Dale Jr to Hendrick

[bcline76]

According to ESPN.COM Jr is going to drive for Hendrick next year. Sounds like Kyle Busch may opt out of his contract. WOW, talk about a hammer stable of drivers.

[ORrinker]

Well at least Jr. will get to be teammates with a Nascar Champion What are his redneck posse going to do if he is teamed up with their evil nemesis Jeff Gordon???? They might actually have to carry their trash to the receptacles at the end of the race

Randy

[RODACTION]

It sure sounds that way, it is not what I thought would happen, but I think its a good move.

Good luck to JR on his move. I think it has been real hard on him to to be in this situation. In some of his interveiws there was alot of emotion in is eyes.

I wonder if T.E. is still on the Christmas list ?


GO DALE !!!!

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I won't be rooting for Jr. anymore. I've been a fan as long as hes been racing,but I can't root for a teammate of Jimmie Gordon or Jeff Johnson.

[ORrinker]

Originally Posted by ICHTHYDEMON

I won't be rooting for Jr. anymore. I've been a fan as long as hes been racing,but I can't root for a teammate of Jimmie Gordon or Jeff Johnson.

Just curious, why does it seem you have to hate Jeff Gordon to be a Jr. fan? This is an honest question as I do not understand. I am a Gordon fan but I do not have any problems with Jr. other than he is a bit overrated in my opinion.

Randy

[ICHTHYDEMON]

Originally Posted by ORrinker

Just curious, why does it seem you have to hate Jeff Gordon to be a Jr. fan? This is an honest question as I do not understand. I am a Gordon fan but I do not have any problems with Jr. other than he is a bit overrated in my opinion.

Randy

I didn't like Gordon long before Jr. was even racing. I don't like his whiny,sniveling attitude if things aren't going his way. I feel the same about Jimmie Johnson. Thats why I called them Jimmie Gordon and Jeff Johnson.

Now that Jr. feels the need to team up with those two crybabies I won't be rooting for him either.

[ORrinker]

Originally Posted by ICHTHYDEMON

I didn't like Gordon long before Jr. was even racing. I don't like his whiny,sniveling attitude if things aren't going his way. I feel the same about Jimmie Johnson. Thats why I called them Jimmie Gordon and Jeff Johnson.

Now that Jr. feels the need to team up with those two crybabies I won't be rooting for him either.

Jr. blaming his pit crew every time he did not do well in a race did not bother you though?

Randy

[julezilla]

As long as he's not driving a Toyota, it's all good by me.

[pearl]

I'm still holding out. Ain't going to happen.

[RODACTION]

I may not happen.....but all the media (leaks if you will) seem to think otherwise.

As for the non JR support, (if he does go with Hendrick) JR would have had to think long and hard about his move or where he would place himself, in consideration of his fan base. There are sure to be plenty to question his move to a so called rival.

I will support him and his move where ever he lands, even if he is teammates with Jeff Johnson and Jimmy Gordon.....

I really wish he would have gone with Gibbs, and have Smoke as the teammate......but I heard Gibbs would not have Bud (alcohol) as a sponsor

[pearl]

Doesn't bode well for DEI. They get little Busch in the deal. There is only one worse driver the him and thats the older Busch...... Oh yea and any of the Bodine brothers.

Dale Jr. to make announcement Wed. UPDATE 3 looks like to Hendrick; Kyle Busch to DEI?: could this be the big announcement of where Dale Earnhardt Jr. will go and who he will drive for in 2008 and the future? NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday at 11:00a,/et at his JR Motorsports race shop. [This is NOT open to the public] A full transcript will be released shortly after the news conference.(JR Motorsports PR)
SPEED to televise UPDATE: must be big....SPEED will interrupt regularly scheduled programming Wednesday morning, June 13 at 10:00am/et in anticipation of a live press conference from JR Motorsports about the future plans of Nextel Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. At 11:00am/et, John Roberts will host a special live edition of The SPEED Report, with Bob Dillner on site in Mooresville, N.C. The press conference is expected to last one hour. At 7:00pm/et, SPEED will present a special half-hour edition of The SPEED Report to summarize the day's events.
XM Radio Sports Nation (XM channel 144) will also air the press conference live.
AND SIRIUS Satellite Radio will provide listeners with comprehensive live coverage of the news conference on Sirius NASCAR Radio channel 128
UPDATE: Officials with Ginn Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing each said their teams were not involved in the news conference while a spokesperson for Richard Childress Racing said the team owner is out of the country [New Zealand] on a hunting trip and that he is not expected to be back in the country tomorrow. A Hendrick Motorsports spokesman had no comment. A call to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spokesman was not immediately returned.(SceneDaily.com)
UPDATE 2: ESPN.com's Marty Smith reports: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Wednesday will announce his intent to drive the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in 2008, multiple sources with intimate knowledge of negotiations told ESPN.com Tuesday on condition of anonymity. Hendrick Motorsports declined comment Tuesday, and e-mails and calls sent to Earnhardt's representation were not returned. Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, who has handled contract negotiations for her brother, declined to comment on the report. There was some speculation that the wheels are already in motion to plant Earnhardt in the #5 now driven by Kyle Busch before season's end, but Dale Earnhardt, Inc. president Max Siegel, contacted by phone Tuesday, discounted that scenario, saying Earnhardt would remain in the #8 through season's end. Sources said there are indications that Busch may not finish the year in the #5. Busch is under contract with HMS through the end of next season, and Hendrick had been working to sign the 22-year old driver to an extension. Jeff Dickerson, an attorney for Busch, told ESPN.com that "a lot of things may or may not occur. Out of respect for Hendrick Motorsports, we're not really sure what's going on yet. But we're trying. I don't think anything's changed yet. I can not tell you that Kyle is out of the #5 for 2008." Meanwhile, one potential scenario would be Casey Mears moving to the #5 and Earnhardt moving to the #25 currently being driven by Mears [Budweiser sponsored Hendrick and the #25 for many years]. It is unknown whether sponsor Budweiser will follow Earnhardt to Hendrick.(ESPN.com), the Associated Press is reporting similar news/speculatn.(6-12-2007)
UPDATE 3: Hearing that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will end up at Hendrick Motorsports, taking Kyle Busch's roster spot. As to what happens to Busch, he'll take Junior's place at Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated.(6-12-2007)

Still hoping it doesnt happen

[RODACTION]

Good for DEI, or is it TEI ? T.E. (IMHO) should be asamed of herself.

Have fun with Kryle Busch.

And go JR.


Do you think tatoo parlors are getting hit with credit applications for new tatoos ? Please remove my #8 and replace with a #5 ? I only will have to repaint my garage door, cover the 8, and paint a 5, :grin: Oh boy, the neighbors are going to be asking soooo many questions.

[fish_on]

I hope he doesn't drive the 25, that car has never been a performer. He should take the 08. I guess the Inn now has a new guest.

[Go_Getter]

I'm just not sure this is a good move, he will be competing with Mork and dork (Jimmy and Jeff) for the best people and equipment, they own parts of Hendrick so who do you think will get the good stuff and the inside tracks? I would have much rather seen him go with Ginn, Bobby Ginn has more money than Hendrick and Teresa combined, JR would have been the #1 driver and all the best with a wallet to back him. Also NASCAR.com is reporting that Budweiser may not go with JR so the red tide will have to open Frosted Flakes boxes instead of A bud....Does this mean when someone else wins it will snow Frosted Flakes instead of Beer cans? And who cares where Kyle Bush goes maybe he go back to go-carts where he belongs.

All this being said I must say..... GO KASEY KAHNE #9...To bad JR didn't go th Evernham they have lots of red paint and a new partner coming on board with lots of $$$$$$$$$$ for next year!

[Wilmyster]

I would have preferred he went to GINN racing, look what Mark Martin has done on a limited schedule. Kaseys owner never had a shot, dodge, no chevy, oh well, I can agree with the go Kasey.

[Fast Water]

Originally Posted by julezilla

As long as he's not driving a Toyota, it's all good by me.

At least it would be representing an American made car.

oopppss.

[rip-lightnin]

I was hoping for a contract with Richard Childress, I believe he would have been well taken care of in the Childress stable. Who knows we might have one day seen the #3 again

[Flatfish]

And what will his excuse be when he don't win a championship with this team?

[RODACTION]

It's official.....

Dale Jr has announced that he will drive for Hendrick in the 2008 season, with a five year deal.

As for the car number (8) and Budweiser, these things still are in the working as to whether they will go over to Hendrick to stay with Jr.

[julezilla]

Originally Posted by Fast Water

At least it would be representing an American made car.

oopppss.

DOH!

They do have an annoying tendency to blow up during the race, though.

[Bendman]

Originally Posted by Flatfish

And what will his excuse be when he don't win a championship with this team?

I try to follow pretty closely and I don't remember him ever making any excuses for not winning the cup.

Unless your referring to him stating that DEI's equipment is not up to the competitions. I still don't think that would be so much an excuse but rather stating an obvious fact. I think a guy would be pretty hard pressed to find someone that would argue that.

I guess we'll see what happens next year. Anybody have any predictions? Will he be in the 8? Who's gunna be on the car? The way they left everything REALLY open I'm thinking that Jr's going to be in the #8 Budweiser car.. But who knows if Taresa will let the number go. kyle Bush in the #5 DEI Chevy and Jr. in the #8 Hendrick motorsports Chevy.:grin:


Man Hendrick has got to feel on top of the world.

[roguesteelheader]

Originally Posted by julezilla

DOH!

They do have an annoying tendency to blow up during the race, though.

Just give Toyota a year or so and I think you will see them at the top of the NASCAR chart.

[Flatfish]

If DEI's equipment is so substandard, can you please explain the last couple weeks?

I would like to see Junior win as bad as anyone....it's like watching the Red Sox. But I am a still on the fence on if he can compete weekly with the super elite drivers that win the vast majority of the events.....there are maybe 10 guys who win the bulk of the races. Like it or not, up to this point, number 8 aint been one of them.

[Bendman]

DEI is no slouch organization. They have competent people running things. But save for some shinning moments they have not kept up with any of the elite teams. Gibbs, Hendrick, and Rouch. The teem has been steadily getting worse for the past several years. they have been on a good track after the announcement but who wouldn't be. It's sink or swim for DEI so they better start swimming.

Nobody knows better than Jr. that he don't have the wins that is expected of him. I'm pretty sure that's why he did what he did. Pick the best teem out there.

[ORrinker]

DEI has very top notch equipment. Unfortunately, it is not ONLY the equipment that is on the track during the race:grin:



Randy

[Flatfish]

I think Tony Stewart would have been a better fit.....

It seems almost dirty that Jr. and #24 are now gonna play Shake&Bake. I wonder what the red army is gonna do now that Lord Vader is actually a good guy. What are they gonna do now....carry their beer cans home?

I still don't care. So long as they race, I am happy.

[DanS]

Just give Toyota a year or so and I think you will see them at the top of the NASCAR chart.

One might think so...........

But Toyota's struggles in F1 have showed that sometimes it's not all about money. Heck, the Super Aguri team is beating the factory Honda F1 team like a drum lately.

There's more to building a race car and managing a race team than writing a fat check. It looks like Toyota still has a lot to learn.

[Go_Getter]

Look out for #9 and Kasey Kahne! Evernham knows how to win, Kasey knows how to win, rumor has it that Frosted flakes won't give up JR's car (would you give up a car JR drives? and can you imagine the marketing to kids that Bud can't do? Jr's stuff will sell like never before) and Budweiser is going to Kahne, also Evenham will now be funded because he will have a new partner for next year with all the money he wants! I think a lot of drivers are going to be looking at the back of a red Dodge next year!


Go 9 & Kasey Kahne!

[pearl]

Will he be in the 8?

Number belongs to DEI. He will be in the #5 just for the simple reason that it opens up the door to sell a billion dollars of new hats and t shirts.

It's all about the mechandise right?

[Ethical hunter]

JR? Ken Griffy Jr? Whos Dale?

[fish_on]

Originally Posted by pearl

Number belongs to DEI. He will be in the #5 just for the simple reason that it opens up the door to sell a billion dollars of new hats and t shirts.

It's all about the mechandise right?

The number belongs to NASCAR, DEI has requested and been granted that number. NASCAR will not take a number away from a team, but the teams do not own the numbers and cannot sell or give the numbers away. If Hendricks wants to use the #8 they have to request it from NASCAR, DEI has to agree to give the number up then Jr. can continue in the 8.

Mears will drive the #5 with the Kellogg's sponsorship, Jr. will drive an unspecified number (I hope it's the 8 or 08) with an unspecified sponsor. Bud would like to stay with Jr. but who knows. Kelly is going to start working on sponsor negotiations Monday, sponsors need to be in place by August, September at the latest.

[adiposessed]

Originally Posted by Ethical hunter

JR? Ken Griffy Jr? Whos Dale?

Dale is the one that gets paid millions to make left turns for a living.

[bcline76]

Originally Posted by adiposessed

Dale is the one that gets paid millions to make left turns for a living.

Dale is also the one who doesn't pull a hammy on a home run trot.

[Flatfish]

Please make a note....DEI, and their awful equipment has yet another terrible showing this weekend.

Yep, old Junior needs some better cars if he is gonna win a championship.