Dale Jarrett

1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion

Born: November 26, 1956
Hometown: Hickory, NC
The File: Son of Ned Jarrett became one of the fastest rising stars in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Won 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup title, finished second in the final 1997 standings, trailing champion Jeff Gordon in the third-closest finish ever. Won seven races in 1997, nearly equaling his previous career total of eight. Finished third in the final 1996 and 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup standings and has had 20 wins over his last four full seasons (1996-2000). Career took off after joining Robert Yates' team in 1995. Winner of 1993, 1996, 2000 Daytona 500 and 1996 and 1999 Brickyard 400.

Dale Jarrett faced a decision coming out of high school.

Follow in the footsteps of his Hall of Fame father and pursue a career in NASCAR Winston Cup racing or try his hand at golf.

"At the time, I was a much better golfer than driver," Jarrett joked.

He is still a scratch golfer. But Jarrett has developed into a great driver - joining his father as one of two father-son combinations to win NASCAR Winston Cup titles.

But when Dale was facing his dilemma, father Ned, two-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion - was leaning toward a golf career for his son.

"Racing can be a hard life," said Ned, who, before becoming a NASCAR television commentator, served as the track promoter at the Hickory, North Carolina, track where Dale got his start.

Only one major trophy eluded the senior Jarrett during his career. "I always wanted to win the Daytona 500 and I never did," he said. But he vicariously achieved that victory in 1993 as he made the call on national television as Dale sped to the checkered flag in the first of his three Daytona 500 victories.

Jarrett is the only driver to win NASCAR's two richest races - the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis - in the same season. He also won NASCAR's longest race, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, that same year to establish himself as one of NASCAR's top drivers.