#3 In Cup Series in 2013?

[nascarfreak88]

Sure let the Dillon boys run it. Austin even said himself, that he would be fine running it BUT he would like it to be a different font style.

I forget where I read this, but I believe it was RC himself that said he would like Austin to run the 3, but insists on changing the font/style and whatnot.

 

[Devin41]

That's also true, but Austin also said he would prefer a different style.

 

[Checker_MC]

I'm not very much into bringing the 3 back. That has nothing to do with lacking respect for Dale Earnhardt but I use the 3 on my offline cars. Don't wanna change my number.

 

[Dr. Doom]

Hell, I'm a Kyle Busch fan, I'm supposed to be stupid, right?

i thought i was the only kyle busch fan on here. but on a related note, i think they should use it again. it's been 11 years since Dale's death. it's time to move on, but i think they should change the font to fit the perticular scheme that car will have on it.

 

[The Captain]

I want to see the 3 back in Cup, regardless of font. We'll all still have our memories of Dale, Austin Dillon driving it won't change any of that. Austin has driven that number for a long time. It's an RCR staple from Childress's driving days to Earnhardt to Skinner and Dillon winning truck titles in it and now Dillon running it in the Nationwide Series. If Austin wants to run the 3 in Sprint Cup competition, I say let him.

 

[MattSRD28]

I was a HUGE Dale Sr. fan, since the mid eighties (note my sig).

Here's my take on this; I believe the style(font) of the number "3" as Dale drove with it from '85-'01 should be retired, never used again.

Now with that said I don't see why they couldn't bring the #3 back with same font that Richard used when he raced in the 70's.

The '85-'01 style #3 will always be tied in with Dale Earnhardt Sr. And I would definitely not want to see that in Cup.
So if Dillon wants to pay homage to his grandad by running his old #3, I'm cool with that.
Just don't touch Dale's #3.

So I guess you're just as horrified today by Dillon's running of "Dale's #3" in the Nationwide Series since Dale Earnhardt Sr. did race and win then-Busch Grand National Series race in that stylized #3, as you would be if Dillon ran that same #3 look in the Cup Series?

It just doesn't make any logical sense. Mike Skinner won the first Truck Series title in "Dale's #3" while Dale Earnhardt was still driving. More than that, Dale Earnhardt himself owned a different truck in that same series. Did the world end? Did it tear a hole in the universe? Did Nascar spontaneously combust? No.

Other people are running "Richard's 43"...other people drove "Davey's #28"...Geoff Bodine drove "Kulwicki's #7"... and none of that tarnished the legacies of the noteable drivers who raced those numbers. Same would happen if Austin, or anyone else, ran "Dale's #3".

It's purely up to Childress and anyone else Childress wants to consult with whether or not to bring the #3 up to Cup with Austin Dillon at some point. What Dale Sr. fans should appreciate is how a young driver like Austin Dillon, who has already shown far more promise & talent than most young drivers have at his age along with the composure to handle success (unlike drivers named Busch), would very likely succeed and bring nothing but more good memories and good times for that car. Since it won't be Dale Sr.'s familiar livery since GM Goodwrench no longer exists, there shouldn't be any concern or worry about how Austin Dillon driving a black #3 somehow takes away from or disrespects the legacy of Dale Earnhardt Sr.

 

[darkfang776]

Le wild stuff.

You raise a fair point. However, I think what he meant was the Cup series "3" that Dale drove should be retired.

 

[Pabig]

I wouldn't have a problem with the 3 back on track. Sure, Dale's death was an unbelievable tragedy but other numbers of dead drivers are also being used. The #43 was first retired aswell after the King retired but they brought it back after a year and I think 12 years after Dale's death it would be perfectly fine to see the #3 back in Sprint Cup. As for the font, RCR should use the 3 it used for dale because EVERY team car (apart from the #2 NWS car) uses that exact font, obviously being thinner for double-digit cars. And who knows, maybe Austin will continue the great legacy of the #3? He definately did it in cup and he is on a good way to do so in the Nationwide series.

 

[canadienhits]

Well, the for/against are both interesting.

I have to say at one time I wanted the 3 and 43 to be retired. Let's face it, both are legendary numbers.

What changed my mind were several things. One, RPM still using the 43 after all these years since Richard was behind the wheel. There were some stinker drivers behind the wheel, but it does nothing to tarnish the number 43. You see the number and font and think of the King, not John Andretti or Aric Almirola. Also, what criteria would you use to retire a number? Ok, Petty and Earnhardt both have seven championships, but David Pearson has more wins than Earnhardt. (For that matter, which number would you retire, 17 or 21)

I loved and respected Dale, but 11 years is long enough. If Richard Childress thinks it's time, then it's time.

 

[nascarfreak88]

Has Jr. said what he feels about the 3 coming back? I'm curiously interested in that.

 

[darkfang776]

Has Jr. said what he feels about the 3 coming back? I'm curiously interested in that.

Jr (sadly) doesn't really have a say in it. While yes his dad drove that number for the majority of his Winston series carer it's not DEI's number.

 

[S. Yogurt]

I was a HUGE Dale Sr. fan, since the mid eighties (note my sig).

Here's my take on this; I believe the style(font) of the number "3" as Dale drove with it from '85-'01 should be retired, never used again.

Now with that said I don't see why they couldn't bring the #3 back with same font that Richard used when he raced in the 70's.

The '85-'01 style #3 will always be tied in with Dale Earnhardt Sr. And I would definitely not want to see that in Cup.
So if Dillon wants to pay homage to his grandad by running his old #3, I'm cool with that.
Just don't touch Dale's #3.

That's fine with me. Change the font. (y) The font Dale used should be retired. I'm actually wondering why it was even allowed in Nationwide. (n)

 

[SimDesigners]

So I guess you're just as horrified today by Dillon's running of "Dale's #3" in the Nationwide Series since Dale Earnhardt Sr. did race and win then-Busch Grand National Series race in that stylized #3, as you would be if Dillon ran that same #3 look in the Cup Series?

Personally, I'm not "horrified", but in Dillion's case (as well as the others you've cited), I always wished they could have given those drivers their own iteration of said iconic numbers.

I also look at it this way: when Richard retired, it was his wish that the 43 car continue on, style and all. So I'm fine seeing it race to this day. Dale didn't have that opportunity (at least that we know of) and I just feel the need to err on the side of caution there.

 

[MattSRD28]

I also look at it this way: when Richard retired, it was his wish that the 43 car continue on, style and all. So I'm fine seeing it race to this day. Dale didn't have that opportunity (at least that we know of) and I just feel the need to err on the side of caution there.

Dale didn't seem to mind Mike Skinner driving his #3 in Trucks, but that wasn't really his call.

Dale and also didn't seem to mind Jeff Green, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and later Ron Hornaday Jr. running Dale's #3 for his Busch team that Dale started himself and later became DEI. Yeah, Jeff Green was Dale's "hand-picked successor" at one point. Dale just couldn't use the #3 in Cup because it was Childress' number then and its Childress' number now. So when Dale wanted to move DEI into Cup, Jeff Green ran a #14 car, which later became a #1 Pennzoil car with Steve Park behind the wheel.

Jeff Green ran a black Goodwrench #3 for at least one full season in Busch Grand National Series. Since it was before digital cameras and Jeff Green sucked that year, good luck finding a picture of it. Nevertheless, that and the #16 Truck were the first DEI teams. When Dale Sr. wanted to move DEI into Cup, he did so long before Dale Jr. was ready. While Dale Jr. was winning Busch Series championships, DEI was racing Cup with Steve Park behind the wheel. The car was not #3 but was first a #14, and then #1 because Dale just couldn't use the #3 in Cup because it was Childress' number then and its Childress' number now. Both the #14 and #1 were of the same font and design as Dale's #3 without being a 3. When Dale Jr. moved up to Cup, he raced a #8 in the same stylization as Dale's #3. When Michael Waltrip joined DEI by moving into the old #3 Busch seat that Dale Sr. moved up to Cup, Michael drove a #15 in the #3 stylization.


Point is Dale Sr. indeed had the opportunity you speak of. Dale Sr. had several drivers driving his #3 for his own team, and when he couldn't run the #3 Dale still kept the #3's look on his cars with some other number. Had Earnhardt Sr. had the chance to retire instead of being killed, there's no doubt in my mind Kevin Harvick, or someone else, would be driving a #3 for Childress in Cup today.

 

[The Captain]

Yeah, Jeff Green was Dale's "hand-picked successor" at one point.

That's a scary thought.

 

[Varkony3]

Stylization

The Dillon boys have been racing the number three throughout there short careers so far, so why not let Austin drive the 3 in Cup? I'm a huge Earnhardt fan and only thought Jr. should be the only one with rights to run that number again as he did so and won in Daytona...Unreal! Anyways by changing the style of the 3 and moving it to cup I believe is something Childress will do...keeping the legacy of THE #3 for Earnhardt but continuing a new chapter for the number by passing it to his grandson. It's the perfect and only way to run the 3 again in cup and I bet that's exactly what happens. So what do you think the new 3 will look like?

 

[MattSRD28]

Here's an interesting photo:

1995 saw black Goodwrench #3's running all over the place with Dale Sr.'s full knowledge and consent. The Cup and Truck #3 owned by Childress, with the Busch #3 owned by Dale Sr. himself.

Does anyone need more proof that Dale Sr. had absolutely no problem with other people running "his" #3?

 

[tipptruck]

I could really care less. Its just a number to me. But If he lets his grandson race with the number. I will not be thanking of Sr. If it had the good wrench logo on it. Then I might be thinking of Sr.

Matt I found a picture of the car. Its in die cast fourm. It looked just like Sr's car.

 

[K.Chuck]

IMO, Dale would want the 3 on the track with whoever Childress saw fit to drive it.

 

[nascarfreak88]

Jr (sadly) doesn't really have a say in it. While yes his dad drove that number for the majority of his Winston series carer it's not DEI's number.

I know he doesn't have a say in it but I'd like to hear his opinion.

With the examples Matt's given, it seems clear Dale wouldn't mind someone else in the 3 car. If he had lived and retired, would Childress have pulled the 3?