The new year has begun, and in the month of January, we continue our now classic column “Start Number”, this time featuring Daniel Ricciardo‘s choice of number 3. He would have preferred a different starting number, but whether he ever wants to switch is the question.
Those who have watched NASCAR know that things can get intense in this branch of motorsport. The relationships between teams and drivers, sometimes leading to physical confrontations, are not always the best. However, the drivers are always captivating, even in Europe and Australia.
His choice of the number ‘3’ on his cars after the introduction of personal starting numbers was no coincidence. “It has everything to do with Dale Earnhardt,” Ricciardo once said. “I was always a big fan of his.”
NASCAR
Earnhardt was an icon in NASCAR, a winner and champion, a top driver and established name with a massive fan base. He achieved great success in cars adorned with the characteristic number ‘3’. In NASCAR, that number belonged to him during a time when he had thrilling battles with Rusty Wallace, who drove with number 2. This tradition of personal starting numbers has been a part of this branch of motorsport for decades. In Formula 1, it only started in 2014, but Ricciardo was quick to honor his hero by choosing starting number 3.
