Start your engines!
Play RPM.ESPN Stock Car Challenge!
Win a Honda S2000!
Play The CART Challenge powered by Honda!
|
|
Wednesday, February 21
Harvick replaces Earnhardt on RCR team
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- On the day Dale Earnhardt was laid to rest during a private funeral Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing Enterprises has entered his car in Sunday's Dura-Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham.
Kevin Harvick, a Busch Series driver for RCR, will take over Earnhardt's car for the rest of the season.
|  | | Kevin Harvick will take over Dale Earnhardt's car for the rest of the season. The car will not, however, use the No. 3 or the familiar black colors. |
The 25-year-old Harvick, the Busch Series' Rookie of the Year last season, will drive Earnhardt's Chevrolet and use his crew. Kevin Hamlin, Earnhardt's crew chief, will head Harvick's team.
The car will not use the No. 3 or the black-and-silver scheme that was Earnhardt's trademark. Harvick will pilot a white-colored, GM Goodwrench-sponsored car, with the No. 29.
Harvick was scheduled to move up to Winston Cup next season as the third car in Childress' garage. Mike Skinner also drives a Cup car for RCR.
Meanwhile, NASCAR and the rest of the Winston Cup teams are still working out how to honor Earnhardt -- who was buried during a private graveside funeral in Kannapolis, N.C. on Wednesday -- this weekend.
There had been speculation that the three cars Earnhardt owned -- driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Park and Daytona winner Michael Waltrip -- would be painted black this weekend. But a spokesman for Dale Earnhardt Inc. said that was unlikely.
Instead, the cars will sport some sort of decal.
John McKenzie, president of Motorsports Designs in High Point, said the company was working with RCR and Earnhardt's widow, Teresa, to create a decal for all Winston Cup teams to use.
McKenzie said he submitted five designs to Teresa Earnhardt and RCR, and was awaiting final approval.
"It will be commemorative decal produced by their authority, on their approval, and distributed by RCR to the racing community only," McKenzie said.
He would not reveal what the five designs looked like, only saying they had "the components that represented Dale Earnhardt and everything that is synonymous with him."
A spokesman for Joe Gibbs Racing said drivers Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart want to honor Earnhardt but are waiting to see what develops with the decals.
"We've talked about and I'm sure all the teams want to honor him in some way," Tim Sullivan said. "We're just waiting to see what the appropriate way to do that is."
NASCAR said it would not require the Winston Cup teams to do anything to honor Earnhardt.
"We are in the discussion stage of trying to put something together as a tribute that is consistent with what DEI and RCR would want," said spokeswoman Danielle Humphrey.
Others have their own ideas.
Driver Ward Burton suggested painting the pace car black and adding the No. 3 to it. Tommy Baldwin, his crew chief, said he liked the idea of leaving the first stall in the garage empty all season. The first stall traditionally goes to the reigning Winston Cup champion.
Baldwin also urged NASCAR to retire the No. 3.
"I know it is not something that NASCAR typically does, but nobody will ever be able to fill the shoes that drove that car," Baldwin said.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
|
|
|
|
