| Dale Arnold Jarrett (born November 26, 1956) is a former American Stock car driver retired from NASCAR. He is son of Ned Jarrett and younger brother of Glenn Jarrett. Jarretts first race was the Sovran Bank 500 at (Martinsville) in the #02 Chevy for Emanuel Zervakis. In 1999, Jarrett won the Winston Cup Championship, which is now called the Sprint Cup, and thus with his father, Ned Jarrett, became only the second father-son duo to win a championship. Jarrett has won the Daytona 500 three times, in 1993, 1996, and 2000. Jarrett never intended on following in his father's racing footsteps. Dale's father envisioned him becoming a professional golfer. In fact, Dale was offered a golf scholarship by the University of South Carolina, but he turned it down because he "didn't really care for schooling".
Early Career
Robert Yates Racing
In 1996 Jarrett joined Robert Yates Racing in the #88 Quality Care Ford Taraus. Jarrett got frist win in the first race of season at the Daytona500 after starting 7th. He had 3 more wins and 2 more poles, finishing 3rd in points, If that wasn't good enough, the next season he pulled of 7 wins and 20 top 5's finishing 2nd in points. In 1999, Jarrett set a true carrer accomplishment, winning his first carrer championship with 4 wins 24 top 5's and 29 top 10's. In 2001 a sponsorship cahnged to the UPS,
Move to Toyota
Dale Jarrett announced during the Dodge Charger 500 weekend that he will be leaving Robert Yates Racing at season's end to join Michael Waltrip Racing to drive for one of the new Toyota teams in 2007. On June 10,2007 the rumor was started that due to Jarrett's lack of performance, he could get let go to moved to another Toyota team, so far Jarrett has started 11 of 14 races with a best finish of 22nd. Jarrett will run only 5 races of the 2008 season, David Reutimann was his replacement.
Retirement
Jarrett announced on Speed Channel his contract with Michael Waltrip Racing would be up at the end of the 2008 Season, and he would retire, He planned on running six races: the Daytona 500, Auto Club 500, UAW-Dodge 400, Kobalt Tools 500, and his last race at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 16,2008. Honored before the race, he qualified and finished 37th.
Busch Series
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