So Bob Dillner is reporting that Robert Yates Racing has asked NASCAR to transfer the 38 number to Dale Jr. come next year, so that Junior can continue a family legacy.
I admit, it makes me weepy and girly (dang hormones) when someone does something like that. As much as NASCAR is and always has been a business, there are certain things steeped in tradition. Family ties are big. Yes, most drivers end up with several numbers over their careers, but few are third generation drivers with so much history before them.
Do I think the number is that big of a deal? No. (Unless it's the 25, which is cursed and needs to go away so that someone, anyone, can have a decent run in that car.)
But the fact is, racing families do tend to use numbers over and over during their career. And it does have significant meaning. The 38 would be one of those wonderful compromises that keeps the legacy going while still being slightly individual to Junior.
Something else that makes the number that much more meaningful is that the 38 has family history of its own. I have a picture at home (which I need to double check for accuracy, but I'm 99.99% sure) of Junior, Kelley and Kerry when they were racing in a lower series. They're standing around their cars - the 3, 8 and 38. I think it was Kelley who had the 38. How fitting would it be for Junior to drive a number that had ties to his sister?
Any way it goes, whether Junior takes the number or not, it's nice to see the gesture by RYR. It proves that not everyone in NASCAR is so concerned about merchandising and the bottom dollar.
(This definitely falls into the category of things that it's nice to come back from a vacation and see.)
Mave, thank you! I mentioned on William's blog last night that I had heard this news. Today I've seen/heard nothing about it. I was beginning to think my little voices in my head were playing tricks on me again. I'm glad you heard it also. Good post and I agree with you.
Jayski and Tallglassofmilk are reporting it too. Either the SPEED Report hasn't posted it yet on their site, or they're leaving it in the "not confirmed, won't post on the internet" column for now. But if Dillner reported it, it's darn close to true.
Thats the way it should be, Ive said in another post cause they were saying who would drive the 88 next year, I said maybe Jr will try and get it thinking it wouldn't infridge on a driver and that the 38 and 83 had one.
It is the right number when it comes to the Earnhardts,
I always wanted Jr to use the crome paint on his number now so under the lights it would change from 8 to 3 at times.
I wouldn't see why Jr would turn down the 38, He did want to design his new number.
Last edited by Forensic2 on August 27th at 7:54 AM.
Is it true? Who knows. It could be a trial balloon. It could be misdirection. Or it could be what is really happening (HMS and Jr. know they can't keep a secret in this business, so they have begun using some interesting tactics).
If it is true, my thought is it will end up being bigger than the #8. The tribute to #3 is more powerful than the #8 by itself.
Also, if it happens, I don't think this will be a freebie from RYR. They will get paid.
Finally, this points to the folly of Teresa being unreasonable on the price of the #8. The value of that number is about to drop to nothing (doesn't matter if the #38 happens or not).
Forensic - Yeah, with the 88 in limbo (although I don't see RYR giving up on two teams entirely), it gives them options on numbers. Heck, they still have the 28 as well. And the 28 has more historical significance to RYR. It'll be interesting to see if the offer is taken, for sure.
CCR - I wouldn't be surprised if RYR made the offer (it's good PR to offer) and Jr. and Hendrick didn't take it. Junior may have made up his mind at this point to go with a clean start. But then again, if he had the 5, that wouldn't be a clean start for him because of comparisons to Kyle Busch or Terry Labonte. The number for a popular (or great) driver is part of the brand. Heck, the whole reason Red Bull went with 83 for Vickers is because a Red Bull can has 8.3 oz. Tying everything in together is more and more where the sport is.
While I wasn't surprised that Teresa kept the 8 (which was her right), the news that she wanted part of the merchandising money if Junior had the 8 shocked me. She seemed to miss out on the fact that without Junior, the 8 is just another of their car numbers. And more than likely, it won't be fair to whoever gets in that car (although putting Mark Martin in it is about as smart as they can get - because he's bigger than a number).
Mav-
I got weepy and girly too about it! ;) Its a great gesture if nothing else and does get RYR lots of kudos from Jr Nation.
I don't really care what number he races, he will make it "cool" and his own no matter what. I just hope he doesn't pick the color green or my "shrine" is going to start to look like xmas!
Klvalus - Oh god, if he went green? I'd die. (And then hide all the red Bud gear and go solid green, just to prevent that Xmas like you said.) I don't see him jinxing himself though. Silly drivers and their superstitions. *g* Although I really, really love green.
Chux - Oh, if Yates gave that away? I'd question his sanity. Now, I don't doubt the willingness to give it up is genuine, but no way would he just up and give it away. (Unless Yates has major plans involving the 28 and a marketing effort and sees side benefits to making sure the 38 goes to someone who might want it.)
There are many that think that if he wants a new identity but keeping something with an 8 in it, 81 would be a good idea. It might help out some of those fans with 8 tattoos. *g* Just add a 1!
its just a number. it happened so much in the past that drivers had different numbers. i believe earnhardt himself drove other numbers. its funny, i wear my jeff gordon rainbow shirt with pride, and never hesitate to point out my stuff that has him driving a lumina. if he changed his number it would make me feel better, cuz i could say i've been following him since the 24 rainbow days
Last edited by williamwilman on August 27th at 11:55 AM.
William - Oh yeah, Senior had plenty of numbers before the 3. There's even a chance, had he gone on to race for a longer time and pulled anything like a Mark Martin, that he would have given up the 3 for another number. To a degree, though, there's a certain legacy for second or third generation drivers in today's NASCAR. Like, even though a Petty isn't in the car, the 43 is a Petty team still. (I fully expect that down the road, should Baby Ella want to race, she'll be put in a 24 at some point, because it was dad's number for so long. Then again, I actually don't see Gordon with any other number, just because he won't leave Hendrick before he retires.)
William, saying #3 is "just a number" and in any way comparing it to #24 is simply tone deaf. Sure, Senior had other numbers. Sure other great drivers had the #3.
But you are talking about an icon who will be linked to that number probably as long as there is NASCAR.
Saying it is "just a number" reflects a lack of understanding of the emotion, history, context and meaning, not a knowledge of it.
You are, of course, perfectly entitled to your opinion, ccr, but I agree with Will; the number doesn't make the driver. Like it or not, there are some people who follow drivers, not the number they race in.
So forgive me when I say that the only number I remember Dale for is a 7.
Well I had a good luck streak racing #13 in a British racing green color on an Austin Healy years back. Only problem with that was the other drivers had a fit over it and when they wrecked they blamed my car for the wreck even when I wasn't any where near them.
Tradition extolls Jr. have the 8. but the wicked Step mom is being wicked. So I guess the 38 is ok.
If Teresa puts Martin in the 8 car, that would be a safe move. Might prevent some Buds Suds cans being thrown at the car at the races. Not that I would know any thing about that mnd you.
CCR:
Heard any thing about a blue cap and a M on it that Jr. was wearing Sat. night??? What was with that??
photo- they said it was the mooresville bluedevils cap. the highschool jr. attended i believe.
ccr- i think its the difference between race fans and nascar fans. i've been to so many races here i know the drivers but still need to refer to my program to figure out who's driving what. it doesn't matter the number, usually the cream rises to the top. i wonder what you think of the 43 and the dive it has taken from the lofty 7 championships it won, or what about having the goodwrench sponsor being replaced.
i consider myself a racing fan, and thus have learned not to get attached to anything, because in time it too will change.
I don't think I've ever said the number makes the driver. In fact, I'm pretty certain I've never even thought that a driver is going to gain or lose a single fan based on the number.
My point -- and I think the initial reactions heartfelt reactions from Maven, KLV and Chux back this up -- the #3 has meaning. It is iconic.
For Jr. to have the #38 would have very powerful symbolism. If those beings who are superior in all ways to NASCAR fans don't see that, then I'm probably wasting my time trying to explain it.
That said, ESPN's reporting tonight is the #38 is not likely to happen.
it's a culture thing, ccr....I'm (and so is Will by the sounds of it) used to identifying the driver with the car/team not the number, whereas you (and most Americans it would appear) do the opposite, that's all.
It's nothing to do about a lack of respect towards the history of the sport....for that is what you wrote (and you managed to offend me with that suggestion by the way; basically I shouldn't be a fan of the sport since the car numbers don't mean as much to me as they do to you).
Tez, I'd apologize for saying you lack respect for the sport because you identify with the drivers not the numbers -- but that isn't what I said and isn't close to what I think.
If I was unclear in my writing, then I do apologize for that.
Go back and read my comments again.
My comments were very specific and clear (if all of them are read in context and in their entirety) that I was talking about just one number -- not all.
If you look at my first comment in this entire thread, what I wrote was that the #38 could be bigger than #8 because it would be viewed as a tribute to #3.
What I wrote was, "...saying #3 is "just a number" and in any way comparing it to #24 is simply tone deaf...Saying it is "just a number" reflects a lack of understanding of the emotion, history, context and meaning, not a knowledge of it."
Last edited by ccr1d3r on August 27th at 10:37 PM.
I can see both sides of the argument for or against the importance of numbers. It all comes down to what one associates the driver with for the long haul - the sponsor, the owner or the number. And that's very individual. For many fans of various drivers, the number is key because it's an easy identifier (the number and sponsor on bigger teams tend to stay the same despite changes in drivers - the 18 for example, or the 01 Army car). And then there are instances where the driver is bigger than the sponsor and can make the transition (which was more of the old era, plus look at Gordon). But in today's market, an owner's dream is to have an identifiable brand across the board (a driver for hte long haul with a sponsor and a number to create a cohesive, lasting identity). Whether we realize it or not, the whole package does make a lasting impression. You can look at a list of drivers who've driven a certain number, but oftentimes it comes down to who was most identifiable with that number. Same with sponsors.
ESPN's own reporters can't get their story straight.
You've got Marty Smith saying it is unlikely. Then you've got David Newton saying it everything is moving in that direction.
Newton has a quote from Junior talking about what his new number is going to be that is quite interesting and cryptic, "I know my fans are going to enjoy it...''.
CCR - And those are even two former NASCAR.com guys! LOL The thing is, Marty is seldom wrong. He's the one guy that usually gets the heads up before the rest (because he's been around longest). I wonder who's feeding the stories from which angle, and who the insiders for Marty and David are that are contradicting one another.
I don't know who to believe or what on this one Maven.
The daily ESPN NASCAR show (I think the name is NASCAR Now) has been an even worst train wreck through most of the season than the ESPN race broadcasts -- a vortex that Smith has been sucked into.
NASCAR Now has been really bad - and the thing is, I think it's because as a daily show, they're trying desperately to find content to fill the time. Even SPEED doesn't attempt to air NASCAR news every day of the week, and if any station has cause to do so, it's SPEED. Marty is still one of the few on ESPN who's getting it right pretty regularly, but he'll have an error at some point. No good reporter is perfect.
(Frankly, the only two things about NASCAR Now that are worth anything are the news that Marty brings - which the exclusive happens maybe once a week - and the fact that Boris Said actually rocks commentary on the sport without talking down to the viewing public, repeating himself ad nauseum, or providing insight that everyone and their brother already knows.)
ccr; apology accepted. I just got a bit riled at that "saying it is "just a number" reflects a lack of understanding of the emotion, history, context and meaning, not a knowledge of it" comment.
I know that wasn't what you really meant but it was just how I read it as, lol
The bottom line is that you associate more with the number whereas I go with the car....neither is wrong and neither is better than the other :P
Actually, I can see a blog coming from this, lol
Last edited by Tezgm99 on August 28th at 12:33 PM.
In another racing series I was in, The only numbers you were assigned were the ones at the race that you put on your windshield in 5inch numbers large enough to read by the timing tower 150 feet away.
The rest of the car was emblazoned with your sponsor or your paint sceme or your name should you be on an ego trip.Most drivers were recognized by the sponsors on the car.
Budweiser was noted as Kenny Bernstein. Goodwrench was recognized as Warren Johnson, and Motorcraft was recognized as Bob Glidden. Castrol was recognized as John Force. Simple enough to be a win win situation for the driver and the sponsor.
Me, I just had a grape a*p*e* on the sides and hood of the car.
As I've told Tez, Dave, and William, you guys that like F1 are missing an exceptional blog about F1 on the OTHER category. It is called "When Prancing Ponies Attack" and is written by bc525. Please take a look. Thanks!
Geek girls love NASCAR too! If you don't believe me, spend a Sunday afternoon at my house (or a Saturday night). I have great love for the cars, the speed, the engines, the stories, the drivers, the crew chiefs, the crews, the owners, the business that is NASCAR.
