Days have passed now since the announcement that Dale Earnhardt
Jr. would not be racing a number eight on his car next season. I
wanted to ensure that I had the correct information regarding my
commentary before I began shooting from the hip. Finding that there
was no rocket science involved, it's my feeling I can now offer my
say not only as a fan of Dale Jr, but the degredation of a car number
that is not only iconic to its current driver, but of the Earnhardt
family as a whole. I warn you, some of the issues I am about to
print some may be a find a tad crass.
First, when we discovered Dale Jr. was leaving DEI, one of the
first issues became of the fact we all hoped Teresa Earnhardt would
allow the number to depart with him. We were quick to be reminded
that it was NASCAR who governed the issuance of all numbers to all
race teams, and it appeared that the decision would ultimately be
theirs. It was then I was willing to take it on the chin not once,
but twice. *Tongue in Cheek* ...that my favorite driver was
defecting to the enemy, and he may not be able to take his number
with him. However, he was STILL Dale Earnhardt Jr. Roll with the
punches, right?
It's only now, but some evil S.N.A.F.U. that we discover that
Teresa Earnhardt ends up with the upper hand regarding the
transference of the number eight. As a show of this very fact, it is
apparent that Nazism still exists in the modern age of ownership as
she has decided to retain possession of the our beloved numeral.
Now, I ask, what does this number mean to HER? In this writer's
opinion, nothing more than getting the last laugh on a step son whose
relationship had been rocky since the get-go. Historically
throughout the Earnhardt Dynasty, the eight has had great
significance.
Ralph Earnhardt, did in fact, race other numbers, such as 22,
but ended up being known, and appreciated for hauling ass with the
eight painted on his doors. As in any empire, the torch is passed to
a son eventually, thus no exception. Ralph Dale Earnhardt, racing
many different numbers throughout his illustrious career, began with
the eight, and even paid homage to his father's accomplishments in a
1988 Busch race by pasting the same number to the doors of his
Camaro. Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't escape the numbers game
either my friends. Though ending his Busch series dominance with his
father's legendary number three planted on his Monte Carlo to
inhereting his grandfather's historic eight, which we've all come to
know, love, and appreciate throughout the world of NASCAR. Teresa
Earnhardt simply married into the family. No matter what escapes her
dictating pie hole from now on, knows not the true significance
behind the number she has so thoughtlessly theifed from her estranged
step son.