WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Fans Head To Mooresville To Pay Tribute To Dale Earnhardt

Apr 29, 2004

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Mike Easley proclaimed Thursday "Dale Earnhardt Day" in North Carolina. The NASCAR legend and Kannapolis native would have been 53 years old.

Fans celebrated his birthday Thursday at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in Mooresville with a day-long celebration with live entertainment. Teresa Earnhardt, Dale's widow, announced plans to create a forest in his name.

For many, the trip to Mooresville has become an annual trek to pay tribute to the racing great known as the Intimidator.

Last year, more than 13,000 fans from across the country showed up to honor the driver of car No. 3. April 29 is the one day of the year the public is invited inside Earnhardt's 70,000-square foot garage.

Earnhardt won 76 races and seven Winston Cup Championships before dying in a last-lap crash at the 2001 Daytona 500. The first official sign of the new N.C. Highway 3 in Iredell County was created last year in a tribute to Earnhardt and his racing number.

ESPN is also paying tribute by making a movie about Earnhardt's life called "3".

An open casting call for extras will be held Saturday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Olmstead Village Shopping Center in Pinehurst.