Post by dalejrfan on Feb 16, 2006 19:36:04 GMT -5
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Richard Childress says there is no dispute between him and the widow of Dale Earnhardt about what to do with the No. 3 that was driven by the seven-time Cup champion.
Teresa Earnhardt, in a rare interview with SPEED Channel for a tribute on the fifth anniversary of Earnhardt's death at Daytona International Speedway, said it is her preference to retire the number.
Her comment came less than two weeks after Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he hoped to drive the No. 3 for Childress late in his career.
"Contrary to popular belief, everyone cannot be replaced,'' Teresa said. "Legends live on forever. I don't think the No. 3 will ever be driven by anyone else.''
Childress, who pays NASCAR for the right to the number that Earnhardt drove to six championships for Richard Childress Racing, said retiring the number is his first preference.
To do that, NASCAR would have to break its long-standing tradition of not retiring numbers.
"We're all going to work together on it,'' Childress said before Thursday's 150-mile qualifying races. "We all want to see it retired, but if it's not I will do what I have to make sure that [somebody's in it].
The biggest thing is she and I are on the same page as far as wanting to see it retired. But if it's not, if an Earnhardt wants to drive it, if I decide I want my grandsons to drive it, we'll make those decisions when the time comes.''
When Childress says an Earnhardt, he doesn't limit it to Earnhardt Jr.
"Dale's got some grandkids out there, and one of them is going to be a great little race driver,'' Childress said. "What happens if he comes along one day and says I want to drive my granddads car?
"What happens if Taylor [Earnhardt's daughter with Teresa] some day decides she wants to drive? That option should be left open. But all of our first options is to retire it.''
Teresa Earnhardt, in a rare interview with SPEED Channel for a tribute on the fifth anniversary of Earnhardt's death at Daytona International Speedway, said it is her preference to retire the number.
Her comment came less than two weeks after Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he hoped to drive the No. 3 for Childress late in his career.
"Contrary to popular belief, everyone cannot be replaced,'' Teresa said. "Legends live on forever. I don't think the No. 3 will ever be driven by anyone else.''
Childress, who pays NASCAR for the right to the number that Earnhardt drove to six championships for Richard Childress Racing, said retiring the number is his first preference.
To do that, NASCAR would have to break its long-standing tradition of not retiring numbers.
"We're all going to work together on it,'' Childress said before Thursday's 150-mile qualifying races. "We all want to see it retired, but if it's not I will do what I have to make sure that [somebody's in it].
The biggest thing is she and I are on the same page as far as wanting to see it retired. But if it's not, if an Earnhardt wants to drive it, if I decide I want my grandsons to drive it, we'll make those decisions when the time comes.''
When Childress says an Earnhardt, he doesn't limit it to Earnhardt Jr.
"Dale's got some grandkids out there, and one of them is going to be a great little race driver,'' Childress said. "What happens if he comes along one day and says I want to drive my granddads car?
"What happens if Taylor [Earnhardt's daughter with Teresa] some day decides she wants to drive? That option should be left open. But all of our first options is to retire it.''