Dale Earnhardt Jr. to run the No. 3 once again, in Nationwide

By Jay Busbee
Follow Yahoo! Sports' From The Marbles on Facebook and Twitter.
Proving that the past is never past, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be driving a No. 3, the number his father made immortal, in the July Daytona Nationwide race.
ESPN.com is reporting that as part of an ongoing tribute to the late Earnhardt Sr., Junior will drive the famed No. 3. A press conference with Junior's own JR Motorsports; Richard Childress Racing, which holds claim to the number 3, and Dale Earnhardt Inc. will take place on April 29, and at that time they'll unveil the car Junior will drive. (Aside: note that this is bringing Junior and DEI together again. Never thought that would happen, huh?)
The 3 has only run eight times in any of NASCAR's top three series since the Intimidator's death in 2001. Junior drove the 3 twice in the Nationwide series in 2002, and Austin Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress, has run the 3 in the truck series twice last year and four times this year. Still, it's a safe bet that the July Daytona race will draw just a bit more notice than, well, all of the previous eight races put together.
However, this isn't a complete return to the days of the Intimidator. The No. 3 will not be the iconic black of Dale Sr., according to ESPN.com's sources. And that's probably just as well. Earlier this year, we called for NASCAR to retire the No. 3 and keep it retired. And as much as some fans would love to see Earnhardt running under the black 3, Junior himself almost certainly chafes at the idea. Having the name of the Intimidator to live up to is bad enough; driving his car around is asking Junior to completely subvert his own identity.
Still, this is a good gesture, one that I'm sure the fans of both Earnhardts will appreciate.
Related: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Soure:http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/...=nascar,236104

 

That is gonna be totally cool, I knew something like that was coming, just tought it would have been later rather than sooner......

 

see idk i dont think anyone should run the #3 again. i thought i heard they retired it but i guess not. idk i'm just not a huge fan of junior for several reasons =/

 

......I don't really have a problem with Jr. driving the No. 3
but as long it is him or someone from DEI or RCR. It is just
number but to NASCAR fans 3 is very sacreda nd should be
given special honor. We don't see 28 ( Davey Allison ) anymore either. ......or am I wrong ?
This sport needs ratings and butts in the seats and this will
definately help. Imagine the diecast preorders already ?

 

I rememeber Kenny Irwin drove the #28 before, maybe it was to honor Davey Allison, not sure though..He was also tragically taken from the NASCAR family.

 

Now you know what would be the icing on top? If they souped up a nice Monte Carlo for the return! That would turn heads!

 

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lila-McCann/38212608633?v=wall&story_fbid=112918328746573#!/notes/rcr-racing/dale-jr-to-drive-no-3-wranglerr-chevy-in-july-nns-race-at-daytona/432436624497

 

I like it. This is definitely something I want to see. I thought I heard that the #3 was retired also. But maybe that was just for Sprint Cup? If anyone should be driving the #3, it should be an Earnhardt. Whether it's Dale Jr, or his brother Kerry. I'd be happy with either one.

It would be nice if junior got things straightened out with Teresa Earnhardt, and made a return to DEI-Ganasi. And dare I say, drive the #8 again? Or is that just wishful thinking?

 

hey it looks like my race car =)