Back 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story ID Povestea lui Dale Earnhardt Romanian 3: История Дейла Эрнхардта Russian
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2015) |
| 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story | |
|---|---|
 Television release poster | |
| Genre | Biographical drama |
| Written by | Robert Eisele |
| Directed by | Russell Mulcahy |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Louis Febre |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Orly Adelson |
| Producer | Lynn Raynor |
| Cinematography | James Chressanthis |
| Editor | William B. Stich |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | ESPN |
| Release | December 11, 2004 |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
3: The Dale Earnhardt Story is a 2004 American biographical drama television film directed by Russell Mulcahy, written by Robert Eisele, and starring Barry Pepper as NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt. It chronicles Earnhardt's life from his humble upbringing in Kannapolis, North Carolina, throughout his career racing automobiles to include his rise to dominance in NASCAR, culminating with his death in the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.[1] Its central theme focuses on the relationship between him and his father, Ralph Earnhardt, as well as the relationship between him and his youngest son, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The film premiered on ESPN on December 11, 2004. Pepper's performance earned him a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie.[2]
Many of the film's race scenes were filmed at Rockingham Speedway. The track had lost its races and at the time was used mostly as a test facility and driving school. Chad McCumbee, who portrayed Earnhardt Jr., later became a NASCAR driver in the Craftsman Truck Series.[3] He also raced alongside Dale Jr. himself at the Pocono 500, driving Kyle Petty's 45 car, as Petty was in the TNT broadcast booth.
Actors playing the part of the Flying Aces were Ray Everett, Greg Davis, David Brooks, Robbie Hicks, and Don Gyr.
- ^ Heffernan, Virginia. (December 10, 2004). A First Love Becomes the Family Business. nytimes.com. Retrieved November 16, his 2015.
- ^ The 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. sagawards.org. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- ^ Chad McCumbee. racing-reference.info. Retrieved November 16, 2015.