NASCAR doesn’t retire numbers, as there aren’t that many to go around. I doubt they will officially retire it, but I can see the drivers proactively not using the #3 for a long, long time. Richard Childress (Dale’s team owner) already said he would never race a black Goodwrench Chevy again.
Renaming the speedway itself, I could see. Renaming the race?? NO FUCKING WAY. That would be like the Super Bowl the “Thurmon Munson Memorial Ball Game”. (Had to wrack my brain pretty hard for a football player that died in his prime.) Not to mention that Daytona’s one of the few races left that’s still named after the city and not some soul-less corporate sponsor.
The Man Who: What you wrote made me laugh so hard I fell out of my chair and twisted my leg halfway around and banged my head on the desk causing me to bite clean through my tongue. Expect to hear from my lawyer soon.
Just because they haven’t thus far doesn’t mean they won’t. And, as long as they don’t go overboard retiring numbers (like the Yankees did), they won’t run out.
Just heard this from my girlfriend, and ran to the computer to post it:
Jeff Gordon is in a close second place with 1 lap to go. He’s been drafting, but just can’t manage to pull ahead. As a last resort, he turns his eyes heavenward.
“God, its Jeff. Good ole #24. I just don’t know what to do. Just give me a sign, any sign.”
He hears a voice, “Move to lane 2.”
So Jeff Gordon changes lanes, and just then, a huge gust of wind knocks him back to 4th place as the checkered flag drops.
Dejected, he asks God, “Lord, why did you tell me to change lanes?”
God says, “Why did we tell him to change lanes again, Dale?”
Still, it seems that as time goes by, at least around here, the number of Dale Earnhardt memorials and tributes is on the rise.
In one Orlando suburb, Winter Garden, there’s a disproportionately large number of memorials, either painted on garage doors, up on billboards, in the back windows of pickup trucks, or, in three reported cases I’ve heard about, tattooed on someone’s arm.
“I gawt mah mullet, mah Nextel, mah truck and my Numbah Three tat. Lahf is good, ain’t it?”
I give Earnhardt props for being a skilled driver who helped contribute to the popularity of stock car racing. Still, what’s the deal with the emerging Church of Dale Earnhardt of Latter Day Saints in Orlando’s western suburbs?
I thought I read in SI that this is named “Matthew, Mark, Luke and Dale Earnhardt.” Please tell me I’m wrong, or direct me to the lyrics so I may be extra-horrified.
I thought I read in SI that this is named “Matthew, Mark, Luke and Dale Earnhardt.” Please tell me I’m wrong, or direct me to the lyrics so I may be extra-horrified.
That is the title, although the song was written about a year before the accident. The artist is Shane Sellers. Thus far, a search for the lyrics has turned up nothing. Google did give me this result, though: "… nude pictures lyrics nude women … Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt "
There are quite a few articles on the web regarding Shane Sellers and this song, which has become the de facto “Official” Dale Earnhardt tribute song. It’s a local single right now (Kentucky and Tennessee), expect a widespread release in a week or two on Dreamworks. I figure most people haven’t heard it or heard of it yet. There are two copies on ebay right now, neither of which has a bid. Of course, over 73000 auctions come up on a search for “Dale Earnhardt” so it may be hard to find.
Speaking of Very Vaguely Creepy, the article at http://detnews.com/1996/menu/stories/68382.htm is from 1996 and mentions Shane Sellers and Dale Earnhardt within a couple of lines of each other. Take a look at the Earnhardt story. Maybe not so creepy, 'cause race car drivers are always crashing, but still.
Post number 3 is presented in italics in memory of #3, Dale Earnhardt:
*Actually, why would anyone buy the single when you can get it off Napster for free? It’s a private label single, so the major labels aren’t suing to get rid of the mp3’s (at least, not till the remastered single comes out). Duh.
Anyhow, I downloaded the first minute of it (HA! A loophole. It’s legitimate sampling) And gave it a listen. It’s a typical country/religion song of the semi-glurge variety. Sellers isn’t that great a singer voicewise, but I suspect he’ll have a candleinthewindesque Country Number One with this song before dropping off the face of the country charts.
The opening lyric:
“Daddy’s neck was as red as the words of Jesus
In Mama’s King James Bible.
I was born in the buckle of the Bible Belt
And reborn by revival.”
I’m guessing Esprix will hate it.
Dale Earnhardt seems to be almost an afterthought in the grand scheme of the lyrics, at least in the first minute of the song.
