | 29 | 9 | 8.0 | 89 |
| 1991 (C) | 29 | 4 | 8.6 | 88 |
| 1992 | 29 | 1 | 14.9 | 45 |
| 1993 (C) | 30 | 6 | 8.2 | 89 |
| 1994 (C) | 31 | 4 | 8.0 | 89 |
| 1995 | 31 | 5 | 9.2 | 88 |
| 1996 | 31 | 2 | 10.7 | 72 |
| 1997 | 31 | 0 | 12.0 | 40 |
| 1998 | 33 | 1 | 16.1 | 36 |
| 1999 | 34 | 3 | 12.0 | 69 |
| 2000 | 26 | 2 | 6.3 | 82 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dale Earnhardt's prime?
Their statistical prime was 1986-1988 with an average performance score of 90/100.
How many seasons did Dale Earnhardt race in Cup?
Dale Earnhardt competed in 23 Cup Series seasons from 1978 to 2000.
What is a Prime Score?
A 0-100 composite metric combining wins, top-5 rate, top-10 rate, and average finish position. It measures a driver's overall performance in a given season relative to the field.