Photos: Dale Earnhardt Jr. through the years
Retired NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife, Amy, and their year-old daughter, Isla Rose, survived a plane crash in Tennessee. See some highlights of the famed racer's driving career.
NASCAR Daytona Xfinity Auto Racing
Tyler Reddick, left, is congratulated by team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., right, in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
NASCAR Daytona Earnhardt Auto Racing
NASCAR auto racing fans walk by a billboard advertising Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his new role as a broadcast personality at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, July 6, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
NASCAR Bristol Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr., right, signs an autograph for a fan before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
NAASCAR Richmond Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr., left, looks at his daughter, Isla, and his wife Amy on pit row prior to an Xfinity Series NASCAR auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
NASCAR Richmond Xfinity Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives into Turn 1 during the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
BUILD Speaker Series: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Professional race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. participates in the BUILD Speaker Series to discuss his book "Racing to the Finish: My Story" at AOL Studios on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Bengals Chiefs Football
Dale Earnhardt Jr. jokes with staff members before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
NASCAR Xfinity Auto Racing
Tyler Reddick, right, poses with Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports, left, after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship auto race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
NASCAR Awards Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks during the NASCAR auto racing awards ceremony Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
NASCAR Daytona Xfinity Auto Racing
Team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., front left, celebrate with NASCAR Xfinity series auto race winner Michael Annett, center front, at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr. poses with Sarah Fisher before driving the pace car to start the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Earnhardt Plane Crash Auto Racing
FILE - In this Friday, July 6, 2018 file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr. goes through an interview during NASCAR auto racing pre-race activities at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR television analyst and former driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. was taken to a hospital after his plane crashed in east Tennessee. (AP Photo/Mark Long, File)
NASCAR Talladega Auto Race
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks on before a NASCAR Talladega auto race driver introductions at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
NASCAR Talladega Auto Race
Dale Earnhardt Jr. goes into pit row during a NASCAR Talladega auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Albert Cesare)
NASCAR Kansas Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr., left, and Ryan Newman, right, visit before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Goody's Dale Earnhardt Jr Event_
Goody's® Powder partnered with NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to surprise Charlotte firefighter and fan Kim Homme with a Goody's® Fast Relief Pit Stop experience and a new set of Goodyear tires. Homme will also attend Earnhardt's final NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Jason E. Miczek/AP Photo for Goody's® Powder)
NASCAR Texas Earnhardt Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) drives during a practice session for a NASCAR Cup series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Larry Papke)
NASCAR Texas Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr. reaches to fans during driver intros before the NASCAR Series Cup auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
NASCAR Phoenix Auto Racing
A Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan holds up a flag with the driver number on it prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
NASCAR Phoenix Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) drives into the first turn during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
NASCAR Homestead Auto Racing
Dale Earnhardt Jr. shares a laugh with a crew member after practice for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017.(AP Photo/Terry Renna)
NASCAR Earnhardt Kentucky Derby
FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2017, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr., left, looks on as Eddie Gossage, president and CEO of Texas Motor Speedway, not shown, sits atop a horse during a presentation in the media center before a NASCAR Cup series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will work his first Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, 2019, as part of his expanding role with NBC Sports. The retired NASCAR superstar is also slated to cover his first Indianapolis 500 later this month. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Steve O'Donnell will succeed Jim France to become the first NASCAR head from outside the France family in its 78 years. France will remain as NASCAR chairman.
Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion considered one of the best drivers of all time, died Thursday after a bout with a severe illness. He was 41.