#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make his 500th start in a NASCAR-sanctioned points-paying event this weekend. Earnhardt will be making his 385th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start when he lines up Sunday at Watkins Glen International. He also has tallied 115 starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Earnhardt Jr., who will turn 36 on Oct. 10, has four more combined Cup and Nationwide victories than his father scored by his 36th birthday. With eight more scheduled Cup starts before he turns 36, Earnhardt Jr. already has 18 Cup wins and 23 Nationwide Series victories for a total of 41. Earnhardt Sr. scored 37 total wins (26 in the Cup Series and 11 in Nationwide) by his 36th birthday, which fell April 29, 1987 [Earnhardt Sr. has two Sprint Cup championships by his 36th birthday and would win another one in 1987].(HMS)(8-4-2010)
