“Could they just let the poor guy rest in peace?” Those were the words of a colleague at Daytona International Speedway after we watched the unveiling of a black No. 3 Chevy commemorating the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s 1998 Daytona 500 victory.
The car is a replica of the one Earnhardt drove to his only Daytona 500 victory — except that it’s an Impala and it has a front splitter and a rear wing. Yes, it’s a “Car of Tomorrow.” Or if you prefer, a “Car of Today.” Or as NASCAR prefers, a “new car.” What it isn’t, however, is an authentic replica of Earnhardt’s 1998 Monte Carlo. And connoisseurs of irony will note that this new car exists because of a company called Motorsports Authentics.
Motorsports Authentics (which is owned by International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc.) is selling die-cast collectible versions of this fantasy car for $74.99. It’s another effort to make money off Earnhardt, who died after wrecking in the 2001 Daytona 500.
Should we be surprised? Certainly not. Seven years after his death, Earnhardt remains one of the most marketable figures in NASCAR. Many, me included, believe the notoriety of his death led to NASCAR’s phenomenal growth in the first part of this decade (growth, incidentally, that continues to recede as many fans complain the sport bears no resemblance to what it was in Dale’s day).
No one could dispute Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig when he said at the news conference, “We certainly make some money off of Dale, let’s put it that way.” That’s the kind of brutal honesty we haven’t heard since Jim Carrey’s “Liar Liar” movie.
Should we be offended? Probably not. The culture of the dead celebrity has a long history (Elvis, anyone?) and isn’t going away. And it’s no secret that newspapers and magazines run “anniversary” stories, often about deceased subjects, because we think people will read them and, you know, buy our product. What is offensive, though, is the complete lack of authenticity. It smacks of trying to change history, the same way NASCAR absurdly slaps the name of its current Cup series sponsor on historical notes. Here’s an example from the current media guide, about former driver Tim Flock: “In 1949, Tim, brothers Bob and Fonty and sister Ethel became the only four siblings to drive in the same NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, with Ethel finishing ahead of her brothers.” Hmm, wonder what kind of plans Sprint offered on its cell phones in 1949?
Richard Childress, Earnhardt’s former car owner, laughed when asked what Dale would have thought about having a wing on his car. “I knew that question was probably going to come up,” Childress said. “It was a little tough to get him to change sometimes, but if he knew it was better, he would be for it.”
Racing a car with a wing might not have bothered Earnhardt (and if the COT were in use in 2001, he might be alive today, but that’s another story). But that’s not the point. What would he have thought about trying to draw a connection between himself and a car model he never drove? I think his response would have been unprintable, as many of them were.
Selling COT models of Earnhardt’s 1998 car is disingenuous. Think of Nike trying to sell portraits of Bobby Jones teeing off at St. Andrews with a square-headed Sumo driver. Or if you prefer a comparison from the automotive world, think of putting a wing and a splitter on Tim Flock’s Hudson Hornet.
NASCAR has been very sensitive to criticism of the COT, not all of which has been fair. But to ham-handedly try to align it with the sport’s most revered icon is reprehensible. But what do I know? Motorsports Authentics will probably sell a million of them. None to me, though.
And no, no one is going to “let the poor guy rest in peace.” But we can at least do him the courtesy of remembering him the way he was, not the way that will sell the most $74.99 souvenirs.
Bookmark to:
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- Settlement reached in lawsuit for Hendrick plane crash in 2004
- TMS to fix track bump at urging of Dale Earnhardt, Jr
I agree i was a huge dale fan but for them to make this car commemorating dales win 10 years ago as a impala is plain stupid,if you wanna make something to celebrate that day thats fine but at least make it a 98 monte carlo.
What a bunch of a$$holes!
Amen to that! Get over Earnhardt and get on with life…
For a company that has been trying to distance itself from it’s southern heritage for so many years, they sure don’t mind taking that crowd’s $75 for a commemorative knock-off car of their favorite driver!
they will do as they please but they won’t get my money.
If it was a 98 Monte Carlo I would get one but this is crap & I won’t be spending a dime on it.
Am I missing something? Haven’t they ALWAYS raced the COT? (please note the cynicism). Once again, history is re-written to suit someone’s pursuit for the almighty dollar.
If they want to remember him, then do that: REMEMBER him! If they want to still MARKET him, then I’m sure someone is sitting back grinning with the next scheme already formulating.
Are they somehow connected to Greedy Teresa? I wouldn’t doubt that one bit.
History is history. Don’t try to change it for a buck. God, everything is for profit anymore. Its just disgusting.
Well, I just love irony. A car to commemorate DE’s Daytona win by placing the paint scheme on a car that wouldn’t exist if he were still alive today. Let’s all join Dale in a collective chuckle.
jr88fan
Feb 13th, 2008 at 11:22 am Quote
“Are they somehow connected to Greedy Teresa? I wouldn’t doubt that one bit.”
Oh my god JR nation get over it, Teresa had nothing to do with this. This is a NASCAR thing not a DEI thing. Its wrong for this company to make a dale COT, and if you ask me charging 75 bucks for it is jsut as wrong. Big E is a great part of NASCARS history and heritage and i dont need to spend 75 bucks to remind me of that. But back to my point, JR fans get over it and move on, Jr acted like a spoiled little brat last season, teresa didnt give him what he wanted, which by the way was 51% of a company that was meant for all the Earnhardt children, not just him. Quit crying about Teresa, move on with it, hes at Hendricks motorsports now and hes teammates with the rainbow warrior and the big johnson. Yall should be happy. Now when he blows up his motor its going to be his fault right, since he cant balme the equitment, oh wait that right JR nation will come up with Teresa broke in hedricks shop and savagtoged the engine right. God oh mighty and i close with this JR nation. Big E would whoop anybody ass who talked bad about teresa. Also Big E would have taking lil e over his knee for the way he acted last year
If anyone is really making money from Dale’s death it’s Teresa (she also approves all diecast designs for MA). When I was at Darlington last year there was a huge old merchandise trailer for Dale like he was racing that day. And honestly it was probably the busiest trailer on the lot. One thing for sure is that NASCAR will never be out of Dales shadow.
The COT comes full circle, the man who finally pushed NASCAR to the edge to make a safer race car, is not being honored with something which in a sad ironic twist of fate he helped to create.
Dale was the first driver to ever make himself into a brand, and brands as strong as what his was do not die. The same people that are complaining this car, are the people that will visit and buy his merchandise at one of his 5+ merchandise trailers that you will find at any Cup race.
This is no different then the music of Elvis or any other dead musician who died before CD’s or MP3s were invented having their music put onto that media. Or Dead athletes having “Throwback” jerseys made with todays modern technology infused material.
Heck every time ESPN shows the movie “3″ or CMT shows the movie “Dale” they are making millions of dollars of advertising money off of “This dead driver” yet nobody seems to care about that.
What about these new Earnhardt Intimidatior Camaros that Richard is making? Sr never drove one of those yet nobody is crying afoul about those.
The people that have a problem with this need to get over themselves and realize that this is nothing new with dead celebrities, and that Dale made himself into a brand way before he died.
The COT is a result of his death. Once he died, safety in Nascar SHOT up. Starting with the HANS device being manditory ad now a whole new car. This isnt just about money. Dale Earnhardt isn’t just a man. He’s an icon, a legend, and has/had more followers then anyone possibly ever. I’m an avid Earnhardt fan and in a way i think its pretty cool that they’re making this. He will never be forgotten, and this is just an example. Nobody is ready to let him go, so by making this car, its kind of a “what if” he hadnt crashed, or died.
Has anyone been to a race since he died?
In case you havent noticed, there is still a trailer full of merchandise at every track with every other driver, just as if nothing ever changed.
Truexfan….
I don’t need to get over anything. Its true! Teresa is a usless greedy biotch. She would probably be backing this diecast plan, because SHE benefits anything with Sr’s name and likeness. As, for Jr being a spoiled brat, Hardly. Please I am laughing so hard I can hardly stay in my chair. Jr has worked for what he has, just as SR taught his kids to do. And the only thing right in your comment was that SR built DEI for those KIDS, not his skanky wife to run it into the ground. I bet you arent even aware, that Jr didn’t want the 51% for himself, he wanted a share on behalf of his inheritance to help DEI stay competative, which its not, hence the move away. Jr tapes all races, montiors the in car audio of several teams, gets the breakdown data on his car and what changes were made and not during that race, and then he studies these to better understand what it IS that IS needed to be a good driver and have GOOD EQUIPMENT. Good ole stepmommy, is so cheap she couldn’t see that.
And, if I were you, I’d watch my p’s n q’s… Truex got his little backing thanks to Jr. So, don’t get smart mouthed about the hand that fed your guy. If my name on here wasn’t “jr88fan”, you wouldn’t have known jack about my feelings on Jr. So you can keep your little “Jr nation” comments to yourself.
The true fact is, Jr saw the reports on the company running downhill and he wanted a small say, so as to keep that company his dad built from falling apart. But, since you think its about some snot nosed kid not getting his way, just wait till some driver of yours is sitting in the stands with no ride, thanks to good ole Teresa and her lack of competetive knowledge and lack of caring about investing the money to make it so. Good luck with that, really.
As for MY feelings on the car that was made… I say again that it is a huge mistake and just money marketing ploy gone bad. History is history and you can’t change that. Anyone stupid enough to buy something that is passed off as the orginal, knowing full well that was not the car model and likeness, deserves to have their money taken. As for the people behind negating that history is nothing but a money whore on someone elses blood, sweat and hard work.
What a load of crap. I hope junior sues MA.
i agree
this is crap that they wont leave it alone
i was a big earnhardt fan and still wear a belt buckle showing it
but for them to make the car a COT is a slap in the face to one of the greatest figures nascar ever saw
they need to either fix it or shove it up their …
i agree
this is crap that they wont leave it alone
i was a big earnhardt fan and still wear a belt buckle showing it
but for them to make the car a COT is a slap in the face to one of the greatest figures nascar ever saw
they need to either fix it or shove it up their …
SR’s. 500 winning COT? thats crazy i agree paul just remember him (whats next a black #3 craftsman truck) some people just wont let memories be enough
Couple of things here.
1. Dale Sr himself along with Jeff Gordon started the company that is today Motorsports Authentics.
2. Richard owns that scheme and number not Theresa
3. Every company whose logo is on that diecast/real car had to agree to be on it.
4. All of the money goes to that Earnhardt Charity
Steve, you say you hope Jr sues MA… Oh legal genius please enlighten us to what somebody who is not connected to that car at all in any way sue the company that made it? He owns none of the property (logos) that are used on that car.
26fan wrote:
No what is next is Richard taking HIS NUMBER THAT HE DROVE and giving it to his grandson to race in a Black #3 Camping World East series car.
Actually FISHA… what your saying is true, except, Dale Earnhardt owns his own name. Since he is passed on, his next of kin is the benefactor of that, and who is that, none other then greedy Teresa. Childress can ONLY market the car and the sponsors to which agree to be on there. Just because Sr drove for Childress, does not give him the authority to control a person’s namesake. There HAS to be an agreement with the benefactor of Earnhardt’s name in order to continue to use it. IF it was decided that his name shouldn’t be placed on some thing that Childress decided to do with the #3 car, then, it doesn’t have to be allowed on it. So in the long run, that broad IS still making decisions and making money from Sr’s name and this product that’s being put out there.
I think that people are disgusting to constantly make money off of dead people. And, I think that if they’re are going to do so, at least make it historically correct. To which this here is not, and thus should not be produced.
Oh I know she owns the rights to his name I wasn’t saying that she didn’t.
As far as keeping stuff historically accurate, I fail to see what you are saying. This is a COMMEMORATIVE CAR, the car is not being produced as his racing winning car, but as a car of today commemorating his car/win from 10 years ago. Much like Dodge/Petty did a few years ago when Dodge relaunched the Charger and they made up a version of the car with the old STP scheme on it, and much like many other Commemorative “pieces” have been done for millions of other things in this world.
Remember all or most of the profit from this “Toy Car” (hate to break it to the diecast collectors but thats all they are, is toy cars) goes to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.
Oh and another thing, If Dale Sr were alive today and he ever heard anybody call his wife what you (and others) have called her, He would’ve killed you with his bare hands.
And at least to me, calling his wife names is not only disrespectful to her, but to him as well because that is the person he loved.
Here we go again…..why is it that Nascar seems to have this problem with actually mentioning the past…..i.e. Winston Cup, Nextel Cup, etc??? Now everyone that’s ever won a championship has won a “Sprint Cup” and this just goes along with that……it’s absolutely ridiculous. Is it because the commentators are not smart enough to speak and actually mention the correct reference?? Dale Sr did not drive a COT Impala!! Why not make it the actual car that he drove……oh wait, that would make sense!!
Sandi, Chevy would have to sign off for it to be a Lumina (or Monte whichever one it was) And beings that they no longer produce those models, It it safe to say that Chevy Would not license them those models and would only liscense them the Impala.
As far as the past, I do it the easy way. You are a Cup champion, a Grand National Champion or a Super Truck champion, same with the Modified division, as well as the East/west, etc…
Fisha….
Fisha wrties “Oh and another thing, If Dale Sr were alive today and he ever heard anybody call his wife what you (and others) have called her, He would’ve killed you with his bare hands.”
WELL, THAT WOULD BE A SHAME ON HIM. I WOULD HOPE THAT HE WOULD STAND UP FOR HIS KIDS JUST AS MUCH. BUT THEN AGAIN, MAYBE THAT’S JUST THE MOM IN ME. I DON’T THINK HE’D KILL ME WITH HIS BARE HANDS TELLING HIM OR HIS WIFE THAT SHE IS A SELFISH GOLD DIGGEN BIOTCH. SINCE I AM FEMALE, MAYBE SHE’D LIKE TO TAKE A SWING AT ME, THOUGH SHE WOULDN’T FARE TO WELL WITH THAT EITHER.
I HARDLY THINK THAT DALE WOULD SERIOUSLY PUT UP WITH TERESA HAD SHE BEHAVED LIKE THIS TO HIS BUSINESS, HIS CHILDREN, HIS NAME, WHILE HE WAS ALIVE. I THINK HE WOULD HAVE KICKED HER @SS TO THE CURB IF HE HAD BEEN HERE TO SEE SOME OF HER ANTICS!
I’m surprised these idiots didn’t come up with a Dale Earnhardt Goodwrench Memorial Die Cast Casket yet! Then a Kulwicki one. A Davey Allison one and so on. These guys gotta quit making some of this $hit! When does it end?
Several high five’s to JR88FAN!!!! on comments back to Truex1Fan & Fisha
U GO GIRL!!!!!!
Have a gr88t evening
jr88fan wrote:
YOU GO GIRL!
Fisha695 wrote:
WHAT? What about the series of cars that they did for dale sr after he died, even the pink ford?
The license older models all the time. NASCAR is doing a series of cars of the past daytona champions right now.
Just go to nascar.com.
Truex1Fan wrote:
AMEN! Well Said! Kudos to ya dude!
With ya all the way…
jr88fan wrote:
The only one getting lippy & “smart mouthed” …. IS YOU!
jr88fan wrote:
You’re totally clueless!
As usual… another Jr. Nation wonk that wasn’t paying attention to the order of events and timelines last season - Junior made the biggest fool out of himself when Teresa’s long-time business development plans began to surface and the history of which totally pre-dated anything he induced…
Like always, Teresa was a dozen steps ahead of the stupid little brat…
Funny how Childress didn’t even bother recruiting Junior… that was reported in the Associated Press…
If ole’ “Ricky” hadn’t gotten greedy himself and decided to fire Bush early so he could make room for Junior… Junior would have been sitting on the curb watching the cars go by this season because nobody else really wanted him. He and Kelley are nothing but trouble… and the team owners know it too…
Sorry you see it that way… “Mike”. I was and am merely stating MY point of view. However, I do take offense to people like “Truexfan” assuming he/she knows me or my likes/dislikes. The posting by him/her, was rude and presumptive, and I let them know it. That’s all. I don’t intentionally try to be rude or offensive and I don’t take things lying down, either. Have a good one.
Oh and by the way… Your view of Jr not being “wanted” and Childress not “recruiting” him. That is just so laughable. Oh my that is just one for the books! Jr could have gone A-N-Y-W-H-E-R-E! Hendrick should thank his lucky stars that Jr signed with him. Marketing pot of gold is the name of that game.
And I’d love to hear these “great business developments” Teresa had in the works? It OBVIOUSLY wasn’t so great now was it, since nothing has come about and the team IS falling apart. Bahahaha.
I am NOT a Jr Nation “wonk” or whatever. I actually like a number of drivers and am interested in various teams/organizations. just because my favorite driver happens to be in my “posting name”, doesn’t mean jack. Hate to burst your flimsy bubble. Later
lol glad to see my comment got so much attention, a jr88fan i do know you and your personal bias just like the rest of jr nation, dont get me wrong i use to be apart of the nation until last year whe njr showed his true colors and i was forced to throw away all my #8 merch. reading all your comments above just proves my point and most people in here will agree with me. oh yeah if u and teresa slugged it out my moneys on her lol she will whoop ya just like she did lil e last season in negoteations last season. As far as the great business devolpements teresa has in the works here ya go. Merged with ginn racing and picked up mark martin making for a strong race team, since mark can mentor all DEI young drivers.Truex was in the chase last season and picked up the poll at texas last year,not the menchon on the same engines as jr, who was lucky to finish a race. Trust me truex will have a break out season this year and show he can be the staple in the DEI stable.veteran Doug Randolph is now paul menards crew chief for this season.And on top of everything merges engine programs with RCR. these are jsut to name a few changes. so yeah teresa is on top of things. and sorry to burst your flimpsy bubble, dont kid yourself you are jsut another memember of jr nation. but is ok you have thousands of people jsut like you to help you blame teresa. so your not alone just remember this, when jr doesnt make the chase this year you have nobody to blame but jr and then what is jr nation going to do, hhhhhhhhhhhhhh i wonder?
TRUEX FAN your so full of it as usual and i wish you wouldnt Truex’s name because i like him as much as Junior or any other driver. As you might have guessed i’m a racing fan not a full blown Junior fan. as for some of the rest of you grow up this is an adult sport.
I think we need to quit all this bickering and stick to the facts and the topic. I’m sorry if my remarks offend anyone but someone needs to be the voice of reason. BTW Junior would not want anyone calling his stepmother names so atleast respect his feelings in that matter. And people you must remember everyone has an oppinion and just because you dont agree with them doesnt mean you have to belittle them.
jr88fan wrote:
She is the one that built DEI (and dale is on record saying that) and Dale is the one that left DEI to her and his youngest daughter.
Should Jr have gotten a part of DEI? Yes, but not 51 %. Dale Jr (if that is his ‘real name’) , Kerry, Kelly, Taylor, & Teresa should all have an equal amount of control IMO, but Sr did not make that happen he game it all to Teresa and his now 19 year old daughter Taylor.
Sam wrote:
They do when their current models are selling, but when they are not and the company is losing BILLIONS of dollars a year, companies are more worried about getting the name of their current and future models out there instead of their dead models that will not make them a profit.
We haven’t even had the first race this
season and I am already sick and tired of
all the garbage about Jr. The kid does
not walk on water nor is he the devil incarnate. However - he is not the only
driver in NASCAR and there are many of
us diehard fans who could give a crap
about whether he wins or loses….. get
over yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
If you Dont like it, dont buy it, If you dont follow, dont watch, if dont know Earnhardt, do worry abt it..
Worry abt yourself and not someone else.
This whole die cast business has gone to hell. I started selling die cast with 2 of my buddies in 1990. We paid $1.45 for a Racing Champions 1/64th scale and $7.90 for a 1/24th scale car through our wholesale suppliers. That’s before shipping and tax at the end of the month. You could buy the same items at a department store from $1.99-$3.99 and $9.99-$12.99 respectively. The Action stuff was an average of $3.75 for a 1/64th and $26.00 for a 1/24th. If you ordered a case of 12 (one driver), the 1/64th dropped 30 cents a car and $2.00 a car on the 1/24th. Then they started offering mixed cases. When Kulwicki died, his cars jumped to $3.50 for a 1/64th RC and $15.00 for 1/24th RC. But you had to buy a case of Sterling Marlins or Derrike Copes to get the Kulwickis!! Dale Earnhardt to his credit, purchased Action and turned that company around before selling it back to Fred. He is the one that basically revolutionized NASCAR memorabilia. He started the special paint scheme with that Silver Monte Carlo in 1995 and the rest is history. Action, TEI and Childress are entitled to profit I guess, but this $hit is getting ridiculous.
Didn’t Jeff Gordon have something to do with Dale buying Action, like they went in on it 50/50 or something like that.
I forgot to mention I was a Dale fan for years. I do have some autographed stuff of his dating back to 1988 that I will always keep. I was asked if I wanted any of these DE Impala COT’s. I was told they’re cheap as Dale stuff goes. I wasn’t even given an actual dollar amount per car but I ordered 6 of the 1/24th scale and 12 of the 1/64th scale. You know why? If I don’t pre-order these cars now, I might not get any future “deals”. I know I’ll keep 2 of each for my family and the others are for a couple of friends and a few loyal customers. The day Dale died, I had a die cast show and pasta dinner. Entry to visit the show and all you could eat mostaccioli with meatballs was $2 per person. The pink Fords, (originally sold in 1998) along with the Bass Pro and #8 Dodge Chargers were selling for $40 ea or 3 for $100. The Oreo cars were averaging $60 ea. Not many were sold, especially the pinkies. By the time I got home, Dale had passed. I didn’t know it at the time. There were over 30 messages on my machine asking if I still had the pinkies, Bass Pros and Chargers. People were offering $100 ea for any of those vehicles. That’s crazy!