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Way back in 1979, racing legend Dale Earnhardt won the NASCAR Rookie of the Year award. The honor that year was commemorated by Sun Drop soda which created a special glass bottle with Earnhardt’s likeness and autograph on it that is still in demand today.
45 years later, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be keeping the nostalgia alive by bringing back the Sun Drop paint scheme on his number 3 car when he races in the CARS Tour race at Florence Motor Speedway in South Carolina on August 30.
Not only is he doing that, he will also be fielding a Cherry Limon Sun Drop car with the number 88 on it that will be driven by Sammy Smith in May at North Wilksboro Speedway in North Carolina for the May 15th CARS Tour race.
A refreshing partnership continues. @DaleJr will carry the iconic Green No. 3 @SunDrop Camaro for the @CARSTour race at @FlorenceMSpdwy in August, and @sammysmithSS will bring Cherry Lemon Sun Drop to @NWBSpeedway in May piloting the No. 88 Camaro. pic.twitter.com/D39g7MJjxZ
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) April 9, 2024
The partnership between the junior Earnhardt and Sun Drop dates back to 1993 when the company sponsored the then 19-year-old’s late model.
Should we run it back @SunDrop #1993 #2022 https://t.co/4JXyyrm95v pic.twitter.com/hw8iLjaSUW
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 17, 2022
“Sun Drop was in the refrigerator from the minute I remember as a kid growing up,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “It was everywhere in the house, everyone in the race shop was drinking it, every cooler had Sun Drop in it – and there were a lot of coolers. Dad was a loyal drinker of Sun Drop. It was always around.
“I don’t think I knew then how unique the brand was to this area and how much it means to North Carolina and all of us in this area. Growing up with it in my life and introducing it to people, it’s been fun.”
Sun Drop was such a part of the Earnhardt family’s life back then his dad even did a commercial for the soda company back in the day.
This will mark the third time in three years that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will be back in the Sun Drop livery that he first sported at North Wilkesboro Speedway back in 1994.