Little E in the number 3?

[Kyle48]

From Jayski-
Does "Little E" ever wonder if it might be better if he had moved on out of the DEI team his father founded and went to the Childress team his father drove for? "Yeah!" he says, cheer suddenly rising in his hoarse voice, his eyes brightening. "And I think about that. And that's still -- that's always an option." As the only man alive who could carry "3" on his door panels with public approval and indeed celebration, and with his Bud sponsorship willing to follow him wherever he goes, it would seem he could pick up the phone and virtually be there. "Right," he confirmed. "Yeah. Richard and I haven't really sat down at a desk to talk about it, but he owns the number '3' and I want to drive the No. 3 race car before I retire. I've told Richard I want to finish my career in his race car, or in a No. 3 car if he and Teresa [Earnhardt] can come to some agreement or whatever." He means a transfer of ownership of the number. His stepmother, Dale's widow Teresa, owns Dale Earnhardt Inc. and has the ultimate say, although Richie Gilmore runs the company for her. She rarely comes to races or appears in public and doesn't speak with the media. Earnhardt Jr. is under contract to her through 2007. But could something be worked out? And how long would it take? "Oh, if everybody was for it, less than 24 hours, I would assume," Earnhardt said. "But I don't see that happening. I mean, not everybody's going to be cool about it. I don't think Teresa would want me to leave, in the first place."(See very large and interesting column at the Orlando Sentinel)(6-25-2005)

I'm not an Earnhardt fan, but I can't help the feeling that he's taken for granted at DEI just because he's expected to work there. It would be cool to see him in the 3 car for RCR.

- K y l e

 

[peyton shea]

I would like to see Dale Jr. retired at RCR but with the # 8.

I will always feel like the # 3 is Dale Sr. and should be retired as such.

 

[This Buds For Me]

I'm not an Earnhardt fan, but I can't help the feeling that he's taken for granted at DEI just because he's expected to work there. It would be cool to see him in the 3 car for RCR.

Thats kind of the way i feel....he gets treated like royalty outside of that organization, but i think Teresa is really tearing DEI up and is taking Jr down with her....i dont think DEI is the best place for Jr right now...if you get a chance, go read the rest of the article...very interesting....Jr has made the 8 famous, but id sure as hell love to see him drive the 3.......that would be an awesome site to see the 3 back on the race track....but i personally feel, only Jr and Kerry are the ones that can drive it.....Kerry would spook me out lol....he's a spittin image of his dad.....think of seeing him in the black 3....haha

 

[buckaroo]

One day, someone will be driving that famous number 3 but it could be in a different model car and owned by someone other than Childress. We just don't know. But for those who can only think of the name Earnhardt in the #3, many of us continue to think of one name and one name only in the very famous #43 and it sure ain't Green.

It's funny how drivers can be so associated by a certain number. Jeffy will more than likely end his career driving only the number 24 car in the Cup series. How many remember what his number was in the Busch series? #1! and who had that number in that series before him? Marky!

For me, I guess that I will always associate Jr with the number 8 car, but if he switches, it'll take years before people reassociate him with another number and if he does step into the #3 car, he will forever be more compared to his father than before and that I would think would be a mistake on his part.

 

[This Buds For Me]

For me, I guess that I will always associate Jr with the number 8 car, but if he switches, it'll take years before people reassociate him with another number and if he does step into the #3 car, he will forever be more compared to his father than before and that I would think would be a mistake on his part.

i dont know if you can compare any more than people already do....he already has tremendous about of presure on him because he's his daddy's son.....i dont think it can any worse than it already is.

 

[DE_Wrangler_2]

I could happen..........but I don't think anytime soon. I know Richard Childress would put Jr in the 3 if Jr wants it. I also know Budweiser would follow (so it would probably be a red #3 instead of black). And I believe Teresa would not put up too much of a fight if Jr wanted to move...........but only when Jr's contract is up. So maybe after the 2007 season.........but then if Jr stumbles on to a Championship in the 8 under DEI, then all bets are off!!!

 

[barelypure]

Some of you may have an inkling of how I feel about Lil'E and I'll try to put that aside for this.
He should leave DEI. He will always face the criticism that he hasn't "earned" his way. He needs to prove that he is the driver all of the Lil'E fans he says he is behind another wheel.
As to transmogrifying the #3 to a red Bud #3, to me that is sacrilege. If it can't be the black #3 with an appropriate sponsor then keep it off the track. There is no need to sully the memory.

 

[This Buds For Me]

not really trying to start an argument here...but im not sure why most people think that Jr hasnt earned anything.....Jr has pretty much made DEI what it is today.......sure they had ran good in the cup and busch series before he came along......but Steve Park didnt win the championship the year he did run Busch....Jr won 2 of them....and if you really think about it...Jr has really been the only big time sucess they have had in the cup series....Park could have been great...to bad the injuries did him in.

 

[barelypure]

not really trying to start an argument here...but im not sure why most people think that Jr hasnt earned anything.....

But, you have to admit that the criticism is there. Whether it is valid or not Lil'E will always be thought of as a driver that had his ride handed to him. If he ever wins a Cup championship it may slacken some or intensify. But, if he were to do it in a non-DEI car he could forever put his doubters at rest.

I'm not saying he can't driver. I do abhor the media circus that surrounds him and his own attitude towards his fans and appearances. With that I'll close that can of worms before I upset some people.

 

[buckaroo]

But, you have to admit that the criticism is there. Whether it is valid or not Lil'E will always be thought of as a driver that had his ride handed to him. If he ever wins a Cup championship it may slacken some or intensify. But, if he were to do it in a non-DEI car he could forever put his doubters at rest.

Jr is just one of a long list of drivers who's father was a driver/owner or something else in the upper echelon of the sport. In fact, that used to be just about the only way one could actually get a ride in one of those cars. Question, would Kyle Petty ever get a ride if his father hadn't been so good? Would King Richard even have been given a chance? We don't know the answers to those or any other question, but it isn't anything new that getting a ride was influenced by one's father.

You can say all you want about Jr, but he did have to make his way. If you look at his half brother Kerry, you'll see that just by having the name Earnhardt isn't automatic in getting a good ride or at least keeping it.

 

[DE_Wrangler_2]

Buck, you've been around long enough to know that argument don't fly with the hate Earnhardt crowd. At least you are open minded enough to set your feelings for Earnhardt Sr aside and look at Jr positively...........many are not so honest.