Thursday, February 22, 2001
Earnhardt buried as team preps for next race
Harvick named as replacement driver
The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt was buried in his hometown Wednesday in a private service, even as his team prepared to return his car to the track.
Earnhardt was laid to rest in Kannapolis with only immediate family members attending, an Earnhardt employee said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The exact location of the site, about 25 miles north of Charlotte, was not disclosed.
A memorial for the seven-time Winston Cup champion is planned for today in Charlotte.
Earnhardt, 49, was killed Sunday after a crash on the last turn of the last lap in the Daytona 500.
While his family said goodbye, his team at Richard Childress Racing was planning to enter Earnhardt's former car in Sunday's Dura-Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. Kevin Harvick, a Busch Grand National driver for RCR, will take over for the rest of the season, a team source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The 25-year-old Harvick, the Busch Series' rookie of the year last season, will drive Earnhardt's Chevrolet and use his crew. Kevin Hamlin, Earnhardt's crew chief, will head Harvick's team.
The car will not use the No.3 or the black-and-silver scheme that was Earnhardt's trademark. Details of the number and colors Harvick will use were still being worked out, the team source said.
Harvick had been scheduled to move up to Winston Cup racing next season.
NASCAR and the rest of the Winston Cup teams are still working out how to honor Earnhardt this weekend.
There had been speculation the three cars Earnhardt owned — driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Park and Daytona winner Michael Waltrip — would be painted black this weekend. But a spokesman for Dale Earnhardt Inc. said that was unlikely. Instead, the cars will sport some sort of decal.
John McKenzie, president of Motorsports Designs, said the company was working with RCR and Earnhardt's widow, Teresa, to create a decal for all Winston Cup teams to use. Five designs have been submitted.
McKenzie would not reveal what the five designs looked like, saying only they had “the components that represented Dale Earnhardt and everything that is synonymous with him.”
A spokesman for Joe Gibbs Racing said drivers Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart want to honor Earnhardt but are waiting to see what develops with the decals.
Driver Ward Burton suggested painting the pace car black and adding the No.3 to it. Tommy Baldwin, his crew chief, said he liked the idea of leaving the first garage stall empty all season. The first stall traditionally goes to the reigning Winston Cup champion.
Baldwin also urged NASCAR to retire the No.3.
“I know it is not something that NASCAR typically does, but nobody will ever be able to fill the shoes that drove that car,” Baldwin said.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Channel 19 will carry the Dale Earnhardt memorial service from 11a.m. to 1p.m. today. Fox Sports Net also is broadcasting the service.
Because of schedule conflicts with some FSN outlets, the Fox network offered the broadcast to affiliates.
Latest news from Associated Press
New Cincinnati.com auto racing page
Sports Stories
Deion vows to stick it out
Greenwell will attempt comeback
Williamson agrees to $400,000
Bengals' talent search begins
Xavier 77, St. Bonaventure 60
Young ends transfer talk
Xavier's Balcomb up for coach of year
UC 68, Saint Louis 61
McElroy steps up on offense
Earnhardt buried as team preps for next race