Dale Jr. to drive No. 3 Nationwide

[6 Shooter]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive a No. 3 Nationwide Series car in the July race at Daytona International Speedway as part of a tribute series to his late father, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com.

A news conference involving JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. will be held April 29 at JRM for a special unveiling.

Among those attending will be Earnhardt Jr., Richard Childress, Teresa Earnhardt and Kelley Earnhardt.

Dale Earnhardt drove the No. 3 to six of his seven Sprint Cup titles, taking over the number when he went to RCR in 1984. He became the "Man in Black" in 1988 when GM Goodwrench replaced Wrangler and the 3 paint scheme went to black.

The 3 has been on the track in only eight events in NASCAR's top three series since Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Earnhardt Jr. drove the No. 3 twice in the Nationwide Series in 2002. Austin Dillon, Childress' grandson, drove in two Truck races last season and four this season.

Sources said this will not be a black No. 3.

ESPN

 

[jrose7004]

It had to happen sooner or later. Maybe it'll give him the boost he needs!

 

[6 Shooter]

It'd be great the see the Black 3 back on track in a Cup Race!

​

 

[jrose7004]

Werd!

 

[6 Shooter]

A snit, a Tweet and a tat

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not amused that Darrell Waltrip had broken The Story.

Earnhardt plans to race a No. 3 Wrangler-sponsored Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway this summer. Waltrip apparently wasn't supposed to share word of that too widely, but he did.

To hear Junior tell it, the leak has dulled – if not ruined – any anticipated impact of a news conference scheduled for Thursday about the paint job, the number and related marketing efforts.

Earnhardt’s late father, Dale Earnhardt, drove a car sponsored by Wrangler from the last race of 1980 through the end of the 1987 season.

“DW sort of blew the lid off of it," Junior said. "On Twitter, nonetheless. So that kind of ruined our announcement."

“It’s unfortunate that DW uncovered that and the way it went down because we didn’t want to have to announce it like this.”

The coming media event, featuring someone from Richard Childress Racing and Teresa Earnhardt, is still expected to happen.

www.thatsracin.com

 

[jrose7004]

I'd think that it will be yellow and blue!

 

[6 Shooter]

"I'd think that it will be yellow and blue!"

 

[catbert]

DW leaked the story. Gee, what a shock.

 

[Gry Ghst]

:bashFor DW.

 

[jrose7004]

"Here comes Wrangler and he's one tough customer!"

 

[jrose7004]

Now here's a race car!