The Evolution of the Stock Car (1986-1989)

Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR's darling youngster in the early 1980s, rebounded during the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup season from a few sluggish years after his electrifying championship as a sophomore in 1980. Earnhardt's Wrangler Jeans machine ran up front every week. Along the way, Earnhardt ruffled a few feathers, crumpled some sheet metal, shoved rivals out of the way, and acquired the nickname "The Intimidator." Earnhardt's thrilling driving style made the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup season a joy to watch. Following an announcement in late 1985, NASCAR changed the names of its premier stock car racing series and its second-ranked division. "Grand National" had been dropped from the Winston Cup Series and shifted to the old Late Model Sportsman div...

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