Last ride at Daytona with No. 3

Last ride at Daytona with No. 3

   The No. 3 is more than just a number to me.

   It is a number that represents hope and dreams. It represents the common man and the rich man. It represents aggressiveness and successes.

   Most of it it represents Dale Earnhardt.

   Earnhardt achieved many success with hard work and sacrifice. The No. 3 represents the greatest driver in the 60-plus year history of NASCAR.

   Dale may not have won the most races, but he did tie Richard Petty in the all-time championship mark with seven.

   But I'm not here to talk about the seven championships or the 76 race wins (sixth all-time) in the top tier of the sport.

   The only number that needs to be discussed is No. 3.

   And on Friday, the No. 3 returns to the track, looking familiar with Dale Earnhardt Jr. taking the wheel for the Wrangler '80s retro-themed car

around the Daytona International Speedway for one final time in a Nationwide Series race.

   The No. 3 driven by Dale Earnhardt won numerous races at Daytona in the Busch Series, now known as the Nationwide Series. Earnhardt Jr. said earlier this week that this will be his final time driving the No. 3 in NASCAR, and it is an honor to drive the No. 3. It was an honor to be a fan of the elder Earnhardt as well. In the late '90s, Dale Jr. drove the No. 3 himself, winning two Busch Series championships (1998-99) under the Dale Earnhardt Inc. banner.

   In 2002 Dale Jr also drove a No. 3 Oreo-themed car to victory lane at Daytona. But his time around, it is going to be final ride in the No. 3.

   In honor of his father's induction to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in May, this will be the final ride.

   Since NASCAR doesn't retire numbers, who knows if someone down the road will want to drive the No. 3?

   But with the son driving the father’s number and retro-themed car, at Daytona, where his father died on a last-lap crash, makes it full circle, or

in NASCAR’s case, full-oval. What will make this different is knowing that Dale Jr. is 99 percent sure he will never drive the number again, and the No. 3 will never be the same again.

   This makes it must-see-TV for not only myself, but millions of Dale Earnhardt who miss seeing the No. 3 racing around the track on a weekly

basis. This is the perfect time for one last ride in the No. 3. This is for every fan who cheered for Dale Earnhardt, whether it was when he was Rookie of the Year in 1979 and Cup champion in 1980 while driving a No. 2 car or whether it was when he drove a No. 15 Wrangler car or the No. 3 Wrangler or Goodwrench logos painted on the car.

   I am getting goosebumps thinking about all the great races  I’ve watched over the years with the No. 3 leading the pack to victory lane.

   A few of my favorite memories of the No. 3 car are of the Daytona 500 in 1998 when he won his only 500 after 20 years of heartbreak in “The Great

American Race.”

   Another good time of the No. 3 came when he punted Terry Labonte and the Kellogg’s Corn Flake aside for the win at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1999.

After the race, Earnhardt said he just meant to "rattle his cage," with a grin on his face, as fans booed and some cheered. I was one of the fans

sitting at home cheering! But the most memorable race for me came when Earnhardt maneuvered his car from 18th to first in a handful of laps to win at Talladega.

   I celebrated when he won on that October Sunday. Little did I know at the time, that race would be his final win and the

last time I’d celebrate a win by The Intimidator. No other athlete has ever left a lasting image on me like Earnhardt has.

   Just his story of sacrifice and hard work can inspire anyone to not only chase their dreams, but bump them a few times and rattle their cages.

   So, yes, for me the No. 3 is just more than the number after two and before four. 

   It is much more.

   But on Friday I will be sitting at home, and hopefully it can be like old times of seeing the No. 3 in first place headed to the checkered flag.

   I never have expected Dale Earnhardt Jr. to race or win like his dad, but for one night, I hope he can just turn the clock back and help everyone

remember the good times that Dale Earnhardt brought to every fan’s life in many different ways.

   But a pass in the grass, bump for the win would be nice, too.

   Stephen Forsha is the editor of The Highland County Press.

The No. 3 is more than just a number to me.

   It is a number that represents hope and dreams. It represents the common man and the rich man. It represents aggressiveness and successes.

   Most of it it represents Dale Earnhardt.

   Earnhardt achieved many success with hard work and sacrifice. The No. 3 represents the greatest driver in the 60-plus year history of NASCAR.

   Dale may not have won the most races, but he did tie Richard Petty in the all-time championship mark with seven.

   But I'm not here to talk about the seven championships or the 76 race wins (sixth all-time) in the top tier of the sport.

   The only number that needs to be discussed is No. 3.

   And on Friday, the No. 3 returns to the track, looking familiar with Dale Earnhardt Jr. taking the wheel for the Wrangler '80s retro-themed car around the Daytona International Speedway for one final time in a Nationwide Series race.

   The No. 3 driven by Dale Earnhardt won numerous races at Daytona in the Busch Series, now known as the Nationwide Series. Earnhardt Jr. said earlier this week that this will be his final time driving the No. 3 in NASCAR, and it is an honor to drive the No. 3. It was an honor to be a fan of the elder Earnhardt as well. In the late '90s, Dale Jr. drove the No. 3 himself, winning two Busch Series championships (1998-99) under the Dale Earnhardt Inc. banner.

   In 2002 Dale Jr also drove a No. 3 Oreo-themed car to victory lane at Daytona. But his time around, it is going to be final ride in the No. 3.

   In honor of his father's induction to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in May, this will be the final ride.

   Since NASCAR doesn't retire numbers, who knows if someone down the road will want to drive the No. 3?

   But with the son driving the father’s number and retro-themed car, at Daytona, where his father died on a last-lap crash, makes it full circle, or

in NASCAR’s case, full-oval. What will make this different is knowing that Dale Jr. is 99 percent sure he will never drive the number again, and the No. 3 will never be the same again.

   This makes it must-see-TV for not only myself, but millions of Dale Earnhardt who miss seeing the No. 3 racing around the track on a weekly

basis. This is the perfect time for one last ride in the No. 3. This is for every fan who cheered for Dale Earnhardt, whether it was when he was Rookie of the Year in 1979 and Cup champion in 1980 while driving a No. 2 car or whether it was when he drove a No. 15 Wrangler car or the No. 3 Wrangler or Goodwrench logos painted on the car.

   I am getting goosebumps thinking about all the great races  I’ve watched over the years with the No. 3 leading the pack to victory lane.

   A few of my favorite memories of the No. 3 car are of the Daytona 500 in 1998 when he won his only 500 after 20 years of heartbreak in “The Great

American Race.”

   Another good time of the No. 3 came when he punted Terry Labonte and the Kellogg’s Corn Flake aside for the win at Bristol Motor Speedway in 1999.

After the race, Earnhardt said he just meant to "rattle his cage," with a grin on his face, as fans booed and some cheered. I was one of the fans sitting at home cheering! But the most memorable race for me came when Earnhardt maneuvered his car from 18th to first in a handful of laps to win at Talladega.

   I celebrated when he won on that October Sunday. Little did I know at the time, that race would be his final win and the last time I’d celebrate a win by The Intimidator. No other athlete has ever left a lasting image on me like Earnhardt has.

   Just his story of sacrifice and hard work can inspire anyone to not only chase their dreams, but bump them a few times and rattle their cages.

   So, yes, for me the No. 3 is just more than the number after two and before four. 

   It is much more.

   But on Friday I will be sitting at home, and hopefully it can be like old times of seeing the No. 3 in first place headed to the checkered flag.

   I never have expected Dale Earnhardt Jr. to race or win like his dad, but for one night, I hope he can just turn the clock back and help everyone remember the good times that Dale Earnhardt brought to every fan’s life in many different ways.

   But a pass in the grass, bump for the win would be nice, too.

   Stephen Forsha is the editor of The Highland County Press.