axissmog.pages.dev

Dodge earnhardt biography

    •

Tex Earnhardt, colorful founder of car dealership empire, dies at 89

Tex Earnhardt didn’t just wear a cowboy hat and boots as props to sell cars. He lived the Old West lifestyle and adopted a philosophy as no nonsense as his slogan: “That ain’t no bull.” 

The Chandler-based auto magnate lived on a working ranch, took outdoor showers before dawn every day and built one of the largest family businesses in the Southwest. 

His death at age 89 was announced Sunday on the company website, earnhardt.com. 

Earnhardt was just under 21 when he opened his first Ford dealership on Arizona Avenue south of Boston Street in September 1951, and he remained active in the business into his 80s. 

Hal "Tex" Earnhardt Jr. was born in December 1930 and came to Chandler with his family in the late 1940s from the south Texas town of Harlingen. He dropped out of school in the 10th grade, became a rodeo rider, and worked at the family's gas station before borrowing money from his dad to open a small Ford dealership in downtown Chandler. 

Need a break?Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Earn

    •

Dale Earnhardt

American racing driver (1951–2001)

This article is about Dale Earnhardt Sr. For his son, see Dale Earnhardt Jr. For the racing team he founded, see Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

"The Intimidator" redirects here. For other uses, see Intimidator (disambiguation).

NASCAR driver

Dale Earnhardt

Earnhardt at Phoenix International Raceway before the start of the 1997 Dura Lube 500

BornRalph Dale Earnhardt[1]
(1951-04-29)April 29, 1951
Kannapolis, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedFebruary 18, 2001(2001-02-18) (aged 49)
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.[2]
Cause of deathBasilar skull fracture sustained from 2001 Daytona 500 crash
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Achievements
  • 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 Winston Cup SeriesChampion
  • Tied with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson for most NASCAR Cup Series Championships (7)
  • 1990, 1995, 1999, 2000IROC Champion
  • 1998 Daytona 500 winner as driver
  • 2001 Daytona 500 winner as owner[a]
  • 1995 Brickyard 400
      •

    Tex Earnhardt

    American entrepreneur (1930–2020)

    Tex Hal Earnhardt (December 9, 1930 – April 19, 2020) was an American entrepreneur born in Southern Texas.[1][2] He was the founder and CEO of Earnhardt Auto Centers, an automotive dealership company based in Chandler, Arizona. [3][4]

    Early life and education

    Earnhardt grew up around the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. He moved with his family to Chandler in the late 1940s.[5][6] Earnhardt dropped out of school in the 10th grade. [7]

    Personal life

    Earnhardt has a daughter, Debra Earnhardt, and two sons, Hal and Jim Babe Earnhardt.[8][9]

    Career

    After dropping out of school, Earnhardt learned team roping and horseback riding and became a rodeo cowboy.[1][2] After that, started working at his father’s gas station and sold auto parts.[10]

    Earnhardt Auto Centers

    Earnhardt set up Earnhardt Auto Centers in 1951 and the company has grown from 1 to 24 dealerships, representing 18

Copyright ©axissmog.pages.dev 2025