#3 In Cup Series in 2013?

[kevin29]

Austin Dillon is a great fit for the three car. he can live up to the numbers reputation, he has proven that in trucks and NNS.

 

[MillsLayne]

Austin Dillon is a great fit for the three car. he can live up to the numbers reputation, he has proven that in trucks and NNS.

While I believe Austin has far exceeded my expectations of him and has done a fantastic job, Cup is such a huge step up from any series. It might be a little rough at the start, but certainly doesn't mean he couldn't overcome it. Quite honestly, I'm glad the 3 might be back in Cup. The number shouldn't have sat out as long as it has, no matter the reason.

 

[MattSRD28]

Childress did what he thought was right to honor his friendship with Dale. He's still doing that, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. If Childress never wants to use the #3 again while he's still in control of RCR, that's entirely his perogative.

But, at no point should we say the #3 should be preserved because that's what Dale would have wanted, or that someone else driving it would tarnish Dale's memory. Dale himself put drivers behind the wheel of a #3 in his stylization, as well as #1, #8, and #15, including a black #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy in the Busch Series.

IMO, it would be best for everyone for Austin Dillon to rise up to the Cup series in the #3 and have success in it. He's proven in Nationwide and Trucks that he can have on track success. He's already built some brand identity in the big leagues of Nascar that he'd lose if he didn't run the #3. Maybe we'll see Austin run #3 and Ty run #31 once Jeff Burton calls it a career?

 

[RP Motorsports]

I give up now. Let him use the #3. Honestly no one seems to care so go for it. As long as Kyle Busch stays with a good team I'm happy. I don't even know why I bothered to argue in the first place...

Just because several others have a different opinion on it, that doesnt make your's wrong. There are a whole lot of people (and I mean A LOT) outside of this forum who share the same exact same feelings as yours.

I've noticed over time that the demographic plays into this subject quite a bit. I think most people who want the 3 to be left alone are part of the older crowd who watched Dale race quite a bit. And on the flipside, its a lot of the younger crowd who never saw Dale race and are now watching Dillon race, who feel its just a number.

Not only that, but if you wernt a fan of Dale's, then you probably could care less about the number 3, so you're obviously going to be with the "its just a number" crowd. If you were a big Earnhardt fan, then you might be leaning more towards the side of leaving the 3 alone. Neither is right or wrong.

Its just different perspectives and views. You dont have to change your's just because some people at SRD have a different opinion on it. I think after coming here day after day for however long, some people tend to forgot that SRD is barely even a blip on the radar compared to the entire NASCAR fanbase, so just because many on this forum may lean a particular way, it doesnt mean the rest of the NASCAR world does as well.

And theres also the other arugment "Whats dillion got that Jr doesnt" Well for one...ermm not to say he isnt talented Jr has a ton, momentum and key communication may be the better term I mean took the kid two years to win his truck title and may just win his Nationwide title in his rookie year (im assuming this is his first FULL rookie season)

Earnhardt Jr won the Nationwide (Busch) championship his rookie year. Then won it again the following year. He pretty much burst onto the Cup scene as well winning at least 2 races a year until winning 6 in 2004. Then started to slow down after that. A lot of people (again, younger crowd vs. older crowd) seem to forget or arent aware of how good Jr. was 10 years ago.

Point being, he had every bit of potential that Dillon seems to have, but only got so far with it (although he seems to have found it again this year). So just because Dillon looks like the real deal, it doesnt mean he's going to be.

 

[JRRacing64]

I say go for it! Older fans seem to forget that Fireball Roberts and Junior Johnson made their own stake to fame in the #3 long before Dale was racing cars and if this happens history will continue to be made with it.

It's been almost 12 years since we lost Dale. It's time for us to move on. I'm sure Dale would have wanted the #3 to be driven when Harvick took over.

 

[The Captain]

Earnhardt Jr won the Nationwide (Busch) championship his rookie year. Then won it again the following year. He pretty much burst onto the Cup scene as well winning at least 2 races a year until winning 6 in 2004. Then started to slow down after that. A lot of people (again, younger crowd vs. older crowd) seem to forget or arent aware of how good Jr. was 10 years ago.

Point being, he had every bit of potential that Dillon seems to have, but only got so far with it (although he seems to have found it again this year). So just because Dillon looks like the real deal, it doesnt mean he's going to be.

To this day I still believe losing Tony Eury Sr. was a big hit to Jr's career. I know it can't be 100% the crew chief's fault (unless you're Lance McGrew), but Pops left and suddenly Jr didn't seem to be himself.

 

[K.Chuck]

I think the biggest hit to Jr's career was his equipment and mental outlook once DEI started to unravel do to poor management.

 

[The Captain]

I think the biggest hit to Jr's career was his equipment and mental outlook once DEI started to unravel do to poor management.

That too, but there was a point in 2005 where I almost gave up on him winning a race that year. Of course, I had no idea what was waiting ahead from 2008 to last month.

 

[Deuce]

To this day I still believe losing Tony Eury Sr. was a big hit to Jr's career. I know it can't be 100% the crew chief's fault (unless you're Lance McGrew), but Pops left and suddenly Jr didn't seem to be himself.

thats what i've been saying for years. Him and LeTarte are working well together, but nothing beat Pops Eury with Jr at the start of his career.

 

[The Captain]

He's finally starting to get that fire back in him that he had when he was young. It's great to see him in a good mood at the track again.