How many Junior fans will burn their shirts in effigy?

I'm gonna have fun reading some of them on the speedtv.com forums later. (They hate Hendrick.)

6/12/2007 6:03:15 PM

well I was already getting ready to give up on nascar, this might be the nail in the coffin

6/12/2007 6:06:09 PM

fuck hendrick

I hope kyle wins half the races next year and wrecks all 4 hendrick cars in the other half

6/12/2007 9:56:13 PM

Yay for the IndyCar Series, racing at the Rock would be awesome. Im noticing Im watching more and more of the IndyCars and less and less of NASCAR...which says more about NASCAR than IndyCar, because its not exactly the greatest series in the world itself. If they also added a date at North Wilkesboro though....

If Dale Jr. does announce he is going to Hendrick, he will pretty much be giving his fans a big "fuck you". I dont call myself a Dale Jr. fan, but hes on that list of guys I dont mind winning...not anymore.

6/13/2007 8:45:43 AM

i dont mind him going to Hendrick

I like Dale Jr and I want him to win a championship

this is the best place to do it in the Car of Tomorrow, and thats probably why hes going, they are so far ahead of everyone elses COT

i would have rather seen him go to Gibbs, but he doesnt need to lose Bud and 8

6/13/2007 8:53:31 AM

i dont think IRL will race at the rock, it is way too bumpy for them. we shall see though.

what is wrong with jr going to hendrick? you guys have to understand that this is a business and that the drivers are definately going to take care of themselves, as are the owners. i'd be willing to bet kyle busch ends up at penske with his brother.

6/13/2007 9:34:48 AM

no way in hell he ends up driving a dodge at penske...not happening...

6/13/2007 10:05:05 AM

^^ Here's the story:

There was once a man named Dale Earnhardt. He used to win a lot.

Then one day a clean-cut kid from California came to NASCAR and started to win a lot. This kid was Jeff Gordon.

He represented the upcoming shift from Earnhardt's "good ole boy" culture to the corporate "thank 30 sponsors in 30 seconds and say no ill" culture.

Earnhardt fans did not like this new culture, or the fact that Jeff Gordon won, so they did not like Jeff Gordon.

Jeff Gordon drove for Hendrick, so most Earnhardt fans do not like Hendrick.

Earnhardt fans subliminally want to cheer for Earnhardt, it is the reason that when he died they cheered for Dale Earnhardt Jr. It is the only reason Dale Earnhardt Jr. has any fans.

Some of these people wanted Dale Earnhardt Jr. to go to Childress to drive the #3.

By going to Hendrick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be teammates with the enemy, Jeff Gordon and newly Jimmie Johnson.


You might think it's a bit stupid for fans to think this. But in a limited sense it's kind of like Bobby Bowden leaving Florida State to coach Florida for Earnhardt's fans.

http://insider.speedtv.com/viewforum.php?f=13

[Edited on June 13, 2007 at 10:16 AM. Reason : .]

6/13/2007 10:09:37 AM

"teammates" really doesn't mean all that much in NASCAR. shared resources, more big picture racing. But when the time comes for Jr. to chase down JJ with two laps to go in a race at Charlotte you can bet your ass he will do what it takes to move JJ out of the way and get the win.

Dale Jr. in the number 5 Mtn. Dew car.

6/13/2007 10:23:45 AM

i mean he did run over Waltrip at Charlotte and they were still teammates

6/13/2007 10:27:01 AM

Budweiser said they will follow Jr. wherever he goes

plus budweiser was a sponsor for the number 25 car back in the 90s (Ken Schrader)

Dale Jr. in the Budweiser number 25 next season

Casey Mears will be in the 5 car...bank on it





[Edited on June 13, 2007 at 10:36 AM. Reason : yep]

6/13/2007 10:35:11 AM

^you've been on the Jayski site too much.

6/13/2007 10:37:58 AM

I heard it on the radio this morning

Lex and Terry

6/13/2007 10:39:37 AM

Ok..here is my prediction...

Option A. Jr goes to Hendrick ,Bush goes to DEI.(not my favorite option)

Option B. (What I would like to see)...Jr goes to Hendrick...Bush goes to Haas/CNC racing and steals booty baker as crew chief. Greg Biffle leaves Roush and goes to DEI..(Truex and Biffle would make a heck of a team)...Look for an up and comer in the truck series to replace Biffle at Roush.


Place your bets...

6/13/2007 10:40:06 AM

^, ^^

Not all Earnhardters are anti-HMS. But a good number of them are. That's just what they think. A good analogy is in IndyCar, my dad was a big Sam Hornish fan, but when he went over to Penske, my dad stopped cheering for him just cause he absolutely despises Penske, as most IndyCar fans that've watched for a long time think. One of the biggest events I remember from watching racing since I was a kid was when both Penske cars failed to qualify for the Indy 500 in 1995 with Al Unser Jr. and Emerson Fittipaldi. When Unser Jr. and Fittipaldi got bumped out on Bump Day that year, the crowd (crowds were still large there back then) absolutely erupted in cheers I remember. It wasn't that the fans did not like Unser Jr. (they liked him, they hated Fittipaldi), it was just that they hated Penske. Hendrick is kind of getting to that stage now. Teams carry personalities just as much as drivers, it's just less pronounced usually.



This was a statement before it was known when it was thought he was going to Gibbs:

Quote :

"I am really glad Jr will not be going to HMS. That would have been really hard to except. Kind of like going over to the dark-side. "

Quote :

"I'll buy a #5 jacket if it is true that JR is going to Hendrick. I'll have to take a tums first, but I will still root for the man. "

Quote :

"It will be interesting to see how JR Nation reactions to this news. Will they stay with Junior or not since he's going to the "enemy" camp. I don't see Hendrick as the enemy but have to admit that I don't want to see them win every week."

I share this opinion:

Quote :

"gee that would be great if he went to HMS just so we could see once and for all whether he is soooooooo good or just highly over rated. There will be ZERO excuses if he performs the same way as he does now if he is in Hendrick cars"

6/13/2007 10:41:15 AM

Awesome Bill also drove for Bud

anyway, isnt the press conf. at 11?

getting close

^ Im staying with Jr, why would i not?

[Edited on June 13, 2007 at 10:44 AM. Reason : flip floppers]

6/13/2007 10:42:33 AM

yeah, you can watch it at http://www.nascar.com/multimedia/webcast/generic/index.html

6/13/2007 10:45:27 AM

awesome Bill drove for Bud, just not in a Hendrick Bud.

Quote :

"driving the #11 Budweiser Ford Thunderbird for the legendary Junior Johnson in 1992 "

[Edited on June 13, 2007 at 10:53 AM. Reason : my first thought was WBR, but no]

6/13/2007 10:51:23 AM

i think i'm going to cry.

6/13/2007 11:00:25 AM

here we go. everyone tune in

6/13/2007 11:02:46 AM

im listening

6/13/2007 11:06:23 AM

Well, Hendrick it is

6/13/2007 11:06:46 AM

there you go

6/13/2007 11:06:59 AM

6/13/2007 11:07:58 AM

5 year contract. Championship in that time???

I love Dale Jr., but I just don't know.

6/13/2007 11:15:26 AM

6/13/2007 11:26:21 AM

oh im sure there will be an extension

3 HMS drivers will being trying to win it every year

6/13/2007 11:36:04 AM

Quote :

"Dale Jr. said concerning Budweiser that sponsorship has not been talked about, before the press conference, SPEED reported that Budweiser is talking to other teams, including Kasey Kahne. As for the #8, Dale Jr. mentioned he would like to keep the #8 and would talk to Teresa Earnhardt [owner of DEI #8] and that drew a large laugh from the media, but said he is looking for a number and car design that would look 'cool'."

[Edited on June 13, 2007 at 11:37 AM. Reason : I'm sticking with my gut. #5 Mtn. Dew Green Machine]

6/13/2007 11:36:48 AM

you think MtDew?

hmm

6/13/2007 11:44:11 AM

If Budweiser is talking to other teams it is only because HMS or Jr. told them to.

Bud makes $texas on JR merchandice. When I worked in NASCAR, Jr's yearly contract from Bud was ~$30 million. Bud's gross merchandice sales were ~$80 million. They make a profit from sponsoring JR, not counting the exposure and marketing.

6/13/2007 11:46:22 AM

^ Yeah, Bud would suffer if Junior left them.

I'm not too sure they would even continue sponsoring a car if they were not sponsoring Junior.

6/13/2007 11:55:24 AM

DaBird What did you used to do in NASCAR?

been trying to get my into the industry and could definitly use some advice

6/13/2007 12:02:50 PM

^ Be related to someone or use the "good ole boy" system.

6/13/2007 12:04:00 PM

i have a few networks but none have come into fruition. I'm also friends with Danny O'Quinn and David Ragan so i'll see if they can help a brother out after the season is over.

6/13/2007 12:06:49 PM

^^^^Budweiser has been on the side of cars since at least the early 80s, and Im fairly sure even before that. If they lose Earnhardt, they will be on another car, guaranteed. No Budweiser in racing would be like basketball with no black people.

6/13/2007 12:16:13 PM

^ It's more from the perspective of if they sponsored someone not named Junior, it's a big financial step downward.

If not his primary sponsor, I could see Budweiser for Junior becoming what Pepsi is for Jeff Gordon.

6/13/2007 12:23:44 PM

instead of the GIDS i want to build a BIDS. Budweiser In-car Drinking System. mmmmmm

6/13/2007 1:26:09 PM

fantastic idea

6/13/2007 1:27:27 PM

BIDS preliminary models are in

6/13/2007 1:47:29 PM

Quote :

"DaBird What did you used to do in NASCAR? been trying to get my into the industry and could definitly use some advice"

I worked for a sports marketing firm here in raleigh...we did PR and sales for fitz-bradshaw, JR Motorsports and a couple of other teams.

Not as cool as it sounds though.

6/13/2007 2:13:44 PM

^919 Marketing?

6/14/2007 1:46:21 PM

watching the press conferance on nascar.com and AFLAC is gonna sponsor Biffle for 4 races this year and i think all of next year. waiting on them to unveil the car. I hope its white with the duck's face across the hood.

6/15/2007 9:33:11 AM

Quote :

"^919 Marketing? "

nope



btw...I just heard that Wal-Mart, Dale JR and Hendrick are in final contract talks for Wal-Mart to be his primary sponsor. By no means is it done but it is likely.

[Edited on June 15, 2007 at 11:26 AM. Reason : ..]

6/15/2007 11:25:28 AM

any reason for dropping bud?

6/15/2007 11:47:40 AM

bud is signed with DEI through end of 08.

6/15/2007 11:50:35 AM

people shouldnt be allowed to get MORE Jr shit at Wal-Mart

6/15/2007 11:57:10 AM

well if bud's entirely unable to get out of that contract with DEI, i wouldn't be surprised to see junior get a diff sponsor for one year and then resign with bud.

6/15/2007 12:19:43 PM

6/15/2007 12:24:53 PM

I think the walmart thing is a joke, Ive seen nothing to substantiate it.

6/15/2007 1:27:04 PM

OWWW! BITCHEZZZ!!! Didn't I say it?!

Good ol' Jr. is now a Jeff Gordon / Jimmie Johnson teammate!!!

EAT THAT FAKE FANS!!!

Quote :

"If Dale Jr. does announce he is going to Hendrick, he will pretty much be giving his fans a big "fuck you". I dont call myself a Dale Jr. fan, but hes on that list of guys I dont mind winning...not anymore."

It will only be a "fuck you" to the fake fans, the Earnhardt Sr. fans who feel compelled to pull for his son, and the ones who don't see the tight correlation to Gordon and Earnhardt Sr. Sr. loved Gordon.


I think this will be a growing and a great learning experience for Jr. I hope Gordon can teach that boy some of his Daddy's secrets...(but not the ones to make him beat JJ or JG! )
This does not mean I am a Jr. fan...and it will be a while before I can decide to MAYBE pull for him. I've always identified myself as a Hendrick fan...but I guess I'm just gonna have to say my 2 guys names for now!


(BTW, I hate not getting news until so late!)

[Edited on June 15, 2007 at 9:45 PM. Reason : w]

6/15/2007 9:45:00 PM