Dale Earnhardt's iconic #3 with which he drove until his tragic death in the 2001 Daytona 500
You've heard it right. The iconic #3 will return to the NASCAR Cup Series circuit for the first time since Dale Earnhardt was killed in the 2001 Daytona 500. Richard Childress Racing will return to the #3 with driver Austin Dillon, Richard Childress' grandson who has used the #3 in every racing series he has participated in, including the Camping World Truck Series, where he won the 2011 Championship, and the Nationwide Series, where he just recently captured the 2013 title. Dillon will drive the #3 DOW Chemicals/Cheerios Chevy SS in 2014 (Schemes shown below).
Dillon's #3 Cheerios and DOW Chemicals schemes were officially unveiled earlier today
At the moment of the announcement, social media exploded with some people in favor of the iconic #3 returning, but a majority of fans were appalled that Richard Childress would bring back the #3, claiming it to be Dale's and ONLY Dale's number.
I AM one of the #3 supporters. I think it's great that the #3 is finally returning. Austin has been running it for years and proved that he deserves to be behind the wheel of that famous number. Does he have big shoes to fill after seven-time champion Earnhardt? Absolutely. He has shown he can drive in Trucks and Nationwide, but in order to show these fans that he can drive the #3 in Cup, he absolutely needs to have a great rookie year in 2014.
What I don't get about the fans who oppose the thought of Dillon driving the 3 is that they say it's only because Childress wants to have a good ride for his grandson. Umm....Dale Earnhardt does not own the number. Team owner Richard Childress does, and he's been waiting for a driver to step back in the #3, whether it be Dale Earnhardt Jr, if he ever signed with RCR, or one of Childress' grandsons, Austin or Ty.
Another argument I don't get is that "Oh, Childress said he'd never run the #3 ever again." That statement is 100% INACCURATE. After looking up the interview with Childress after Earnhardt's death, he said that he would never run A GM-GOODWRENCH SCHEME like the one Earnhardt ran. So for those of you who are wishing to see a throwback scheme at Daytona, think again.
Then there are the people who say that Austin Dillon was never close to the Earnhardt family so why should we take over for the #3 car. WRONG. In this picture below of when Dale won the 1998 Daytona 500, the two young boys on his right or actually Ty Dillon (Far left) and young Austin (Left next to Dale). Earnhardt was a part of the Richard Childress Racing family as much as the Dillon's were to the Earnhardt's. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr said it himself that he approves of Austin running the #3, and that's coming from Earnhardt's son. If he can allow and even support RCR putting Austin in the #3, why can't us fans do the same?
Dale Earnhardt in victory lane after winning the 1998 Daytona 500. Standing next to him on the left of the picture are young Ty Dillon and Austin Dillon (left to right, respectively)
Why are we putting so much hatred into a driver that, yes, comes from a rich racing family, like most young drivers are nowadays, but has so much talent behind the wheel. A lot of the fans that do not support this decision are either 1.) Dale Earnhardt fans who unfortunately will not get over his death even though it's been almost 13 years, and 2.) Austin Dillon haters because of the car # he has been driving. I feel for the Earnhardt fans. I do. It's horrible when a driver dies, especially in a community as close as the NASCAR community. I felt that when we lost Jason Leffler exactly six months ago. It casts a shadow over the sport and for a driver as legendary and iconic as Earnhardt, it casts a huge shadow, but in a family as close as the Earnhardt-Childress family, it's important to see where Austin comes from.
I wish Austin the best and his entire #3 DOW/Cheerios team as they compete for the championship and rookie of the year honors. After the feats that Austin has accomplished, I believe Dale is up there smiling down on this young man, especially after today.
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