The Hill News

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) marked the kickoff of NASCAR season by turning his Twitter profile into a Dale Earnhardt tribute.

According to McHenry spokesman Michael Babyak, McHenry wanted to note the 10th anniversary of legendary driver Dale Earnhardt’s death.

“Congressman McHenry’s a big NASCAR fan, so he wanted to honor that,” he said. The tribute â€" to Earnhardt’s famous "3" logo â€" became McHenry’s profile picture for the weekend.

“He put it up on Friday [Feb. 18], which was the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death at Daytona 500 10 years ago, and he has since switched it back. But it was up for the day and over the weekend as well,” Babyak said.

The 2011 Daytona 500 race took place last weekend in Florida. According to Babyak, “[McHenry] was obviously pretty excited abou! t it.”

The congressman watched the race from his home in North Carolina.