BY JILL McCARTNEY
SALISBURY POST

WOODLEAF — The Earnhardt family recently acquired a new member that might just give Dale a run for his money.

Therman Miller, who lives at 360 St. Andrews Church Road, was cleaning out his lawn mower bag July 4 when he saw something moving in the grass. At first he thought it was a snake, but soon he realized it was a turtle.

Then, he noticed the numbers on its shell. Several threes were clearly evident in the turtle’s yellow markings, and he immediately thought of Kannapolis NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt.

Aside from its celebrity markings, the turtle could also have a career in Hollywood. “I even thought to contact Turtle Wax ... that would be a hell of a commercial,” Thomas joked.

According to Miller’s daughter Barbara Thomas, of Morlan Park Road, her mother Irene is related to the Earnhardts. Thomas said Irene’s uncle is the brother of Earnhardt’s grandmother Effie. “So you have to be an Earnhardt fan around our house,” Thomas said.

Miller has kept the turtle as a pet and named it after his grandson, Thomas’ 12-year-old son, Charlie.

“He just thinks it’s the coolest thing,” Thomas said.

The Millers also have cats, which almost caused a problem one afternoon. Thomas said when they came in the house the cats had gotten up on the table where the Miller’s keep Charlie’s terrarium. “They almost had turtle for lunch,” she said.

Thomas thinks her father finding the turtle was fate. “Momma said it came to one of the family,” Thomas said.

But they better be careful or that No. 3 turtle might just zip away. “The day they tried to make his picture he sure moved like Dale Earnhardt,” Thomas said.