Dale Earnhardt Jr., also known as Dale Jr., or commonly referred to by his nickname, Junior, is a former race car that competed in the Piston Cup Racing Series with the number 8. 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 2005. In the mid-2000s he competed for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which he owned.