Dale Jarrett is the consumate gentleman, considerate of all.

In February 1998 my father Clifton Turbyfill celebrated his 88th birthday. Dale Jarrettt (#88) was in Hickory for a Ford promotion at Armstrong Ford, and celebrated with Dad, as shown in the photo.

Dale observed that he just drove 88, but dad was really 88. Dad was very proud, as when he worked at Hickory Mfg. Co, he had purchased lumber from Dale's grandfather, father and even his brother Glenn.

In the background of this photo is Dale's son Jason.

Dad passed away in June '04 at the age of 94.

I am in town (from KY) helping Mother observe her 96th birthday, as well as Mother's day.

Basil Turbyfill
Kentucky

Hickory High School 1954
NC State 1958
Harvard Graduate School of Business 1963
Retired 2000

Thanks Dale for the Great Ride

I have followed Dale's career very close and have also had the privilege of knowing him personally for over 20 years and I can assure you he is not only a true champion on the track but a true champion off the track as well. He has been a great ambassador to his sport, peers, sponsors, and fans. Dale, we will miss seeing you behind the wheel but will continue to enjoy your insight of the sport from the booth.

There are two events that stand out with me when I look back at Dale's career and they are the 1993 Daytona win with his dad, Ned, calling the race and helping him to his first Daytona win by holding off Dale Earnhardt. The other was in 2000 when Dale had a "clean sweep" at Daytona by winning the Bud Shootout Qualifier, the Bud Shootout, the Daytona 500 pole and the Daytona 500.

It has certainly been a great ride, Dale and we thank you. I hope you know you can enjoy a little more golf, so hit them long and straight. Your are all class.

Steve Mull
Hickory, NC

A Super and A Polite Driver

I took this picture of Dale in Hickory. In 1993 he won his first Daytona 500. Later he sign it.

Me and some friends have a bus with power, running water, beds and a deck on top to see races in the infield. We have been to over 60 races in it.

In 1996 we went to the last North Wilkerbore race in 1996. Took a picture Dale in the pits. He sign it later. He has been a super an polite driver ever time.

Miss you Dale..

Charles McCaslin

Newton N.C. 28658

Racing into the Future

Dale Jarrett is responsible for my seven year old souvenir named Race!

My husband, being a huge DJ fan had his groom's cake made into the shape of a race track with the words "Racing into the Future," on the side. My gift to him was a pair of tickets to his very 1st race at Talladega in 2000.

After trying to conceive for over a year, we had given up. It was during that trip to see Dale race that we conceived our son, whom we named Race. We decorated his room all in Dale Jarrett. The cool thing was he weighed 8lbs. 8ozs. We placed a big 88 on his door and promised to take him to meet Dale someday. That will be this weekend.

After all, I must thank him don't you think!

Sandra Stewart
Tupelo, Mississippi

Great JV Basketball Coach

Many of the best memories that my son (Brad) has of Dale Jarrett is when Dale coached his school's JV basketball team at St. Stephen's Lutheran School back in 2001
My son was in 5th grade at the time. He thought it was really cool being coached by a famous sports figure. For myself attending the basketball games I was always impressed with Dale, when people asked him for his autograph he always took time out to give it.

I know I will miss him as a racecar driver.

Michael E. Younghouse
Hickory, NC

Mustache or not, we still love you

Dale,

I was so dissapointed when you shaved off your mustache! But I got over it!

Mustache or not, we still love you in Hickory!

Sharon Kenz
Hickory, NC

Local fan meets her hero

Bea Steen poses with stock car driver Dale Jarrett at the “Get on Track Down Under with Dale Jarrett” event in Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 28. Bea Steen was ‘honored’ and got everything she wanted out of a trip to the NASCAR Banquet 400 stock car race in Overland, Kan., two weekend’s ago. But if you’ve ever crossed paths with the lady everyone affectionately refers to as “Aunt Bea,” then you probably think she deserves even more.

Steen, a cancer survivor, has been an avid fan of everything going on in the world of sports in the Capital City area for years. She’s hosted numerous players from the local baseball and hockey farm clubs, but mostly it’s her infectious, upbeat personality that makes others just want to be around her.

Having Steen as one of your backers is a bigger honor than she may ever realize and the fact that she just brushes off that notion only makes her sincerity as a fan stand out even more.

In this particular case Steen is a big fan of stock car racer Dale Jarrett. She doesn’t just like Jarrett for his racing, but also his work with those less fortunate. Among Jarrett’s charities are the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Brenner’s Children Hospital. He is also the NASCAR spokesman for the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.

Last year, she took in a NASCAR event in Las Vegas. While ‘hanging around’ the UPS corporate tent of Dale Jarrett she, as per her usual, struck up conversations with passersby and before long was in deep with a UPS spokesperson. Next thing you know the UPS folks are inviting her to come to an event as a guest of honor.

Shortly thereafter Steen got the bad news that she had cancer. Months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments would’ve made missing an invitation seem minor for most, but not Aunt Bea.


She kept her mind on meeting her hero and as things began to get better, she got hold of UPS and asked if the offer was still good. It was, of course, and Steen began making plans to get to Overland Park, which is a suburb of Kansas City.

“The cancer is in remission and I haven’t had any complications from it since,” Steen said. “It can come back and I’m scheduled for a MRI and CAT Scan in February just to check if it’s spreading.”

The trip to Las Vegas made Steen an even bigger fan of Jarrett’s as she was given jackets and other paraphernalia befitting one of his top fans. Still she wasn’t one of the Team Jarrett’s elite members and could only attend the gala, such as the one in Overland Park by special invite. The dinner with Jarrett was hosted by Outback Steakhouse, which assisted Steen mightily in the endeavor.

Steen’s children, who ponied up the money for her airfare, made the trip possible. She got discounts on her room, race tickets and ground transportation. Steen got to meet with Jarrett and he autographed her fan club cap and “Toys for Tots” (another Jarrett sponsor) model car.

As for Jarrett, he finished fourth in what was one of his best finishes of an off season for him.

Her seats were in the grandstands just up from Pit Row and down from the starting line.

“They were awesome seats,” she said. “But to be honest it’s better to watch it on TV. It’s great being there, don’t get me wrong, but there’s too much action and it’s hard to follow.

“I just really appreciate everything that everyone did, so that I could do this. It was just great.”

Bea Steen submitted this Article by TOM STUBER IR Sports Writer 10/10/2006

Find out who your friends are

Congratulation Dale! Hickory American Legion Fair thanks you for helping make this annual event enjoyable and affordable for citizens of all ages countywide.

Without your support this would not have been possible. Thanks for all that you do that is untold for our community.

There are not many places one can hear groups like Sugar Land and others for $7.00. The words in the song by Tracy Lawrence “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” can be said about you to all of Catawba County.

Thank you for keeping Rick Bowman’s memory alive, he loved the fair along with many others.

STEVE MAINS
HICKORY NC

Dale is one in a million

This 70 year old grandmother has been following stock car and open wheel racing since I was 7 years old.

The first Brickyard I began looking for the number 88 car and the "White Rain" car in the Busch series.

Dale came to Vegas and I was happy to stand in line for hours just to meet him and get his autograph.

I thanked him for being a wonderful role model. Dale is one in a million.

Sharon Phillips
Mesa, AZ

Proud to be a Dale Jarrett Fan

Used to hang out with some friends in Dale’s garage
In Newton back in the early ‘80’s. Watched him race his
Heart out at the track. “You’ve come
Along way!” Proud to be a DJ fan!

Laura
Conover, NC

DJ Fans Forever

We have been great DJ fans..since 1997...We were never able to afford to have the pleasure to attend a race.

My husband was stricken with lung cancer in Feb 06...He has endured two major surgeries,months of chemotherapy and as of this date is still taking chemo treatments..You see he has an 86% chance of this cancer returning with a venegance within two years...I wanted with all my heart to have Will meet his favorite Nascar driver.

I write Miss Blair (Phillips) on several occasions. She was always understanding and showed genuine sympathy. But she and Miss Penny Copen made a dream come true.

In March 2008 we attended Atlanta Motor Speedway for the entire weekend..only with the help of my family could we have ever pulled off such a trip financially...Mr Jarrett took time to have us brought to his motorhome..Talked with my husband, took pictures, signed autographs and even gave him a hat that he cherishes to this day.

We have such wonderful memories of that weekend and had it not been made possible with Mr Jarrett, Miss Blair, and Miss Penny it would have never happened.

There wll never be another driver to compare to Dale. I wll be forever indebted in my heart for ya'll to make that dream come true for him. I only wish now that we would actually see him in his last race!!!! But not financially possible now..

Thanks for the years of wonderful memories and what a joy to meet the man that is the same person on TV racing as in person..Wonderful!!!! Again, we will truly miss you in that car, May God Bless you and your wonderful family...DJ fans forever....

Will and Pat Riddle,
St Francisville, La.

The Early Days

Back in the 1970's I was in the sign business. I lettered many race cars for various drivers from the Hickory area. One of these was Dale Jarrett. I started lettering cars for Dale when he was first starting driving in the "Late Model Sportsman Division" This is a picture of Dale with the car that I lettered. Pet Dairy was one of his very first sponsors. The other picture is a photo of the sign that I painted for his shop that he had in Conover,NC.

I thought that you may use these in your tribute to Dale. I know that this is a day late, but I just located my pictures today.

I haven't spoken to Dale recently. I hope that he still remembers me!!

Jerry E Miller
Taylorsville, NC
jerryandpam@charter.net

OUR CHAMPION IN UNIFORM

NOTE TO SAY "THANKS" TO DALE JARRETT FOR THE MANY YEARS OF DEDICATION AS A DRIVER, CITIZEN,FAMILY MAN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR CHAMPION IN UNIFORM.

FOR MANY YEARS EVERY SUNDAY WE SAT IN SUPENSE AS WE CHEERED YOU ON TO VICTORY LANE!

YOU ARE TRULY AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF A GENTLEMAN BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK. THE LOVE THAT YOU DISPLAY TO YOUR FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT MAKES YOU THE CHAMPION YOU ARE. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN THE FUTURE.

WE ARE HONORED TO SAY "DALE JARRETT" IS FROM HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA.

THIS NOTE WE SEND TO YOU FROM
ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS
THE JEWELRY EXCHANGE
HICKORY, NC

My Mom Is Dale Jarrett's Biggest Fan

My mom, Clarice Jarrett Hood (Ned's aunt) has always been Dales's biggest fan.

One summer when Martha (Dale's mom) was having lunch at mom's in Daytona, she noted "Clarice, you have more Dale memorabilia than I do!"

And at 90, mom is still Dale's biggest fan. She hopes to see Dale, Ned, Jason and Martha at the Jarrett Reunion next month in Hickory.

Barbara Hood

Hickory, NC

One big Dale Jarrett fan forever

I've been a Dale Jarrett fan since he won the 1993 Daytona 500 and I can't express my feelings about the man in 100 words or less.

He's just such a warm, friendly, and caring person. The type of person that I'd be proud to call a close personal friend.
Thank you DJ for all the years of great racing and the fan club events!

We'll miss you seeing you on the track every week.

One big Dale Jarrett fan forever,
Dave Stein

York, Pa.

Pleased to count Dale and his family among our family of faith

On behalf of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, the home congregation for Dale Jarrett and his family,

I congratulate Dale upon the completion of his active and successful career in auto racing.

Our congregation is pleased to count Dale and his family, Kelly, Natalee, Karsyn, and Zachary, among our family of faith.

Our prayer, as always, is that Dale will race well and safely on May 17, and that the Holy Spirit will bless him with good discernment as he looks ahead to new ventures and time with his family, community, and church.

Pr. Robert Shoffner, Hickory, NC

Thanks for all the fond memories Dale

The first time I met Dale was in 1992 at Silver Spring Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. At that time there was a 3/8 mile dirt track where my family raced late models. The track was having a special race where cup drivers came to race late models. Dale had just started driving for Joe Gibbs that year. I got his autograph and he was so nice to me and my son who was only 7 years old at the time. That was the day I became a Dale Jarrett fan.

I got to meet Dale again in 1997 in Washington DC. I was there for an automotive competition and Dale was the guest speaker. By this time Dale’s career was flourishing and he had already won 2 Daytona 500’s and the Brickyard 400 and had finished 3rd in the point standings in 1996. I was sure that he would be different from when I had met him 5 years earlier. Much to my amazement he was the same guy he was prior to all his success. I had pictures from the dirt track and we talked about the time he was there for the special race.

I have been a loyal Dale Jarrett fan for all these years. Thanks for all the fond memories Dale.

Gayle Leinbach
Mohnton, PA

Thanks for all the NASCAR memories

Dale:

You will be missed--but not forgotten. Today is a celebration of your successful accomplishments and your future endeavors.

Thanks for all the NASCAR memories.

Diana L. Madden Hickory, North Carolina

One of a Kind

There is no question that Dale Jarrett has had a phenomenal racing career and that he has been one of Nascar's best. However, the thing that impresses us more is his success as a great father and husband. He and Kelley have a wonderful family. Even with his busy schedule, he has always found time for his children and attends as many of their sporting events as possible. He has always shown the willingness to assist the youth of our community and to speak to kids of all ages at anytime or place. Dale is one of a kind. We are proud of you and your family. Way to go Dale!

Scott and Stephanie Hanvey
Hickory, NC