It’s kind of spooky. Cool, yes… But spooky.
The #3 is back in the top series of NASCAR. It’s been on the Camping World Series trucks and the next level Nationwide Series. It won a Nationwide Championship last year in 2013. Now, that driver that won with it has brought it into the Sprint Cup. His grandfather is the owner. The kid grew up surrounded by it.
Austin Dillon and Richard Childress Racing. RCR owns the number and had kept it off the tracks for several years after Dale Earnhardt drove it to 7 championships and, finally, to his death at the Daytona 500 in 2001.
The return through the ranks and finally back in the top tier over the past few years has, perhaps, eased some feelings about seeing that number back on the track.
It is still a bit… spooky. Perhaps not so much that the #3 is back in Sprint Cup. However, Austin Dillon is a “rookie” in this series. He may have a championship to carry over and there is no doubt he has the talent no matter what number is on the car but he is still a “rookie” for the Sprint Cup.
This is not unprecedented. A rookie has put their car in the starting spot before. Danica Patrick did it just last year. Jimmie Johnson did it. A rookie won the “500” in recent years with Trevor Bayne in the Wood Brothers #21 in 2011.
But it’s still spooky.
Dale Earnhardt was killed at the Daytona 500. It was one of the saddest and most tragic moments in racing history. It cast a shroud of uncertainty on the 2001 season but also launched what could be seen as the largest reboot in driver safety.
Now, the first time that the #3 is back in the “Cup” series and at Daytona, it is been taken to the number one spot in qualifying. Austin Dillon will drive the #3 on the pole in the 2014 Daytona 500.
Is it the power of “3”…? Is it the strength of RCR racing infused with the young energy of Austin Dillon…? Is it Dillon himself…?
Or did NASCAR artist Sam Bass nail it in a new painting he did for Richard Childress? The new painting shows Dillon’s Dow Chevrolet #3 on the track at Daytona and reflected off the retaining wall is the Goodwrench #3 of Dale Earnhardt.
It’s really cool and fascinating that Dillon has the #3 on the pole.
But it’s still a bit spooky. The track that is practically the icon for NASCAR racing… The man that pushed NASCAR into the modern era died there… The number that still persistently lingers on fans’ windows and flags…
The track that is racing. The man that was racing. The number that signifies all of it.
It’s back. It will be leading the pack at the Daytona 500.
I don’t know if I should be asking Sam Bass about his psychic abilities or calling Jason Hawes of TAPS…
Throw in the fact that Dale Earnhardt, Jr drove a Wrangler #3 to Victory Lane at Daytona in 2010 in a Nationwide Series race…
No… I’m not saying that the “Spirit” of Dale Earnhardt has been lingering about the garages of Daytona patiently waiting for the #3 and gave Dillon assistance from the “other side”…
I’m just saying it’s kind of spooky…
Go Racing – Go 3.