Artist creates program cover to honor Earnhardt Jr.'s last race at Speedway

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR'S first officially licensed artist was tasked with capturing an entire career on a single canvas.

“It's really hitting home that this is real,” artist Sam Bass said.

Sunday’s Bank of America 500 is Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Speedway officials approached Bass to create an original program cover honoring Earnhardt.

“I got to thinking about when I first met him,” Bass said. “I was out at his dad's shop and saw him running around out there and everything else, and I thought, ‘Wouldn't it be cool to show him on the cover as a young kid?”

Bass said he also wanted to feature his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and placed him directly behind his son.

“It was a shot from victory circle when he won the all-star race here at Charlotte,” Bass said. “It just made it so much more impactful. It just made it complete.”

Bass has created more than 90 covers for the speedway over the years.

Cox Media Group