1984: Dale Earnhardt driver of the #3 Wrangler Chevrolet Monte Carlo races during the 1984 season. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)

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No. 3 memorable paint schemes through the years

By Chase Wilhelm | Published: August 26, 2020 21

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BACK TO GALLERIES

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL — 1980: Driving his CRC Chemicals-sponsored Oldsmobile NASCAR Cup car at Daytona International Speedway, Richard Childress finished 13th in the Daytona 500 and eighth in the Firecracker 400. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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From 1976-81, Richard Childress drove this No. 3 as a driver-owner (pictured prior to the 1980 Daytona 500).

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TALLADEGA, FL - 1983: Ricky Rudd achieved his first win with the Richard Childress team during the 400-kilometer road race at Riverside, CA. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)

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Before Dale Earnhardt started driving the No. 3 on a regular basis, Ricky Rudd drove this paint scheme for Richard Childress Racing in 1981-82.

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UNKNOWN — 1981: Dale Earnhardt in action during the second half of the NASCAR Cup season after he had switched to driving for Richard Childress Racing. Earnhardt began the year driving the No. 2 car for Rod Osterlund, but Osterlund sold the team to Jim Stacy at mid-year. After just four races driving for Stacy, Earnhardt quit the team and took his Wrangler sponsorship to the Childress effort. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Switching from the No. 2 car owned by Rod Osterlund to Richard Childress Racing midseason, Earnhardt took his Wrangler sponsorship to Richard Childress Racing and raced this No. 3 blue-and-yellow scheme.

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UNKNOWN — 1984: After two seasons racing Fords for car owner Bud Moore, Dale Earnhardt moved to Richard Childress’ team and brought his sponsor, Wrangler Jeans, along with him. This would be the beginnings one of the greatest NASCAR Cup teams in history, as the Childress-Earnhardt combination would go on to win six NASCAR Cup championships. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Earnhardt started the 1984 season driving this Richard Childress Racing-owned No. 3 Wrangler scheme.

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Earnhardt's No. 3 Wrangler paint scheme got a makeover in 1984.

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1988: Dale Earnhardt won his only superspeedway race in '88 at Atlanta, with his other two season triumphs coming on short tracks. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)

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In the first two years of what developed into a long-time sponsorship with Goodwrench, Earnhardt piloted this all-black No. 3 scheme in 1988-89.

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Earnhardt's car featured a slightly different look during the 1989 season with the No. 3 raised above the silver-and-red trim.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL -FEBRUARY 18: Dale Earnhardt poses before the Daytona 500 race on February 18, 1990 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kenny Kane/Dozier Mobley/Getty Images)

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Earnhardt poses with the No. 3 car at Daytona International Speedway for the 1990 season.

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11 Nov 1995: Dale Earnhardt races at the Nascar NAPA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Mandatory Credit: David Taylor /Allsport

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Earnhardt in action at Atlanta Motor Speedway with this black No. 3 scheme in 1995.

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Richard Childress Racing Museum

Earnhardt's No. 3 turned silver for the 1995 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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23 Nov 1996: NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt performs during the Thunder Special 100 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Japan. Mandatory Credit: Yukio Yoshimi /Allsport

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Earnhardt drove this blue No. 3 during the Thunder Special 100 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Japan.

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1996: The Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Cup Chevrolet that Dale Earnhardt drove in the Winston Select All Star race at the Charlotte (NC) Motor Speedway. The special paint scheme honored the athletes taking part in the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Earnhardt piloted this patriotic No. 3 paint scheme in the 1996 running of the NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Richard Childress Racing Museum

Earnhardt raced this orange Wheaties paint scheme in the 1997 NASCAR All-Star Race.

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With a slightly different look on the hood, Earnhardt drove this No. 3 scheme to Victory Lane after winning the 1998 Daytona 500.

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16 May 1998: Dale Earnhardt #3 spins out of control during The Winston at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Craig Jones /Allsport

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Earnhardt goes for a spin -- literally -- in this special black-and-gold No. 3 paint scheme during the 1998 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Richard Childress Racing Museum

A tribute to his Wrangler paint scheme during the early days at Richard Childress Racing, Earnhardt drove this blue-and-yellow No. 3 in the 1999 NASCAR All-Star Race.

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15 Oct 1999: Dale Earnhardt #3 speeds down the track during the Winston 500, part of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at the Talladega Super Speedway in Talladega, Alabama. Mandatory Credit: Jon Ferrey /Allsport

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Earnhardt had a unique look on the hood of his black No. 3 at Talladega Superspeedway in 1999.

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16 Feb 2000: Dale Earnhardt Sr. is in action during Daytona Speedweeks at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport

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Earnhardt competed in the 2000 Daytona 500 in this red No. 3 paint scheme.

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CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20, 2000: Dale EarnhardtÕs Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet sports a unique paint job for The Winston NASCAR Cup All Star race at LoweÕs Motor Speedway. The race featured a Dale-Dale-Dale 1-2-3 finish as Earnhardt came home in third place behind his son Dale, Jr. and Dale Jarrett. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Without a doubt the most wild-looking paint scheme of Earnhardt's career, this multi-colored No. 3 hit the track for the 2000 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 15, 2000: Dale Earnhardt scored his 10th career victory at Talladega Superspeedway, capturing the Winston 500. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)

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Earnhardt drove this special red-trimmed No. 3 scheme to his 76th and final victory in the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2000.

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10 Feb 2001: Dale Earnhardt who drives the #3 Chevy Monte Carlo for Richard Childress Racing speeds down the track during the Daytona 500 Speedweeks, part of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport

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With Oreo donning the hood, Earnhardt raced this scheme featuring a blue-outlined No. 3 during the Clash at Daytona in 2001.