Ralph and Dale
Earnhardt & Will_Cronkrite by Keith Smith Fayetteville NC
One of Dale Earnhardt's first rides in NASCAR was in 1978 in Will Cronkrite's # 96 FORD. How the ride came about is true NASCAR lore.
Charlotte Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler was always interested in providing the race crowd with interesting attention getting theatrics. Wheeler entered Willy T. Ribbs, an successful European African-American driver to drive a Winston Cup car owned by Will Cronkrite in the 1978 World 600 at the Charlotte track. After Ribbs skipped two practice sessions and was arrested for evading police when he drove the wrong way down a one way street, Cronkrite replaced him with, yes it is true, Dale Earnhardt.
The car sponsor was Cardinal Tractor Company.
photo by Keith Smith Fayetteville NC
added his credit thanx