Dale Jr. smacks loaner into Talladega wall
It's common for a car dealer to let someone take a new car out for a ride around the block, but this 2006 Monte Carlo went for a ride around an oval shaped 2.66 mile high-banked block with no posted speed limit.
When it finally come back, it was thoroughly customized. In fact, it looked strangely like the street version of a NASCAR Nextel Cup car after a race at the nearby Talledega Superspeedway. The car was covered with dirt and bugs, had a smashed right-side mirror and a scrape along the right rear fender, not to mention a couple hundred miles on the odometer.
"When I found out what happened, I called the guy I loaned it to," said Philip Alderman, the owner of Colonial Chevrolet-Buick in Talladega.
That call confirmed what he had heard. Rick Humphries, general manager of the Talladega Superspeedway, had borrowed the car for the day. Before becoming aligned with Ford, it was not uncommon for Colonial Chevrolet to routinely lend cars to track officials. When Dale Earnhardt Jr realized that he might have to drive a Ford around the track as a part of the ride and drive to show the new track surface, he wasn't enthused and went looking for a Chevy. The Monte Carlo was the obvious choice. Earnhardt grabbed they keys and promptly began taking folks around the track, often reaching speeds of over 130 miles per hour. All was going well until Jr. got a little high and "scraped" the wall, turning the brand new Monte Carlo into an instant collector's item.
For his part, Alderman doesn't seem particularly unhappy about the incident. In fact, the Dale Jr.-enhanced Monte is now the star of his showroom.
"We didn't even wash it," Alderman said. "We're willing to sell it, as is. Rick had Dale sign the dashboard and the sticker, and we laminated all the articles and pictures of the trips Dale took in the car around the speedway.
Loaning the Monte Carlo to track official: $0
Making repairs to the Monte Carlo upon return: $125
Having Dale Earnhardt Jr scrape the wall at Talladega with the Monte Carlo at 130 mph, autograph the sticker and the dahboard, generate untold dollars in media coverage for the dealership and NOT repair it: Priceless.
[Source: The Birmingham News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Richard Warren 3:38PM (12/01/2006)
Now that's funny!
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Just Crusin 4:00PM (12/01/2006)
Made me smile :)
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beken 4:28PM (12/01/2006)
I didn't think a stock Monte Carlo could go 130mph. Learn something new everyday.
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Lee Gibson 4:33PM (12/01/2006)
130 mph in that POS? Well, now I know why he makes the big bucks. He's a hell of a lot braver than I am.
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Earnhardt is a douche 8:49PM (12/01/2006)
wow, funny story but man, what a douche (Dale Earnhardt Jr)
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Chet 8:19PM (12/01/2006)
Nice spin control.
BTW, "Priceless" is past its expiration date.
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Whydrive 5:28PM (12/01/2006)
If he was driving a Toyota Solara, he would've gone 150mph without a scratch at all.
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Luke Warm 5:06PM (12/01/2006)
If it was an SS model with the 5.3L V8, then 130 sounds about right (the Impala SS will do 145 or 150 from what I've seen in the car magazines). But if it was the V6, then 130 is actually somewhat impressive.
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Matt 5:22PM (12/01/2006)
"Spin Control".. In more ways than one.. :)
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FamilyTruckster 7:04PM (12/01/2006)
If he was driving a Toyota Solara, he would've gone 150mph with the right hand turn signal on the whole time he was driving......
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solomonrex 9:54PM (12/08/2006)
If he was driving a Toyota Solara, the South would be discussing secession.
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Pat Payne 8:35PM (12/01/2006)
if Dale Earnhardt Jr. did it i love it .He's the man on the track.love him love him love him!!!!!!!!!
Pat Payne
Portland , Oregon
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Pat Payne 8:36PM (12/01/2006)
LOVE DALE JR. EARNHARDT JR.
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Pat Payne 8:42PM (12/01/2006)
I WORK AT lOWES WHICH SPONSERS Jimmy Johnson but since we can wear what we want i wear my Dale Jr stuff all the time.. if they told me i couldnt i'd quit lol ................. lovin Jr.
Pat Payne
Portland,Oregon
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Dustin 5:12AM (12/02/2006)
I'm sure Mr. Jr's very happy you all got up from praying at your Dale shrines long enough to post about how much you "love" the guy who wall kissed a brand new car. Wow, what an honor to buy a broken car. If one of us did that? We'd probably be looking at a judge right now.
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chris 8:41AM (12/02/2006)
just wondering is the Monte Carlo fwd? (not putting crap on it just wana know)
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JarryHames 11:18AM (12/04/2006)
Dale Jr. he's such a sweet and handsome Southern Boy. Yum!
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Poe 11:02AM (12/02/2006)
Yes, the Monte Carlo is wrong wheel drive.
I certainly wouldn't buy a brand new car that had been thoroughly abused all day on a race track - no matter WHO had done the damage - but because *Jr.* screwed up while doing that, it's "collectable"?!?!?
Retarded.
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MikeW 3:53PM (12/02/2006)
Some german cars are not hitting ~150mph with only ~200hp
BMW 325 coupe, 215hp, 153mph
The base monte carlo, hit maximum engine power 211hp@5800, in 3rd gear 2.86 axle ratio and 225/60 16 or 225/55 17 @ 155mph.
Obviously the car can't go that fast, because the drag is too high, and the gearing is all wrong, substitute 3.29 for the 2.86 and peak power in 3rd (1:1) is now at 135mph.
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ChuckS 8:17PM (12/02/2006)
My wife and I were there taking the guided tour around the ol' neighborhood racetrack about when this happened. We had decided to stop by to see what the new pavement looked like, and were treated to seeing the black Monte running flat out on the super-smooth new surface, first along the bottom groove, then along the wall, probably to give the passengers a better feel for the speed.
While we were on the camera platform behind pit road, one of the tour stops, the car pulled in and we saw that, indeed, the guy in the Wrangler commercials had been driving. Everybody got out, shook hands, some photos were taken, and all left smiling.
I heard the next day, from a co-worker whose relative had been in the car at the time, about the little brush with the wall. Apparently, they got to _really_ feel the speed. ;^)
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