Comments on: Dillon Will Never Be More Than ‘Driver Of The 3′

By: Michael J Smith

Michael J Smith — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:52:27 +0000

Thanks for reading and commenting, Richard.

I said in my posting that Austin Dillon running the No. 3 in the truck series isn’t likely to elicit the same response seeing him run the No. 3 in Nationwide or Sprint Cup would. So I agree with you there.

I also don’t have a problem with Richard Childress running the No. 3 — it’s his number to do with as he sees fit. I also know the connection the Childress family has to the number.

My point was, and still is, that putting Dillon in the No. 3 in N’Wide or Sprint Cup will subject him to unecessary scrutiny by Earnhardt Sr fans who either don’t like that he’s running that number, or who expect him to run well in the No. 3 — up to Dale Sr’s reputation. My question is, why would you put a driver through that?

I’m not arguing whether or not it’s right or wrong. I’m asking why put that pressure on Dillon?

By: Michael J Smith

Michael J Smith — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:47:41 +0000

Thanks for commenting, John.

I do agree with you, the number does not belong to Earnhardt. That’s why I said in my posting that Richard Childress has the right to run the number as he sees fit. I don’t have a problem with that.

With that said, it still doesn’t sit right with me because of the way Earnhardt Sr passed in that car, forming an eternal connection with it. But, that doesn’t really matter either.

My point was, no matter what Austin Dillon does in the No. 3, there are several Earnhardt fans out there that will either dislike him and Richard Childress for letting someone who is not an Earnhardt run it, or they will expect Dillon to live up to Dale Sr’s reputation behind the wheel of that car. Either way, that’s a lot of scrutiny and pressure to put on a kid right out of the box, and I think to some extent that’s what Childress is doing if he leaves Dillon in that car.

By: Richard in N.C.

Richard in N.C. — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:47:08 +0000

I’m not sure, has anyone else ever run the 3 in a Truck race? I am an Ironhead fan, but I also remember when RC ran the 3 before he quit driving. For gosh sake, Austin is running his grandfather’s number and in a series in which I don’t recall Earnhardt ever racing. I guess you have to have something to criticize.

By: john green

john green — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:49:27 +0000

Just because you relate the 3 to
Earnhardt dosen’t mean it belongs to him, he was one of my friends but when I was a kid Junior Johnson ran the 3 and he was also a hero and later a friend of mine, so it’s not the number it’s your own memory

By: Michael J Smith

Michael J Smith — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:03:54 +0000

Thanks for commenting, Diane.

I agree. Without judging Richard Childress for deciding to run his grandson in the No. 3, it is hard to watch someone not named Earnhardt run that number. It’s nothing against Austin Dillon or Richard Childress. It just seems that the No. 3 is just too big for anyone not named Earnhardt.

I think that the same reason Dale Earnhardt Jr doesn’t want to run that number — the magnitude of it and the pressure — is the same reason Richard Childress shouldn’t run it for anyone.

Again, thanks for reading and for commenting.

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:31:15 +0000

You expressed my feelings better than I could. It is just very hard to see someone other than an Earnhardt driving that number. I’m not sure how to describe it, but it comes close to infidelity.