Summer of 19 - #4 - Stewart-Haas Racing, Dale Earnhardt Sr. Memorial, Hendrix Motorsports

Wednesday August 14th, 2019

We started off the day with a trip to Stewart-Haas Racing.  

Clint Bowyer

Kurt Busch

Kevin Harvick, Jimmy John's car

Main maintenance shop

We were a little disappointed in the Stewart Haas displays as most of the cars that would normally be on display were out on the road somewhere.

We decided to try and find the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Park in Kannapolis.

Highway 3

Dale Earnhardt Boulevard

It was a little difficult to get to as there is a lot of building work going on, and roads are closed but eventually we got there and parked in a small parking lot opposite.  There were these covers for bicycle parking.  Quite a clever idea.

and we were right next to the train station.

Across the road was the plaza.

It's a small park, the benches are in groups of 3 and it is an oval shape.  Symbolic of Dale's race number and the shape of the track.

This plaque was by the entrance.

There were a few other plaques and the brick pathway had names and memorials on it.  There were a lot of empty bricks though, so I think this hasn't been advertised that much.

The statue was very realistic.

Here's Bryan standing with his hero.

Plaque on one of the benches.

We spent a short while here, it was quiet and serene but a little hot to stay too long.  Although, I think Dale would have appreciated the trains going by across the road and disturbing the peace, after his life on the race track!!!

Our next stop was Hendrick Motorsports Museum.

Chase Elliott

Tim Richmond

Daryll Walt-rip

Driven by Tom Cruise in the movie "Days of Thunder"

Trophy presented to Rick Hendick by Hendrick Motorsports on his induction to the Nascar Hall of Fame in 2017.

Body template. It raised the body so visitors could see the chassis underneath

Kenny Schrader's car after an end over end roll

Bryan worked at Las Vegas Speedway, as a medic on the safety team.  He started by volunteering at the old track and was there when they opened the new one, and for the inaugural race. He really enjoyed working there, but had to leave when he retired from the Air Force as the hours at his new job conflicted with the speedway hours.

I liked these 10 Keys to Success from Rick Hendrick.

These tires where on sale for $50 each.  They came off of winning race cars this year.

Jimmy Johnson

This car was painted to commemorate Hendricks family lost in an aircraft crash

Terry Laborite

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Daytona 500 in this car in 2014. We were parked in Lily in the infield that year and watched the race from the roof of Lily.  There were terrific storms and a tornado watch that interrupted the race.  The stands were evacuated but we were able to shelter in our little home on wheels.  Here's our BLOG of that day.  The car is as it was after the race and celebrations, complete with confetti!!!!

Dale Jr's 2014 Daytona 500 winning car

Tony "Smoke" Stewart's Busch car

Jeff Gordon

Tire rub where Dale Sr. congratulated Jeff on his win

Jeff Gordon's "T-Rex" car

The workshops that you can go in.

It was an interesting day, after the disappointment of Stewart-Haas, the Earnhardt Memorial & Hendrix made up for it.

Tomorrow the plan is to go to Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.  Looking forward to it.