Finally! Dale Earnhardt Jr. License Plates Available In North Carolina

[DebWilliams-GFN]

Showing off their new Dale Earnhardt Jr. license plates are,
from the left, Martha Earnhardt, Brenda Jackson, and Kelley
Earnhardt Elledge.

By Deb Williams

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (June 9, 2008) – Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans can now tout their favorite NASCAR driver with their North Carolina license plate, three years after the program was implemented in the Tar Heel state.

On Monday, Earnhardt Jr.'s participation in the program was announced with his grandmother, mother and older sister being the first to obtain their special license plate at the Department of Motor Vehicles office on Dale Earnhardt Boulevard.

“I never thought I'd have a license plate for my grandson,” Martha Earnhardt said. “I think it's a great honor to be able to do this.

“Racing's been in our family since I was 18 years old when my husband [Ralph Earnhardt] started driving. Then my son [Dale Earnhardt Sr.] and now my grandson. And I think I have a great grandson [Jeffrey Earnhardt] that's coming along, so it's been good for our family. My husband raised me and five kids racing, so I think it's been a great honor to have a son and a grandson that race for a living.”

Earnhardt said she never thought racing would reach its current status.

“I never dreamed it would come this far, and I never dreamed that my son ... that there were so many people that loved my child. I do a little meet-and-greet with some of the tour buses and I've run into people that just loved my child. I never dreamed that would happen.”

Rep. Karen Ray, R-Iredell, was responsible for the legislation that created the Race Plates in North Carolina in 2005. Since the program began in 2002, the sale of Race Plates has generated more than $6 million for various state programs and state-approved charitable organizations. In North Carolina, proceeds from the $60 plates go to the North Carolina Motorsports Foundation, which provides scholarships to people seeking a career in motorsports. The North Carolina Motorsports Association presents the scholarships in January at its annual awards banquet.

Andy Papathanassiou, executive director of the North Carolina Motorsports Association, said the North Carolina community and four-year colleges where students may study for a career in motorsports were eligible for the scholarship funds.

“We selected five recipients of $5,000 scholarships and the schools broke down that money among their students, so even though it went to five institutions, it probably went to 15 or 20 students,” Papathanassiou said. “Part of the criteria (for receiving a scholarship) is for a student to already be in a motorsports program. We have certain criteria, the schools will then select their recipients and award the money.

“This year we gave a total of $25,000. That's $5,000 to five schools. We hope that increases with the success of the plate program, with the other programs that we are doing with the Foundation and with the Association. We want that number to go up each year.”

Twenty-two drivers, in addition to Earnhardt Jr., Richard Petty and NASCAR have their own license plates. Earnhardt Jr., who is in his inaugural season with Hendrick Motorsports, is participating in the program for the first time.

Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, who is her younger brother's business manager, said she didn't know why he didn't participate in the program previously.

“Dale Earnhardt Inc. handled the licensing before and I'm not sure why they didn't participate in the program,” Elledge said. “But JR Motorsports, we do the licensing now, so we jumped right on to help. There are a lot of great people involved with it and it benefits the Motorsports Foundation. So we're excited to be a part of it.”

None of the DEI drivers participate in the program. A DEI spokesman said Monday afternoon he would find out why the organization did not participate.

Ray said each team determined if their drivers' plates would be on the program.

“For the past few years, we've not been in a situation where Dale Jr.'s plates were admitted to the program,” Ray said. “As soon as he signed with Hendrick, we had discussions with the people there and we're hopeful he would come on line with the rest of the drivers. That has happened and we are so excited, because we really believe that with him being elected the Most Popular Driver for the last few seasons that his plates are very important and they will drive the sale of the plates, and generate more money for education in the motorsports arena.”

Elledge said it was “really cool to have Dale's name on a plate and to have mine on there, too, kinda.” Elledge's license plate reads “1SIS”.

“I'm really proud of Dale, and everything that he has accomplished and sets out to accomplish,” Elledge continued. “It's another exciting thing in our life that we get to experience. How many people get their names on a license plate? So it's pretty cool.”

Brenda Jackson, Earnhardt Jr.'s mother, said she would never get used to her son being famous.

“I run into signs in the grocery store sometimes and I still get tickled,” Jackson said. “But it's great and they [license plates] look really, really good. I think they'll be a big hit.”

Prior to Jackson obtaining her new license plate, she said she had one that said “U Go Bud 8.”

“It's hanging in my garage. I don't know if I'm supposed to turn it in, but I haven't,” Jackson said with a laugh. “This one is a nice replacement.”

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