3: The Dale Earnhardt Story (2004)

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(698 ratings)

Barry Pepper stars as stock-car racing legend Dale Earnhardt in this made-for-cable drama. Dale was raised by Ralph Earnhardt (J.K. Simmons), a proud man who worked at a mill to feed and clothe his family but found true satisfaction rebuilding jalopies in his garage and racing them at local events… More Barry Pepper stars as stock-car racing legend Dale Earnhardt in this made-for-cable drama. Dale was raised by Ralph Earnhardt (J.K. Simmons), a proud man who worked at a mill to feed and clothe his family but found true satisfaction rebuilding jalopies in his garage and racing them at local events on the weekends. Ralph was a minor legend in Southern stock-car racing, and when Dale dropped out of high school to follow his own passion for racing, he started out in his father's shadow -- and with no illusions about the odds stacked against him. But after more than a decade of struggle, Dale finally began to break into the big leagues in the late '70s, and in time he became the biggest money maker in NASCAR history, tying with the great Richard Petty as the winner of the Winston Cup trophies. But the lessons Dale learned from his father took on a deeper meaning when his own teenage son, Dale Jr. (Chad McCumbee), also decided to take up racing at the age of 16 -- and Dale tried to keep his hot-headed son away from the track. Named for Earnhardt's racing number, 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story debuted on the ESPN cable network on December 11, 2004, and was released on home video shortly afterward. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy
Genres: Drama, Television

In Theaters: Dec 11, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Dec 14, 2004

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jason O

Very good movie about the only racer I've ever cared to watch or been a big fan of. Since he got killed, I haven't watched an entire Nascar race since, and may never again. Great likeness/portrayal of the real Intimidator, and amazin job that ESPN did overall with this!

Cast

            Barry Pepper as Dale Earnhardt

            Elizabeth Mitchell as Teresa Earnhardt

            J.K. Simmons as Ralph Earnhardt

            Chad McCumbee as Dale Earnhardt Jr.

            Dave Hager as J.D. Stacey

            Joe Inscoe as Darlington Track Preacher

            Nick Searcy as Jake Elder

            David Sherrill as Humpy Wheeler

            James Martin Jr. as Junior Johnson

            Matthew Laurance as Richmond Track TV Reporter

            Ron Prather as Richard Childress

            Traci Dinwiddie as Connie the Model

            Mike Flippo as T. Wayne Robertson

            Jonathan Parks Jordan as Reporter

            Dylan Smith as Young Dale

            Andrea Powell as Martha Earnhardt

            Corri English as Darryl

            Teresa Delgado as Kelly Earnhardt

            Sallie Hedrick as Richard Petty's Blonde

            Marshall McGee as Little Kelly

            Greg Thompson as Darrell Waltrip

            Kevin Stillwell as Rod Osterland

            Brandi Ryans as Brenda Gee

            Frank Glidden as Kerry Kay

            Lori Beth Edgeman as Latane Brown

            Jacob Conger as Little Dale Jr.
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