‘The Intimidator’ holds off friend, rival Mark Martin at Sonoma in 1995
It was at Sonoma Raceway where NASCAR Hall of Famer and legend of the sport Dale Earnhardt earned his first and only road course win. “The Intimidator” started the 1995 Save Mart Supermarkets 300 fourth in the field and only saw the lead on two laps — but they were the only laps that mattered to Earnhardt.
It was in Turn 6 that “The Intimidator” got around the inside of close friend and rival Mark Martin to snag the lead from the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing driver who had led 66 laps of the 74 lap-race.
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In Earnhardt’s 27-year-long Sprint Cup Series career, his 1995 Sonoma win stands as his one and only road course win. The No. 3 driver’s victory at the California track put Earnhardt in the lead of the championship standings, which gave him popularity at Sonoma.
Earnhardt’s son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. still seeks a road course win. In 15 starts at Sonoma, Junior’s best finish came last season when he finished third, just behind winner Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon in second.
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Recap Earnhardt’s 1995 Sonoma win and celebration below.