NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt’s #3 Chevrolet returns to Talladega

The famous #3 Chevrolet that was driven by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt returned to the site of its final victory on Sunday, Talladega Superspeedway.

The last time the late, great Dale Earnhardt, one of only three seven-time champions in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series, visited victory lane as the winner of a Cup Series race was on Sunday, October 15, 2000.

Earnhardt secured his 76th career Cup Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway on this date, and he did it after moving from 18th place to the race lead over the course of the 188-lap race’s final four laps around the four-turn, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) high-banked oval in Lincoln, Alabama.

Earnhardt passed away just over four months later on Sunday, February 18, 2001 following a last-lap crash at Daytona International Speedway in the Daytona 500. He was 49 years old.

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It was announced in mid-September that Richard Childress, the team owner of Richard Childress Racing, the team for which Earnhardt drove throughout much of his Cup Series career, would drive the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo that Earnhardt drove to his final Cup Series victory, and it was announced that he would do so ahead of the playoff race at the track. The #3 Chevrolet was slated to serve as the pace car before the field took the green flag.

That is exactly what went down, as Earnhardt’s famous car made its return to Talladega Superspeedway after nearly two decades with Childress behind the wheel on Sunday afternoon.

This race ended up being suspended after 57 laps, just two laps following the conclusion of stage one, due to rain, and the remaining 131 laps across the final two stages are scheduled to take place later today.

The remainder of the 1000Bulbs.com 500 is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET this afternoon. The fifth race of the 10-race 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network from Talladega Superspeedway. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron is the current race leader.