Back in 1982, local sportscaster and friend Dick Jones was doing some promotional work for the track at Rockingham, if I remember correctly. Part of that work had several NASCAR drivers flying around the eastern part of North Carolina for interviews with local press.

Working for The Washington Daily News, and knowing Dick, I was invited to the airport in Little Washington to meet several drivers. There I grabbed quick file mug shots of them while local TV and papers talked to them, gathering soundbites to spiff up their auto racing coverage.

Among the drivers this day was a 30-year-old Dale Earnhardt. It was less than a week before the season opening race at Daytona.

Photos of Earnhardt are posted here.