Dale Jr. souvenirs still top sellers

LOUDON – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be switching from his familiar red Budweiser Chevrolet No. 8 to a new team next year, taking Kyle Bush's spot on the Hendricks Motorsports team, but he's still No. 1 among all the drivers on the NASCAR circuit when it comes to souvenir and apparel purchases.

"It's Junior. He's still the most popular,'' said Bill Szathmary of Cape May, N.J., who has been hawking NASCAR shirts, hats, T-shirts and other souvenirs for the past 19 years at racetracks across the country.

He and his wife, Linda, had set up their tent yesterday next to the track's International Drive, a spot they've occupied during Nextel Cup races for the last several years. They were looking forward to a busy weekend, especially tomorrow, when the large field they're in will be an off-site parking spot for hundreds of race fans attending the Lennox Industrial Tools 300.

Proof positive of Earnhardt's fan appeal came when the next customers, Casey Leblanc and Kelly Daigle of Bristol, Conn., stopped by with her 6-year-old son, Deklan Zukowski, and started looking for children's hats and shirts. They're staying at Cascade Park in Loudon, camping out in their RV with dozens of other race fans, and because it's Deklan's first NASCAR race, they wanted something special for him.

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Deklan had eyes only for the bright red Earnhardt gear and ended up with a shirt, the last one in his size, as well as a No. 8 hat.

George Cipra of Rome, N.Y., is a vendor who travels with his tent and gear to every NASCAR race on the circuit, except those in Arizona and California. He said Earnhardt gear is his best seller, although Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and defending cup champion Jimmy Johnson are also popular.

Cipra, an Air Force retiree, has spent the past 10 years following the circuit and driving thousands of miles to set up his sales tent.

"Weather plays a big part in sales. At Charlotte and in Michigan, the weather was so hot that people were staying where it was cool and not traveling around very much. It looks like we're going to have good weather here, so I'm expecting a good weekend,'' Cipra said.

He said he likes the travel involved in his work and the opportunities it provides to meet all kinds of people.

"I can't stand just sitting at home, and this is a great life. The people who follow NASCAR are real friendly, and I make friends everywhere I go,'' Cipra said.

He's especially looking forward to NASCAR's visit to the Chicago Speedway because he hails from Illinois.

"I'll get to have a week and a half of vacation and spend some time with my Dad,'' he said.