Dover Downs to honour Earnhardt.

Even in death, Dale Earnhardt remains a powerful figure in the world of NASCAR racing. He was the essence of the great Winston Cup driver - a seven-time series champion as well as an aggressive racer who was a crowd pleaser.

He was a hugely popular driver at Dover Downs International Speedway, having posted three victories and earned more money at the Monster Mile than any other racer in Dover Downs history.

On June 3, Dover Downs will do its part to permanently etch Dale Earnhardt into its landscape by naming a section of its grandstands after The Intimidator. As of June 3, the East and Northeast sections on the front straightaway leading up to Turn One will now officially be called the Earnhardt Grandstands.

The ceremony to honour Earnhardt will take place on June 3 just after Dover Downs president and CEO Denis McGlynn makes his introductory comments to the crowd leading up to the MBNA Platinum 400 Winston Cup Series race. The estimated time of the ceremony is just after 12 noon.

At that time, the new banner honouring Earnhardt will be unfurled, and a black flag with the number 3 will also be raised in Victory Lane. A plane trailing the No.3 banner also will be flying overhead. McGlynn will oversee the presentation, which will honour the spirit of a great racer in a simple and straightforward manner - just like Earnhardt himself.

"Dale Earnhardt meant so much to so many people in our sport," said McGlynn. "We felt it only right to permanently honour him here at our track. From now on, whenever race fans come to Dover Downs, they'll see his name honoured at our track. We miss Dale so much, but we also will hold on to so many positive memories of him and hope that by naming part of our track after him, we'll help others remember him fondly as well. And it only seems appropriate that Dale Earnhardt's section of grandstands will look right into the Winston Cup garage area."

Earnhardt will become only the third driver so honoured by Dover Downs International Speedway. Previously honoured with sections of the grandstand named after them were Richard Petty and Bobby Allison. Their sections also are located on the front stretch.

The naming of the grandstands in Dale Earnhardt's honour will be part of a very full weekend of racing that starts on June 1 with the MBNA e-commerce 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, is followed on June 2 with the MBNA Platinum 200 Busch series race, then concludes on June 3 with the MBNA Platinum 400 Winston Cup Series race.