DALE JR. WATCHES DAD'S MONTE CARLO TAKE A LAP; MORE FROM 'DEGA TRIP

Six-time Talladega Superspeedway winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. visited one of his favorite tracks Thursday for an action-packed day of greeting fans, mingling with the Alabama Gang, assisting the track with its landscaping duties and watching his father's No. 2 Chevrolet take a lap around the superspeedway.

The Hendrick Motorsports wheelman, sidelined for the rest of the season by concussion-like symptoms, was welcomed by Alabama Gang members Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison and short-track legend Red Farmer as an honorary member of the group.

The Alabama Gang, with deep roots in stock-car racing's early days, was the nickname earned by a group of notable NASCAR drivers -- the Allisons, Neil Bonnett, and Farmer among them -- with ties to the state. Talladega's back straightaway was named "The Alabama Gang Superstretch" in their honor in the spring of 2014.

Although Dale Earnhardt was not a part of the group, he remained great friends with the drivers -- especially Bonnett, a fellow outdoorsman. The group paid tribute to the first-ballot NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee as Donnie Allison wheeled Earnhardt's famous No. 2 Monte Carlo around the 2.66-mile track.

See glimpses from Dale Jr.'s day.

.@DaleJr doing some track landscaping and surprising fans at @TalladegaSuperS. #NW88JR pic.twitter.com/ptrIfuXW8y
— Nationwide 88 (@nationwide88) September 29, 2016

We have some REALLY cool stuff coming up with @DaleJr and the famed #AlabamaGang!

Keep an eye on Periscope & Facebook Live! pic.twitter.com/fT05pKOgrN
— TalladegaSuperspdwy (@TalladegaSuperS) September 29, 2016

Donnie, Bobby and Red welcome @DaleJr as an OFFICIAL Honorary Member of the #AlabamaGang! pic.twitter.com/JjCPAt99FJ
— TalladegaSuperspdwy (@TalladegaSuperS) September 29, 2016

Dale Sr.'s No. 2 Monte Carlo rides again with Donnie Allison at the wheel! #AlabamaGang https://t.co/HeBNAtQWh8
— TalladegaSuperspdwy (@TalladegaSuperS) September 29, 2016

Good times today @TalladegaSuperS promoting the race with the Alabama Gang. Tickets are on sale for the race on October 23rd. pic.twitter.com/vm6OZFTslx
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 29, 2016

I remember this old thing. @TalladegaSuperS Hall of Fame. The carpet is teal, I kid you not. Great choice pops. pic.twitter.com/UMn4RAe34L
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 29, 2016

How cool to rename the MRN booth @TalladegaSuperS in honor of Barney Hall! pic.twitter.com/7u24pIDUnM
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 29, 2016

Dakoda Armstrong to drive Davey Allison rookie paint scheme at Darlington

The No. 28 of Dakoda Armstrong will look like the first No. 28 that Davey Allison drove for the Sept. 3 Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway.

JGL Racing announced Wednesday its No. 28 WinField Toyota would have a paint scheme based on the one Allison drove in his rookie Sprint Cup season of 1987, which ended with the son of Bobby Allison winning Rookie of the Year honors.

Davey allison

Source: Talladega Superspeedway
That year Allison five won poles – including for the Southern 500 – and won two races, the first coming at his home track of Talladega Superspeedway.

“It is with great pleasure that we pay tribute to one of the legends of our sport,” said James Whitener, owner of JGL Racing in a press release. “We had so much success with our throwback scheme last year and we are looking for this year’s to be even better. I am a fan of this sport as well as a team owner and being able to run the 1987 Rookie of the Year paint scheme of Davey Allison is super special for all of us at JGL Racing. We look forward to representing Davey and his legacy in a first class and professional manner.”

Allison would win 19 Sprint Cup races in his career before dying from injuries sustained in a helicopter accident at Talladega on July 13, 1993. He finished third in the Sprint Cup standings in 1991 and 1992.

“Robbie, Krista and I are honored that Davey’s 1987 Rookie Paint Scheme will be a part of such a special weekend of throwbacks at Darlington,” stated Liz Allison, Davey Allison’s widow in a press release. “Having the No. 28 on the track in the Xfinity Series with JGL Racing and Dakoda behind the wheel means so much to our family. This paint scheme is what fans remember most of all of Davey’s cars. We are truly grateful to have Davey remembered in this way.”

The VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will air on Sept. 3 on NBC.