Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (born October 10, 1974), is a professional American stock-car driver who drives the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet Impala SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series for Hendrick Motorsports, and drives in the Nationwide Series part-time for the #5 car for his own team, JR Motorsports. He is the son of the late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, Sr.. He is also the grandson of the late NASCAR driver Ralph Earnhardt, the brother of former driver Kerry Earnhardt, the uncle of driver Jeffrey Earnhardt, the stepson of DEI team owner Teresa Earnhardt and the nephew of driver Morgan Shepherd. Earnhardt started the season by winning the 2008 Budweiser Shootout, a non-points paying exhibition. It was his first race for Hendrick. He led for a total of 47 of 70 laps, a Budweiser Shootout record. He followed that up five days later with a win in the Gatorade Duel. This was his third career win in the duels, however he was unable to follow it up with victory in the Daytona 500, finishing 9th. Ryan Newman was the winner of the event.