In Daytona on Thursday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was asked about the possibility of Austin Dillon moving to the Sprint Cup Series next season and driving the No. 3 made famous by his late father.
Here was Earnhardt's response:
“I think it will be great. It was an iconic number for my father and it means a lot to a lot of his fans. This sport doesn’t really retire numbers and all the numbers have history tied to them for several different reasons. The No. 3 is no different. I think that for Austin (Dillon) a kid like Austin in this regard any kid that wants to come up through the ranks and he drove the No. 3 in dirt racing and he drove the No. 3 in his Truck series and Nationwide series. He has earned the right to run that number as long as he wants. It could have been anybody, but it’s Austin. It could have been any kid coming up through the ranks that had ran that number and that’s his number. Maybe he’s not even an Earnhardt fan maybe that is just his number. He wants to run it I think it’s not really fair to deny somebody that opportunity. I’m okay with it. I know that might not be the way a lot of people feel or some people feel, but I’m sure it’s the minority that feels that way. I think that a lot of people will be telling Austin positive things about it.”
Very classy, Jr. and you have stated some excellent and realistic points. No matter who drives the 3 next though, we all know who the real 3 is, now and forever.
ReplyDeleteThere was a day when I didn't want anybody other than Dale to drive a car with that style number 3. The hurt was too fresh for me to even think about it. I now think Austin has every right to run that #3 as his grandfather did. He understands and is respectful of the man who eventually made that number legendary. I think he'll give her a good run and make his mark like those who came before him. I'm very happy to know that Dale Jr is as classy as I knew he was.
ReplyDeleteJimmyT & Sparks I ditto what you say and I will pull for Austin when he is on the track.
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