Why the #3 Returning to Cup is a Good Thing

As humans, we tend to cling to an idealism, that we like to call "Nostalgia". Being a racing fan, that idealism is amplified to an extreme level, where we latch onto whatever racing driver we have deemed our "favorite".

NASCAR has been overcome with a great sense of nostalgia in regards to their favorite drivers, that even extends to the driver's number! The prime example of that is Dale Earnhardt and the legendary number 3.

Now, I am appreciative of what Dale Earnhardt has accomplished, and truly regard to him as one of the NASCAR greats. There is no disputing that he is a legend, but it comes down to this question: Will Dale Earnhardt's legacy continue if another driver takes the mantle?



Dale Earnhardt's legacy extends beyond the 3. Dale Earnhardt drove a multitude of different cars, donning the numbers 2, 8, 15, 19, 30, 77, 96, and 98, all in the Cup Series. In fact, Dale Earnhardt's first championship was driving the 2 car for Rod Osterlund.

I think the big thing that is worth considering as well is that Dale Earnhardt was not personified by his number, despite him wheeling that #3 Chevrolet for the nearly two decades! Dale became a legend because of his demeanor, both on and off the track.

I also know that Austin Dillon carries the utmost respect for Dale's legacy, but he also wants to create his own story. Before Dale, the #3 was driven by other drivers, including Junior Johnson, Ricky Rudd, Richard Childress. There has been a total of 74 different drivers in NASCAR's history that have donned the number 3 on the side of their cars.

Dale Earnardt has his own legacy, and the 3 has its own. The number 3 has been used since 1949, and has been driven by 7 drivers that have ultimately been inducted into NASCAR's Hall of Fame. The 3 was adopted by Earnhardt for the longest tenure, but I feel that the 3 deserves a second lease on life, and I think it is somewhat poetic that Richard Childress, who ran the 3 for a few years, gets to pass the torch to his grandson.

Say what you may about Austin Dillon and the quality equipment he has at his disposal, but he doesn't take it for granted. In 75 starts in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, he has 2 DNFs, and 3 DNFs in 55 Truck Series events. It's a wild card to see what will happen when he is thrust into the throws of NASCAR's premiere series, but with two NASCAR touring series championships to his name, he already has shown he can wheel a car.

I think that despite the mixed reactions to Austin inheriting the 3, it will definitely be a shot in the arm for NASCAR. The sport needed something that would increase ratings, and I feel that fans are getting tired of Danica and Kyle's antics, so we need to have something that has more substance come into the sport, and Austin's rendition of the 3 car will likely bring something to the table that NASCAR has been lacking for the better part of a decade.

NASCAR sure has many other flaws, but times are changing, and I see a bright horizon for NASCAR, and the 3 car's legacy to continue.