FAYETTEVILLE — Not everyone can travel to Mooresville to say goodbye to Dale Earnhardt, but that is not stopping local people from honoring his memory.
In Fayetteville, where Earnhardt used to race as a rookie in the 1970s, his #3 flags are flying high and roadside goodbye messages are posted in front of fans' homes.
Johnny Schantz is expressing his sadness with a huge sign in front of his body shop. People are stopping by to sign it.
"He's my hero, and when heroes die, a part of you dies with them," Schantz said.
The Fayetteville Observer newspaper published a commemorative section in Tuesday's paper, and WKML-FM is playing a song about Earnhardt's death.
"It's just a way to say, 'Thank you, Dale, for all the wonderful memories,'" said WKML's Don Chase.



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