The Kannapolis Intimidators, Single-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, already have new owners and a new stadium scheduled to open in 2020, and we know now that they’ll have a new nickname and brand in 2020 as well. The impending name change is something of a surprise because of the emotional circumstances around the team’s current identity. The nickname Intimidators is an homage to Dale Earnhardt, who purchased the team after the 2000 season, just months before his untimely death during the Daytona 500 in February 2001.
With the change, the team will lose the distinction of having the only logo in the minors designed by Sam Bass, who was the first artist officially licensed by NASCAR, and who has created countless program covers for races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway since 1985.
The announcement and call for submissions to a name-the-team contest were met, predictably, with those who prefer to keep the current brand—as well as those who would like to see the franchise return to the nickname it used from 1996 to 2000, the Piedmont Boll Weevils.
The team is accepting name submissions on its website through February 13.
