- In Kannapolis, you can follow a trail dedicated to one of the biggest names in NASCAR history.

The Dale Trail connects locations throughout the hometown of the legendary Dale Earnhardt, giving racing fans a closer look into his life and legacy.

Rob Holliday takes us on the trail.

[music] - [Announcer] Back to the line, comes Earnhardt to win it.

- [Rob] The number three black and silver Chevrolet helped give Dale Earnhardt his fame.

It's this blue and yellow number two Oldsmobile that gave him his foundation.

- Most fans are shocked when they see it because it was a pretty rare car.

It was only around for about two years.

That paint scheme's only around for about two years.

- But they were a formative two years, highlighted by Earnhardt's 1980 NASCAR championship, first of seven he would win over his career.

The Oldsmobile Cutlass and a similar Chevy Monte Carlo are both housed at the Curb Motorsports Museum in Earnhardt's hometown of Kannapolis.

It's one of several Cabarrus County locations celebrating the NASCAR legend who died in 2001.

- As the hometown of Dale Earnhardt, Kannapolis really is an essential experience for any race fan.

We actually see fans year round who are motorsports fans, Earnhardt fans, coming to seek out the locations where they can find that history.

- History and connections that are found in dozens of places in this region, so we'll narrow it down to a few of the most popular.

The Curb Museum is high on the list.

- In this building, we have 42 cars in our collection, and about 39 of them are race cars, and they cover eight decades of racing.

- Joining Earnhardt's race cars in the museum is the championship trophy he used those cars to win.

(crowd cheering) Dale Earnhardt was a towering figure in motorsports, and in the center of his hometown of Kannapolis stands a towering tribute.

- This is home of the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Site.

It's kind of a place to come and reflect and remember.

He's nine feet tall, about 900 pounds.

We did the statue as Dale, the person that you would see in Kannapolis with wearing his Wrangler jeans and cowboy boots and his gargoyles in his pocket.

I think it means a lot to his fans.

They're here all the time, but it's most heavy during race weeks in May and October.

- Dale was my hero as a kid, still is my hero all these years later.

Things he represented and meant to our community and all the race fans out there.

- It brought me to tears.

It's just, ah, the guy meant so much to so many people, and I just love watching him race every week, and he was the man.

- Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza is full of symbolism, from the stairs to the way the benches are grouped, and even from directly overhead.

- There's seven steps that lead down into the tribute site, which is one step for each one of his championships.

The benches around the outside of the walk are all done in sets of three.

The outer sidewalk is designed in an oval, which simulates the racetrack.

- Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza is in a central spot in Kannapolis, and there are several locations related to the NASCAR champion just steps away.

You can get an Earnhardt Outdoors coffee at Local Patriot Roasting, or an Earnhardt Outdoors ale at Old Armor Beer.

Both are produced by the company owned by Earnhardt's oldest son, Kerry.

- Slot car track downtown.

Dale won his very first trophy slot car racing.

Cheapest form of motorsports, I'll add.

- Kannapolis also has a minor league baseball team.

Now called the Cannonballers, they were once known as the Intimidators, rooted in Earnhardt's nickname.

NASCAR champion was also a part owner of the team.

Just outside of Kannapolis in Concord is one of NASCAR's best known tracks, the scene of several big moments in Earnhardt's career.

- At Charlotte Motor Speedway, you can experience a tour year round.

And of course, that legendary venue is home to so many amazing moments that happened on the track, the racing action that happened there with Dale Earnhardt and his competitors through the years.

- Including eight trips to Victory Lane and the Pass in the Grass during the 1987 All-Star Race.

Heading back into Kannapolis from Concord can include a trip on Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, fittingly renamed North Carolina Highway 3, and a drive through a section of Kannapolis that's very appropriately named.

- Car Town is where Dale grew up.

His family's house that he was raised in is still there on the corner of Cochin and Sedan Street.

But all the streets in that area are named after cars.

Ford, Chevy, Plymouth, DeSoto, Chrysler.

- 25 years after Earnhardt's death, his fans and those who followed his career remain as engaged as ever and grateful to have Tribute Plaza as a place to share their memories.

- Almost feels like you can feel his spirit here.

I just feel like this is Dale's stomping grounds.

It just, you feel that way.

So it brings you closer to it, to the man and just what he meant to this town and to the world, actually.

(gentle music) - To learn more about the Dale Earnhardt locations and more motorsports tours, visit explorecabarrus.com.