kannapolisnc.gov
Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza
109 West A Street
Kannapolis, NC
T
he one-acre Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza is
home to a statue by Arizona sculptor Clyde
Ross Morgan, honoring Kannapolis’ hometown
hero and racing legend Dale Earnhardt. The 900
lb., nine feet tall, bronze statue is surrounded
by walkways and gardens that have signicant
numerology as it relates to the life of Dale
Earnhardt and the Earnhardt Family.
Numerology
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The granite base of the statue pedestal is
divided into seven sections representing Dale’s
seven Winston Cup Championships.
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Seven steps descend into the Plaza from both
entrances on Main Street also representing
Dale’s seven Winston Cup Championships.
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Dale’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 to be added in
the future once funds are donated.
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The walk around the Plaza is shaped like an oval to
represent a racetrack.
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Gold mop cypress shrubs and vintage jade
distylium around the center seat wall are planted
in sets of three. The benches along the oval walk
are grouped in sets of three. They commemorate
the number three, which is associated with Dale.
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Eight lights shine on the statue representing the
car number of Dale’s father, Ralph Earnhardt.
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The statue of Dale faces his home place and
toward “Idiot’s Circle,” the area of the City where
teens in Dale’s day once drove around on the
weekends to socialize. There, it is rumored, is
where Dale learned to drive and turn left.
EARNHARDT PLAZA