Taylor Earnhardt Drives RCR #3 in Goodwood Festival

Taylor Earnhardt drove the Richard Childress Racing #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo that her father, seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, earned his 76th and final victory in during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, on July 3-5th, 2009.

Taylor drove the car in demonstration runs during the three-day festival. It was her inaugural turn behind the wheel of a stock car. She was accompanied by her mother, Teresa Earnhardt, President and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., founded in 1980 with her legendary husband.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual event held since 1993 at the Goodwood House in West Sussex, a place of great British motorsports history. Both old and new racing cars participated in both demonstration and competition runs up the nine-turn 1.16-mile hillclimb circuit. This year;s gathering included a number of NASCAR stock cars in honor of the 50th anniversary of Daytona International Speedway.

“I was honored to be asked by Lord March to have one of the legendary RCR black #3 Chevrolets participate in this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed,” said Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. This is a great opportunity to promote the legacy of Dale Earnhardt not only in the United States, but throughout the world. I also think it’s great that Taylor will have the opportunity to drive the car her father made so famous.

Earnhardt drove this particular #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet to victory in the 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. It has been on permanent display at the RCR Museum since its grand opening in May 2003.

“It is truly an honor to have Dale Earnhardt, Inc. included in this prestigious event,” said Teresa Earnhardt. “To see this winning Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet among the legendary race cars from past and present was remarkable. To have Taylor honor her father’s legacy behind the wheel of this special race car has made this a memorable event for our organization.”

Taylor Earnhardt seconded her mother’s emotions about the historic event.

“It’s quite an honor to be a part of an event like this and all of the history and nostalgia associated with the Goodwood Festival. It’s very, very exciting,” said Taylor Earnhardt. “Hopefully, the fans in the United States and around the world enjoyed seeing one of my father’s winning cars participate in this awesome event.”

The car was prepared by and cared for at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by former #3 team crew members Danny Lawrence and Rich Burgess. Lawrence is currently the assistant head engine builder/trackside manager for Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines and Burgess is the shop manager for RCR’s #31 Caterpillar team in the NSCS.