Small-Town Boy Makes It Big
The Key Is Turned
It all started when early racing legend, Ralph Earnhardt, and his then-teenage son, Dale Earnhardt, visited a Chevrolet dealership, in Kannapolis, NC, in search of a suitable race engine. The elder Earnhardt decided that the newly introduced Z/28 302 small-block would work perfectly as the foundation of a potent late-model sportsman power plant. Young Dale, impressed with the fact you could buy a virtually race-ready engine over the parts counter, from any Chevrolet dealer, was immediately smitten with a case of bowtie fever. Dale knew then that he would one day have a dealership of his own and offer the same things to his customers.
A Meteoric Rise
As years went by, Ralph’s boy, as Dale was known at the time, took up the family business of racing and started to make a name for himself. As he clawed his way through the late model stock ranks on local short tracks, he was carrying on the Earnhardt legacy left to him with Ralph’s passing in 1974. Dale displayed an ability and ferocity on the track that gained him national notoriety. It didn’t take long before Dale was elevated into the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, relying on Chevrolet power throughout the bulk of his meteoric journey.
Once Dale made it into the top tier, Winston Cup Series it didn’t take long for him to start making waves there. In his first year he clinched a victory, Rookie of the Year honors and was well on his way to becoming a household name. Through the 1980’s he claimed two Winston Cup championships (1980 & 1986), both behind the wheel of a Chevrolet.
A Win Win
With his successes in the Chevrolet it didn’t take much for Chevrolet to realize that they needed his name on one of their dealerships and it just so happened that there was a Chevy dealership for sale just up the road from Dale Earnhardt Inc., based out of Mooresville, NC.
Enterprise Chevrolet, as it was known at the time, was located in Newton, NC. This struggling dealership had changed owners numerous time throughout the years and had never had the success it needed so it was ripe for takeover. Chevrolet approached Dale with the idea of him having his own dealership, unbeknownst to them that it had always been a dream of his to have his own. So, on July 16, 1987, Dale took his relationship with Chevrolet to another level by clinching his third championship and becoming the nation’s newest Chevrolet dealer by opening Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet in Newton, NC. This fulfilled a long-standing desire of his to become a Chevrolet dealer.
Dale Earnhardt went on to win four more NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships and become a legend in motorsport racing. Dale Earnhardt achieved his American Dream of being a successful driver and Chevrolet dealership owner.
Continuing His Legend
Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet still operates in Newton, NC with a strong focus on the blue collar, small town values that gave Dale Earnhardt his charm. They have a strong belief in treating every customer with integrity and honesty because they have a very large name to live up to! They support the American Dream of individuals and businesses by helping them get just the right vehicle they need without high pressure sales tactics or misleading information. They also service these vehicles with quality mechanical and body work that is affordable.
Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet is the perfect example of a small-town boy achieving the American Dream and gives hope to all others that will hard work, talent, and perseverance are all that is needed to achieve their American Dream.
