The latest edition of Rolling Stone Magazine hits the streets Friday, April 21 with a major feature story focusing on Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The story, which covers seven pages, chronicles Earnhardt's climb to the Winston Cup series and examines his love of music, his life away from the race track and growing up as the son of seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt.
Entitled "Kurt is my Co-Pilot" (a reference to the late Kurt Cobain of the influential band Nirvana) and sub-titled "The Rise of Dale Earnhardt Jr., The Rock and Roll NASCAR Whiz Kid," the story was written by Touré, Rolling Stone contributing editor. Touré spent nearly a week with Earnhardt Jr. at his home near Charlotte, NC and at the Winston Cup event in Las Vegas, NV where Earnhardt Jr. qualified third and finished tenth in the rain-shortened race.
"Junior was the coolest, most professional subject I've met in a long time," said Touré. "From the first time we met he just invited me into his life and let me see everything. He's a great kid and a great storyteller.
"Some profiles are work and some are fun. Hanging out with Junior for a week isn't really something you can call work. The boy enjoys life and is determined to enjoy himself no matter what!"
The 25-year-old Earnhardt Jr. is a two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion and grabbed his first Winston Cup victory in only his 12th start, the quickest victory among all active Cup drivers.
Photography of Earnhardt Jr. was completed by New York fashion photographer Guy Aroch at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC and at the Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) shops in Mooresville, NC. Race action photos were taken by motorsports photographer Harold Hinson.
--------Rolling Stone Magazine------------
Issue: Issue 840
Cover Date: May 11, 2000
Street Date: April 21, 2000
Cover Photo: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Theme of Issue 840: Cars & Girls & Rock & Roll
Earnhardt Jr. Feature
Written by: Touré
Photos by: Guy Aroch
Harold Hinson
Courtesy Budweiser Racing |
