i want him to go to RCR, just because im sure DEI owns #8 so he cant take it with him

and I dont know what other number he would begin trying to sell

makes me think of the commercial where he is in the press conference and announces he is changing his number and everyone starts freaking out and hes like, i was just kidding...

5/10/2007 11:30:39 AM

Yeah I think he'd do much better with Childress racing, and seeing him drive the #3 would be awesome.

If he goes with a # besides 3 or 8, then the merchandise sells will begin all over, haha, he'll make a ton of money right there.

5/10/2007 11:35:26 AM

so if he either stays or goes anywhere other than Hendrick, does anybody think he has any better chance to win anything?

OVER-RATED (clap clap clapclapclap)

5/10/2007 11:36:23 AM

Well, News 14 Carolina has someone there asking questions...so, maybe Raleigh will mention it for 30 seconds.


Racing for Jr Motorsports, guess who's motors he's said he'll be using (if he don't go TO Hendrick)??....

That's right all you Hendrick Haters!! HENDRICK MOTORS! So, all you Jr. fans really should know more about your driver! If you were a real Earnhardt fan, you would pull for Jeff Gordon. Do you know why? Because he learned everything he knows about racing from Dale! And, if Jr. has a good car eventually in 2008...why would that be? Hmmm...maybe because he'll be running a Hendrick motor!

There! I've said my piece once more.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 11:43 AM. Reason : I caint speel todayie!]

5/10/2007 11:37:17 AM

his best move would be Hendrick

Quote :

"MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR's most popular driver. He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires, intent on going to a more competitive team. "At 32 years of age, the same age my father was when he made his final and most important career decision, it's time for me to compete on a consistent basis and contend for championships now," Earnhardt said at a news conference. "I believe I'd have my father's blessing." Earnhardt had asked for 51 percent ownership of the team now run by his stepmother, Teresa. Negotiations on a contract extension began before the season and have been tense all along. Earnhardt's sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, had set a deadline to get the deal done by the end of the month. "I'm sad that I have to leave some employees that I got close to, leave some relationships," Earnhardt said. "We're going to finish this year out, and I told my guys we're going to run hard. I don't want any excuses for us not giving our best effort. I plan on giving everything I've got like I always do, and hopefully that's what I'll get in return." In a statement, Teresa Earnhardt said DEI will thrive following Junior's announcement. "While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company's future," she said. "Dale and I built this company to be a championship contender, and those principles still apply. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will win. ... This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity and commitment." Now, Earnhardt must decide which team is the best fit for him. He said he would like to continue to drive Chevrolets, which will limit his options. It's also likely his primary sponsor, Budweiser, will move with him to the new team."

5/10/2007 11:37:48 AM

i was talking about Sports radio
i cant believe no one from 850 was there

this is big NC sporting news

5/10/2007 11:49:17 AM

oh. I don't listen to Sports radio, but yeah, I can't believe they didn't have someone there!

5/10/2007 12:00:50 PM

if he goes w/hendrick or gets hendrick engines he'll definitely win more. i think he'd win more with RCR too, which is where i'd like to see him end up. gotta see the return of the #3 car.

hell i wouldn't mind seeing him end up with gibbs and team up with stewart.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 12:05 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 12:01:19 PM

rolling out the #3 would be bad ass

and even bigger for nascar

it would take it to an unimaginable level with the sr and jr fans and the many that would be interested in whats happening

5/10/2007 12:05:28 PM

Wouldn't that be awesome if Childress let him drive the 3, but he was running a Hendrick motor? That would be awesome.

5/10/2007 12:06:59 PM

an RCR motor would still be a big improvement over DEI. hendrick is definitely at the top, but i think junior could definitely compete with them even with an RCR motor. really i think leaving DEI is the best thing he could do for himself.

5/10/2007 12:09:18 PM

he will go to gibbs or rcr. hendrick already has 4 teams

5/10/2007 12:10:05 PM

bethaleigh, he could get childress engines. hopefully, as said a few times in here, he'll go to childress. bring the 3 back, and maybe gm goodwrench could come back as a sponsor.

5/10/2007 12:11:48 PM

His best scenarios (for me)

1. driving the #3 for RCR
2. Gibbs ride, teamed with Stewart (plate race ownage)
3. Hendrick power


"do it boy, come drive my ride"

5/10/2007 12:11:54 PM

Of course it would be an improvement! I meant it in a facetious way though for all the fans that hate Gordon and the rest of the Hendricks and say they cheat with the motors, etc. Yeah, put him with a "cheating" motor (thats better than anything DEI could throw together), and put him in the #3. I just think this could be a huge slap in the face for the phony fans.

BTW, RCR has 4 teams too.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 12:17 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 12:16:20 PM

so is there any possible feasible potential way for Junior to ever win anothe race (with the car of tomorrow) without joining Hendrick? cause Hendrick has that shit on lock

5/10/2007 12:18:30 PM

^^ 31,29,07 and ??

5/10/2007 12:20:32 PM

^^ exactly why he needs to be with them

they can cut their 4th driver and add Jr, where would they go wrong bringing in all his sponsorship money

5/10/2007 12:21:56 PM

^^ Childress has Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, and Scott Wimmer. There's your 4.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 12:23 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 12:23:00 PM

i may just start a racing team. ill take out a big loan. ill give Jr. 52%.

5/10/2007 12:23:28 PM

You gonna need a HUGE loan! Hire me as a spotter!

5/10/2007 12:24:01 PM

Quote :

"Color him gone: Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI after season By JENNA FRYER / The Associated Press MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR’s most popular driver. He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires, intent on going to a more competitive team. “At 32 years of age, the same age my father was when he made his final and most important career decision, it’s time for me to compete on a consistent basis and contend for championships now,” Earnhardt Jr. said at a news conference. “I believe I’d have my father’s blessing.” Earnhardt Jr. had asked for 51 percent ownership of the team now run by his stepmother, Teresa. Negotiations on a contract extension began before the season and have been tense all along. Earnhardt Jr.’s sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, had set a deadline to get the deal done by the end of the month. “We never even got close,” Earnhardt Jr. said from the JR Motorsports shop in Mooresville. He stressed money is not the issue. “It’s not the guy who gives me the biggest paycheck. It’s the person I feel like will allow me to accomplish what I want to in my career, on the race track, in this shop itself,” he said. “There’s some things you can’t get with money, peace of mind and satisfaction in what you do everyday. ...I’m seeking to have that peace of mind and that comfort to be able to really be an asset to somebody. I want to go somewhere and really make things happen for somebody.” Sitting next to his sister and wearing a T-shirt and an open collared shirt, Earnhardt Jr. said he leaves DEI with mixed emotions. “I’m sad that I have to leave some employees that I got close to, leave some relationships,” he said. “We’re going to finish this year out, and I told my guys we’re going to run hard. I don’t want any excuses for us not giving our best effort. I plan on giving everything I’ve got like I always do, and hopefully that’s what I’ll get in return.” In a statement, Teresa Earnhardt said DEI will thrive without Junior. “While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company’s future,” she said. “Dale and I built this company to be a championship contender, and those principles still apply. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will win. ... This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity and commitment.” Earnhardt Jr. said Teresa Earnhardt wasn’t surprised when he told her of his decision. “I think now she’s looking around the corner to do what she needs to do to prepare her company and everything there for 2008,” he said. Earnhardt Jr., too, must decide what’s best for his future. He said he would like to continue to drive Chevrolets, which will limit his options. It’s also likely his primary sponsor, Budweiser, will move with him to the new team. “I believe our first choice would be to drive for another top, competitive team,” Elledge said. “Our last choice would be to form our own Cup team. If that was necessary, that would be what we would do.” “We’re going to listen to everybody,” Earnhardt Jr. added. One possible suitor is Richard Childress Racing, always considered the most logical place for Junior to go. Childress and Dale Earnhardt Sr. were extremely close, and Junior has maintained a relationship with the car owner. That makes sense to Darrell Waltrip, one of Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s friendly rivals who traveled from Nashville at Earnhardt Jr.’s request to join him for Thursday’s announcement. “I’ve always thought RCR just because of the Childress-Earnhardt relationship,” Waltrip said. “I personally have always thought the racing world would be right if Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the black No. 3 car.” RCR can add him as the fourth and final team NASCAR permits each owner. It would team him with Kevin Harvick, who replaced the elder Earnhardt following his 2001 death, and has openly invited Junior to join the organization. “I’ve got to do a little soul searching on how I feel driving the No. 3 car,” Earnhardt Jr. said. It’s also possible that RCR would lease JR Motorsports its engines should Earnhardt Jr. field his own team. So could Hendrick Motorsports. One of three Chevrolet teams better than DEI, Hendrick Motorsports has no room in its stable for Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick, winner of seven of the past eight Cup races, is already maxed out with four teams but could assist Earnhardt Jr. by leasing him engines. Hendrick already leases motors to Ginn Racing and Haas-CNC Racing, and Earnhardt Jr. recently got to feel their horsepower when he jumped into Kyle Busch’s car during a race last month. The wildcard could be Joe Gibbs Racing, another powerful three-car Chevy team that would pair him with buddies Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Earnhardt Jr. and Stewart have worked wonderfully together on restrictor-plate tracks, and Earnhardt befriended Hamlin early in his career. Gibbs is coach of the Washington Redskins, and Earnhardt Jr. is die-hard fan. He wore a Redskins cap backward Monday during a test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, where he expressed frustration over the NASCAR-mandated Car of Tomorrow and admitted DEI can’t keep up with Hendrick’s COT program. “There are a lot of logical scenarios that people are going to put together,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “We’ve seen quite a few scenarios over the last couple of days that were kind of amusing. Some right, some not so right.” Earnhardt Jr. and Elledge have been adamant their only goal is to help Junior win Cup championships, something he’s been unable to do at DEI. He hasn’t been a legitimate title contender since 2004. In 2005, he had a horrendous season when Teresa Earnhardt split up his crew, and he failed to make the Chase for the championship. He rebounded last year by making the Chase, but was never a threat for the title. “I am a little sad, but I am trying to remind myself to be excited about what’s ahead,” Earnhardt Jr. said. "

5/10/2007 12:25:19 PM

Quote :

"Childress has Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, and Scott Wimmer. There's your 4."

Wimmer isn't driving full-time. He's splitting rides in the Busch Series with Burton and Harvick on a part-time basis and running major market races in Nextel Cup.
Regardless, Childress would bump Wimmer in a hot minute to put DEJ in one of his Cup cars.
It makes most sense from a personal business standpoint. DEJ could potentially recieve technical support for his Busch team from RCR for JR Motorsports, in addition to the engines it already supplies for the 88.


[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 12:39 PM. Reason : .]

5/10/2007 12:35:12 PM

Quote :

"Childress has Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, and Scott Wimmer. There's your 4. "

I'm sorry, how many times has Scott Wimmer raced this season in Cup? Busch, yes, Cup, I don't know if he's been in any race.

Yeah, what ^said.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 12:37 PM. Reason : 46 seconds]

5/10/2007 12:35:58 PM

Yes, I know he don't race much...but he is still the 4th driver for Childress. And yeah, I'm sure Childress would drop him for Jr.

But you asked who the 4 were, and I told you.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 12:46 PM. Reason : I can't type today!]

5/10/2007 12:41:13 PM

Some thoughts:

1. I never thought he'd leave DEI. This is purely a business decision IMO.
2. Everyone associated with Junior will want to come with Junior.
3. Point 2 will hurt his performance long-term.
4. Chevrolet and Budweiser will not let him drive for anyone else but them.
5. Wherever Junior goes, he will want to be top dog on that team.
6. Point 5 means he will not drive for Hendrick.
7. Childress makes the most sense. However, I can easily see him being outperformed by Harvick, which is going to lead to lots of hand-wringing on the part of NASCAR. It's easy to pass off Junior's poor performance when he's not on one of the better teams. It's harder to do when you can't blame equipment anymore.

Very interesting situation.

5/10/2007 1:24:14 PM

what about the possibility of him going to a non-chevy team? I think it's more than possible

5/10/2007 2:54:52 PM

I say not possible. He expressed more than once today that he wanted to stay with Chevy. I think he'd probably be stubborn and not race at all if he couldn't drive a Chevy.

5/10/2007 3:02:46 PM

well i'm sure he wont have a problem finding a chevy team that would hire him, but what could keep him from going to successful ford or dodge team (toyota's too young and inexperienced for what he wants to accomplish)?

5/10/2007 3:11:51 PM

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/opinion/05/10/dearnhardtjr.future/index.html

Quote :

"Junior was clear: The decision to leave DEI is about his driving future. He's 32 years old and deftly made mention that his father was that age when he made the move to Richard Childress Racing before the 1984 season. Earnhardt Jr.'s options are plentiful (but not in the No. 8 car; Teresa Earnhardt owns that number): • Drive for one of the three top Chevrolet teams -- and he will drive a bowtie in 2008: Hendrick Motorsports -- Already has four drivers, the maximum allowed under NASCAR's impending limit, with four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, defending Cup titlist Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Casey Mears. Joe Gibbs Racing -- Three-driver stable with two-time series champion Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley. RCR -- Also has three drivers: Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer -- and the No. 3. Money, Junior said, is not a priority. Contending and winning Cup championships is what he wants. "It's not the guy who gives me the biggest paycheck. It's the person I feel like will allow me to accomplish what I want to in my career, on the race track, in this shop itself," he said. "There's some things you can't get with money -- peace of mind and satisfaction in what you do everyday." • Drive for a second-tier Cup team. Ginn Racing -- Based on the success of Mark Martin, Ginn is the front-runner ahead of Haas CNC, Morgan-McClure and Hall of Fame Racing. Martin is a part-time driver, sharing the car with Regan Smith, with teammates Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin. Haas has Jeff Green and Johnny Sauter, while Morgan-McClure and HOF are single-car teams, though open to expansion. • Drive for JR Motorsports. This would be the worst-case scenario but in play nonetheless because the thought of JRM to run the Cup Series in '08 hasn't been dismissed. "I believe our first choice would be to drive for another top, competitive team," business manager Kelley Elledge Earnhardt said. "Our last choice would be to form our own Cup team. If that was necessary, that would be what we would do." "

5/10/2007 3:38:54 PM

no way he leaves chevy

5/10/2007 3:57:36 PM

Quote :

"Some thoughts: 1. I never thought he'd leave DEI. This is purely a business decision IMO. 2. Everyone associated with Junior will want to come with Junior. 3. Point 2 will hurt his performance long-term. 4. Chevrolet and Budweiser will not let him drive for anyone else but them. 5. Wherever Junior goes, he will want to be top dog on that team. 6. Point 5 means he will not drive for Hendrick. 7. Childress makes the most sense. However, I can easily see him being outperformed by Harvick, which is going to lead to lots of hand-wringing on the part of NASCAR. It's easy to pass off Junior's poor performance when he's not on one of the better teams. It's harder to do when you can't blame equipment anymore."

i think junior would drive somewhere where he wasn't considered the top dog if he thought it would give him a better chance to win. harvick is a good driver so i'm sure it would be competitive between them if junior went to RCR, but i don't consider that to be a bad thing. look at johnson and gordon with hendrick. put two solid drivers together and they will do some damage. same goes for junior and stewart if he went with gibbs.

the way i see it, the only way he could go wrong here is if he makes his own team. and even then, he could lease a hendrick or rcr engine which would still end up being an improvement over his current situation. i do agree with #2 though that everyone will want to come along. i'm sure junior is quite loyal to everyone, but i don't think it's out of the question that he'd make some difficult decisions regarding personnel changes that ultimately improve his team.

i'm interested in seeing how this all turns out.

5/10/2007 4:07:36 PM

Quote :

"Yes, I know he don't race much...but he is still the 4th driver for Childress."

he is not the 4th cup driver...

5/10/2007 4:24:56 PM

Yes, he is listed as a NEXTEL CUP DRIVER WHO DRIVES FOR RCR!!!! What don't you understand?!

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 4:33 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 4:30:58 PM

^ i dont understand why you think he is a cup driver. he hasn't started a cup race in 2007 and is not scheduled to.

http://www.nascar.com/drivers/list/cup/dps/

5/10/2007 4:35:48 PM

Look on the RCR page...he is listed as a driver IN NEXTEL CUP, not JUST Busch.

And if you would have listened to the press conference today you would have heard them say thet JOE GIBBS was the ONLY owner with an open Cup Chevy at the moment. Therefore implying that Hendrick and RCR are full. And I think he is a cup driver because I have found in searches that he is listed as a driver for RCR for the 2007 CUP season...I'm not maing it up.

Why do you insist on arguing this with me when I have said this more than once?! Drop it already.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 4:46 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 4:41:52 PM

^which race did he run or is planning on running in 2007? if I'm wrong i would like to know

5/10/2007 4:45:37 PM

I dont know if he is planning on running, and I do know that he has not run any yet. Either way, he is on RCR's team as a CUP DRIVER. How many different ways do I need to say the same damn thing until you get it?? How about doing a search and finding that he is listed with RCR?? I don't like him, I don't even like RCR; I have no special interest in defending this point...other than the fact that I am right according to the searches I have done.

I searched initially because I heard that comment on the press conference that RCR was full too. So, I was like "I thought it was just 3?" So, I searched and found that Wimmer is still lsited as his other driver. Are you done yet?

So, yes, if you want to search and can find credible sites that refute what I have said, then I will say you are right. If not, the lets stop beating the dead horse.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 4:51 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 4:48:50 PM

can't you have as many drivers as you want though? only 4 "teams" per owner though - like with mark martin and regan smith alternating they have more "cup drivers" than cup teams - so isn't arguing this a mute point?

5/10/2007 4:51:36 PM

OK, Scott Wimmer attempted to qualify for the CUP races at both Texas and Atlanta this year but failed to make the field.

5/10/2007 4:51:41 PM

btw, theresa earnhardt is now the proud owner of a huge pile of shit starting in 2008

5/10/2007 4:52:25 PM

^^ Something else I did not point out. He DID try to qualify...
^ lol, true

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 4:58 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 4:55:35 PM

Uh-Oh! Richard Childress is set to speak on Dale Jr's decision tomorrow at Darlington...hmmm, business deal?

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 5:07 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 5:06:41 PM

i would like to see him go to RCR and bump Harvick off the 29(3) ride but if he went to Gibbs I think he would fit in perfectly considering him and Tony Stewart have a well documented mutual respect and history of driving/drafting together.

5/10/2007 5:14:16 PM

Quote :

"i would like to see him go to RCR and bump Harvick off the 29(3) ride "

the whole point to the wimmer argument is that he wouldnt have to bump anyone. he could be the 4th full time team driver.

5/10/2007 5:22:54 PM

#5 Kyle Busch
#24 Jeff Gordon
#25 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
#48 Jimmy Johnson

ohhh man

5/10/2007 6:19:03 PM

^ never happen. Rick Hendrick is too nice a guy to just kick Casey Mears to the curb.

5/10/2007 7:24:04 PM

bethaleigh you could not be FARTHER from the truth than the whole rjr thing. This season he has 4 on RJR but 3 are full time and 1 is provisional if qualifies...aka making it a 3 car team and room for a full time driver named Dale. damn woman. pay attention.

5/10/2007 7:38:15 PM

^^^ I think that is a likely scenario. However, I think Busch may be let go before Mears...but I dunno. I think this decision Little E made today is gonna cause HUGE changes in all of NASCAR.

^ I was paying attention. Did you not read any of my posts? I think you mean RCR, but I said that at the press conference, it was said that Gibbs had the ONLY opening right now for another driver. That Childress and Hendrick BOTH are FULL WITH 4 DRIVERS. Sorry that you think that I am making all of this up and that I don't know what I am talking about, but I am conveying what I am finding when I search. DAMN SON, READ THE THREAD.

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 7:45 PM. Reason : ]

5/10/2007 7:38:34 PM

why would busch be let go of? Kyle is 7 years younger and has won 4 more nextel cup races

not to mention he is as good at anyone with driving skills, though he's got some growing up to do still with the mental aspect

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 7:43 PM. Reason : and yes, he is my favorite driver [/bias]]

[Edited on May 10, 2007 at 7:43 PM. Reason : c]

5/10/2007 7:41:22 PM