[PBAbrian]

First of all... I agree... a number is just a number. But it is how we as sports fans identify our favorite players. When you think of Michael Jordan you think of 23. When you think of Babe Ruth you think of 3. What's difficult when you apply this to NASCAR is that there are several teams, but only 1 of each number. While I agree that there are a few numbers that should never be out there again, what would qualify a number being retired? Winning 7 championships? Dying in a wreck? Winning 15 races in a season? The line would need to be drawn. How can anyone compare what Petty did to what Earnhardt did? How can a Tony Stewart or a Jimmy Johnson be compared to Davy Allison or a Darrell Waltrip? You can't say what this guy did in today's era is the same as what another guy did in yesterday's era. What you can put a finger on is what the driver did for the sport in his years as a driver. How come we can retire Dale Earnhardt's #3 but not Richard Petty's #43? If Richard died tomorrow would the #43 dissapear? probably not. But here's why I do believe Dale Jr. will not ever drive the #3. Look back though history and look at every sport. Golf, Baseball, Bowling, Football, Basketball, Hockey... there are so many legends... and so many of them had sons who followed. Each son had to live in the shadows of his great father. While I'm sure Jr. is proud of his family history... driving the #3 only solidifies that he is riding his father's coat tails.

[LSC9901]

And this is what opinions are all about. Dale Jr. should only be known for what HE has done. Not what Daddy did before him . Statisics are what make athletes great. For anyone who is really interested in the facts you can look up Jr.'s stats and compare them to many of the long time series drivers. With the few years he has under his belt he has already out performed many veteran drivers. Yes, there are young drivers that have better stats than he does. That is what competition is all about. Knock that guy out of the record books. Records were made to be broken.

There are many numbers out there today that were used by then famous drivers. I don't advocate putting the 3 back on the track tomorrow but 10 years from now there will be a lot of fans that have no recollection of Dale Sr. As I noted earlier the number 8 car was Jr.'s grandfathers number. How about the 7 car? He was a series champion who dies tragically. How about the #28. Davey Allison ?? Far to many numbers are credited with great careers but are still used. Let some years pass and then put the number back into service. Sure there'll be some disjointed fans but they'll get over it the first time the #3 is in victory lane.

[LSC9901]

Oh By the way PBAbrian ... welcome to GTG. We are in our off season right now but hopefully you'll help us stay active until the new season begins. Just a few more days !!

[lilsexy08]

Originally Posted by PBAbrian

First of all... I agree... a number is just a number. But it is how we as sports fans identify our favorite players. When you think of Michael Jordan you think of 23. When you think of Babe Ruth you think of 3. What's difficult when you apply this to NASCAR is that there are several teams, but only 1 of each number. While I agree that there are a few numbers that should never be out there again, what would qualify a number being retired? Winning 7 championships? Dying in a wreck? Winning 15 races in a season? The line would need to be drawn. How can anyone compare what Petty did to what Earnhardt did? How can a Tony Stewart or a Jimmy Johnson be compared to Davy Allison or a Darrell Waltrip? You can't say what this guy did in today's era is the same as what another guy did in yesterday's era. What you can put a finger on is what the driver did for the sport in his years as a driver. How come we can retire Dale Earnhardt's #3 but not Richard Petty's #43? If Richard died tomorrow would the #43 dissapear? probably not. But here's why I do believe Dale Jr. will not ever drive the #3. Look back though history and look at every sport. Golf, Baseball, Bowling, Football, Basketball, Hockey... there are so many legends... and so many of them had sons who followed. Each son had to live in the shadows of his great father. While I'm sure Jr. is proud of his family history... driving the #3 only solidifies that he is riding his father's coat tails.

Hi PBA! It's fun here!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by PBAbrian

First of all... I agree... a number is just a number. But it is how we as sports fans identify our favorite players. When you think of Michael Jordan you think of 23. When you think of Babe Ruth you think of 3. What's difficult when you apply this to NASCAR is that there are several teams, but only 1 of each number. While I agree that there are a few numbers that should never be out there again, what would qualify a number being retired? Winning 7 championships? Dying in a wreck? Winning 15 races in a season? The line would need to be drawn. How can anyone compare what Petty did to what Earnhardt did? How can a Tony Stewart or a Jimmy Johnson be compared to Davy Allison or a Darrell Waltrip? You can't say what this guy did in today's era is the same as what another guy did in yesterday's era. What you can put a finger on is what the driver did for the sport in his years as a driver. How come we can retire Dale Earnhardt's #3 but not Richard Petty's #43? If Richard died tomorrow would the #43 dissapear? probably not. But here's why I do believe Dale Jr. will not ever drive the #3. Look back though history and look at every sport. Golf, Baseball, Bowling, Football, Basketball, Hockey... there are so many legends... and so many of them had sons who followed. Each son had to live in the shadows of his great father. While I'm sure Jr. is proud of his family history... driving the #3 only solidifies that he is riding his father's coat tails.

>CLAP> <CLAP> <CLAP> I totally agree with 99% of what you so eloquently stated. Retiring a number is simply a symbolic gesture and symbolism is usually worth exactkly what you pay for it; nothing.

The only thing I differ in opinion is Junior ever driving the number three. I don't believe that he'll ever drive it on a regular basis but the promotion value and the money will just be too great. I think that before he leaves the sport he'll drive a #3 at least once in a one-up deal with RCR. I also believe that as long as Richard Childress is running RCR, he'll keep control of the number three and that will be as close to "retirement" as we'll ever see.

[26 miles from Joplin]

I think it would be great for nascar for Jr to be in the 3 car. Look at how much merchandise they would sell. It would be bigger than 8 merchandise. But Jr would have to deal with mommy, and we know she loves money. If down the road it does happen the first race there wouldnt be a dry eye in the house.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by 26 miles from Joplin

I think it would be great for nascar for Jr to be in the 3 car. Look at how much merchandise they would sell. It would be bigger than 8 merchandise. But Jr would have to deal with mommy, and we know she loves money. If down the road it does happen the first race there wouldnt be a dry eye in the house.

Hmmm...? Yeah, the hype would be earth-shaking. I'm sure the entire idea makes Brian France salivate. The more I think about it, though, I think that IF such an event ever were to come about, it would have to be soon. It's now been over five years since Dale Sr's demise and already I believe that there are a sizeable number of "fans" (term used advisedly) who have no personal memory of Dale Sr. Unfortunately, soon he will be as relevant to stock car racing as Frank Sinatra is to music and Theodore Roosevelt is to wildlife conservation.

IRT either Brenda or Theresa, I believe Junior owns his own contract and neither lady would be involved in Dale's driving a number three, other than emotionally.

[CrAzYodaz]

i dunt know... ive been a #8 fan for years now, and call me stupid but i never got so frustrated as i am now!!



reading through the bottom of that article witch describes this issue i would have to agree

its time for JR to finish 2007 with DEI and go somewhere else

i mean come on....... in 2004 when he had that burn --- theresa would not even let JR or his real mom fly on a DEI plane

family fueds are just that........ and thats usually why family and work dont mix.... however ...

oh there is so much i want to say..... but wont

if JR re-signs in 2008 then i will still be a JR fan......

but as a fan..... i would hope my driver would have some dignaty about family issues..... and theresa does not seem to understand them

enough said just read the link above --- its the best on the over all DEI battles

quote taken from above link

Earnhardt was also dogged by rumors in 2004, after suffering injuries in an American Le Mans race that his stepmother was refusing to fly him to and from races on any of the company planes because his real mother, Brenda, was accompanying him to help take care of his burn wounds.

While Earnhardt denied those reports multiple team sources from DEI and Richard Childress Racing (who took over the job of getting Earnhardt and his mother to the track) confirmed that Teresa Earnhardt had indeed expressed her dissatisfaction with Brenda's presence and the fact that Earnhardt had sustained those burns while driving in a non-NASCAR extracurricular race, killing his chances of a championship that season

move on JR. obviously you and RC have something up your sleeves...... have a killer year in 2007 and a championship year with a new team in 2008