KFDM COOP Posted December 15, 2006 Report Posted December 15, 2006 Stolen Earnhardt suit back at Texas track ESPN.com FORT WORTH, Texas -- Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage received an early Christmas present Thursday. Fort Worth Police Department detectives recovered the Dale Earnhardt firesuit that was stolen from Gossage's office last month. The detectives also recovered an Earnhardt helmet and a book that was taken. "This firesuit means a great deal to me," Gossage said. "Dale and I had been good friends since early in both of our careers. After he ran his first laps during a test at Texas Motor Speedway [in 1997] before we opened, he came to my office and gave me these items." The firesuit was on display at the TMS Speedway Club, but the display was taken down in November. The items were stolen from a closet in Gossage's office. "The items were temporarily stored before being moved from one display to another," Gossage said. "This uniform is such an icon to our sport and to Dale's great accomplishments. It's similar to one of Elvis' jumpsuits." The theft was an inside job. An attorney representing a TMS employee negotiated the return of the items. Gossage said he had faith the Fort Worth Police Department would find the Earnhardt memorabilia. "They kept their word through old-fashioned hard work, persistence and intelligence," Gossage said. "Chief Ralph Mendoza and the entire department are to be congratulated, particularly Detective Davon Green. As a citizen, it makes you feel secure to know that such professionals are ensuring our community is safe." Terry Blount covers motorsports for ESPN.com. He can be reached at
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