On May 28, 1978 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the #96 Cardinal Tractor Ford Torino became the first Ford Dale Earnhardt raced in the premier series of NASCAR. It's a car that has never been made in diecast form - until now.

The race was the 1978 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The driver was Dale Earnhardt. The car was a Ford Torino. And the ride almost didn’t happen.

When the previously scheduled driver of the #96 Cardinal Tractor Ford had to be scratched after a dustup with Charlotte law enforcement, car owner Will Cronkrite found himslef without a driver. The television news was announcing that we didn’t have a driver said Cronkrite. The news gentleman didn’t get these words out of his mouth before Dale called me on the telephone and said "can I drive that car?" Dale Earnhardt did - to a 17th place finish. Earnhardt then went on to start the car 3 more times, notching his first top 10 in the premiere series of NASCAR.