Car commemorates Earnhardt's dirt days

One of the most admirable qualities about Dale Earnhardt was his high regard for his roots. He personified the age-old story of the small town boy who clawed his way to the top. And he never forgot where he came from.

The Intimidator grew up watching his father, Ralph, battle with the best dirt track racing had to offer, hard-nosed racers like Ned Jarrett, Speedy Thompson, Curtis Turner, Bobby Isaac, Dink Widenhouse and Banks Simpson.

Dale launched his own career on dirt, racing on the red clay at the old Concord (NC) Speedway and Metrolina Speedway in nearby Charlotte, but moved to NASCAR-sanctioned asphalt competition within a couple of years.

SUPERSTORE •   Dale Earnhardt gear

Still, dirt track racing held a special place in Earnhardt's heart. Until the demands on his time precluded it, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion made a number of guest appearances at local bullrings, pitting his skills against the guys who raced there week-in and week-out.

"Dale loved coming back to run with us," said Cherryville, NC driver Buddy Smith, a dirt track veteran with more than 600 Late Model wins to his credit. "It was like a homecoming to him. Obviously he didn't need the money after he made it big in Cup. He just enjoyed being around his old friends again. We'd joke around before the race, then afterwards we'd sit around, drink a beer and talk about old times. Dale was always one of us. He never forgot where he came from."

One of Earnhardt's most recognizable dirt cars was the No. 3 Wrangler Camaro he raced occasionally during the mid-1980s. This car has been expertly replicated in 1:24 scale by Action Performance, and is now available at the NASCAR.com SuperStore.