Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza
The Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza is located on Main Street, between A Street and B Street. This once-acre plaza is home to a statue sculpted by Arizona sculptor Clyde Ross Morgan. The statue honors Kannapolis hometown hero and racing legend, Dale Earnhardt. The statue is 900 pounds and nine feet tall and it is surrounded by walkways and gardens. Visitors can also enjoy a granite monument contributed by Earnhardt fans from Vermont and New York.
When you visit the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza, you should make sure to note the many symbolic details:
When you visit the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza, you should make sure to note the many symbolic details:
- The granite base of the statue pedestal is divided into seven sections to represent Earnhardt's seven Winston Cup championships
- Seven steps descend into the Plaza from both entrances on Main Street to also represent Earnhardt's seven championship victories.
- Earnhardt's 76 Winston Cup career wins are commemorated by the seat wall around the statue square in the center of the Plaza, which is designed for 76 granite sections.
- The walk around the Plaza is shaped like and oval to represent a racetrack.
- The azaleas and daylilies around the center seat wall are planted in sets of three.
- The benches along the oval walk are also grouped in sets of three.
- Eight lights shine on the statue representing the car numbers of Dale's father, Ralph Earnhardt, and his son Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
- The statue of Earnhardt faces toward his home place and "Idiot's Circle." Idiot's Circle is the area of town where teens in Dale's day once drove around on the weekends to socialize. Dale is rumored to have learned to drive and turn left there.