More of this Feature • Part 1: Honoring The Memory • Part 3: Future Of NASCAR

Join the Discussion "My little 5 year old made me feel better by saying 'Now Dale can race everyday up in heaven'" DIANE804

Related Resources • Dale Earnhardt • Focus On Safety

Dale's death not only leaves us with his incredible past and a painful present but also an uncertain future. What will become of his Richard Childress Racing ride? Will Dale Earnhardt Inc. continue without him?

The Race Teams

Dale's Richard Childress Racing ride will carry on this weekend in Rockingham with young Busch Series star Kevin Harvick behind the wheel. Kevin will have Dale's equipment and his team but will not carry the legendary #3 or GM Goodwrench sponsorship.

Kevin was originally slated to move up to Winston Cup next season but will have to change his plans and move up to the big show early. The 2000 BGN Rookie of the Year winner will have to learn his way around Winston Cup racing while his every move will be under a microscope. He will have the equipment of his dreams. but this situation is a nightmare.

I wish Kevin the best of luck in this difficult situation.

The easiest question to answer is that of DEI. Dale Earnhardt Inc. owns three Winston Cup teams, Steve Park's #1, Dale Earnhardt Jr's #8, and Michael Waltrip's #15. While Dale was busy with his own career, tending to his car, testing, and meeting sponsor commitments his wife Teresa focused her energy in overseeing DEI.

Dale Earnhardt believed in NASCAR. He also believed in building long-term relationships with his drivers, sponsors and team. Teresa and DEI share those beliefs. To stop racing because of Dale's death would go against everything he believed in.

It will be a personal struggle for those teams to check into the track on Friday morning and go through the motions of race weekend, but they will do it. They'll do it quite simply because it is truly what Dale wants them to do.

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