Rumor has it in the garage that Cup team owners (#3 and #’s 29,30,31) Richard Childress could take a lap in the black #3 Chevy at some point this weekend(NASCAR Online Buzz)(2-23-2001)
UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt’s black #3 Chevrolet will make its final lap around the race track before being retired. According to Earnhardt team sponsor and “Realtree Outdoors” owner Bill Jordan, the trademark black car driven by “The Intimidator” will make its final appearance at Rockingham, NC, this weekend. The car will be driven for one final tribute lap around the track prior to Sunday’s DuraLube 400. Childress would like to drive the car himself. But if the emotion of driving it becomes too much, he’ll have driver Dave Marcis of the Realtree team handle it. Earnhardt’s black car color scheme is to be retired after the tribute lap(Charleston Gazette)
UPDATE 2: it was decided not to run the #3 car on a parade lap around Rockingham as the Earnhardt family didn’t feel they were ready to see it on the track so soon(ESPN2’s RPM 2Day)(2-25-2001)