Dale Earnhart, Inc. is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Originally formed in 1980, the team was owned by seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, before his death in a crash on the closing lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Despite his ownership of the racing team, he never raced for it in the Winston Cup; instead preferring to race for his long-time mentor and backer Richard Childress at RCR.