#3 In Cup Series in 2013?

[Mike24]

Jeff Green?

I had always thought that Jeff Burton was Dale's hand picked successor...

That was something I had heard a long time ago, and have never forgotten it.

 

[JohnElightening]

I don't see the problem with Austin driving the #3.

I'm sure Childress is not going to make a decision for Austin's number based on what some people want.

 

[The Captain]

A quick Google search also mentions Harvick as Dale's hand picked successor which wouldn't really surprise me when you think of Harvick's aggressive style.

 

[wslates]

Dale had an overwhelming amount of "hand-picked successors".

 

[Mike24]

The Burton thing was something I remember hearing on RPM2Nite in the late 90s.

It made sense to me at the time because next to Dale, Burton was one of the most listened to voices (the Mayor, if you will), around the garage.

I've never forgotten it, which is why I found it both ironic and appropriate that Burton eventually ended up at RCR...because I had always envisioned Burton taking over the black #3 when Dale retired.

 

[bubba025]

I don't think Dale would mind at all seeing someone else in the #3.

Personally (although my opinion doesn't matter) I'd rather see Harvick take it, considering the #29 team is/was the #3 team. I also think Harvick really fits in Dale's shoes of being an aggressive driver, and the way Kevin's grown in the support has really shown some shades of Dale imo. The other would be Jr., but he's already said he has no interest in running it. Let's just see what Austins got.

 

[Harry Nurpplez]

Some of you forget that it's Richard's number not Dale's. And 2013 is too soon, i'd say 2015.

 

[The Captain]

Some of you forget that it's Richard's number not Dale's. And 2013 is too soon, i'd say 2015.

I don't see Austin racing 3 whole years in the Nationwide Series, especially if he finds a way to win the title this year. I can see him doing full time NNS next year with a part time Cup schedule then going full time Cup in 2014.

 

[4WideRacing]

Not this one. At the very least the font should be changed. Everytime someone sees the number three in that familiar font, they all think "Dale". The #33 is a perfect solution. Why does the #3 have to come back now anyway? He ran the 07 and 33, but honestly, Mr. Childress, driving the #3 is so special that I don't think anyone of Dillon's caliber should control that likeness. Hell, I'm a Kyle Busch fan, I'm supposed to be stupid, right? :-/
A number is not just a number when the sport's arguably greatest driver drove it and passed away in it. It's more than a number. It's Dale. Not some young hotshot kid that thinks he's everything. My opinion. Just saying. Bash me all ya want but this is important, and I think we should all consider the meaning this number has behind it.

But Austin has raced the #3 in trucks and Nationwide (most likely lower series as well) not the #07 or #33. The #3 is more of Austin's number than Dale's number to me. It could be because I didn't start following Nascar until 2007.

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)

Who would have made it "not allowed"? If the owner of the number wants to use it why not let him?

I don't think Dale would mind at all seeing someone else in the #3.

Personally (although my opinion doesn't matter) I'd rather see Harvick take it, considering the #29 team is/was the #3 team. I also think Harvick really fits in Dale's shoes of being an aggressive driver, and the way Kevin's grown in the support has really shown some shades of Dale imo. The other would be Jr., but he's already said he has no interest in running it. Let's just see what Austins got.

Harvick has been known as the driver of the #29 car for so long I don't see it making sense to switch him to the #3.

 

[The Captain]

Harvick has been known as the driver of the #29 car for so long I don't see it making sense to switch him to the #3.

I think a lot of long time fans would get it if the 29 had ever been switched back to the 3. When Harvick was first called up, Childress was just looking to get away from the 3 car considering what had just happened. I believe it was the SPEED Channel special where Childress explained that he ordered "Get Kevin on the phone, find out the lowest number NASCAR has available and paint the car white". I agree that now it would be a bit of an awkward switch for many because of the identity Harvick has formed with the 29, but it is technically the re-branded 3 team, so they could have switched it back in Harvick's early years and kept the number's legacy alive.

 

[S. Yogurt]

Austin said he wanted to race the #3 because it's his grandpa's number. Correct me if I'm wrong but Richard's number three was a different font than Dale's. Use that font, problem solved. If he really feels it's necessary to run his grandpa's number, use the number font he actually used and not the one we know so well as the Intimidator's.

 

[PepsiRacer4]

I don't see the big deal to be honest. I mean it's a number. You should be happy that someone will be ready and is deserving enough to carry on Dale's legacy. It really sucks not watching the 3 race anymore man.

 

[nascarfreak88]

But its still RC's number that he's owned for a hundred years no matter who's driving it, therefore its still grandpappy's number no matter how its stylized.

Austin seems ready to take over as the legacy at RCR. I say why not man.

 

[HMAC80]

People say they want to see the #3 in a different font. Frankly, any font other than the one Earnhardt popularized would be the "wrong" font, in my opinion. It's the same font on the 27, 29, 31, and the 33 when it was Richard's.

 

[The Captain]

As Matt has stated a couple times before, several other drivers have run "Dale's" font under the Childress/DEI banner. What Earnhardt did with that 3 will remain intact. Let Austin run the 3 the same style he has been running it and build on an already legendary number.

 

[MattSRD28]

Jeff Green?

I had always thought that Jeff Burton was Dale's hand picked successor...

That was something I had heard a long time ago, and have never forgotten it.

A quick Google search also mentions Harvick as Dale's hand picked successor which wouldn't really surprise me when you think of Harvick's aggressive style.

Dale had an overwhelming amount of "hand-picked successors".

The Burton thing was something I remember hearing on RPM2Nite in the late 90s.

It made sense to me at the time because next to Dale, Burton was one of the most listened to voices (the Mayor, if you will), around the garage.

I've never forgotten it, which is why I found it both ironic and appropriate that Burton eventually ended up at RCR...because I had always envisioned Burton taking over the black #3 when Dale retired.

All could be true. Once Jeff Green left DEI after 1995, Dale needed a new successor. That's why I said Jeff Green was Dale's hand-picked successor at one point because it was only for a brief bit of time and nobody remembers it except me.

The only reason why the whole successor thing is remotely relevant is because after Dale picked Jeff Green, he put Jeff Green in a black #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy that looked EXACTLY like Dale black #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy in Cup. To me that right there is all the answer anyone needs about how Dale felt about someone else driving his black #3 Chevy. Dale owned the car that Jeff Green was put into, had the final say, and still did it. What more do you need?

I don't know what other answer anyone's looking for.

As Matt has stated a couple times before, several other drivers have run "Dale's" font under the Childress/DEI banner. What Earnhardt did with that 3 will remain intact. Let Austin run the 3 the same style he has been running it and build on an already legendary number.

I get it how fans don't want to see anyone else in Cup drive Dale's #3, but it was clearly in the works long before Earnhardt's death. Every indication to me says that Dale Earnhardt was going to handle his retirement exactly like how Richard Petty handled his - by becoming a successful team owner, and by maintaining control over the ride you made famous (even though this would have to happen via Dale's friendship with Childress). Who knows who Dale would have ultimately liked to have seen driving the car (*cough* Dale Jr. *cough*), but someone would have driven the #3 car after Dale Earnhardt.

The question of what fans want is a whole seperate matter entirely. While fans don't ever want to let go of Dale and the #3, and no one's saying they need to, at some point they're going to have to come to grips with a #3 on the track again, and I say that's healthy. The healthy healing process is to grieve, grow, and move on. Moving on doesn't mean you're disrespecting the one you lost, especially because that person will always be with you, but it does give you the strength to continue. When I lost Davey, my fandom stayed with the #28 team he drove for. Going forward, I was happy to see the #28 take to the track again at Talladega. I was happy to see Ernie Irvan win races in it. Then we nearly lost Ernie, and I was really happy to see Ernie come back and be successful again. I was again happy to see Dale Jarrett win a championship for Yates in 1999. Earnhardt fans should know - you can be happy again. When the #3 wins again, you'll realize that. Following Dale Jr. is fine as well, of course, but following a #3 team again is ok too.

That's why I say they should appreciate how if Dillon drives the #3, there's an enormous chance for many many years of future success. There's no reason to think Austin Dillon isn't just as talented as Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart or anyone else. I saw all those drivers coming up, and Austin's had more success than those guys had coming up in the ranks. I can't recall seeing anyone perform in the Trucks upon arrival like Dillon did last year since Greg Biffle. Austin can and will be able to perform, and he's coming to Cup the right way without being rushed or overshooting his talent at all. Earnhardt fans should have no problem enjoying cheering on Austin's success every bit as much as they cheered on Dale's success now 10+ years ago.

 

[Sgt Slaughter]

At least Austin and Ty have the talent to bring the 3 back to it's winning ways...

I would love to see Austin in the 3 and Ty in the 13/31..... eventually

 

[BillyJack79]

I'm all for the 3 coming back, if that's what R.C. wants. Long overdue, actually. I see leaving it dormant for the 2001 season, but I would've brought it back on Harvick's car in '02. If Dale Sr. had lived out his life, been able to retire, I believe the 3 would have gone to DEI for Dale Jr. to drive, if Sr. had asked R.C. for it. Any other scenario and the 3 is still on track for RCR, with whoever would've replaced Dale Sr. driving.
Granted, Dale Sr. did more for the number's legacy than R.C. or Ricky Rudd(R.C. = No wins in 6+ seasons driving #3, Rudd got his first 2 career wins in the #3 in 1983), remember, prior to RCR claining #3 mid-'70's, several notable drivers ran that number, including David Pearson, Junior Johnson, Buck and Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough and Charlie Glotzbach. I can see Austin Dillon, with some experience and development, being a part of this legacy.

 

[SimDesigners]

I get it how fans don't want to see anyone else in Cup drive Dale's #3, but it was clearly in the works long before Earnhardt's death. Every indication to me says that Dale Earnhardt was going to handle his retirement exactly like how Richard Petty handled his - by becoming a successful team owner, and by maintaining control over the ride you made famous (even though this would have to happen via Dale's friendship with Childress). Who knows who Dale would have ultimately liked to have seen driving the car (*cough* Dale Jr. *cough*), but someone would have driven the #3 car after Dale Earnhardt.

Firstly: great reply to my other comment lol

Honestly, I think we would have likely seen someone else in a black GM Goodwrench #3 in 2002 had Dale retired. It's something I thought about for a bit after his death. There probably would have been a nice passing of the torch there, so to speak. And honestly: one day (and I think we're to the point where it's enough time now), I want to see a #3 back in the Cup series.

I think my own personal sticking point is that Richard got to retire from the sport he loved, yet remain involved on an ownership level. Dale didn't quite get that choice. You've pointed out very well that he was fine with a black #3 without his name on it, but I just wish he could have been there to see it himself.

Even if Austin Dillion came to the Cup Series next year in a black #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy with every last detail on the car just like Dale's, I can't say I would really be *that* upset by it. More than anything, it would probably bring back a lot of good memories during that car's heyday. And at some point, I would adjust like everyone else to not calling it "Dale's car". Just like I had to adjust to not calling it "Richard's car" in 1993.

 

[Devin41]

At least Austin and Ty have the talent to bring the 3 back to it's winning ways...

I would love to see Austin in the 3 and Ty in the 13/31..... eventually

I think once they're both in cup, Ty would be in the #41 because that's the number he's ran in dirt cars since Austin had the #3.