Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals Why He is Breaking His Promise of Not Racing With His Dad’s Number

Whenever one thinks of Dale Earnhardt, his iconic #3 always comes to mind. So when Dale Earnhardt Jr. arrived on the racing scene, he was adamant about not wanting to take up the number. Instead, he wanted to forge his own identity and make his own mark in the NASCAR arena. So he elected to run with a different number until his retirement. However, he will soon be back in action and this time will be in the #3 car.

He said, “I think for me, the Late Model Stock Car is a bit removed from the giant spotlight of NASCAR, and the Cup and Xfinity Series. I didn’t want to really look like an opportunist. Someone that is taking advantage of the legacy of what dad built with that number. But I ran the number in the Late Model Stock Series and the Xfinity Series. So when we came back and ran the Late Model Stock at Wilkesboro and with Sun Drop, that was my car, you know? That was more me than dad, so I had a lot of comfort and no worries about that.”

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What else did Dale Earnhardt Jr say?

Now, the driver is aiming to get back to some racing action once again. This time though, he is expected to use the #3 number, something that he swore that he would never do. However, Dale Jr explained the reasoning behind taking up the cudgels and reuniting the Earnhardt name with the number #3.

He continued, “This is getting in dad’s lane a little bit. But with our Bass Pro partnership and their involvement in our grassroots program, it was also critical to flip some switches and pull some levers, right? Johnny also loves the legacy of this car and the colors but I still feel like, because it’s a Late Model, that when we get on track at Florence, that this is my No. 3, you know?”

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Of course, he has used the #3 number before, but only in the Xfinity Series, where he has racked up a few wins with the number. Without a doubt, it will be exciting to see Dale Jr. racing. The former NASCAR driver has been competing on and off in the Xfinity Series. So one does have to wonder if he still has it in him.