Dale Earnhardt Jr. yesterday unveiled the No. 88 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Chevy he will drive during the Sept. 3 Bojangles' Southern 500, and the car features the "same blue body and white trim" he debuted with in the Busch Series in '98, according to C. Jackson Cowart of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. The car will feature current sponsor Nationwide. NASCAR plans to "celebrate the 1985-89 era of racing in the third year of its 'throwback' campaign at Darlington." However, this will likely be Earnhardt's "last race" at the track, as he is retiring as a full-time Cup Series driver after this season (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/19). Earnhardt said of the car's design, "I'm really happy with it. I think the fans are definitely going to recognize this car as a car that was a big catalyst for me in my career. Got me into victory lane, got me on the map.” He added that he chose this paint scheme because it is his swan song at the track. Earnhardt: "I wanted to acknowledge what this car meant to me and what the folks, the guys that worked on this car, meant to me." He said the throwback races are a "lot of fun," adding, "I enjoy walking through the garage and looking at all the ideas that all the teams have come up with. Not only the cars, but the pit crews' clothes, uniforms -- all the things that they're willing to do to push it to the next level. It's also fun, because fans are starting to get creative as well and get involved. So it’ll be fun walking through the infield and looking around and see what people have done to their campsites and see if they're playing along with the throwback atmosphere" ("NASCAR America," NBCSN, 7/18).
FILLING HIS VOID: In Indianapolis, Jim Ayello notes there is "no replacing an icon like Earnhardt," as no single driver can "fill the void left by the man ... voted NASCAR's most popular 14 years years running." He leaves a legacy "far too great for any one driver to replace." However, NASCAR is in "good shape with a host of young drivers ready and eager to soak up a portion of the spotlight Earnhardt will leave behind" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/19).
