It would have been easy for Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Dillon to say the same thing Dale Earnhardt Jr. did: no more three for me.
Dillon had driven that number on the local levels but driving with that number on a NASCAR level in a different story. A story that he could have passed up on. Had he, no one would have thought any less of him. Instead when Dillon was promoted to drive for grandfather Richard Childress in the CWTS full-time in 2010, he eagerly jumped behind the wheel of a truck with the 3 on the side.
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[/media-credit]Not just any truck, a black truck with a white No. 3. It’s a scheme made famous by Dale Earnhardt Sr., which hasn’t seen the racetrack since that fateful day in 2001.
Going into his rookie season Dillon already had a crucial element on his side: no expectations. The only thing for Dillon was to learn, he wasn’t expected to go out and win races and compete for the championship.
What’s the saying about rookies? What they don’t know they don’t know. Simply log laps and learn, learn, learn.
Dillon logged plenty of laps and he certainly learned. He was a rookie in veterans clothing. When the pressure of driving the No. 3 could have gotten to the young kid and could have been intimidating Dillon instead used it as motivation.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself,” Dillon said after winning his first race at Iowa. “Just try each and every week to get the best finish we can with that number. I know the fans want to see it up front. That’s where I want it to be.”
Rookie of the Year honors were never a doubt. In 25 races Dillon captured seven poles, two wins, seven top fives and 16 top 10s. The championship was over early with the domination of Todd Bodine and Dillon never became a serious factor but he still wrapped up a top five finish.
Competitors have given him high praise and fans have flocked to him. Both his on track success and the number he’s driving have helped. With a full-year of competition now in his back pocket, the hardest part of Dillon’s career will come over the next few seasons.
Getting through a rookie year was hard in itself but remember there were no expectations. Dillon’s success blew a few minds while marking himself a contender from this point forward.
Heading into his sophomore season, this is where the expectations really come into play.
First thing, as with any driver who gets behind the wheel of anything with a three on it, Dillon needs to continue to tune out those pushing for someone to be the next Earnhardt. In a piece written last week it was stated that Dillon’s New Years resolution should be to remain Austin Dillon.
It may not have apparent in 2010 but the longer Dillon drives the 3 the more the more those whispers will surface. The more the comparisons to Earnhardt will surface in every accomplishment Dillon makes.
It shouldn’t be that way however.
Luckily he’s shown he has his head on straight. When talking about his future he clarified that he’s in no rush to run up the NASCAR ladder. The CWTS is where he wants to be and he’ll return for another season in 2011.
Don’t count out a few Nationwide Series races as he begins to test the waters. Dillon’s rumored to be scheduled for both Nashville races, Iowa in May and O’Reilly Raceway Park in the No. 33 for Kevin Harvick Inc.
The great thing is that he’s young and his future is bright, there’s no reason to push too fast.
The logical conclusions for some fans being that as long as Dillon moves up the ladder the No. 3 will as well. There’s a longing for that number to be back in the Sprint Cup Series where it will go back to winning races and championships again.
Right now though, Dillon is in control of his career. It’s important for it to remain that way, let him develop into his own driving style and let his career take its own course. He’s in the perfect position to finally break the belief that the No. 3 should only be driven by an Earnhardt or associated with Earnhardt, etc.
For those that don’t want him to be the next Earnhardt, there are those who want him to succeed in big ways. When a driver gets behind the wheel of that number they’re supposed to become superhuman or at least that’s the belief.
Compare it to those who believe because Dale Earnhardt Jr. is his father’s son, Earnhardt Sr. must have just spit a piece of himself out. Therefore Earnhardt Jr. is supposed to be the second coming of the Intimidator.
The same now for Dillon as he drives the Intimidators number.
“You know, it’s so awesome to see that number running well again,” said Dillon. “When you see it on top of the board when you leave the track, that was a really cool sight. That was cool for me and my grandfather … It’s a powerful number. It makes the people in the stands stand up and cheer. I love driving it. It’s a lot of fun.”
Fun. A few drivers have said in the past that the day racing isn’t fun anymore is the day a driver knows they need to move on and find something else to do. Dillon’s rookie year was a blast filled with much success. It was also marked the beginning of Dillon making the number his own as he started to etch his imprint onto the sport.
Austin Dillon, that is his name. The No. 3 is his truck, his number and his future. Together they will write their own pages in the NASCAR history books. Together they can rise to the top and be feared and famous.
But, when doing so they can only get the due they deserve if the name Earnhardt doesn’t keep appearing next to them and if the expectations of a legend don’t get into his head.
Hey Kelly,
As you know by my handle I’m a big Dale Sr fan and as far as I’m concerned that black RCR owned #3 truck has nothing to do with Dale – he never drove the darn thing, Mike Skinner did. So anything Dillon does in that truck has nothing to do with Dale’s legecy. The only people that are putting any significance to this whole deal are the fans who don’t know better or are still living in the past (albiet an inacurate one) and members of the media that have no recollection of the past.
As far as Nationwide goes, yes Earnhardt raced a black 3 in that series but he also raced a black 8 before the 3 and then Jeff Green drove the black 3 in Nationwide after Earnhardt did so there should be no real signigicance to his using the 3 in Nationwide unless his name is Earnhardt and last time I checked it isn’t.
Now cup is a different story, people will be polarized if he uses the 3 in the Cup Series for sure – my emotions are polarized just thinking about it – but Childress was going to keep using the 3 long after Earnhardt retired so what’s the difference?
The only reason why Dillon might not use the 3 in the Cup Series is because his Grandaddy and Teresa are still making a good profit by selling #3 Dale Earnhardt related merchandise.
My feeling is that once the profit margin on black #3 Earnhardt related merchandise begins to decline you’ll see RCR start using it in the Cup series again, although I don’t know if it’ll be a black #3 but you never know.
Good article BTW.
The number 3 is not important but the car should not be black with the number 3 on it.
It is good to see Dillon making a name for himself and I think he is doing that perhaps with a little help from the number. Yes, that number is synonymous with Dale Sr, but the fact that he is running it in the CWTS says a lot. Dale did not make that number in the Truck series, he made it in Cup. Dillon’s paint scheme is not like Sr.’s. Yes, the truck is black with a white 3 and that is where the similarities end. That BPS paint scheme looks like the one Martin Truex, Jr. drove for DEI when he ran in Busch. I don’t even think of Sr when I see that truck. I see MTJ. Austin new going into it the pressure he had when he picked that number. He had plenty of pressure just by people saying he is Richard Childress’ grandson. This line bothers me as well, “He’s in the perfect position to finally break the belief that the No. 3 should only be driven by an Earnhardt or associated with Earnhardt, etc.” Last time I checked, just by being RC’s grandson leaves him to be associated with the Earnhardt name. He was associated with it before he was even born. I agree that Austin should be receiving fan recognition because of his driving ability, but I have seen SEVERAL people who are still to this day Sr fans love that he is doing so well in the CWTS and are supporting him and have become Austin fans. Yes, at first, it is because of the number, but now they are a fan of the driver. You were asking for trouble with this article when you put Dale Earnhardt’s name in the title. You mention his name, people will get offensive and for good reason. He did a lot for this sport. If you want Austin to be recognized for his talent instead of his number, you should have worded your title differently. In Journalism 101 you sum up your article in your title.
Morgan – Thank you for reading and commenting, you sum up your points well and I can agree. I knew that when I wrote this it wasn’t going to be a popular topic because it was about Dale Earnhardt, you are correct in saying that people are quick to be defensive. And very quick to comment and tell me I’m wrong. But I didn’t want to shy away from sharing my opinion. The title is strong and it does grab people’s attention and I feel that it does sum up my point, however it can be worded differently as well.
#3 is Junior Johnson’s number from his outstanding 1962-63 season and always will be. Virtually every race photo you see of Junior is in that car.
I’ll let you have #3 when you give me #8 Joe Weatherly won back-to-back championships with that number. He died on the track, it’s disrespectful to let anyone else use the number. It’s number ten on the list of most races run, so it’s associtaed with many others as well.
Oh, and Dale Jarrett got his championship with #88 (7th in total number of races) so you can’t have that one either.
#48? Sorry, that;s james Hylton’s number ran it for more than sixteen years. Finished 2nd or 3rd in the championship for six of the seven years between 1966 and 1972. As an independent. During the height of factory support. Including his rookie year. It’s a disgrace to allow someone else to use that one.
Andy – you bring up interesting points about numbers and it can be tied back to what I said in a previous post. Many talk about retiring Dale’s number but if that happens then numbers of previous drivers who were successful in the sport would expect then same. It would hardly leave enough numbers to field the entire 43 cars.
Sorry Kelly, but you are out to lunch on this one! Dale is and always will be that number in cup. I have nothing against Dillon and wish him well, however that number should have been retired in cup long ago. Richard should not have allowed it to get this far. The first NASCAR race I attended was Daytona in 73′, and I think you are disrespecting someone who literally grew the sport more than any one person. That is until King Brian started making changes with the results that all see, but that is another story for you to write and I expect you will get wrong.
Retiring the number is a popular opinion and I don’t think many would object to it should that time ever come. But I think the problem is that if you retire Dale’s number then other successful drivers that helped build the sport would want their numbers retired as well and soon we wouldn’t have anything left to run.
I respect your opinion and appreciate you taking the time to read and comment, but to say that I’m disrespectful or got a story wrong because I’m sharing my opinion is a stretch. Even if it’s not a popular opinion and it’s about a driver who was an icon of the sport.
Got to agree with oldtimer. You say you wish they would embrace whatever legacy without bringing up Dales name. sounds easy, but how could one do that? I’m sorry, but the #3 will always be forever connected to Dale Earnhardt.
Best wish’s to Dillon & Richard..But the paint scheme in cup Or the #3 should not be running out of respect for what the man did for NASCAR & Childress organization never accomplished anything (80’s-90’s) without him…This # should be retired…Just another opinion..How many other drivers did the France’s ever take advice from?
The black #3 will always be associated with Dale Earnhardt. It shouldn’t be any other way. I think it is fantastic for Richard and Austin to be running the black #3 again and it is great to see it out on the track as a tribute to the Intimidator. While that is the status of the black #3, I do agree that Austin himself should have the opportunity to develop himself as his own racer in a manner that suits himself, and in no way should Austin be expected to duplicate the success of, nor should his driving be compared to that of Dale Earnhardt.
I find it interesting that you have inadvertently already set expectations and compared Austin to Dale in the closing of your article, suggesting that: “The No. 3 is his truck, his number and his future. Together they will write their own pages in the NASCAR history books. Together they can rise to the top and be feared and famous.”
Just like Dale, write pages in the history books, rise to the top, be feared, be famous.
“…if the expectations of a legend don’t get into his head.”
Thank you for the comment Kevin. Yes, it does look as though I have inadvertently done that. Maybe should have rephrased it to make it more of “be feared and famous in their own way,” or something to that effect. Thanks for reading.
Sorry, Kelly:
Number Three will always be Dale’s car!
Others may drive that car but it will, in a sense, only be on loan to them and hopefully act as an inspiration to all those that are connected with it.
I wish Richard, Dillon and the whole organization only the best in the future of the #3.
It’s nice to see the number back on the track and it may always be viewed as Dale’s. However, can’t we embrace Dillon using it and embrace whatever legacy he comes to set with it instead of trying to compare it to Earnhardt? Thanks for reading and commenting.
Kelly:
What did I just say in the last sentence of my short discourse?
I have to agree… I kept up with Austin all year in that #3 truck and was AMAZED… As A HUGE Earnhardt Sr fan, it warmed my heart to see that black #3 truck out there doing so good… And Austin Dillon is a REALLY nice kid so far… BUT FOR ANYONE TO SUGGEST THAT WE REMOVE EARNHARDT SR’S MEMORY AND NAME FROM THE #3 IS JUST BLASPHEMY!!! I am 44 yrs old and have been an Earnhardt fan since the late 70’s when he started working on that legend he became… I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE THE #3 IN THE CUP SERIES AGAIN UNLESS EITHER 2 PEOPLE ARE DRIVING IT… DALE JR OR MICHAEL WALTRIP… (THOSE WHO KNEW JUST HOW CLOSE MICHAEL AND SR WERE WILL UNDERSTAND)….
BUT TO SAY ITS TIME TO REMOVE DALE SR’S MEMORY AND NAME FROM THE #3 IS JUST PLAIN WRONG. THATS LIKE SAYING IF RICHARD PETTY DIED TOMORROW, 10 YRS LATER, WE SHOULD FORGET THAT HE MADE THE #43 LEGENDARY FOR AS LONG AS HE HAS…
To clarify – I never said we needed to remove Dale Sr.’s memory or name from the car, I’m saying we need to remove him from the conversation when talking about the current driver of the 3. It’s not fair to always bring up Earnhardt Sr.’s name and comparisons to those of Dillon or anyone else. They shouldn’t have to live with those expectations.
Since mine is the only comment awaiting “moderation”, I assume you are tweeting about me. I was not unkind to you. You have every right to your opinion as I have to mine. Here, however, is a fact. You are young, and you simply cannot understand or appreciate the feelings long-time fans of Dale Earnhardt have. It isn’t a fault. But you simply cannot understand something fully until you have lived it. I was once young too, but that is in my past. You will be surprised as time goes by how your opinions will change. Someday you will look back and be amazed. If we’re lucky enough to age, we gain experience and wisdom. It happens to the best of us. Since you object to readers expressing an opinion at odds with yours, I will refrain from doing so in the future.
I did not object to your opinion at all. Without disagreement or opinions there would be no discussion. Everyone would agree and be happy etc and no one would get to express how they really felt.
If you read my full post I said that I appreciate every comment that I receive from readers who take the time to look at what I publish. That includes you. I was just pointing out that I found it amusing that most people point to my age as a reason why they disagree with me. Just because I’m young doesn’t mean I’m not good at what I do or don’t have wisdom.
I also never said you were unkind to me. I certainly understand the feelings that go along with Dale Earnhardt, I wasn’t implying that people need to get over them and move on or forget him. This however, is my opinion that his name does not need to appear in a sentence with drivers who from this point forward may want to drive the No. 3. I feel comparisons are unfair and overshadow the accomplishments of an Austin Dillon or whomever else may drive it in the future.
I apologize that you feel I was upset with you, that was not the case at all. It was an observation.
While I support your opinion, I disagree with it. The sight of the black #3 truck is startling, but I love Richard and the use of this truck for his grandson is understandable. I can accept that. But to completely disregard the reverence of that #3 on a NNS or Cup car with Dillon or any other driver would be shattering. I realize you are still young and may not realize the depth of our feelings, but they are deep. Earnhardt was one of a kind, and that car was one of a kind. A perfect car for a great driver. History is a huge part of the present and future of Nascar. The #3 black car is part of that history and should be preserved for the sport to continue to thrive. I hope Dillon has a very successful future. But in another car with another number.
You did a great job on this piece. I simply disagree with your opinion.
I AM A HUGE DALE, SR FAN AND HARVICK FAN. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE 3 BACK IN THE CUP SERIES. TO OLDTIMER, THE 43 IS STILL RUNNING OUT THERE WITHOUT A PETTY IN IT. THE 28 WAS RAN AFTER DAVEY PASSED. AUSTIN IS PERFECT FOR THE 3!!!!