It is the “controversy” over the Number 3 that got my mind going in this area. It seems a car Dale Earnhardt, Jr. recently raced, and won with, that had #3 on it will soon be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. That sounds strange to those unfamiliar with the sport but anyone who has watched NASCAR at all knows Earnhardt’s father made that number famous. It has not been used on the big circuit by anyone since he ran it into a wall in the last lap of the Daytona 500.
It is significant to the sport that his son took it out and won with it in a smaller race. Litttle “E” as fans of the younger Earnhardt know him, had his own controversy over numbers and eventually lost the #8 Budweiser to his step mother. Long story for a different day. He simply added an 8 and drives the #88 for a new sponsor now.
Lots of other numbers are “famous” among fans. Everyone knows who drives the Dupont rainbow colored #24 car. Even non race fans know “The King” by his famous red, white and blue STP # 43 car. Then there is the #48 Lowes car of Jimmy Johnson, the obvious boy wonder of his sport. Love him or hate him Johnson more than anyone else has come out of the sport as a champion athlete. That is what winning four titles in a row will do for a person or team. Even teammate Jeff Gordon, previously mentioned by his car above, who was once the face of the future for the sport, plays second fiddle to Johnson.
Many who have tried to watch NASCAR complain about being bored. They should look at the numbers. They should enjoy all the pretty colors, (or not if the car is sponsored by UPS, with its colors) going around in circles at 200 mph is not as boring as it seems.
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