Its about a Ford, but not a Model A

[RockHillWill]

I was on my way to Connecticut to acquire parts for a new project when I got a call from a previous race car sponsor of mine. The NASCAR race at Darlington was featuring paint schemes for 'back in the day' - "paying tribute" to some of the more iconic drivers, and at the last minute had decided to paint the race car driven by Ben Kennedy (great grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France), in the likeness of the Dale Earnhardt car that I owned at that time. I had not been made aware of it due to the last minute decision, or I would have attended the race as opposed to driving so deep into the land of the 'yankees'.

When I got home the team manager contacted me and invited me to their race shop for a tour and some photos that they wanted for some publicity 'stuff' that they were working on. The attached photos show the car that Ben drove, that proudly displays the 'Darlington Stripe' that all drivers like to brag about that they acquire if they are driving off turn two correctly to get the maximum speed down the backstretch.

The 'new' car in the pictures was their backup. They were all very kind to me and my wife Peggy. I was very proud of the fact that they chose my car for this 'throwback' event, knowing full well that it was because it was driven by Dale Earnhardt, not my superior building skills.

If sponsor arrangements are agreed upon, it is possible that Ben will drive this car at the Charlotte race, and if that happens, they have invited me to attend and make an effort to replicate the photo of Dale and I at Charlotte, on pit road just prior to the race which is where he drove his first race in my car. The gentleman in the picture is Mike Beam, a past member of the Richard Petty team who I used to compete against in Pit Crew contests, and on pit road. The last photo is of the original car.

I know this is a little of topic on this site, but I'm pretty 'freakin' stoked about this happening so long after I retired from racing.