No #3 next year.

Elwood · October 1, 2001

From Yahoo Sports :

Childress to leave No. 3 in shop for 2002

By JOHN MILBURN

Associated Press Writer

September 30, 2001

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt's No. 3 will not be back on the track next season.

Richard Childress ended speculation Sunday about the direction of the team since the Winston Cup champion's death in Daytona in February.

Kevin Harvick will continue to drive the No. 29 with a new silver and black paint scheme on the Goodwrench Chevrolet in 2002. It replaces the white car Harvick has driven since taking Earnhardt's place on Childress' team.

``We've had a long year and the number 29 has obviously become part of our organization and our team,'' Harvick said. ``Hopefully this puts a little pressure on NASCAR to do what is right with the No. 3 car.''

Unlike other sports, motorsports is reluctant to retire numbers. NASCAR has not made a decision about what to do with the No. 3.

Childress said if NASCAR doesn't retire the number, his team ``has some plans.''

``Hopefully, by Atlanta we'll be able to come up with an answer,'' said Childress, whose cars have been sponsored by Goodwrench for 16 seasons.

NASCAR resisted pressures in the 1980s to retire Richard Petty's No. 43 when he stopped racing. That number is now used by John Andretti, who drives for Petty's team.

In addition, Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 winner A.J. Foyt holds the rights to No. 14, driven in Winston Cup by Ron Hornaday Jr. and Larry Foyt in the Busch Series.

October 1, 2001

Personally, I don't think that NASCAR should retire the number 3. Dale Earnhardt will continue to be a legend in NASCAR, but as human beings, Kenny Irwin, Adam Petty, Neil Bonnet, etc, are worth no less than Dale.

If NASCAR retired every number that came up, we'll be in triple or quadruple digits before we know it. How do you determine what driver/owner is "worthy' of having his number retired?

If RCR wants to continue to keep the number off the track, then they should be responsible for "buying" the number from here on.

Elwood · October 1, 2001

I can agree with that. I also had another idea. Why not put in to effect a rule where a number can be retired for 4 or 5 years, then it is available again. That way there is some time for for people to get past things before they see the number and make unfair comparisons, etc. This rule could be used in special circumstances, and wouldn't have to be used everytime someone retired. Just a thought. But for right now, I agree with Friz. I don't want to see triple and doulbe digits on all the cars. I don't see any way NASCAR can win in this situation to be honest. Either way someone is going to not like it.

avant1963 · October 1, 2001

While I understand the "Who else is worthy to retire..." stance, I think my finace summed it up best during the race yesterday after learning that Harvick will stay 29 with black and silver, "It won't seem right seeing another #3 out on the track and it is not Earnhardt".

Little E could take it, but he, much like Harvick, has built up his own reputation as 8 and who would want to take the identity of his father like that.

The other question is this... "Who would want to take the #3 and paint it on the side of their car..."

I don't think anyone would do that in the current generation of drivers... Unless Kerry gets a ride and needs a number...

Walt