Should the #3 ever be raced again by anone in NASCAR?

Answer 1

Yes. Dale Jr. will probably be the only person in the near future to do it. If we want to get into an argument around retiring numbers, there would be a lot more than just Dale Sr. that should be retired.

Answer 2

I am a huge Senior fan. A number 3 on the track will probably never again be black, silver and red. Otherwise, their should be a lot of other numbers "retired" if the 3 was officially retired. I don't want to see it retired, it's a nice geasture but not neccessary. Senior stands on his own merits. I don't want to see the day in Nascar where you have to cheer for the 103 or 108 because a lot of the numbers have been retired. Think about it, some of the races all ready have 55-57 cars trying to make the show. Just a matter of time before retired numbers pushed us into the 100s. Yuck.

Answer 3

NO NEVER PERIOD. Dale is the 3 and the 3 is Dale, maybe the generation who started watching NASCAR later on would like to see JR racing the 3 but no way.... if they had a real taste of SR they would never think of anyone else in the 3. I grew up watching racing.....

Answer 4

There is no way anybody should be allowed to drive the #3 car again. Childress allowed (who was it) Harvick (??) drive in it for one week. That was all. Dale Jr. will probably be driving it in 2008, but why does that not surprise me? Dale Jr. getting something he doesn't deserve from his dad, that he's only getting for his name. Dale has a 1/2 brother or step brother or something like that name Kerry Earnhardt. Most people probably don't even know he exists let alone races, if they had eachothers names, Jr probably wouldn't even be 1/100 of where he is now.

Answer 5

I don't see why not. You're not asking whether or not Earnhardt's paint scheme, sponser, and number should be run together. As for that I'm not too sure. But for the number 3 why not. If the number was going to be retired, then the 7 should have been retired after Alan Kulwicki died, and never to be run again, the 28 should have been retired after Davey Allison died, the 42 after Kenny Irwin Jr. died, the 45 after Adam Petty died. How about the truck series the 8 of John Nemechek, or Tony Roper's number (I can't think of what it was). I'm sure the list goes on and on.

But if the 3 is never going to be raced again, then neither should any of the numbers that I mentioned above, or failed to mention, that belonged to drivers that have died.

Answer 6

Here is what everyone fails to think about on this subject... You have to ask yourself would Dale Jr even want to step into a full time deal in the #3 or the same colors his dad raced?

If Dale Jr stepped into the black #3 or the #3 with any other colors, he will always be compared to what his dad did with the #3. The same goes for any other soul out there up and coming through the ranks. They probably do not want to try stepping into a #3 car in the Cup series. The fans would never let another driver carry that number without comparing them to what Dale Sr did. It would be too much for someone to try taking on.

I say it will be a good 15 or 20 years before someone even thinks about putting the #3 back onto a Nextel Cup car. It's just too soon right now.

Answer 7

Yeah it should be raced again. Dale Jr. could put the number on his car right now if he wanted to, RCR doesnt own the number 3, any team can put a request into Nascar and get the number if they wanted it. No number should be retired from Nascar, none, not one. So if you feel the 3 should be retired why do you feel that way, the 43 should be retired, the 24 and how many other numbers maybe we should retire all the numbers associated with a person dying on the track. Nascar has 110 number to work with how many years would it take for them to run out of numbers. What is the criteria for retiring a number winning 7 championships, being a driver who drove a car and died in it.

Answer 8

Yes. If not, then why not retire the numbers of all drivers that were killed on the track? Kenny Irwin, Adam Petty, Neil Bonnett, JD McDuffie, even Alan Kulwicki (although he didn't die on the track)... do THEIR numbers deserve to be retired? If so, then the number 3 does also. You can't have it both ways... there are only so many numbers available for the entire NASCAR franschise. This isn't like a team honoring a fallen hero, nor retiring a famous jersey from years of greatness. Baseball made this mistake... NASCAR doesn't need to repeat it.

Answer 9

I don't think it should be raced in the near future. I think if anyone were to race it next, it should be either Dale Jr or Kevin Harvick, and both of them for obvious reasons (in case you don't know, Jr. for the obvious reason - an Earnhardt in the #3, and Harvick had the unenviable task of becoming the new driver for the team one week later). Though, Jr. would be my preference.

After whichever of them runs the car and leaves on their terms, I believe only then will it be ok to put the right driver - one who reflects the style and determination of Dale Earnhardt - into the number 3. If this driver doesn't come along, don't put them in the #3.

Answer 10

To clarify an answer.The # 3 is not retired.NASCAR does not allow #'s to be retired.Their stance is there is not enough #'s (I know crazy thinking).From what I understand NASCAR owns the numbers and the team owners have the rights to the #'s. Eventually a 3 will be back on the track.Childress has stated that it will not be the color black ever againand that he will retain the rights to it as long as he is in NASCAR.


"We're all going to work together on it,'' Childress said before Thursday's 150-mile qualifying races. "We all want to see it retired, but if it's not I will do what I have to make sure that [somebody's in it].

Answer 11

Anyone who tries to drive the #3 again should be drug out into the street and "you know what". Have some respect for Dale Sr. The #3 will always be associated with him. He was one heck of an awesome driver.