Fan-atic: David Kiser

The Earnhardt family, like the Pettys and a few others, can trace its racing roots to the very infancy of NASCAR when patriarch Ralph Earnhardt was establishing himself as one of -- if not THE -- greatest dirt track drivers of all time.

And also like the Pettys, the Earnhardts have a legion of fans, many of whom were devoted followers long before The Intimidator became a household word.

David Kiser is just such a fan. David grew up near Salisbury, N.C., not far from the Earnhardt home in Kannapolis, N.C. He became a fan during the late '60s, when no one would have dreamed that Ralph Earnhardt's young son was destined to become the sport's biggest name.

David has amassed a huge collection of Earnhardt memorabilia over the past 40 years. Here, in his words, is his story:

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"I saw something about a rare Dale Earnhardt Wrangler Aviation postcard in a recent NASCAR.com Collectibles Question and Answer column and it caught my interest. Mainly because I have on of those cards.

"I am originally from the same area as the Earnhardts. When I was just a kid back in the 1960s, my Dad used to take me to the old Concord Speedway dirt track. I grew up watching Ralph Earnhardt battle with the likes of Stick Elliott, Bunk Moore, Bobby Isaac, Hayward Plyler, Billy Scott and many other legends of that era.

"I guess you could say I became an Earnhardt fan before it became fashionable. And I started collecting stuff on the Earnhardts before collecting became a big thing. I've never been a big fan of "made to collect" items, so most of my collection is made up of newspaper and magazine articles, photos, postcards, a few things I've picked up around the track.

"I started out gathering newspaper clippings and photos of Ralph. When Dale started racing, I started collecting him too. I can remember all of his old rides. The '56 Ford... The Falcon... The old Chevies, Chevelles and Novas...

"I have quite a few things signed by Dale, including a 1978 Metrolina Speedway Rule Book and one of his rookie Cup postcards. Back then, he just signed his name 'Dale.'

"The Wrangler Aviation postcard is on of my favorites because I've only seen a few.

"Probably my very favorite item is a Hargett and Earnhardt Racing Team business card from the late 1970s when Dale and Gary Hargett were partners on a Late Model Sportsman car. On one side is their names and telephone numbers. On the other side is a beautiful picture of the orange and cream-colored No. 8 Nova taken at Martinsville.

"Ralph and Dale gave me a lot of good memories, and now Dale Jr. is continuing the tradition."

-- David Kiser