US President Donald Trump has directed the Treasury Department to stop producing new pennies, citing rising production costs. The decision comes as collectors and enthusiasts scramble to gather what remains of the 1-cent coin.
For NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, a penny became an integral part of his story. In 1998, six-year-old Wessa Miller gave Earnhardt a penny before his Daytona 500 victory, which he attributed to good luck. The penny was stuck to the dashboard of his car as it crossed the finish line, and its image remains frozen in time at the Richard Childress Racing Museum.
Earnhardt’s struggles with bad luck and missed opportunities are well-documented. He won seven NASCAR championships but never the Daytona 500 until that fateful day. His crew chief, Larry McReynolds, recalls Earnhardt trading his helmet for a hard hat to apply adhesive to the penny, which became an iconic symbol of his victory.
The end of the US penny is likely to have little impact on the rich history and legacy of NASCAR’s most iconic driver. The lucky penny remains as a testament to Earnhardt’s perseverance and determination.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/trump-penny-treasury-mint-nascar-earnhardt-ea2e430928dc2cb7d52fc6fc939c3d46