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Here’s Hoping To The #3 Returning

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by Matt Mercer, Special To Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I'm the guy behind The Catfish Show NASCAR Blog, which you can access through the links on the right.

September 5, 2008 9:30 pm CDT 3 Comments

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It’s time.

It’s time for the #3 to come back to the track, week in and week out.

It’s time that fans move on and embrace the next generation of drivers to identify with.

It’s time to see Austin Dillon full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series piloting the #3 Chevrolet.

Oh, I can hear groaning already. I’m ready for it. Fact of the matter is, groan all you want, the weird sort of reverence for Dale Earnhardt isn’t helping NASCAR move on. Nearly everyone else has made peace and moved on. We’ll never forget what Dale Earnhardt meant, but that doesn’t mean we need to be reminded every five minutes that Earnhardt did this and Earnhardt did that. We know what he did in much the same way we know what Richard Petty did, what David Pearson did, what Darrell Waltrip did, what Cale Yarborough did, and so on. I was a big Davey Allison fan growing up and I’m glad the #28 still competes. I wouldn’t like a constant reminder of what happened. The seasons in which Yates ran the #38 and #88 were just… strange. After this many years, it’s time to see the #3 competing again. Honestly, isn’t that something Dale Earnhardt himself would want?

Austin Dillon is a rising star in racing. He’s up there in the East Series points this season and continues getting seat time in late models and an occasional ARCA start. I believe the story goes that he asked his grandfather (Richard Childress, if you didn’t already know) if he could run the number. Childress was cool to the idea at first, worrying about the reaction – but relented when he said he was running it to honor him. Childress made hundreds of starts with the #3 before hooking up with Earnhardt. From most reactions I’ve seen, the results have been positive. I imagine it’ll be a different story if/when Dillon runs the #3 in one of the higher divisions. He’ll drive the #21 at Richmond this weekend, but his full-time car could very well be the #3. I’m hoping it is. Dillon may be able to get away with running the number because of the special circumstance, which is unfortunate. Let other guys build a brand with a number. It’s seemingly blasphemous to not support never running the #3 in NASCAR. I want to break that ceiling because the sport needs to revere history, not live in the past.

Photo credit: Team Dillon Racing

Filed under: ARCA Remax Series, Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing 

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Comments

3 Responses to “Here’s Hoping To The #3 Returning”

  1. User Avatar Charlie Turner on September 6th, 2008 3:59 pm

    I agree with you Matt. It is time.

    But there will be a price paid by Austin, if he is the driver to resurect that number, and Richard Childress too. Many Earnhardt fanatics will hate it. They will be vocal. The kid will be taking on that kind of pressure along with the normal heat that young drivers must endure.

    But if he’s good enough, it would be a hell of a story.

  2. User Avatar Chris Leone on September 6th, 2008 7:10 pm

    If the No. 43 was only retired for one year after Richard Petty retired, then the No. 3 is long overdue for a return. I agree completely.

    I have a major issue with Earnhardt Nation in regards to this. I’m sorry, but Dale Earnhardt was not a god, and he wasn’t the best driver in NASCAR history. He wasn’t the only guy to use the No. 3 either - so too did Buck Baker, Buddy Baker, Bobby Isaac, Junior Johnson, Hershel McGriff, Cotton Owens, Marvin Panch, David Pearson, Fireball Roberts, Ricky Rudd, Cale Yarborough, and LeeRoy Yarbrough.

    Of that list, every driver was voted one of NASCAR’s top 50 drivers of all-time when the list came out in 1998. Not counting Earnhardt, 24% of NASCAR’s top 50 drivers have used the No. 3.

    And Earnhardt fans say we’re not respecting history and legacy. HYPOCRITES!

  3. User Avatar Steve Wronkowicz on September 10th, 2008 9:00 am

    Lets remember that car numbers are owned by NASCAR and leased to teams on a yearly basis. Therefore the number does not belong to a driver and that is why there are NO numbers retired by NASCAR. The number 3 is Richard Childress’ to do with as he pleases. If running Austin in that number is what he and Austin want to do–then so be it. Its not like they’re giving the number to Kyle Busch or somebody.

    I believe true reverence will be given by RCR and his grandson. Go for it.

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