Mojo Race Report: Dale Earnhardt special paint schemes

In Dale Earnhardt’s 30+ year racing career, he drove a lot of cars. Everyone remembers the black #3 Chevrolet Goodwrench car or the #3 Chevrolet Wrangler car, but there were others. Oh yes, there were many others. Here are some of the best and coolest stock cars ever driven by the legendary Dale Earnhardt.

#3 Wheaties Car

Dale Earnhardt Wheaties #3 Car

Dale Earnhardt drove this Wheaties car at The Winston in 1997 (currently known as the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race) when he finished second to Jeff Gordon. Team owner Richard Childress said The Winston was one of Earnhardt’s favorites because “it was short, paid a huge purse and we didn’t have to worry about getting in trouble or be worried about the championship.”

#3 Peter Max Car

Dale Earnhardt #3 Peter Max Car

Dale Earnardt drove the psychedelic car designed by artist Peter Max at The Winston in 2000 where he finished in third. The Dale Earnhardt and Peter Max combo was certainly interesting considering Earnhardt was known for being ruthless on the race track and Peter Max’s art isn’t exactly intimidating.

#3 Tasmanian Devil Car

#3 Dale Earnhardt Tasmanian Devil

Dale Earnhardt raced with this red tasmanian devil car during the 2000 Daytona Speedweek. It was after racing this car he criticized NASCAR for their new shock package used at superspeedways because it emphasized aerodynamics and not the talents of the driver and crew chief.

#3 Coca-Cola Car

Dale Earnhardt #3 Coca Cola Car Japan

Dale Earnhardt drove this car in 1998 during an exhibition race at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan. Even though Dale Earnhardt finished in eighth place, the race was monumental because it was the first time that Dale Sr. competed against his son in a Winston Cup race.

#3 Atlanta 1996 Olympics Car

 #3 Dale Earnhardt Atlanta Olympics 1996 The Winston

During The Winston in 1996, Dale Earnhardt drove this car to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Olympics hosted in Atlanta. Dale finished third and Michael Waltrip took the checkered in his first ever Winston Cup victory.

#3 Goodwrench Silver Anniversary Car

Dale Earnhardt #3 Quicksilver

Special paint schemes went mainstream after Dale Earnhardt’s 1995 The Winston car commemorating Winston’s silver (25 year) anniversary. The car also known as “Quicksilver,” “Silverwrench” or “Silver Select” finished sixth place. Bobby Labonte took the checkered flag.

#3 Oreo Goodwrench Car

Earnhardt #3 Oreo Car Bud Shootout Goodwrench

Dale ran this car at the 2001 Bud Shootout where he finished second to Tony Stewart. The Shootout in Daytona was only weeks before the infamous crash. The Oreo car marked the last special paint scheme car Earnhardt ever drove.

Photo credits: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Hooniverse, ebay, Decades of Racing,

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