Childress may bring No. 3 back in Nationwide Series

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Saturday, August 23, 2008

BRISTOL, Tenn.Richard Childress might bring the No. 3 back to an RCR vehicle in a NASCAR national touring division when grandson Austin Dillon competes in the series.
 
Childress said Dillon likely will drive in a Nationwide Series race later this year and possibly could be in the series full time in 2010.
 
Childress still owns the rights to the No. 3.
 
Dillon, the 18-year-old son of RCR Vice President Mike Dillon, has driven the No. 3 car in the NASCAR Camping World East Series.
 
“He enjoys racing it in the Camping World East Series,” Childress said. “He’s been running it some. We might do it in Nationwide, but I don’t have any intention anywhere else.”
 
Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the No. 3, made famous in Cup by his father, in the then-Busch Series in two races in 2002.  Those are the only two races that number has appeared in the Nationwide or Cup series since Earnhardt Sr. died in the 2001 Daytona 500.

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17 responses to "Childress may bring No. 3 back in Nationwide Series". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Twyla Whitesel said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 10:29 AM

    It would be great to see the #3 back on the track but personally I think an Earnhardt should drive it.

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  2. 2
    Gladys Bedwell said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 11:36 AM

    I am sure there will be mixed emotions for the die hard Earnhardt fans.

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  3. 3
    beth emerson said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 12:34 PM

    I think it would be a slap in the face of Dale Sr. I understand the # belongs to Childress but that # belonged to Sr . He made that # for Childress.
    I really think not only Sr fans will be upset all fans will be. Leave that # for only Dale Jr. Only he should be able to drive that #.
    I would love to see the black 3 but only if Jr is the one behind the wheel. I say leave it alone. Dont put that # on the track again.

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  4. 4
    Peggy Thacker said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 1:23 PM

    Childress said that numbered was retired...
    Dont think it is right to bring it back like this. I really miss seeing that Black #3 out there, but to see it come back like this....NOPE...just not right!

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  5. 5
    Peggy Thacker said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 1:25 PM

    Childress said that number was retired...
    Dont think it is right to bring it back like this. I really miss seeing that Black #3 out there, but to see it come back like this....NOPE...just not right!

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  6. 6
    Jessica Fogal said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 2:43 PM

    I am a diehard Dale Earnhardt fan but some people are forgetting that RC drove the 3 before Dale did. That is why Austin wants to drive the 3 car. Its fine in the Busch series but I wouldnt want to see it in the cup. The 3 runs in ARCA and other divisions of racing. Holding out hope that an Earnhardt will drive the 3 isnt going to happen since Jeffrey is with DEI. So let Austin drive the dang car!

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  7. 7
    Adam Argabright said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 4:12 PM

    The 3 should never be used in a NASCAR national touring series in any division unless there is an Earnhardt behind the wheel!

    If this happens, I will have a much lower opinion of Richard Childress.

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  8. 8
    Anonymous said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 4:31 PM

    Leave the Number 3 alone unless Jr. wants it. I don't care if RC raced it before, get another number. If Jr. never wants it, fine, don't race it. It would be hard enough to see it on the track with Jr. in it but I could not watch with someone else in it. How could he?

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  9. 9
    emily bagwell said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 4:37 PM

    Ditto, Adam.

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  10. 10
    Terry Duling said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 6:53 PM

    Been an Earnhardt fan for decades and would love to see 3 back on the track with family at the wheel. No number can or should be "retired". Good move, Richard ... Go Austin!

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  11. 11
    Norman . said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 7:47 PM

    I agree with Peggy Thacker... #3 is retired and should stay that way in respect for Dale.. Totally wrong to bring it back...

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  12. 12
    Wanda Butler said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 9:01 PM

    I think that car should stay retired no matter what.

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  13. 13
    Dru Miller said:
    Aug 23, 2008 at 9:47 PM

    I whole heartedly agree that the 3 should stay retired. I could not root for anyone but an Earnhardt driving it.

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  14. 14
    Anonymous said:
    Aug 24, 2008 at 11:12 AM

    My serious opinion, as an RCR fan *as well as* an Earnhardt fan, is that RC can do with #3 whatever he likes ... so this is OK.

    My idea of the perfect scenario would've been to have #3 retired just 3 entire years, not counting 2001. I'd have liked to see it brought back to Sprint Cup as the 4th team for RCR in 2005, with Harvick in the driver's seat.

    That was the plan Earnhardt, Sr. agreed to anyway, had he lived .... [cont'd]

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  15. 15
    Anonymous said:
    Aug 24, 2008 at 11:20 AM

    Had Sr. lived, he'd be retired by now (my guess is before '03 or '04 seasons), running DEI full-time, with Jr. as his next-in-line. At RCR, Harvick would be driving the #3 full-time anyway.

    Giving the #3 a rest of 3 complete seasons would've been perfectly respectable. In my opinion, it would have been dramatic and awe-inspiring in 2005 to see Harvick debut in the 500 as #3 - with plenty of Sr. retrospective - with the #29 driven by another driver (Bowyer debuted in Cup in '06). Here in 2008, then, you'd have Burton in #31, Harvick #3, Bowyer #29, and Mears #33 in the wings.

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  16. 16
    Scott Knowles said:
    Aug 24, 2008 at 11:24 AM

    By the way ... "Anonymous" above is me ...

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  17. 17
    emily bagwell said:
    Aug 24, 2008 at 9:10 PM

    I don't know what Richard thinks he would accomplish in putting the 3 on any track. He would lose more than he would gain because I think some fans would lose respect for him. I think he owes Dale that much. Even Junior has enough gumption to not want to try to fill Dale's shoes.Harvick got his cars---that should be enough without the 3 on them.

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