3: The Dale Earnhardt Story (2004)

Actors: Louis Febre (composer), Russell Mulcahy (director), Orly Adelson (producer), J.K. Simmons (actor), Barry Pepper (actor), Joe Chrest (actor), Barry Pepper (producer), Traci Dinwiddie (actress), Greg Thompson (actor), Sean Bridgers (actor), Skip Schoolnik (producer), Michael T. Boyd (costume designer), Rick Fisher (miscellaneous crew), Lynn Raynor (producer), Jason Allen King (miscellaneous crew),

Plot: Biographical story of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. starts with his young life and growing up with his father, Ralph, who raced for a living, but initially wanted more for his son. When Dale quits high school to start driving full time, his father aids him and shows a reluctant pride when he is initially successful. Armed with many of his father's philosophies, Dale pushed himself to be the best. His aggressive track mannerisms earned himself fans and detractors. Fellow racer Neil Bonnett was one of those long time friends and whose death deeply affected Dale. Darrell Waltrip clearly was a detractor and the two men's rivalry is clearly depicted. Off the track, Dale's determination to make it impacts two marriages. Third wife Theresa was closer to racing and met Dale when he had started his rise into the Winston Cup circuit. The story also looks at his relationship with his children, particularly son Kerry from his first marriage and whom he did not see again after age 5 until Kerry in his late teens showed up to meet his father again. Similar to his own father, Dale drove Dale Jr. to be the best, including temporarily sending him to military school when his grades slipped, but like his father, Dale Jr. only wanted to race. Contains mild profanity.

Keywords: auto-racing, character-name-in-title, daytona-500, nascar, number-in-title
Genres: Biography, Drama, Sport,
Taglines: One man, One sport. One nation.

Quotes:

Ralph Earnhardt: The winner ain't the one with the fastest car, son. It's just the one who refuses to lose.

Dale Earnhardt: [helping Dale Jr. strap into a racecar] Wipe that look off your face, Dale. You'll wind up as ugly as me.

Neil Bonnett: You pissed off a lot of people out there today, Earnhardt. You almost ran me over a couple times.::Dale Earnhardt: So I suppose you're pissed off at me, too, then?::Neil Bonnett: What the hell do you care? We ain't out there to make friends.

Dale Earnhardt: All I wanna do is race, Daddy.