Martha Stewart Was Earnhardt Hometown’s Visitor

August 1, 2008 by RacingWin
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt 


It was Martha Stewart who visited Dale Earnhardt’s hometown of Kannapolis, North Carolina Thursday, not Oprah Winfrey as previously reported here.

Dale Trail banner

The city of Kannapolis, along with the Cabarrus Convention and Visitors Bureau, removed the ‘Dale Trail’ banners around town last week in anticipation of the arrival of a ‘VIP’ at the towns N.C Research Campus.

The banners were originally put up to honor Earnhardt, the 7 time NASCAR Champion.

The removal of the Earnhardt banners sparked a massive public outcry from NASCAR fans around the country — and put a black eye on the city of Kannapolis.

Earnhardt fans accused city leaders of bowing to pressure from big-money interests in removing the banners — a move that was originally called permanent by Kannapols City Manager Mike Legg.

Now the city seems to be backing off their original hard-line stance amid the outcry. Legg has indicated that the banners may be replaced in the future.

Stewart was given a tour of the campus by California billionaire David Murdick in his Range Rover according to the Salisbury Post.

 

Dale Earnhardt Mens Watch

 

Tags: ,

Comments

22 Comments on Martha Stewart Was Earnhardt Hometown’s Visitor

  1. Joe on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 10:25 am

    2. Why would they remove the banners for a ex-convict. THAT IS A DISGRACE TO THE EARNHARDT FAMILY. You idiots should be ashamed of yourself!!!

    Reply

  2. Maureen on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 10:25 am

    3. Terribly disappointed in the removal of the Earnhardt flags. Was hoping to travel to Kannapolis later this year while in the Carolinas, but NO WAY WILL I EVER GO TO KANNAPOLIS, NORTH CAROLINA. It has been scratched from our tours in the Carolinas. They have heartless people running that town and, no way do I ever want to be near evil money hungry people like that.

    Reply

  3. superpoof on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 10:33 am

    4. I emailed mike legg,and expressed my displeaure.he gave me a song and dance about the press misleading the public about the banners being taken down.well,looks to me like they are gone! I URGE everyone to email him at:mlegg@ci.kannapolis.nc.us. Small town governments think they can do what they want.Let’s show Kannapolis that they can’t!!!

    Reply

  4. suzie on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 11:24 am

    5. Well you know what they say – MONEY CAN’T BUY YOU CLASS!

    Reply

  5. Kristin on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 12:17 pm

    6. I think the overhead power lines give a worse impression of the community. And I was never a Dale fan.

    Reply

  6. Lynn on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 12:29 pm

    7. So, it was The Dale Trail and now what? Is it the no name trail? How silly of them to take down the banners. I think Martha would be one person that could truly appreciate Dale whether she is a NASCAR fan or not. I think Dale is the most famous person to ever come from NC and they shoud make permanent signs to replace the banners. As I travel around the USA, many states, cities, etc., have signs and/or roadways honoring natives they are proud of. Recently, I have traveled on roads named after Paul Simon and Lance Armstrong. And, of course, every town has a street named for MLK Jr.

    Reply

  7. Hope on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 1:05 pm

    8. The Dale Earnhardt banners are being replaced w/ new ones.I REPEAT DALE EARNHARDT BANNERS ARE BEING REPLACED BY NEW ONES!!!!!!!!!!!Apparently some were torn due to being worn out.A nascar.com/community member has found out the truth to this.

    Reply

  8. hank de luca on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 2:19 pm

    9. mailed mr.legg also. got a form letter in response, saying all is not true. they will honor D.E., just sprucing the signs and statue. will re-install.hope this is true.

    Reply

  9. ehege on Mon, 4th Aug 2008 7:46 pm

    10. I TRULY HOPE THEY HAVE REPLACED THE DALE EARNHARDT BANNERS IN KANNAPOLIS,NC,BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE IT BEFORE M.STEWART CAME THRU WITH ANOTHER MONEY HUNGRY IDIOT,MURDOCK.ALL OF YOU KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LEGG WHEN IT COMES VOTING TIME,IF THE BANNERS AREN’T REPLACED.GOD BLESS ALL THE EATNHARDY’S & MOST PEOPLE OF KANNAPOLIS,NC.

    Reply

  10. Sammi on Tue, 5th Aug 2008 12:31 am

    11. I, too, wrote and received a “form” response, I do hope they replace the banners with some type of permanent replacements. I did love the response from the person who wrote about bowing down to a felon! I will be passing through Kannapolis in about three weeks so will be checking the scene out!

    Reply

  11. Christa on Tue, 5th Aug 2008 7:15 am

    12. The banners should be replaced, because if not for Dale Earnhardt, Martha Stewart or any other person(for that matter) would have ever heard of Kannoplis. Dale Earnhardt put Kannapolis on the map. Legg should listen to the people if not he may not have a job come next election.

    Reply

  12. Peggy on Tue, 5th Aug 2008 3:10 pm

    13. I too wrote to Legg…and recieved the same word for word reply that others recieved from him. Saying the media got it all wrong, and that the banners would not be removed. Well..I hate being patronized and to me that is all this man did in his reponse…and since this article says they were taken down tells me this Legg also LIES!! I had told him…I could not believe that Kannapolis would do this to Dales memory, and that they sure liked the money he generated ..and still is for that matter! And as for Martha Stewart…she couldnt make a wart on Dale Earnhardt’s behind!!

    Reply

  13. millie on Tue, 5th Aug 2008 4:05 pm

    14. i was not a big fan of dale earnhardt,but i think when you have someone from your town who was so well loved that you should let the banners fly for them. i just don’t understand the reasoning. by the way jr. is my favorite driver.

    Reply

  14. Debra Geiger on Tue, 5th Aug 2008 6:02 pm

    15. Quote JOE: They should be ashamed of there selves for removing banners. Like other towns they should have real signs Kannopolis wouldn’t been recognized with out Dale Earnhardt SR. .!!!!

    Reply

  15. Lue Kohler on Wed, 6th Aug 2008 3:11 pm

    16. Mike Legg should be fired. He is certainly not famous. Maybe he is jealous of Dale Sr. The only way he is well known is his ignorance. He needs to be kicked out of office and out of town.

    Reply

  16. Diana Cox on Sat, 9th Aug 2008 1:36 pm

    17. Now that I know who the visitor is to Kannopolis,I only have one thing to ask. What in the world where those people thinking? They take banners down honoring someone like Dale so an ex-con can parade through the streets? Dale has done more for Kannopolis then she ever could. Whats she giving out, cooking lessons or how to iron a crease? Give me a break, put those banners back up, better yet put up banners that will never fade or tear. Honor someone that truly deserves it. Go Dale, God Bless You

    Reply

  17. Shannon on Sun, 10th Aug 2008 7:39 pm

    18. Taking down those banners for Martha Stewart is a JOKE…Why on earth would they take them down for an ex con to visit?? They need to fire Mike Legg and put someone in office that knows how to appreciate and honor someone of Dale Sr’s class.
    Put the banners back up and if any other so called famous people want to visit the city then they can visit with those banners waving proudly. The fans have done so much for the city by visiting and such than Martha Stewart could ever think about doing for Kannapolis…What are you thinking Mike Legg?? And as for the emailing..If you email him you will get the same reply back from him that everyone else has gotten..And you can email him 100 times and get back the very same reply 100 times…It’s sad that the fans don’t seem to matter to Mike Legg, even though it is the fans who put money into that city.

    Reply

  18. Lana Pence on Mon, 25th Aug 2008 4:39 pm

    19. I so agree with all those who have written regarding the removal of the banners honoring Nascar legend, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Who do you think put Kannapolis on the map Mike Legg. When I think of visiting North Carolina I think of Nascar which is think is one of the greatest sports venues in America. March Stewart apparently knows nothing about NASCAR fans and their loyalty. You citizens of Kannapolis should keep putting pressure on Legg and Murdick to bring back the tribute to Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in whatever way you can.

    Reply

  19. ELLEN on Sat, 6th Sep 2008 3:31 pm

    20. I personally do not think Martha would care if the banners were flying . Martha and Oprah for that fact would think it commendable for a small town like Kinnapolis to fly banners to honor its’ HERO. That is the AMERICAN WAY!!!!
    As for Mike Legg…if the banners are not replaced, and soon, well he has just written his ticket out of town.

    Reply

  20. Kannapolis Boots Earnhardt Flags | RacingWin on Sat, 17th Jan 2009 4:54 pm

    21. [...] The Salisbury Post has reported that Murdock’s company wants to “put the best face on the city” for a high profile visitor  who is visiting the city. It turns out that visitor is Martha Stewart. [...]

  21. barbara on Sun, 8th Feb 2009 8:15 pm

    22. I am appalled at Martha Stewart and I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SHE WOULD HAVE THE BANNERS TAKEN DOWN. As for this Mike Legg, he needs to go back to nylons….that’s the only legs I know.
    As we all know Dale Sr, would certainly have given him up and down the country, and I’m sure he and his family are quite well off. It’s a shame that someone of that Legg has to be so jealous of our GREAT AMERICAN RACER..grammy 67

    Reply

  22. The Weasel on Fri, 3rd Apr 2009 11:40 pm

    23. Hey Martha, how was the ride with the old buzzard Murdock in the Range Rover? Maybe a ride in a race car going 200 mph would be more fun, huh?

    Reply

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!