I read on Nascar.com that Austin Dillon, Richard Childress’s grandson, is driving the black #3 car in some races, not NationWide or Sprint, but they are hoping he progresses to that level.
I find this upsetting, the Black RCR #3 car is Dale Sr’s car, he died racing it, and I really don’t want to see anyone driving it in any race, other than Dale Jr.
Dale Jr. has said in the past that maybe he would drive it on a Farewell Tour, or something of that nature. He has driven it a few times in memory of his Dad.
I have held RCR in high regard, for preserving the #3, and not having anyone drive it other than Dale Jr.
Maybe I am wrong, and I invite your comments, but this is the way I feel, Dale Sr. is a Legend, and I want to see him and the #3 stay that way.
The only way I want to see the #3, on the track is with Dale Jr. at the wheel.
Sorry if some find this offensive, or narrow minded, but this is my opinion, and this news has really upset me, and others I have talked with. The same can be said for DEI, and using the #8, they just don’t get it, and neither does RCR.
Forever Dale Sr. and the #3, no one should mess with this.
88 Thunder Rd.
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C2.0.3/334 Fri Jun 6 03:53:14 UTC 2008
16 Comments
Pawleys
Apr 04 2008 12:36
88mec20
I think of Dale at the start of every race. I still catch myself looking for his car, that was what I did at the track or on watching TV. Look for the 3. I’d start talking or watching another driver that was about to get sideways at Bristol and lose him. But most of the time I just watched him. I think Richard needs to do what he wants. This wont be a light decision by him for the reasons you stated.
88mec20
Mar 24 2008 13:27
#3
I believe that no matter what when a true fan sees that 3 on any track they think of him. Atleast I do, and I know people who have been fans for longer then me still think of him every race, and anytime they see a 3 on any track. I have mixed feelings about that as many do. I know it’s bittersweet for Richard Childress, but I think he needs to do whatever he feels is right. I know he’ll probably do what’s best for him, RCR, and the sport. After all he lost a driver and a friend.
29thebomb
Mar 20 2008 19:44
AYE
!!!
dDrunkmonkey
Mar 20 2008 17:57
We are all entitled
to out opinions. The way I see, anyone who drives that # will always be living in the shadow of Sr. Whether someone else drives it or not, it will be Sr’s #. Does it make what they are doing right, no. But thats life
lsmclain38
Mar 20 2008 17:18
An Earnhardt Fan
I have to say that the loyalty to Dale is commendable. And I am an Earnhardt fan. I have been for more than 10 years. But I am not one of the “zealots” that feel that anything that has to do with Dale should be retired. I commend Nascar and Richard Childress for not using the number so far. But I think that it is time for all of us to remember what we liked about Dale and stop focusing on the petty crap. I will remember Dale for the “pass in the grass” the 98 daytona win, and all the other memorable moments of his career. He was not defined by his car #, but his car # was defined by him. All those in favor of remember a Legend for all his accomplishments…say Aye!!!
rubbercatfish
Mar 20 2008 16:50
So, it would seem
That the 3# would actually belong to John Soares Jr.
rubbercatfish
Mar 20 2008 16:49
The #3
YEAR DRIVER RANK POINTS STARTS WINS TOP 5 TOP 10 WINNINGS
2001 Dale Earnhardt 57 132 1 0 0 0 $296,833
2000 Dale Earnhardt 2 4865 34 2 13 24 $3,701,390
1999 Dale Earnhardt 7 4492 34 3 7 21 $2,712,089
1998 Dale Earnhardt 8 3928 33 1 5 13 $2,611,100
1997 Dale Earnhardt 5 4216 32 0 7 16 $1,663,019
1996 Dale Earnhardt 4 4327 31 2 13 17 $2,285,926
1995 Dale Earnhardt 2 4580 31 5 19 23 $2,295,300
1994 Dale Earnhardt 1 4694 31 4 20 25 $1,465,890
1993 Dale Earnhardt 1 4526 30 6 17 21 $1,326,240
1992 Dale Earnhardt 12 3574 29 1 6 15 $838,385
1991 Dale Earnhardt 1 4287 29 4 14 21 $1,029,060
1990 Dale Earnhardt 1 4430 29 9 18 23 $1,307,830
1989 Dale Earnhardt 2 4164 29 5 14 19 $885,050
1988 Dale Earnhardt 3 4256 29 3 13 19 $739,175
1987 Dale Earnhardt 1 4696 29 11 21 24 $1,041,120
1986 Dale Earnhardt 1 4468 29 5 16 23 $868,100
1985 Dale Earnhardt 8 3561 28 4 10 16 $457,658
1984 Dale Earnhardt 4 4265 30 2 12 22 $509,805
1983 Ricky Rudd 9 3693 30 2 7 14 $235,565
1982 Ricky Rudd 9 3537 30 0 6 13 $182,075
1981 Dale Earnhardt 7 1370 11 0 2 6 $324,290
1981 Richard Childress 25 2144 20 0 1 1 $70,375
1980 Richard Childress 10 3742 31 0 0 10 $140,000
1979 Richard Childress 8 3735 31 0 1 11 $111,415
1978 Richard Childress 10 3566 30 0 1 12 $93,075
1977 Richard Childress 9 3463 30 0 0 11 $82,485
1976 Richard Childress 11 3428 30 0 0 11 $72,105
1975 Bobby Isaac 51 219 3 0 0 1 $6,695
1975 Charlie Glotzbach 116 60 1 0 0 0 $6,390
1975 John Soares Jr
rubbercatfish
Mar 20 2008 16:29
88Thunder
Hey, I get what your feeling,and I understand your thoughts. If thats how you feel, fine, its your right.
But look at it this way, that #3 car was driven by others before Sr drove it. If you really want to define Sr with a number, you should use the very first # he ever drove under, as that is where it all started. I mean the very first one- before he got famous. That way it tracks all of his racing career!
But from my stand point, if it applies to one, whay not all? DW drove the #11 and made it great as well as the #17. Should we take them from Hamlin and Kenseth?
Now, I’m not ragging you or devaluing your opinion. If its your opinion, then its as right a law as far as I am concerned.
But I just wanted to point out if numbers stuck with drivers, we’d see cars like ” Jeff Gordon’s #275 Dupont Chevrolet”, or “Kyle Busch’s #743 m&m’s Toyota”.
But as far as your sentimentallity , You go Girl!
Kit_Kat
Mar 20 2008 16:15
Remember, the number is just a way
to identify a person driving the car. It does not identify the driver. His name identifies him. Also, no one owns the numbers except for NASCAR. The car owners and drivers do not own the numbers. They can request a number, but no guarantee that they will get it.
Scott4345Fan
Mar 20 2008 15:35
A number is just that......A number.
I agree with the poster that said RCR owns the #3 and if they want to use it they have every right. When you get right down to it, if NASCAR started retiring numbers just because a certain driver drove them, theyd quickly run out of numbers. Lets see Richard Petty drove the 43 so we could retire it, also Bill Elliott drove the 9 so we could retire it, Harry Gant drove the 33 so it could be retired too…etc. See what I mean? If you start it with one team then pretty soon everybody’d have an excuse to retire a number. Lets not forget that a number is just that, a number.