5 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a third-generation driver in a family forever connected to the sport of stock-car racing, and while his innate ability behind the wheel comes from Earnhardt DNA, his competitive driving style and keen business sense are all his own. His flair for originality and common-sense charisma has helped propel him to one of the most popular figures in sports. Race fans have selected him six times as the winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award, joining Bill Elliott as the only drivers to win it six consecutive seasons since 1956. His appeal is not limited to race fans, as he has appeared numerously on Harris Interactive's annual polling of America's Top 10 Favorite Athletes, frequenting the list with such names as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, and Derek Jeter.

The 2009 season marks Earnhardt's 10th in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. Through 2008, the native of Kannapolis, N.C., has amassed more than $53 million in career winnings and 18 victories, including the 2004 Daytona 500. His 18 victories tie him for 36th on NASCAR's all-time race winners list. He also has six "non-points" or all-star wins, and eight pole positions. Earnhardt is the only third-generation NASCAR champion, achieved when he won the 1998 and 1999 Nationwide Series titles. He follows his legendary father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., a seven-time Cup champion and winner of 76 races. His grandfather, Ralph Earn- hardt, was the 1956 NASCAR Sportsman champion, and in 2007 was inducted posthumously into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame. Both his father and grandfather were selected among NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers of all time in 1999. The three Earn- hardts combine for 10 NASCAR championships.