Free Race Shop Map to NASCAR Country

A new pull-out map featuring all of North Carolina’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race shops is now available from the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau as part of its newly released annual Visitors Guide. The map contains directions to the race shops, a description of each, and the times they are open to visitors. Also included on the map are descriptions of major stops along The Dale Trail, a self-guided tour of landmarks relating to Dale Earnhardt’s life and NASCAR career in and around Kannapolis, the NASCAR legend’s hometown. Click here to order a free guide.

Cabarrus County is home to the world’s largest concentration of motorsports attractions, including Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the superspeedway most drivers call home. Sprint Cup teams based in Cabarrus County or nearby include Roush Fenway Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Yates Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sebates, Haas CNC Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc. (right), Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip’s Raceworld USA, Team Red Bull, Penske Racing and BAM Racing. Still within North Carolina and within an hour’s drive are even more – Richard Childress Racing, Bill Davis Racing, Richard Petty Museum and Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

Joey Logano and Chrissy Wallace Autograph Event

As part of its National Tourism Week celebration, the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau will host two of NASCAR’s brightest shooting stars, Joey Logano (below left) and Chrissy Wallace (right), for a FREE autograph event at the Cabarrus County Visitor Center at I-85 Exit 60 on Friday, May 16, 2008, from 11am to 1pm. Local author Anita Rich will also be present for a book signing, and copies of her new book, Portraits of NASCAR(below right), will be available for purchase. The Cabarrus CVB will also be collecting memorabilia and stories related to racing, and specifically Dale Earnhardt, during the event.

Logano, a 17-year-old racing sensation, turns 18 on May 24, and one week later on May 31 he makes his Nationwide Series debut in Dover, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Mark Martin calls Joey Logano “the real deal.” In fact, Martin says at 17 Joey already has more talent than some of the drivers he regularly competes against in the big leagues of NASCAR. At 17 Logano already has more than a dozen years of driving experience. Logano also did the Cabarrus CVB’s holiday video last year.

Wallace, daughter and niece of the popular Wallace family of NASCAR racers, is another local racing sensation who has been receiving national media attention. The 20-year-old Wallace made her NASCAR debut March 29 in the Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250 and will drive five Truck races and five ARCA races this season for Germain Racing. Wallace is determined to continue her ground-breaking career as a successful driver and role model for women who want to compete in any environment.

Sam Bass Gallery

Stop #19 on The Dale Trail is Sam Bass Gallery, a gallery of motorsports art by Sam Bass showcasing more than 300 pieces of art, including originals, limited-edition prints and fine art posters. Bass is on the trail not only because of his status as one of the greatest motorsports artists of all time, but because of his many iconic portrayals of Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr.

On his website, Bass has 56 limited edition prints of Dale and 28 of Dale Jr. Prints like these are priceless for fans, and there is no shortage to choose from. A tour of the gallery is a don’t-miss opportunity, so we always encourage folks to come, see, ad browse. But, if after your visit you have second thoughts about that print you almost bought but didn’t you have the opportunity to visit and buy online as well.

Celebrate Dale Earnhardt Day April 29

“Behind the legend, he was one of us.”

Celebrate the life and accomplishments of the legendary Dale Earnhardt, Tuesday, April 29, 9am-7pm at Dale Earnhardt Inc.(1675 Dale Earnhardt Hwy.#3, Mooresville, NC 28115, 1-877-334-9663). This year’s event features unique displays and memorabilia highlighting Dale’s personal & professional life as well as a variety of activities, fun for the entire family! Also, Dale Earnhardt Inc. drivers including Mark Martin and Martin Truex Jr. will be on hand to sign autographs. Live entertainment will be provided by Nashville Star Brent Keith, in addition to local band, Coconut Groove.  No Admission Fee.  For more information go to www.DaleEarnhardtInc.com.

Punchy’s Diner

They say the way to a man is through his stomach … perhaps in Dale’s case the way to understand a man is by eating his favorite sandwich. Punchy’s serves serves a tasty tomato sandwich made just the way Dale liked it.

Tomato sandwiches were always among his favorite, a reminder of his beginnings in racing when money was scarce. It means a lot to the local townspeople in Kannapolis that Dale never forgot where he came from. Martha, Dale’s mom, says she made it with sliced tomato, sometimes lettuce, and Miracle Whip on white bread.

I recently came across a review of Punchy’s on Trip Advisor. Here’s an excerpt: “This restaurant is owned by Punchy Whitaker, and Dale Sr actually worked for Punchy was back in the early 70s in Punchys Wheel and Tire Service shop. The service was great, and so was the food…. Punchy’s Diner is themed to look like an old 50’s diner. It clearly stated on the front of the menu, as you can see in my photo, that if you are unhappy, ask for the owners. I highly doubt you’ll be unhappy with Punchy’s Diner! You can’t beat the price, food and speed of service!”

When you come follow The Dale Trail, we hope you will submit your review too - either to this blog, or to a site like Trip Advisor.

More Dale Earnhardt Trivia

As you might imagine, the web abounds with trivia about Dale Earnhardt. A quick search reveals a few fun tidbits:

• Dale’s first win was in 1979 at Bristol in the Southeastern 500.
• Dale appeared in the Brooks and Dunn music video for Honky Tonk Truth.
• NC Route 136, which links Kannapolis and Mooresville, became NC Route 3 in 2005 to honor Dale. (This is the main route of The Dale Trail)
• Dale began racing Hobby-class cars in his teens. (D&D’s Slot Car Emporium is mentioned in The Dale Trail)
• Dale’s first race car was pink. (See post What Happened to Dale’s First Race Car?)

On The Dale Trail, you not only read these kinds of stories about Dale, but you experience them as well. You drive the same streets and Dale and his family, you see where they tested their cars, you see the impression he left on his hometown. You can even see where the films and documentaries about his life were filmed.

What Happened to Dale’s First Race Car?

An article in yesterday’s USA Weekend called NASCAR’s Lost Treasures revealed that Dale Earnhardt’s first race car, a ‘56 Ford Sedan with an engine rebuilt by his father and friends, is valued at approximately $1 million. So where is it? Nobody knows.

Another interesting fact revealed by the article: the car was pink. They intended it to be avocado green, but the paint turned out pink, and they couldn’t afford another paint job. It’s hard to imagine The Intimidator driving a pink car, but it probably inspired him to race that much harder.

D&D Slot Car Emporium

Stop #7 on The Dale Trail is the Midway area, where the D&D Slot Car Emporium once stood. This is where Dale Earnhardt earned his first trophy - for slot car racing. And, according to an old friend, he still had that trophy years, later, when he had achieved NASCAR stardom. (Right: a 1955 Chevrolet Slot Car like the one Dale raced in the D&D Slot Car Emporium.) The D&D Slot Car Emporium is no longer standing, but the memories live strong with his friends from that era.

Earnhardt Biographies

I’ve been cruising other blogs, and have found some interesting biographies of Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. Both mention the family’s ties to Kannapolis area.

Over at SportingNews.com’s blogs, azsuns07 has posted a 3-part profile of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Quote from the blog: “Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. was born to Brenda Lorraine Gee and Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. on October 10, 1974 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Not long after he was born his parents were divorced. His maternal grandfather, Robert Gee, was a NASCAR car builder. His fraternal grandfather is Ralph Earnhardt, who raced in the NASCAR circuit…”

Over at blog of all blog I found an extensive bio of Dale Earnhardt Sr. Quote from the blog: “Earnhardt, was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina on April 29, 1951 to Martha Coleman and Ralph Earnhardt, who was then one of the best short-track drivers in North Carolina. Ralph won his one and only NASCAR Sportsman Championship in 1956. Although Ralph did not want his son to follow in his footsteps, Earnhardt would not be persuaded to give up his dream of racing, and even dropped out of high school to race…”

Post Your Experiences of The Dale Trail

Visitors to The Dale Trail: We want to hear from you! What did it mean to you to follow in the footsteps of Dale Earnhardt, Sr.? Did you run into locals who shared their memories with you? Did you order the Dale sandwich at Punchy’s? Did you get a chance to see Dale’s Winston-winning car at Curb Motorsports? We want to hear from you!