THE DON HUNTER COLLECTION

KIDDIN' AROUND

The year is 1981 and the place is Rockingham, and Dale Earnhardt (left) is not about to let Tim Richmond have his photo taken very easily.

Although Earnhardt was the defending Winston Cup champion, 1981 was a tumultuous season for the third-year driver. Owner Rod Osterlund unexpectedly sold Earnhardt's team in June, leaving him to drive four races for new owner J.D. Stacy. When that relationship didn't work out, Earnhardt landing with an independent team owner who'd been driving his own cars for years.

Richard Childress.

Earnhardt finished out the year with Childress before moving to Bud Moore's outfit in 1982 and 1983. In 1984, he rejoined Childress ... and it's no small thing to say that the rest is history.

Richmond, on the other hand, was in the midst of his first full season in NASCAR. He recorded seven finishes in the bottom half of the top 10 while driving for four different teams. He won his first two Winston Cup races the following season, ironically enough, while driving for Stacy.