1491

NASCAR Race Tire Signed by Dale Earnhardt Sr. w/COA c1991 [187746]

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Sports - Racing Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
NASCAR Race Tire Signed by Dale Earnhardt Sr. w/COA c1991 [187746]
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Dale Earnhardt Sr. Autographed Goodyear Eagle Radial NASCAR slick racing tire. Earnhardt's signature is on the sidewall written in white metallic paint pen, Dale Earnhardt #3. (Earnhardt always included his winning car # with his autograph on official race memorabilia and merchandise) This lot Includes a notarized Letter of Authenticity from James Spence Authentication (JSA) Cert. #Z40638. Tire size: 27.5 x 10.0-15 Mfg numeric codes include: D4117, 267003-88S17ST, large size 23, very small 05?SNB91 on one side of tire only. Goodyear did not begin stamping the DOT date code on tires until 2003 and there is very little official reference material available online for earlier tire codes. According to our research, Goodyear switched from white lettering on racecar tires to yellow lettering gradually in 1993 and according to one NASCAR forum, the D4XXX series was in use in the 1990s, making it likely that D4117 was used in the first year or two of the decade; other sources state that the year of mfg. was imprinted at the end of one of the number codes stamped into the rubber, possibly the mold # which may be the code that ends in 91 on this tire. Professional racecar tires are routinely marked after every race with a yellow grease pencil with race specific info such as the tire placement (R or F 1-4) and the number of laps the tire was raced, a factor of reference used by professional NASCAR authenticators. This tire has obvious signs of yellow/orange grease pencil writing that was rubbed or smeared and is no longer legible, not surprising after 33 years. However, we were unable to determine if the same yellow grease pencil was used to mark test tires in the 1990s. We were also unable to verify the number codes/year info in any official Goodyear records, likely because they may no longer exist but further research into this is recommended. It is widely known, however, that in 1991 Dale Earnhardt raced exclusively with Goodyear Eagle radials on his #3 Black Chevy Lumina Pace. Earnhardt was a 7-time Winston Cup NASCAR Champion and was known as the Intimidator due to his aggressive driving style. His famous black Chevrolet was equipped with Goodyear Eagle Radials when he won at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 16, 1989. That race, First Union 400, was the first win for Goodyear radials and marked a turning point in the auto racing "Tire Wars" between Goodyear and Hoosier, the leading competitors for NASCAR business. [Ref: Zack Albert, Radial Revolution: Fond memories for Goodyear’s first radial-tire win at North Wilkesboro, NASCAR.com; 2023] In 1991, the year we estimate for this tire, Earnhardt was at the peak of his racing career, scoring 4 wins and his 5th Winston Cup Championship. Earnhardt's 1991 race car was the #3 Chevrolet Lumina Pace and dozens of photographs online show the Lumina equipped with the Goodyear Eagle radials with white lettering. Our research coupled with the reputable, notarized Letter/Certificate of Authenticity for Earnhardt's signature, indicates to us that this tire was once mounted on Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s legendary #3 NASCAR racecar, if not for one of his winning races or the Winston Cup Championship in 1991, certainly for Earnhardt to test for suitability prior to the season's start. Sadly, Earnhardt was tragically killed in a crash in the last lap of the last race of the 2001 Daytona 500. [ c1991