Dale Earnhardt Jr., also known as Junior is a minor character in the 2006 Disney·Pixar animated film Cars. He is a former race car that competed in the Piston Cup Racing Series with the number 8.
Background[]
He started racing in the Piston Cup in the year 2000 and won the Piston Cup Rookie of the Year award that year. He also was awarded the title of The Piston Cup Most Popular Driver four times between 2000 and 2006. In the mid-2000s, he competed for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which he owned.
Official description[]
"Racing sensation, Dale Jr., has wasted no time gathering victories and creating a commanding track presence since winning Piston Cup Rookie of the Year honors in 2000. His drive and charisma have scored with fans too -- he's earned The Piston Cup Most Popular Driver award four years running! But when it's all said and done he's just a shy guy, who enjoys quiet time with his friends and family."[1]
Physical description[]
Dale is an Axxelo Fission, based in the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo (NASCAR). He is painted red with the number 8 painted in white on his doors and roof. He has the Dale Earnhardt Inc. logo on his hood, as well as his own tires' "Lightyear" lettering on his front wheel wells (unlike all other Piston Cup racers from the first film), and several Piston Cup sponsor stickers on his doors.
Personality and traits[]
Despite the large amount of attention that Earnhardt receives, he is actually shy and reserved, and enjoys spending quiet time with his friends and family. Dale speaks with kindness and respect, often expressing care for his fellow racing stars. He is also kind and caring.
He can be wise and gets concerned when McQueen gets lost, but after Lightning's return to the final race gives luck to The King.
Role in the film[]
Dale is first seen during the race at the Motor Speedway of the South, as one of the competitors.
He is later seen in an interview about Lightning McQueen reported missing, replying that hopefully nothing bad happened to McQueen, and again at the final race, wishing The King good luck.
At the epilogue, Dale is touring the racing museum with Lynda Weathers and The King, impressed with Doc Hudson's number of wins in a single season, and wonders where Doc went.
Dale is last seen next to Red watching Toy Car Story at the Radiator Springs Drive-In Theatre.
Video games[]
The World of Cars Online[]
He has returned in the 2009 video game The World of Cars Online. as a cameo unplayable character.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- According to Car Finder, Dale is an Axxelo Fission, which is identical to the NASCAR Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.
- Dale is based on, named after and voiced by the real life NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. He is also based on the paint scheme of the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo that Earnhardt, Jr. drove in his Sprint Cup debut from 1999 through the end of 2007 at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., though with the DEI (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) logos instead to prevent controversy over the product placement of alcohol in a G-rated film. In 2008, a year and a half after Cars came out, Earnhardt, Jr. moved to the #88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew/AMP Energy Chevrolet SS at Hendrick Motorsports.
- Junior's team is one of the few characters from Cars that didn't reappear in Cars 3. This is probably due to the copyright issues with the Dale Earnhardt licensing. It is also because of the retirement after the events of the first film.
- There was a planned Micro Drifter for Dale. but was never officially released.
- This is most likely due to copyright issues too.
- In the 15th December 2005 workprint of Cars, the Shifty Drug racer, Kevin Racingtire, was used as a stand in for Junior. This was done in case the filmmakers could not get Dale on the project and secure licensing for him and his company.[2]
- It's unknown what happened to him specifically, but his sponsor doesn't return either, meaning that the company pulled out from being a sponsor in the Piston Cup as well.
- The Budweiser logos were censored from the No. 8 to prevent alcoholic advertising to gain a "G" (General) rating.
References[]
- ↑ "Car Finder" (supplementary material on Blu-ray Disc release of Cars). 2007. Blu-ray Disc. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2007.
- ↑ Cars Rev'd Up DVD
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