posted 02-23-2001 06:16 PM
Retire #3? UPDATE: Fox Sports Net National Sports Night reported that NASCAR is considering retiring the #3 of Dale Earnhardt(2-19-2001)
UPDATE: #3 Team Owner, Richard Childress announced that, with NASCAR's cooperation, the #3 that he owns would be placed on a "one year moratorium" but that a black #3 GM Goodwrench car would never again appear in competition. A NASCAR official said the #3's car owner points from the 2000 season, which are used in the first four races this year to determine provisional starting positions, would transfer to the #29 car. The points Earnhardt earned for RCR in the Daytona 500, where he finished 11th would transfer to the 29 as well(NOL)(2-23-2001)
Lap Belt Broken UPDATE: The lap belt in Dale Earnhardt's #3 Chevy was broken when examined after the Daytona 500 crash that took the seven-time champion's life, NASCAR officials said Friday. NASCAR president Mike Helton said threads on the left side of Earnhardt's lap belt were separated. "We don't know how, when or where, yet. We will continue our investigation," he said. Dr. Steve Bohannon, one of the doctors examining Earnhardt on Sunday, said the broken belt could have caused Earnhardt's body to be thrown forward and to the right, sending him flying into the steering wheel. Bohannon said Earnhardt might have hit his face on the steering wheel, causing the major head injury that killed him. The doctor said he was not sure if the HANS restraint device would have helped prevent the injuries. But, he said, a full-face helmet might have been beneficial. Earnhardt wore an open-face model(That's Racin' and from the AP)
UPDATE: an updated story at CNN/SI - According to Earnhardt's car owner Richard Childress, who was also present Friday morning, both the car and the seat belt were virtually brand new, built last November. According to Helton and Nelson, as well as officials at the belt company, last Sunday's failure was the first example of any such event in the 52-year history of NASCAR. Both Helton and Nelson refused to offer any ideas whatsoever as to what could possibly cause such an event(can also watch the Press Conferences there via your PC)(CNN/SI)(2-23-2001)
Entry List is up at NOL. See my Dura Lube 400 at Rockingham, NC Race Info Page for the link(NOTE: for some reason it is alphabetical by first name, hard to follow). 47 cars are list(43 make the race), the #29-Kevin Harvick GM Goodwrench Chevy is listed as TBA for driver and number. #60-Joe Bessey is listed in the #60 Chevy, no sponsor. #85-Carl Long is listed but I have been told he will not go to Rockingham as they didn't have time to prepare the car. Also two mistakes noticed(no need to email about them), the #27 is listed as the Square-D Pontiac and the #97 is listed as the John Deere Ford. No John Deere is not back on the #97 and Sqaure-D is still on the #55 not the #27(2-23-2001)
DEI Drivers Meet The Press: DEI drivers #8Dale Earnhardt Jr., #15-Michael Waltrip and #1-Steve Park made their first group appearance since last week’s tragedy that claimed Dale Earnhardt, and each proclaimed their gratitude for how the matter has been treated, and then spoke about carrying on the legacy of their fallen leader. The younger Earnhardt also lashed out at those that have placed blame for the accident on Sterling Marlin, forcing the driver of the #40 Coors Light Dodge to hire extra security at his shop and at the track this weekend at Rockingham. See quotes and comments with the rest of the story at SpeedVision(2-23-2001)
What happens to the #3 car/team? UPDATE 5 It's #29: RPM 2Night mentioned tonight that there have been reports that #3 Richard Childress Racing team would return to action this weekend at Rockingham with RCR BGN driver Kevin Harvick behind the wheel, but RPM 2Night host John Kernan said he spoke to a RCR Spokesperson who said their plans for this weekend have not been put firm as of yet. Other reports have Harvick in a white #3 and others say they'll retire the #3 and run the #30 with GM Goodwrench as the sponsor. All reports are too soon since the accident and when I hear or see something concrete from RCR, I will report it then(2-20-2001)
UPDATE: General Motors sources told Autoweek, an industry weekly, that the Chevrolet formerly driven by Dale Earnhardt will be entered in the Dura-Lube 400 at Rockingham as #30, carrying a new paint scheme. According to Chevrolet motorsports officials, Richard Childress has contacted Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Rick Mast about driving the car, which will be painted in a scheme that is almost the reverse of Earnhardt's traditional black-and-silver look. Further speculation holds that Childress will offer the #3 made famous by Earnhardt to Dale Earnhardt Jr. who will decline the offer, and that NASCAR will then retire the number. In other news related to the Earnhardt tragedy, a racing web site, frontstretch.com, is compiling and circulating a petition that calls for NASCAR to allow only 42 cars in the Rockingham race, leaving the pole position vacant in Earnhardt's honor. Winston Cup fields normally consist of 43 cars.(Gaston Gazette)
also hearing that General Motors will be the sponsor (not GoodWrench) with Harvick driving, but only temporary while another driver is being searched for. Also hearing all 3 DEI cars will be painted black at Rockingham.
UPDATE 2: ESPN2 and RPM 2Night report that Kevin Harvick will drive the 2nd Richard Childress Racing car at Rockingham and the rest of 2001 season, if so, I would assume that Harvick would run for the Rabestos Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 2001. Richard Childress Racing will not make an official announcement until after Thursday's memorial service. The AP is reporting: Richard Childress Racing was planning to enter Earnhardt's car in Sunday's Dura-Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. Kevin Harvick, a Busch Grand National driver for RCR, will take over Earnhardt's car for the rest of the season, a team source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The 25-year-old Harvick, the Busch Series' Rookie of the Year last season, will drive Earnhardt's Chevrolet and use his crew. Kevin Hamlin, Earnhardt's crew chief, will head Harvick's team. The car will not use the #3 or the black-and-silver scheme that was Earnhardt's trademark. Details of the number and colors Harvick will use were still being worked out, the team source said. Harvick was scheduled to move up to Winston Cup racing next season as the third car in Childress' garage. Mike Skinner also drives a Cup car for RCR(Yahoo/AP) and From NOL's Buzz: The car will be white instead of black, and will be #29 instead of #3. It will, however, still carry the GM Goodwrench sponsorship(2-21-2001)
UPDATE 3: Contrary to rumors, the Dale Earnhardt, Inc., cars will not be painted black for the Rockingham race. A team spokesman said DEI drivers Michael Waltrip, Steve Park and Earnhardt Jr. plan to race with their usual look. Childress plans to put Kevin Harvick with the former #3 team. The team plans to run a mainly white car with the #30, if it is released from its current license holder, AOL. Harvick, who originally planned to run a few Winston Cup races this season, will run the rest of the Cup schedule in the GM Goodwrench-sponsored car. He will run in the Busch Grand National Series when it is paired with a Winston Cup event(Richmond Times Dispacth) AND Harvick will run the remainder of the Winston Cup season with Earnhardt's team. The car number, paint scheme and crew member uniforms will all change. Details of the changes will be announced Friday at a news conference at North Carolina Speedway(That's Racin')(2-22-2001)
UPDATE 4: from a popup at the GM Goodwrench site: Whether race fans loved Dale Earnhardt or not, all of them ultimately respected him and his driving talent. NASCAR Winston Cup races will continue as scheduled. The #3, licensed by Richard Childress, will be retired for the remainder of the year in Dale's memory. A #29 white Chevrolet Monte Carlo will compete in its place under the GM Goodwrench Service Plus banner. That's the way Dale Earnhardt would have wanted it.(GM Goodwrench Site)
UPDATE 5: it'll be #29 and White, see an image of the car at NASCAR Online. Harvick will drive in both CUP and BGN unless there is a conflict in the schedule, another driver yet to be decided on. The #30 AOL sponsored Chevy that Harvick was to drive in seven Cup races will be filled by a driver to be named. Also see two images of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery, thanks to TachZone for the images(2-23-2001)
Cup driver to retire? many readers have emailed saying that Larry Woody from the Tennessean was on the radio(WKDF 103.3 in Nashville) this morning and said said that it is highly speculated that a top Winston Cup driver will be announcing his retirement soon and that the death of Dale Earnhardt was just too much for them, no names were mentioned. I had heard Ken Schrader and checked into that but team sources say that Schrader would not retire or leave the Cup Series(2-23-2001)
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posted 02-23-2001 06:07 PM
