HOT GALLERY: NASCAR Drivers Before They Started Tearing Up the Track

danica patrick yearbook high school young 1997 photo

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danica patrick yearbook high school young 1997 photo NASCAR 2011

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Danica Patrick, Driver of the #10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet

During her time at Hononegah Community High School in Rockton, IL, Danica Patrick was a cheerleader. The NASCAR it-girl finished 38th at the Daytona 500 this year after several crashes, but we know she'll come back strong.

bobby labonte yearbook high school young 1982 photo

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bobby labonte young high school yearbook photo 1982 NASCAR 2012

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Bobby Labonte, Driver of the #47 Kroger Toyota

This Corpus Christi, Texas native celebrated his 20th consecutive Daytona 500 start in 2012. He started participating in small races in Texas in 1969, and by 1991 he was a NASCAR champion.

jeff burton yearbook high school young 1985 photo

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Jeff Burton, Driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet

Seen here in his 1989 senior picture from Tri West Hendricks High School in Lizton, Indiana, Jeff Burton started his NASCAR career in 1988, and won his first race in 1990.

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Kyle Busch, Driver of the #18 M&Ms Toyota

Shown here during his sophomore year at Durango High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, Kyle Busch first raced with NASCAR in 2004. Busch came just inches from winning 2012's Daytona 500, but expects a strong season.

terry labonte yearbook high school young 1975 photo

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Terry Labonte, Driver of the #32 Chrome Ford

Brother of fellow NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte, Terry is now semi-retired from the sport.

Carl Edwards high school yearbook young photo Rock Bridge High School 1997 before famous

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Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Aflac Ford

This one was pretty easy if you know what Carl looks like now, since he mostly looks the same, just older (as do we all, except for Bon Jovi), and has traded in his tux for a racing suit. As of this writing, Edwards holds the number-one spot in The Chase, hoping to hold off Matt Kenseth in an attempt to take home the Sprint Cup this season. Edwards is known for doing a backflip when he wins a race; if he hangs on to win the Cup, who knows what sort of celebration he'll come up with?

Dale Earnhardt high school yearbook photo young mooresville senior high school 1990 before famous

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet

This one is much tougher—look at that little guy! So young! Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the son of the late, great Dale Earnhardt, who died in 2001. Strangely, Dale Jr. does not drive for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, but he did recently thank his dad for teaching him how to succeed at Talladega Superspeedway. (And yes, that's Talladega as in Talladega Nights.) Dale Jr. is currently ninth in the Sprint Cup standings.

jeff gordon high school yearbook photo young Tri West Hendricks High School 1989 before famous

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Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet

Again, you could probably guess that this was Jeff Gordon, if you can imagine him without the mullet and Magnum, P.I. mustache. (No worries, dude, lots of famous folks were "business in the front and party in the back" back in the day.) Gordon, now at the number-10 spot in the Sprint Cup standings, is in charge of the Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, which means he is driving for a good cause in a well-named car.

jimmie johnson high school yearbook photo young granite hills high school 1993 before famous

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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet

This one was more difficult, since Jimmie Johnson has grown some facial hair. Oh, and won the Sprint Cup Series in each of the past five years. The Lowe's Racing driver would love to make it a six-peat, but pundits say this is unlikely. Regardless of what happens this year, five in a row is pretty darn good, to put it mildly.

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Kasey Kahne, driver of the #4 Red Bull Toyota

Okay, does anyone else think that young Kasey Kahne looks like Eminem's really really nice little brother? With 896 points as of this writing, Kahne is waaay behind points leader Carl Edwards, and no amount of Red Bull drinking will make up that kind of deficit. (Red Bull sponsors Kahne's car. We have no idea if he drinks it or not.) Still, Kahne has done well for himself since being named NASCAR Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year in 2004.

kevin harvick high school yearbook photo young north high school 1994 before famous

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Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches Chevrolet

Kevin Harvick may have gotten older, but it appears that he managed to hold on to his serious facial expression. Harvick drives the Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches Chevrolet, which is quite a mouthful. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) At number 5 in the Sprint Cup standings, he has a chance to take the Cup this year.

kurt busch high school yearbook photo young durango high school 1996 before famous

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Kurt Busch, driver of the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge

If you recognized the young tuxedo'ed Kurt Busch, it was probably due to that winning smile. Busch, currently one spot behind five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, is unlikely to make up enough ground to win the Sprint Cup this year. Busch was the subject of some off-the-track drama in June when NASCAR super-reporter Jeff Gluck pointed out that Busch's marital woes had been kept quiet by members of the Nascar media—including Gluck himself.

ryan newman high school yearbook photo young laSalle high school 1994 before famous

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Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 U.S. Army Chevrolet

Both photos of Ryan Newman look like he could be an actor in a Disney movie—the goofy younger brother then, the calm and caring dad now. So check this out. The U.S. Army Chevrolet driver shares his name with Zeke and Luther actress Ryan Newman. Zeke and Luther is a show on... wait for it... DisneyXD. What are the odds? Maybe the male Newman should give the Mouse House a call once he hangs up his racing suit.

tony stewart high school yearbook photo young columbus north high school 1989 before famous

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Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet

You will be forgiven for not recognizing Tony Stewart from his before photo; we think he made the right choice by filling out his facial hair. (And losing the mullet. But like we said, no offense meant—it was the style at the time.) Stewart sits at number four in the Sprint Cup standings as of this writing, so he still has a shot to win. With just a few races left, the NASCAR megastar better get his motor running, so to speak.