Earnhardt Jr. Pumped Over Keselowski VictoryDale Earnhardt Jr. was excited to see driver Brad Keselowski break into the win column as Keselowski gave JR Motorsports a victory Saturday night at Nashville Superspeedway.It was the first one for the No. 88 team, which has been the flagship team for Earnhardt Jr., which took on Rick Hendrick as a partner this year and saw the No. 5 team win with Mark Martin at Las Vegas this season for the organization's first victory. Keselowski was hired less than a year ago and Tony Eury Sr. (Earnhardt Jr.’s uncle) joined the team last September and also serves as Keselowski’s crew chief. “We’ve been waiting for that for a long, long time,” Earnhardt Jr. said Sunday morning at Pocono Raceway. “I knew it would happen with Brad and Tony Sr. “When I paired them together I knew they would get that opportunity sooner or later. … It’s a pretty big deal.” Earnhardt Jr. was watching the race on satellite and it went off with 10 laps left, and Earnhardt Jr. was getting messages via his computer from someone watching the race on cable. “I’d have liked to have been there,” Earnhardt Jr. said. Not only could the win lead to more wins, but it makes the team a player in the championship, Earnhardt Jr. said. Keselowski is fifth in points, 192 out of the lead. “It makes us a legitimate contender for the championship this year,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “From an owner’s standpoint, it puts us in the winner’s circle [money] program. There are a lot of different things that it will change for our program and help our program. It really gives us a stronger footing in the series and our ability to be there and compete for a few more years.” The feeling of the win was different than Martin’s win, Earnhardt Jr. said. Martin is the all-time leader in wins in that series. “The win with Mark was different and neat because of his history and his statistics and what he means to the sport,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It was a pretty big deal to have a win with him. The partnership with me and Rick and that car, obviously that car means a lot to Rick. “The partnership with me and Rick is more evident within the 5 team. The 88 team we started on our own, but Rick’s influence [on] that team and it’s ability to become better is pretty evident. I don't know if it happens this soon without his help this year. The two wins are definitely different but equally important I feel like for the company.” Earnhardt Jr. Criticizes Pocono SurfaceDon’t count Dale Earnhardt Jr. among those who believe that Pocono Raceway is an undeserving host of its twice-yearly Sprint Cup races. But likewise don't consider NASCAR’s most popular driver a fan of the racing surface at the 2.5-mile triangular-shaped track.“I don’t know whether I can debate whether it deserves two races or not,” Earnhardt Jr. said on Friday at the venue where he will start seventh in Sunday's Pocono 500. “That is really not necessarily up to the track’s quality, putting a good surface down and stuff like that.” Speculation that Pocono, one of just three Sprint Cup tracks not under the International Speedway Corp. or Speedway Motorsports Inc. umbrella (Dover and Indianapolis are the others), could lose one or both of its Cup dates has been on the rise in recent years as NASCAR has expanded to new markets. That speculation reached a new level last month when SMI chairman Bruton Smith purchased Kentucky Speedway and immediately suggested intentions of securing a Cup date for the track in the near future. In order to do so, SMI would likely have to buy another track or ship one of its existing Cup dates to Kentucky. Though Pocono owners Dr. Joe Mattioli and his wife, Rose, have expressed no plans of selling their track, questions linger about the facility’s future in NASCAR. Earnhardt Jr. is not ready to write the track's obituary yet, however, citing the venue’s strategic location as a reason for keeping its dates intact. “They fill the stands up full of people, and if you have a good crowd, you should go there more often,” the Hendrick Motorsports driver said. “I don’t know what the numbers are here and how this place compares to other crowds and other events. We don’t have many other races up in this market. It would not be smart for us logistically if we are trying to show off our sport to the whole country. It wouldn’t be smart to take away from here unless we are going in to a new market.” But if Pocono does remain on the schedule for years to come, Earnhardt Jr. says the facility needs some upgrades – starting with improvement to its aging racing surface which he called, “not up to standard at all.” “I think there is a standard to being involved in this sport and I think we need to realize and understand what that standard is …,” he said. “I feel like it should be maybe a pleasure and an honor to meet it. That should be really up to the race tracks to do that. I think NASCAR, by the end of this weekend and by the end of hearing all the comments from all the drivers, NASCAR will probably have the same opinion we do.” If Earnhardt Jr. could change anything else about Pocono, it might be the occasionally bland nature of the racing the track produces. But that, like the track surface, he says is largely out of his control. “If the race is poor to watch, we [the drivers] are still in there with our hands full. Even if the race is not a whole lot of fun to watch, we’re still busy,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I am not very concerned. One way or another, I am still having to work regardless of what the race looks like. Ain’t much I can do to make it better.” Qualifying setup plays role in track position at DoverAfter what seemed like a month at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the Sprint Cup Series heads to Dover this weekend for what usually constitutes the beginning of the stretch run to the Chase.It also is a much better track for the new car, according to Tony Eury Jr., crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports. "Dover is usually a pretty good race for the COT," Eury said. "The last two events have been really competitive. We've had a tire situation the last couple of times up there, because the track didn't take rubber like it should. I think that's just a temperature deal. I'm looking forward to getting up there because we have a lot of good notes on that track and Dale Jr. really likes it and we run well there." Why is it a better track for the COT than Lowe's? The answer is in the air ... or rather, aero. "It's not as much aero up there so the car doesn't need as much clean air," he said. "You have multiple grooves, so a guy can run the top and run the bottom. I think that's the advantage, and that's where this car has shown a lot more potential, is on the shorter tracks. That's why we look forward to going to places like Dover, where there's not as much aero as there is at a place like Charlotte." Getting the taller, wider new car to turn has been the Achilles' heel for nearly every team -- Kyle Busch being the lone exception. Since Dover has long, sweeping corners, handling is at a premium, Eury said. "The key there is just to keep the car turning real good there," he said. "Your car can get extremely tight real quick, and that can cost you a lot of time. The guy that can keep the balance of the car on the free side all day long is the guy that's going to be there at the end. That's the biggest thing, to keep up with the track. If the track takes a lot of rubber and tightens up, you have to be able to keep up with it." As for finding a setup that maximizes what the COT likes to do -- which is plow like a tractor -- Eury said few of the teams have been able to do so. "I don't think anybody has found the sweet spot," Eury said with a grin. "Kyle has done pretty well with it, but we've been real consistent. We've found a setup that is consistent and we can tune small things around. We still haven't found that one thing that you need that's a big advantage so we can win these races. We'll just keep doing it and see what happens." Since the handling is such a big thing, it makes qualifying more important. Track position giveth, and it certainly taketh away. "That's one reason why you concentrate on qualifying at Dover," Eury stated. "That's how you pick your pits, and you really want to get down toward Turn 1. It gets really cramped. A guy can pull out in front of you, smash your fenders up and cram you into the inside wall. You want to get down as far into Turn 1 as you can, and that's why you'll see a lot of people put a lot of initiative into qualifying." Though Dover is a bowl, there are multiple grooves on the track, and Eury said that makes a crew chief's job a whole lot easier. "It is easier," he said. "We'll try to run the bottom, and if it gets tight, he can move up to the high line and still get the run off the corner that he needs. It kind of makes it where the driver has some ability to change the characteristics of the car and not beat up one particular tire. That helps out a lot. Any time you have multiple grooves, it's a big benefit to the crew chief." Fuel mileage also plays a role at Dover, but it's a moot point, Eury said, because of caution laps. "It's no different than any other track," he said. "You just can't account for how many caution laps you're going to have, and what we've seen over the last year or so with this new car is that you have a lot less caution laps than you used to. There will be some guys who will gamble and try to calculate how many caution laps we're going to have, but it's really no different at Dover than it is anywhere else." Since Dover is usually right after the two Charlotte weekends, it signifies a change in emphasis for the teams who are chasing the Chase. "It is a sign of getting into the summer," Eury said. "You have Indy, Pocono and Michigan, some great tracks coming up, so it's like a third of the way or halfway to the Chase kind of race. You go to a lot of hot tracks, and you can get on a roll there, set yourself up for a good run to the Chase." Wenesday Morning Practice SpeedsSpeeds from Wednesday morning's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway with position, driver, team and speed:1. Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 167.302 mph Tuesday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Test Speeds at Pocono RacewaySpeeds from Tuesday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway, with position, driver, team and speed:1. David Gilliland, No. 38 Yates Racing Ford, 164.408 mph Johnson, Junior each find trouble in Coca-Cola 600Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway became the latest chapter in a 74-race saga titled: "When will Dale Earnhardt Jr. reach Victory Lane?"It looked like it might happen Sunday night, at the place where Junior won the 2000 Cup All-Star Race. But after appearing to have his hopes completely crushed when he apparently cut a tire and hit the wall, Earnhardt -- through frantic pit work and a renewed focus -- parlayed fuel mileage into a fifth-place finish that maintained his third-place standing in the points. "These cars are tough -- you saw Kyle [Busch] beat that thing up pretty bad and win Darlington," Earnhardt said. "I am proud of my team for being able to repair it and get a good finish. "I was disappointed that we put ourselves back in the pack and had the incident, but [crew chief] Tony [Eury] Jr. had great strategy and it worked out. We were runnin' good though. Man, I was so proud of how we were running; I just wish we could get to the end." As much as Earnhardt was pleased with his comeback, for Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, who has ruled recent history at his sponsor's namesake track, the brutal 600-miler provided a rare disappointment at the track Johnson's conquered five times in the 10 races since 2003. After leading five times for 35 laps, the engine failed in Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet, relegating him to 39th in the rundown. That it was his first engine failure in 96 total races and only the second time he's failed to finish a race at Lowe's since he dropped out of his first start here, in October 2001, was little consolation to Johnson, who fell from sixth to ninth in the standings, as a result. "About three or four laps before I came to pit road, it dropped a cylinder, we were just running around on seven cylinders and I gave up a few spots," Johnson said. "I knew it was just a matter of time before it blew the bottom out of it, and sure enough, it went. "I hate to lose points. I'm very disappointed in that. But at the same time I'm very pleased with how comfortable the racecar was all night long. We worked very hard to get our stuff right, and we've made some big gains; so all-in-all, I'm going to sleep well tonight knowing that these guys at Hendrick Motorsports are working really hard and we've found some speed." Earnhardt, who'd not led a ton of laps in his 15 previous starts at Lowe's, led more laps than anyone -- 76 -- when his No. 88 Chevrolet abruptly veered into the outside wall entering Turn 3 on Lap 297 of 400. And oh yeah -- Earnhardt was leading when it happened. Unfortunately for Earnhardt, who thrives on running a high line at many racetracks, J.J. Yeley was using the same path a couple hundred yards behind him. "I was behind Jeff [Gordon] and I wasn't trying to lap him -- I didn't want to lap my teammate if I didn't have to -- so I was just cruisin'," Earnhardt said. "I had been into that corner, 250 times before that and I just rolled down in there and it went straight in the wall. "The right rear tire was blown out after I hit the wall [so] I am assuming it went flat getting in the corner -- but it went straight in the corner like a right front goes flat. Odd." It seemed even odder that Yeley would have hit Earnhardt while the No. 88 was skimming along the wall atop Turn 3, but while Yeley was contrite, he was even more disgruntled to have his race ended on the spot. "I was running up in the same spot and I don't know why [Earnhardt] slowed down as fast as he did, whether he was going to try to get to pit road, but he came to an abrupt stop there," said Yeley, who finished 38th. "I was just trying to get off the fence and get down out of the road and couldn't get turned quick enough and I ran in the back of hi "When I [hit Earnhardt], it punctured the oil cooler and made it to where they are going to have to cut the front clip off this thing to get it going again. I was a lot faster running around the top. I just moved down to the bottom to let Junior go by and just passed another car and was getting my momentum built back up. "As I dove into Turn 3, I saw him get up there and it didn't look like he was going to hit the fence and then he got into it. I just had no place to go and couldn't get slowed down and couldn't get turned and ran right into the back of him." Two cautions later, Johnson took the lead for the fifth time in the race, but 20 laps after that, a rare engine failure for Hendrick Motorsports put Johnson on the sidelines in 39th spot. "Although we didn't get the finish we wanted by any means, I can't thank my team enough and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports for working as hard as they have," Johnson said. "We have closed the gap a lot and we have very competitive cars right now and that is all because of a lot of hard work by this No. 48 team. "All in all, I'm pleased with the night. I just wish we could have made it 60 more laps. I am very proud of all the hard work everyone has put into this season. It certainly hasn't been the season we wanted, but I think tonight really showed we are really making gains on these big tracks. "We're disappointed with the night and with the outcome, but we're pleased with the performance. We had great pit stops and a great racecar. All the hard work is paying off now. I just wish we could have got a good top-five finish out of it." Earnhardt did just that and was in good humor at the end. "We got lucky at the end, got gas and made it last," Earnhardt said. "I hate it for my guys. We were running really strong [and] I sure want to get me a win here. "It was gas mileage, man. We came in and topped off with about 62 [laps] to go. I was about two laps short, and needed to save two laps [worth of fuel]. So me and Jeff [Gordon] sort of just sat there and drafted a little bit and lifted real early getting in the corners and made it to the end. "I was working that throttle or not working the throttle, actually -- and made it work. Made it last more than it should. We were about two laps short, we saved and saved and come home good. "We ran good tonight and I was proud of my team. We tore the car up pretty bad [and] I thought we were done -- then I got motivated again, but the car wasn't as fast. We were just trying to hang on. "We got lucky; same way those guys did last year. We were running second last year and Casey and those guys stretched it out and won the race. We were on the other side of the fence tonight so we'll take it." Jr. a 'Happier Person' This Season With HendrickLooking at his results on the track, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is clearly performing better this season than last.Better equipment doesn’t appear to be the only reason. NASCAR’s most popular driver said on Thursday that his inaugural campaign with Hendrick Motorsports has been less stressful than his final one at Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company his father founded and the organization Earnhardt Jr. left at the end of 2007 after eight Cup seasons. “I sat at home last night and talked to a friend of mine and he's like, ‘Man, you're such a happier person and you're a whole lot nicer to everybody,’” the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet said at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, site of Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. “'You're different and it’s better. You've got less things on your mind,' and I feel that. I go home and I don't have the worries I used to have. I know that when we show up to the race track I'm gonna have a great chance to run good. That used to worry me to death, like not knowing how we were going to be when we rolled off the trailer because you never knew we were so hot and cold. "It's more miserable obviously to be cold all the time, but to be hot and cold was pretty stressful, too. The struggles at DEI were such a heavy burden and I feel a whole lot more calm and relaxed." Calm. Relaxed. Happy. No wonder Earnhardt Jr., who was plagued by inconsistency at DEI and failed to make NASCAR's title Chase in two of his final three seasons with the company, is third in the Sprint Cup points standings after 11 races, with four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He’s also the highest driver in the points standings from the powerful Hendrick stable that includes two-time defending Cup champ Jimmie Johnson, four-time series champ Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears. A late-race crash at Richmond International Raceway three weekends ago may also be all that stands between Earnhardt Jr. and snapping what is now a more than two-year winless streak as well. “I feel pretty blessed and humbled to be part of the team and doing well and have the opportunity that I have. It's a great opportunity,” said Earnhardt Jr., who left DEI after failing to reach acceptable contract terms with the company run by his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, with whom he has admitted his relationship isn't "a bed of roses." “I hope [my Hendrick teammates] feel glad that I'm there, they have me as a teammate and I hope that continues. "It's awesome to come in right off the bat and make things great. I guess the best thing for me is to try to continue that over a long period of time, over the entire length of the contract so they'll want to have me back." USO 'Salute the Troops' die-casts march into ActionIn what has become something of a tradition, NASCAR will once again pay tribute to America's Armed Forces during Memorial Day Weekend activities held in conjunction with the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.The USO Salute The Troops Memorial Day program will include a variety of pre-race activities. In addition, six NASCAR Sprint Cup and two NASCAR Nationwide Series cars will carry special paint schemes or decals paying tribute to the military. Among the cars displaying a unique graphics package for the Coca-Cola 600 will be the No. 88 National Guard entry piloted by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Other Cup Series participants include No. 24 Jeff Gordon, No. 48 Jimmie Johnson, No. 8 Mark Martin, No. 21 Jon Wood and No. 07 Clint Bowyer. The NASCAR Nationwide Series will be represented by No. 88 Brad Keselowski and No. 77 Cale Gale in the preceding day's CARQUEST Auto Parts 300. In addition, NHRA Top Fuel superstar Tony Schumacher will run a USO Salute The Troops livery in the upcoming NHRA O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. As usual, Motorsports Authentics will be commemorating the program with a full complement of Action Racing Collectibles die-cast replicas, as well as a variety of other collectibles and souvenirs. The product line will raise money for military families. In addition, Motorsports Authentics will work with corporate sponsors to raise money and awareness for the men and women of the armed forces. Of course, special military paint schemes have become an enduring part of NASCAR. The first major program emerged in 1991 when then series sponsor Winston paid five unsponsored teams to don the colors of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard for the season-opening Daytona 500 to honor the Armed Forces in the wake of Operation Desert Storm. Participating drivers included: Alan Kulwicki, Buddy Baker, Dave Marcis, Greg Sacks, and Mickey Gibbs. Though the collectibles aspect of that initial program was never heavily promoted, Racing Champions created a few die-casts that remain highly sought-after today. In the years since, a number of Armed Forces promotions have been orchestrated, with heavy support from Motorsports Authentics in terms of program-specific merchandise. "The Armed Services cars are always popular with race fans and military folks alike," says Tommy West, a longtime die-cast collector and former racing memorabilia dealer. "There have been some great programs.The deal at Daytona during the Gulf War... A program at Atlanta a few years ago... But you know Charlotte always does things in a big way, so they generate a lot of excitement around any program that originates there." West says that military paint schemes are among the most sought-after based on the fact that they are often harder to find on the secondary market than most other die-casts. "Usually, most die-casts are fairly easy to find on the internet months and even years after they are released," says West. "Military die-casts are a little harder to come by. Collectors aren't as likely to part with them because they have a special meaning. Of course, if they're harder to find, they'll hold a higher value down the road. Armed Forces paint schemes are great to collect." Check out the entire line of Motorsports Authentics Support The Troops merchandise at the NASCAR.com SuperStore. JR Goes GhostlyDale Earnhardt Jr. has always been a historian of NASCAR, someone who has taken the time and paid the attention to learn about the sport’s rich and colorful past. And that’s reflected in his choice of special paint schemes for NASCAR Sprint All Star Race XXIV, which will be televised live on SPEED at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Earnhardt’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will carry a gray paint scheme in tribute to the 1980 Daytona 500-winning Oldsmobile driven by Buddy Baker. In that race, Baker’s average speed was 177.602 miles per hour, which to this day remains a Daytona 500 record.“I had a lot of input into this paint scheme,” Earnhardt said. “Over my career I would like to pay respect to the heritage of this sport. Buddy Baker is someone I respect tremendously, and I loved that car he ran in the 1980 Daytona 500. When we were thinking of ideas for the All-Star race, I asked for something like this car. The biggest difference is that NASCAR doesn't let us run chrome numbers anymore, but believe me, I asked.” DALE JR. SAYS KYLE BUSCH HAS SOME 'INTIMIDATOR' IN HIMKyle Busch just might have a little "Intimidator" in him.And that's from someone who'd know best, Dale Earnhardt Jr. It was only a few days ago Busch and Earnhardt Jr. collided chasing victory at Richmond International Raceway. Dale Jr. admitted with a smile that Busch's racing style reminded him of his old man's earlier, hard-charging stock-car days. "On the racetrack, there may be some comparisons there," Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday. "He's fast . he's slick, he's aggressive." "That's the way dad raced and Kyle has that same style," Earnhardt Jr. continued. "Very aggressive." Earnhardt Jr. was at Darlington Raceway on Thursday, preparing for Saturday night's Dodge Challenger 500. Dale Jr. fans everywhere thought their hero's two-year winless drought - Earnhardt's last victory came at Richmond in May 2006 - was about to end as he fought Busch for the win less than two miles from the checkered flag. The cars hit and Earnhardt spun into the wall. Busch, with little damage, recovered to take second behind Clint Bowyer. Earnhardt wound up 15th - a finish that unleashed the full wrath of "Little E" fans on Busch. The 23-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver had a security escort during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway just in case. Earnhardt could've stoked the flames more with a few incendiary words. Instead, he chose to put the crash and lost opportunity behind him this week at Darlington. "I've got more important things to worry about," Earnhardt said. "If I let that get under my skin, everything I do this week is going to be a pain in my butt, make for a long week." Earnhardt wants to concentrate on conquering Darlington, where his father is second all time with nine victories at the track "Too Tough To Tame." Earnhardt Jr. has four top 10s his last five times here. His new team, Hendrick Motorsports, has won 10 times here since the 1995 Southern 500. "The team's been great. The car's been good," Earnhardt said. "I'm very confident." All the drivers will have to handle Darlington's repaved surface. The track used US$10 million in capital improvement funds give the track a new coat of blacktop for the first time since 1995. Earnhardt's Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman took part in a Goodyear tire test here in March that saw speeds on the fastest part of the track hit 200 m.p.h. - unheard of at Darlington since NASCAR took steps to slow their machines for safety's sake. The 10 fastest racers in Thursday's first Sprint Cup practice session surpassed the 12-year-old track qualifying record set by Ward Burton in 1996. Burton's record lap came in the first race after the track's last repaving. Newman doesn't think the new surface will change the way drivers race on the quirky, 1.366-mile layout. "We never saw much side-by-side racing here," he said. "I don't expect that will be different this weekend." Maybe that'll mean no round two for Earnhardt-Busch. Earnhardt put things behind him when he returned to work this week. He was impressed by Busch's response. And Earnhardt didn't deny the high drama of a budding rivalry thrills race fans: Busch the rising star cast aside in the Hendrick garage to make room for Earnhardt, NASCAR's most popular driver. "It was a big deal," Earnhardt said. "It was a bad deal for me and I was pretty frustrated by it. But it's exciting for the sport and whether I want to deny it or not, there a lot of people out there who enjoyed it." Sounds like Junior's got his father in him, as well. McMurray Paces Final Session, Jr. CrashesThe final session of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway featured three incidents as the two-day test concluded. Gillett Evernham Motorsports’ Elliott Sadler led the final of six sessions.Sadler led the field with a lap of 186.245 mph. Red Bull Racing’s AJ Allmendinger was second-fastest with a lap of 184.150. Richard Childress Racing’s Kevin Harvick, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch and Roush Fenway Racing’s Jamie McMurray rounded out the top five. Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet during the session, sustaining enough damage that he parked the car for the night. Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s Regan Smith and Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch also scraped the wall in the session, all in separate incidents. The team’s were testing in preparation for the May 17 All-Star race and the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 events. Earnhardt Jr. leads morning Sprint Cup test at Lowe's Motor SpeedwayDale Earnhardt Jr. led Tuesday morning’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.Earnhardt Jr. paced the field with a top lap of 182.593 mph in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton followed with a lap of 182.439. Only 10 drivers participated in the session. There are six sessions scheduled over the two-day test period, which started Monday, with each team eligible to compete in four of those. The teams return to the track at 1 p.m. EDT today with the final session at 6 p.m. Hendrick’s Jeff Gordon was third fastest Tuesday morning, followed by Haas CNC Racing’s Johnny Sauter and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Juan Pablo Montoya. Best Test Speeds: Lowe's Monday May 5Pos. Driver: Car Number: Best Speed:1. Elliott Sadler, 19b, 186.245 2. A.J. Allmendinger, 84, 184.150 3. Kevin Harvick, 29b, 184.118 4. Kyle Busch, 18, 183.886 5. Jamie McMurray, 26, 183.492 6. Brad Keselowski, 70, 183.113 7. Scott Wimmer, 33,182.599 8. Ryan Newman, 12b, 182.556 9. Sam Hornish Jr., 182.328 10. PaulMenard, 15, 182.315 11. Denny Hamlin, 11b, 182.285 12. Jimmie Johnson, 48, 182.211 13. Kyle Busch 18b, 182.168 14. Kasey Kahne, 9b, 182.156 15. Robby Gordon, 7, 182.149 16. Travis Kvapil, 28, 182.137 17. Carl Edwards,99, 182.002 18. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 88b, 181.837 19. Mark Martin, 8, 181.83 20. Greg Biffle, 16,181.677 21. Kurt Busch, 2b, 181.629 22. Jeff Burton, 31, 181.586 23. Scott Riggs, 66b, 181.555 24. Kurt Busch, 2, 181.409 25. Sam Hornish Jr., 77b, 181.269 26. Casey Mears, 5b, 181.245 27. Brian Vickers, 83, 181.068 28. Tony Stewart, 20, 181.026 29. Dave Blaney, 22b, 181.002 30. Juan Pablo Montoya, 42, 180.953 31. Dave Blaney,22, 180.838 32. Matt Kenseth, 17, 180.783 33. David Gilliland, 38, 180.783 34. David Ragan, 6, 180.717 35. Sterling Marlin, 40, 180.705 36. David Reutimann, 44, 180.638 37. Tony Stewart, 20b, 180.572 38. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 88, 180.536 39. Reagan Smith, 01, 180.475 40. Ryan Newman, 12, 180.445 41. Kasey Kahne, 9, 180.439 42. Martin Truex Jr., 1, 180.301 43. J.J. Yeley, 96, 180.264 44. Jeff Burton, 31b, 180.240 45. Michael Waltrip, 55, 180.228 46. Clint Bowyer, 07b, 180.192 47. Jon Wood, 21, 180.066 48. David Stremme, 06, 179.892 49. Clint Bowyer, 07, 179.671 50. Bobby Labonte, 43, 179.551 51. Scott Riggs, 66, 179.390 52. Casey Mears, 5, 179.372 53. Reed Sorenson, 41b, 179.307 54. Joe Nemechek, 78, 179.206 55. Patrick Carpentier, 10, 179.194 56. Stanton Barrett, 50, 179.063 57. Robby Gordon, 7b, 178.595 58. Bobby Labonte, 43b, 178.436 59. Kevin Harvick, 29, 178.235 60. Kyle Petty, 45, 178.094 61. Michael McDowell, 00, 177.813 62. Tony Raines, 08, 176.684 Jr. Say Wreck was Unfortunate for Busch AlsoDale Earnhardt Jr. was obviously upset Saturday night after being taken out of contention for a victory at Richmond International Raceway by Kyle Busch. But his anger level wasn’t nearly as high as many of his fans, and he a reason why on Monday.Earnhardt Jr., at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for a two-day Sprint Cup Series test, said the roles were reversed last September. “I took him out at Kansas last year during the Chase [For The Nextel Cup],” Earnhardt Jr. said. “That's really why I wouldn't be any more vocal or angry about it, because I would just be hypocritical in that sense. We both [have] been on each side of it now between the two of us. “Hopefully, once me and him have a chance to talk about it, we can come to some kind of understanding of where we won't have to deal with it ever again, and we can just go out there and race and try to race each other with a little more respect and have a better outcome.” In the closing laps of Saturday's race, second-place Busch was running the low line around Richmond’s .75-mile track, with Earnhardt Jr. on the outside. As the two raced into Turn 3, Busch’s car slid into Earnhardt Jr.’s, sending the No. 88 Chevrolet into the outside wall. Earnhardt Jr. said he’s watched replays of the incident and indicated that he didn’t believe Busch took him out on purpose.p>“Kyle was just running hard,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He was running hard for the win there. Looking at all the stuff, it looks like he got loose underneath me. He was running hard there. It's unfortunate for both of us. “We'll try to go to Darlington and have a good run and rebound a little bit, points-wise, maybe even try to win there. I ain't ever run that good there. I've done OK, but maybe with the new asphalt, I'll be more competitive as far as challenging for the lead. “[Richmond] was just hard racing. Kyle has his style of driving. I would have been a little more … I don't know. Maybe I would have run as hard at it as he did. I don't know what I would have done.” While Earnhardt Jr. was upset over failing to break what is now a two-year non-winning streak, he was also mad at losing points after his 15th-place finish. “The only thing I'm upset with is not being able to get the points out of it I should have been able to get,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “We've been working hard to stay consistent all year. I want to get as good of a finish as I can with my car each week. I've been real proud of that with what we've been able to do this year and the way we've been consistent. “It's a little bit of a bruise on the stats with what we've had this year. It won't show at the end of the year how good we really were that weekend. I want to minimize that throughout the season.” Junior Fastest In A.M.Only 10 of a scheduled 50 cars took part in the first of three NASCAR Sprint Cup practice sessions Monday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. setting the two fastest times in his No. 88B and No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets. Earnhardt’s best speed in the 9 a.m.-noon session was 182.352 miles per hour in his back-up car. He also ran 180.608 mph in his primary.Behind him were Jeff Burton, 180.596 mph in his Richard Childress Racing No 31B and Brad Keselowski in the No. 70 Haas-CNC Racing Chevy at 180.812 mph. Then came two of Harvick’s RCR Chevys, Jeff Gordon, Keselowski’s back-up and the primaries of Burton and Clint Bowyer, Saturday night’s winner in Richmond. Since Lowe’s will host two Sprint Cup night races later miss month, most teams eschewed the first session in favor of the later ones. Teams are only allowed to test in two of the three sessions each day. As many as 40 additional cars will participate in the afternoon test session from 1-5 p.m. at LMS, and the evening session, which runs from 6-9 p.m. Earnhardt, Busch race to oblivion and put on a showAccording to winning car owner Richard Childress, fans got their money's worth Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway -- at least at the end of the Crown Royal 400.But you would have had a hard time convincing the legions of Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans of that -- especially the throngs whom second-place finisher Kyle Busch said were giving him a one-finger salute for about the last 10 laps of the race. "Well, for some reason, they are awfully confused," Busch said of the signals. "I was in second place, still. So I don't know whether that's too many Dale Jr. Budweisers or they are AMPed-up or what." All kidding aside, hard racing brought the leader Earnhardt together with his aggressor Busch entering RIR's Turn 3 with two laps remaining in the race's original 400-lap distance. The result was a crashed No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for Earnhardt, which he still managed to drive to 15th on the lead lap; interrupted momentum for Busch's No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, which relegated it to second; and a snake-like move from third to Victory Lane for Childress' driver, Clint Bowyer, who scooted through and scored his second career victory in the No. 07 Chevrolet. "It's just great racing, and Kyle and these guys, what they are doing is putting on a show," Childress said. "People shouldn't be upset, because that's what they pay their money for, is to see a great race." For more than 390 laps, they'd seen what amounted to a comprehensive spanking by local favorite Denny Hamlin, from the Richmond suburb of Chesterfield. But when Hamlin suffered a flat tire and brought out the race's 10th, and next-to-last caution, everything changed. Earnhardt, who had spent most of his evening in the top five, took advantage to take the lead, but after the penultimate restart, he and Busch were only able to race for a lap-and-a-half before they got together. "Yeah, they were putting on a show for a while -- I thought so, anyway," Bowyer said. "They were racing hard. That's what racing at Richmond is all about in my opinion. "I told the cops, I don't know why they were escorting me in [to the media center]. I told them, they better get on and escort Kyle Busch out of [the track]." After he'd emerged from his tattered car, Earnhardt, unlike Bowyer, wasn't laughing. Rather, he looked like he was carrying the weight of every one of the 72 consecutive losing races he's run since his last victory, which ironically came at this event in 2006. Earnhardt took a measured view of the incident, and wasn't judgmental, at least about its cause. "Whether it is fair or not, [Busch] is going to need some security," Earnhardt said in a live FOX Sports interview immediately after exiting his car back in the Sprint Cup garage. "I haven't seen the replay. Tony [Eury] Jr. [Earnhardt's crew chief] said it looked like Kyle got loose underneath me. That happens." Earnhardt had good reason to be both philosophical and disappointed. Before the night's dominant driver, Hamlin, suffered a flat right-front tire, neither Earnhardt nor anyone else had a snowball's chance to win. But even if Hamlin hadn't faltered, Earnhardt stood a strong shot to score his eighth top-10 finish in 10 races this season. Even in failing to do that, Earnhardt remained in third in the standings, 104 points behind Busch. "The worst part about it is that I have been priding myself on running good all year and I was in position for a win," Earnhardt said. "I ran hard and got wrecked. I had a top-three car and should have finished in the top three. "So, I was going for the win [and] just ended up on the hook. [I'm] just disappointed." Busch might have finished second and taken the Sprint Cup points lead in the process, unofficially by 18 points over former leader Jeff Burton, but he was by no means cocky over the method to his finish. "You know, that was just a product of good, hard racing," Busch said. "I apologize that that happened, and I hated that it did. Fortunately [Earnhardt] didn't get hurt, so he was able to continue. He'll see another day of racing. "To say that I took a win away from him, you know, it's hard to say. And if I wanted to do it deliberately, I would have waited for the last lap where I probably could have still won the race. "We just didn't give each other enough room getting into Turn 3. I didn't feel like I slipped, but I mean, we just kind of banged simultaneously, and then that's when I got loose and got corrected and he was gone." Earnhardt acknowledged that was the case. "He gave me room off the outside of [Turn] 2, so I wouldn't say that was intentional going into 3, because if he had wanted to, he could have just thrown me in the fence off 2," Earnhardt said of Busch. "We had been racing each other earlier and had no problems. I have done that before. That is what happens if he got loose underneath me. "He almost cleared me off of 2, but I got back side-by-side going into 3. I tried to run him pretty tight running up top, and he just ran into me or got loose or whatever." In the past -- and even as recently as Friday night after the Nationwide Series' Lipton TEA 250, where he stalked to Steve Wallace's car and confronted him while Wallace sat inside it after the two had made contact on the last lap (watch video) -- Busch has been contentious post-race. That was not the case Saturday -- and he needed to be neither contentious nor apologetic. "For me, there's nothing you can say, absolutely nothing," Busch said. "If I apologize up and down, even though it may or may not be my fault -- it would not make a difference. Dale got wrecked; he should have had a win tonight -- quote, unquote. "But I'll say it again. It's just unfortunate circumstances for him because he didn't get a win, and for me because now I've got to put up with it." This time, Busch should be praised for doing what he's paid to do -- trying to win a race -- and what his responsibility should be -- trying to put on a show. Junior's day will come -- and with the way things have gone so far this season, Busch no doubt will be involved when it does. No Indy Venture for JuniorDon’t expect to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. in an IndyCar next month at Texas Motor Speedway. Not for the tip money track President Eddie Gossage is willing to pony up for Earnhardt to race there, and not even for a much higher sum.NASCAR’s perennial most-popular driver interviewed IndyCar racer Danica Patrick on his radio show Thursday and she suggested that if they ever want to trade cars, that TMS would be the place to do it. That prompted Gossage to offer Earnhardt $100,000 to compete in the June 7 IndyCar race at the 1.5-mile track, a move that can only be described as a publicity stunt to sell tickets. TMS currently is running advertisements featuring one of Patrick’s photos from her recent Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue spread, and once did a billboard with Earnhardt’s face and copy that read: “Reason No 88: Stepmother.” “He thinks I’m a cheap date I guess,” Earnhardt said of Gossage’s offer. Then, turning more serious, he made it clear that his focus was and would remain with his NASCAR efforts at Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports. “I wouldn’t be able to do it, my conscience wouldn’t let me,” said Earnhardt. “If they offered me more money, my conscience wouldn’t let me feel comfortable with doing it. I know his intentions are well and we had that discussion with the billboard thing and I totally understand what his approach is advertising now. If I had the opportunity if I was there testing my car and somebody had their car there, I’d like to jump in it and run a couple of laps but that would be the extent of the adventure.” Richmond brings a dubious anniversary for EarnhardtThe championship was called the Nextel Cup, a vehicle called the Car of Tomorrow was still in the development stages, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was still the face of Dale Earnhardt Inc. on that Saturday two years ago in the capital of the old South. NASCAR's most popular driver recorded his 17th career victory that night, marking the seventh consecutive season in which he had won at least one race in the sport's premier division.There was no hint of what was to follow -- the falling-out with DEI, the eventual move to powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports, the now 71-race-long winless streak that's prompted so many critics to question whether Earnhardt was worth the hype. Saturday that journey again comes full circle, as Earnhardt and the rest of the Sprint Cup tour compete at Richmond International Raceway, where 727 days ago the driver of the now-No. 88 car last visited Victory Lane. "Coming up on two years without a win, you know, it's definitely something you recognize. It's definitely a stat that you are aware of and reminded of. It's not a whole lot of pressure. I still drive for a good team, I still have a great opportunity to win every time I show up," Earnhardt said. "I guess if this losing streak, or whatever you want to call it, if while that was going on I was suddenly finding myself trickling down the list of good racecars and good owners and finding myself in equipment that I felt was under par, not on par with what wins races, I would be worried, and the pressure would be a lot. But I feel like a win is around the corner. I feel like we've been in position to do that just about every week we've had a good enough car to contend." He outran a rookie named Denny Hamlin by .571 seconds on that May 6, 2006, and went on to easily qualify for the Chase. Back then he wasn't too far removed from his series-best six race wins and Daytona 500 triumph in 2004, and he would go on to finish inside the top five in final points for the third time in four seasons. Statistically, he was at the peak of his career. He had no way of knowing that a fifth-place finish at Darlington Raceway the next weekend would be the beginning of a two-year winless streak. "The last time I won was at Richmond, [and it] seems like forever ago, but I try not to think about it," he said. "I don't want to be thinking of how long it's been since a win. Knowing we have a shot at it every week and something or another happens can make it frustrating. We couldn't be doing anything different to prepare -- the team and everyone at Hendrick has been working so hard. It will happen." It's not like he hasn't had chances. In the past 71 races he's had 17 top-five finishes, and been a runner-up three times. At Fontana later in 2006, he led five laps and finished 3.4 seconds behind winner Kasey Kahne. Last year at Pocono he started from the pole, led eight laps, and finished 4 seconds behind winner Kurt Busch. His best chance might have been earlier this season at Las Vegas, where he led 15 laps and finished a half-second behind eventual winner Carl Edwards. If anything, the winless streak has overshadowed how well Earnhardt has run this year with his new team. He's placed inside the top 10 seven times -- only five fewer than all of last year -- while his only finish worse than 12th was a wreck-induced 40th-place result at Fontana. He's a solid third in championship points, trailing only Jeff Burton and Kyle Busch. There also have been events like the race three weeks ago at Phoenix, where Earnhardt led 71 laps before fading to seventh at the end. "We've obviously failed to capitalize on some races where we led a lot and ended up finishing sixth or seventh," he said. "That's just, you know, you've just got to be able to make the right decisions at the end of the race, and we haven't been able to do that." Maybe this week at Richmond. Earnhardt has always liked short tracks, dating back to his days racing late models at Myrtle Beach Speedway on the South Carolina coast. He has three career wins at Richmond, along with Tony Stewart the most of any active driver on the .75-mile oval. He's also running as consistently well as he has at any point in his career, something he urges his long-suffering fans to remember. "I feel like the fans want to win. They're ready for a win," he said. " Right now I suppose, from what I can tell, they're pretty happy that we're running well and we're up front and stuff. And they have to keep reminding themselves to be patient for that win to come, because they've wanted the opportunity for their driver to be running well each week, and they have that now. They have to remind themselves to be patient for that win, but they want it just as bad as we do. So that's the deal. You just have to wait. When it happens, it will happen. There's really not much you can do other than just be as prepared as possible each weekend." JUNIOR OFFERED $100,000 TO GO INDYCAR RACINGAfter hearing Danica Patrick's offer to swap cars with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Texas Motor Speedway boss Eddie Gossage has given the NASCAR star 100,000 more reasons to make the switch.Gossage is offering Dale Jr. $100,000 to trade in his NASCAR ride for an Indy car seat at the June 7 race at TMS. "It was interesting to learn Dale Jr. and Danica discussed trading cars on his (XM Satellite Radio) 'Unrestricted' show," said Gossage. "We would love to facilitate having Dale Jr. in an Indy car for the Bombardier Learjet 550k. After all, next to the Indy 500, it's the biggest IndyCar race of the year. Junior would make it even bigger." Junior, who has no experience in an open-wheel car, is scheduled to compete in a Sprint Cup race the following day, June 8, at Pocono. "It is definitely possible schedule-wise and that's what made it intriguing to us," Gossage said. "We've spoken with the Indy Racing League, and Junior would have to pass a physical. The IRL's Competition Department would then have to make a decision on whether he would be approved for racing or would have to undergo a rookie test. Either way, there is time to fit in a rookie orientation test." "What a bonus it would be for the fans in Texas to see Dale Jr. make history here again. He won his first career Nationwide and Sprint Cup races here and this would further enhance the historical bond between him and Texas Motor Speedway." No word from Hendrick Motorsports on if they would allow Junior to race in the IndyCar event but given how much they've invested in him, it's highly unlikely they would allow him to make his open-wheel debut on the high speed oval at Texas. 88-person Dale Jr. Division created for Navy recuitingThe U.S. Navy and NASCAR's five-time most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., announced the formation of the Dale Jr. Division, an 88-person boot camp division at Recruit Training Command. Potential sailors will be able to start signing up for the division on May 24 at their local recruiting station.To officially launch the division, Earnhardt will drive the JR Motorsports No. 83 Navy Dale Jr. Division Monte Carlo SS in the Nationwide Series Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 24. The national recruiting effort is the first of its kind for the Navy, and will be supported by a national advertising and marketing campaign. "This is the first time we've developed a national-level recruiting program, focused on the synergy of the Navy and a high-performing, non-military partner," said Capt. Jack Hanzlik, Chief of Naval Personnel, public affairs officer. "NASCAR is a high-tech sport and the type of equipment, teamwork and commitment required to be a winning organization is very similar to what it takes to succeed in the Navy -- that's why we've partnered with the top team in the industry. "Everything JR Motorsports does is centered around excellence, teamwork and professional development and that squarely places them in that No. 1 seat, and that's where the Navy sits in the defense of our nation. The Navy is constantly seeking to bring aboard the most talented young men and women that represent our diverse nation. For those who want to join an organization that offers tremendous opportunity and the chance to make a difference in our global future, join the Navy Dale Jr. Division." Recruits who sign up for the Dale Jr. Division will ship to Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill., in late August and the division will be commissioned by Earnhardt after initial in-processing. Earnhardt will again visit "his" recruits upon completion of their seven-to-eight week course. "JR Motorsports has enjoyed a great relationship with the Navy for several years now," Earnhardt said. "Through that relationship I've been able to meet a number of sailors from various commands and it's always cool to hear their stories and learn more about what they do to protect and serve our country. I'm honored to be a part of the Navy's first-ever national recruiting campaign, and I look forward to going up to Great Lakes to commission them once all 88 recruits are in place." In addition, Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 88 Navy Chevrolet who is coming up through a Dale Jr. division in his own right by competing in his first full season of NASCAR Nationwide Series competition for JR Motorsports, will join the division during training to learn the boot camp basics such as marching, damage control and physical training. Space for the division will be limited to 88 recruits, so those interested are encouraged to act quickly to reserve a spot. The division is open to enlisted men and women interested in any of the 60 career fields the Navy has to offer. For more information on and after May 24, interested parties can visit www.navy.com/dalejr, call 1-800-554-1820, or visit their local recruiter. 1on1: Dale Earnhardt Jr.When Dale Earnhardt Jr. invited the media for a preview of his new Charlotte nightclub last week, he also subsequently offered a glimpse into his life away from the track.During a nearly 30-minute question-and-answer session with a group of reporters, he touched on why he's so excited about his new bar -- named Whisky River -- and a variety of other subjects, including why folks so quick to criticize him for what he does away from his Sprint Cup Series obligations need to shut up and get a life. After all, like it or not, that is exactly what Earnhardt is doing. Q: Did you help design the Whisky River bar? Earnhardt: The structure of the building and the shape of the room itself was not up to us. It was pre-designed and we came in and sort of looked at what options were available as far as where you could move into and we chose this one. It fits really well. It's just enough room. It's not really too big, but it's not really a cramped area, either. It has some open areas and some nooks and crannies where you could go get in the dark and hide out if you want to. It's got some good corners and areas to stake out and chill out for the night. Q: What's your biggest influence in the place? Earnhardt: [The color] orange. Anything orange. I got to work with a friend of mine on the design and she went after a lot of the stuff that you see -- as far as how the walls look and columns and stuff and the cow hide. I wanted the orange bench in the VIP booth and the fiber optics on top of the bar. It came together pretty good. ... Everyone seems to enjoy it. Q: Whose idea was it to have the mechanical bull? Earnhardt: We were really torn down the middle because we wanted the bar to have a Carolina, country feel to it, but we didn't want to be known strictly as a country bar. Number one, I didn't want to compete with [Charlotte's popular country-and-western bar] Coyote Joe's. That's a place I've been to before and I enjoy it. I didn't want to compete with those guys. I wanted to kind of weasel myself into a spot that was available, that nobody had covered. We play a little rock-and-roll, more rock-and-roll than country. It's old rock-and-roll and Southern rock early in the evening. Of course later in the evening you get into dance music. Everybody wants to dance on the dance floor, so you get into that kind of stuff and it turns into more of the traditional sense of club. For the most part we tried to stay more Southern rock. ... The thing about this place is, we made it more regional. It doesn't give you a shady feel. You don't feel like someone's ripping you off or anything crazy is going on. Hopefully when you look at the people who come in here, you feel the same way. Q: Who do you want to come? Earnhardt: If I'm going to a bar to have fun, the things you don't want to run into are troublemakers, slobbering, messy drunks, and that typical kind of stuff. You want to avoid controversy. You want to have a good time and have your friends with you. You've always got a buddy who's on the brink. You've always got one of those guys where someone's just got to look at him wrong, so you're always watching him all night. You want to go to a bar where you don't have to worry about that kind of stuff. Hopefully we'll establish that sort of reality over time. It just takes time. We've just got to keep people from acting like fools and keep people from wanting to start fights. Everyone wants to come in and have a good time. Normally you need to have good dance music playing later in the night, when it's typically the prime time for ignorance. If you got the good dance music, then you keep everybody busy and having a good time. Q: You know you're a racecar driver, you're not supposed to have any outside interests. What do you think about all the people who say and think that? Earnhardt: What's that all about? I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have my good friend J.R. Rhodes. But you're right. There's a stigma about how drivers can't do anything. They have to focus and this, that and the other. Anytime you do anything or want to do anything or talk about anything else, people want to question your focus or whatever. I wouldn't have this bar if it wasn't for J.R. He was a bartender back in Daytona. We've been talking about this for five years. It's literally been worked on for three years. As much as I'm happier than [crap] about it, I think he might be even more excited than I am. Q: So you think people should see the business man side of you and realize that this is not taking away from your focus as a driver? Earnhardt: It doesn't bother me if somebody comes up and says what you're doing isn't right, you should focus here. That doesn't bother me. I couldn't care less. What bothers me is they don't appreciate the people like J.R. and [public relations man] Mike Davis, the people who are really pulling the levers here. J.R. is the guy who worked to put everything together like it is here. ... He's been here every day. J.R. is the guy. People just don't understand that. People think I'm on the phone wheeling and dealing, ordering the beer and liquor and positioning everything like I want it. I'm not the one doing that. I'm racing in Phoenix, for crying out loud. Q: Have you ever been to another professional athlete's bar? Earnhardt: No. Maybe. Hell, I don't know. Q: You seem to be expanding on the business side with Hammerhead Productions and JR Motorsports and now this. Why are you doing this? What's your next project? Earnhardt: You never really know what the next one is. As you know, people come up with ideas all the time. They give you these crazy adventures and these interesting deals to do. You just dive into the ones that you're interested in. You move around and you meet people and you go, 'Nah, these guys are a bunch of clowns;' or 'This might be kind of fun. Let's try it at least.' I've never gone into anything like this thinking, 'Oh, I've got to make this much money,' or 'This would be awesome if I can make some money.' If I can break even and have a good time, then it's worth it. That's the way I've always treated everything. That's why I don't make any money owning [Nationwide] cars. If I can just break even, I'm happy to be able to enjoy it. Q: What do these business opportunities provide for you? Earnhardt: Hopefully you find that one that does help you establish what you want financially after you retire from driving a racecar. If I'm going to race until I'm 50, you know I don't want to push my luck, but I'd like to think I'm going to live until a pretty old age. It'd be nice to have some other things going on, some other things I'm involved in. What do I have after I'm done driving? What do you do? What are you supposed to do? I guess you do what you want and do things that interest you. I'm sort of lining those things up. Some of those things might be gone by then, but maybe there'll be one that's sticking around and is still profitable. Hopefully that's the case. Q: Does this resemble your old basement bar at all -- the one that used to be called Club E? Earnhardt: No, not at all. That one was ridiculous. It was just black and purple everything. The tile was black and purple. The walls were black and purple. It was just ridiculous. It was nothing like this. This is way better. That one was a lot of fun to build and to play in, though. It was a good time. Q: You said you and J.R. Rhodes had been kicking this idea around for three years. How did the idea come about? Were you guys just sitting around drinking some beer or something and it came to you, or what? Earnhardt: I had the bar in my basement and we built a saloon on my property [just outside Charlotte]. I've always entertained friends and family in the house and at the pool or whatever. I knew J.R. had some experience in the bar business. He had a good idea of what I would be getting myself into. We trust each other so much. I just talked about it. I want to get into this business. I wanted to own a bar one way or another, but I want it to be done safely. I don't want to jump in with a bunch of hooligans, and do it just to be doing it. I wanted it to be a good, solid situation. I wanted it to fit me. I wouldn't want y'all to come in here and say, 'Why would you own this place?' or 'Why would you make it look like this?' I want you to come in and say, 'Yeah, this seems just like Junior.' That seems to be what's happened here. I just trust J.R. to help me through this and make sure we're doing it right. Q: Other than the orange, what kind of a sense would someone get of you when they come into the place? Earnhardt: I think it's a bit of Southern gentleman and a little bit of Carolina country. It just sort of fits the surrounding landscape. I don't think of Charlotte or North Carolina as being like some of the clubs I see in this area [in uptown Charlotte]. A lot of people bring in sort of a Miami-type sound and feel, or L.A. and Vegas. Those are good things. People enjoy that and not having to go that far to get that kind of a feel. I just feel like this is more what I'm about, what I enjoy, what I grew up around and what kind of bar I'd rather hang out in. Basically that's what it comes down to. If I'm sitting in a bar, not having a good time, this is everything I would change. This is how I would make it. You go to bars and you're like, 'This is all right, but I could be having a good time if the music wasn't so loud here or there, or if the service was faster or whatever.' Q: There aren't any racecars hanging from the ceiling? Earnhardt: That would not be fun. That would be OK, but you could see that in Daytona USA. Q: Some people are still going to say, 'Oh he's too involved in his bar now.' How do you address that? Earnhardt: I don't have to. I think people underestimate my drive and determination. They always have. It's followed me around just like the pressure has, just like the name has. It's always there. It's OK. I've got to do things that might work out for me in my life. I might not always be driving that car. I would like to think that I could just race that car and at 50 I could quit and be all right, but I don't trust that. I don't know what the dollar is going to be worth when I'm 50. Q: How did you come up with the name for the bar? I know it's the name of the Western town on your property. Earnhardt: That's exactly why. I built that Western town right next to the creek on my property and we named it Whisky River after the Willie Nelson song. When we started building this I was still with Budweiser [as the primary sponsor of his former Sprint Cup team], and we couldn't name it that. We had a bunch of other names that were pretty cool -- but when we parted ways with Bud, I was like, 'We have to name it Whisky River. It's such a cool name.' We had other names with Junior in it and they sounded cheesy. People want to go to Whisky River. They don't want to go to Junior's Bar or Junior's Garage. That's just not my style. I don't wear my name on my belt. The name gives the bar a personality that I can't give it. Q: What's the fascination with the Western period? Earnhardt: Clint Eastwood. All the Clint Eastwood movies my daddy used to watch. I was a huge fan of Lonesome Dove when it was a miniseries on TV. I was in the ninth grade and I was a huge fan of that. I've made a lot of people watch the entire thing in one sitting. Several times. I just always liked that. Q: Did you have to get permission from Willie Nelson to use the name? Earnhardt: I think we had to spell it uniquely. I don't think we had to get permission from him for the song, so much as there are other Whisky Rivers in the country that are spelled differently. Q: Can you come here and enjoy yourself? Earnhardt: Yes. I came here [the] Tuesday [before the public grand opening last weekend]. It was cool. I came with my sister and a bunch of my friends. That was the first time I'd seen it with people working. It was a lot of fun. It was kind of surreal. I've been to so many bars and clubs and you have to meet the owners all the time, and to be the owner and be on that other side is surreal. Q: Are we going to see you on the bull? Earnhardt: No. I rode one at Coyote Joe's before and it was a blast. You won't ever see me on that thing before midnight, I'll tell you that. Q: Are you interested in doing any more than this, or is one enough? Earnhardt: I wouldn't say interested is the right word. I'm open to it. If it sounds like a good idea and seems like a good business decision, then sure. One thing I've learned from a lot of people is always listen. I never turn anything down without hearing what the idea is first. If it does well and they think we should take it to other markets and stuff, then I think it's a great move. Q: Are any drivers not allowed in here? Earnhardt: There's no one who's not allowed. There are just some we might not invite. Fast start to season has Earnhardt on edge of ending streakIt’s been 70 long races—almost two full years—since Dale Earnhardt Jr. won a race that mattered.That’s very likely about to change. As NASCAR’s biggest star quietly puts together a solid start to his first season at Hendrick Motorsports, he heads into a strong stretch of scheduling that has him in prime position to end his drought. First up is Talladega Superspeedway, the place he dominated from 2001 through 2004. Earnhardt didn’t finish lower than second in a span of seven consecutive races there, and that included five victories—four straight. But he’s not won there since October 2004, the same day he vaulted to the top of the point standings only to lose his traction in the race for his first Cup title when, in his excitement following the victory, he uttered a profanity on live TV. It led to a 25-point penalty that knocked him out of the lead. He never recovered and finished fifth in the standings that season. It was also the last time Earnhardt was a legitimate player at Talladega. He’s had just one top-10 finish in the six races since, and that includes a pair of 40th-place finishes. So as he heads back to Talladega this weekend, where he’ll make his 300th career start on Sunday, Earnhardt could use his past mastery of the track to make a long-awaited return to Victory Lane. “It’s a fitting race track to have a 300th start,” he said. “I love going to Talladega strictly because of my fan base there—there are so many people telling you all weekend good things to help you be pumped up. We try to run up front as much as possible at that track because the fans just go wild when I take the lead. It’s amazing to see as a driver. “So I find myself being a little more pesky at that track as far as give-and-take because I want to lead as much as possible and get up there for my fans to get them on their feet.” And should his win not come Sunday in front of that pro-Earnhardt crowd, he’ll head back to the drawing board on May 3 at Richmond International Raceway. It’s not lost on anyone, especially Earnhardt, that Richmond is the site of his last victory—way back on May 6, 2006. The win that evening snapped a 27-race winless streak for Earnhardt, who didn’t exactly run away with the race. In fact, he almost inherited the win when leader Kevin Harvick made a late-race tactical error in pit strategy that allowed Earnhardt to pass him with 45 laps to go and pull away for the win. It didn’t much matter to Earnhardt how he got to Victory Lane. What was important was that he was there, and finally had something tangible that could silence the critics who had begun openly questioning his talent level. A mortifying 2005 season that saw him shut out of the championship race had led many to wonder if Earnhardt wasn’t just a wee bit overrated. “I’ll be the first to admit that we had a lot more exposure over the last five or six years given to us that’s sort of out of line compared to what we’ve won and how we’ve run,” he said after the Richmond victory. “I’m obvious to that. I’m not an idiot. So it’s good to get into Victory Lane every once in a while to back up the exposure and the hype.” Problem is, he hasn’t made it back since—and the criticism only grew when he decided last May to leave his late father’s race team. It sparked the most frenzied free agency in NASCAR history, with every top team jockeying to sign Earnhardt. Was he worth it? Rick Hendrick thought so, dumping the enormously talented Kyle Busch to make room for Earnhardt in his four-car fleet. The early returns indicate Hendrick might have made a mistake: Busch scored his sixth win of the season spanning all three of NASCAR’s top series with a victory Sunday on the road course in Mexico City. Earnhardt, meanwhile, has only a pair of wins that didn’t count from two exhibition races at Daytona. But a closer look at his overall body of work shows that Earnhardt is actually the best of the four Hendrick drivers this season. If he keeps it up, he could have a career year. Through eight races this season, he’s notched six top-10 finishes and is third in the standings. Throw out the debacle in California, when NASCAR started the race on a wet track and Earnhardt was one of a handful of drivers caught in a slippery early accident that caused him to finish 40th, and Junior might be leading the points right now. That still might come, though, as Earnhardt has approached his new job at Hendrick as a second chance of sorts. The consummate party boy has taken on a much more serious approach to this season, and is unwilling to wait to make a charge toward a first Cup title. He’s acknowledged being a bit lackadaisical in years past, cruising through the early part of the season confident he and his old Dale Earnhardt Inc. team would turn it up with enough time to make the Chase field. But after being shut out of title contention in two of the four Chase years, Earnhardt learned it’s much harder than he originally thought. So he’s taking nothing for granted right now, intent on locking down his spot in the 12-man field as soon as possible. That focus builds confidence that often leads to victories, and he and his crew now head to Talladega confident their time is about to come. “Dale Jr.’s the man at Talladega, so we really hope to get it done there,” crew chief Tony Eury Jr. said. April 29 set for seventh annual Dale Earnhardt DayDale Earnhardt Inc. will host the seventh annual Dale Earnhardt Day at its corporate headquarters in Mooresville, N.C. on Tuesday, April 29th. The event, which celebrates the birth date of the seven-time NASCAR champion, also serves as a major benefit for the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, with a percentage of the event's merchandise sales being donated to the Foundation.The event, which is themed "Behind the Legend, He was One of Us," will run from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. ET and will feature a variety of activities and displays for the entire family. Personal photos, mementoes and trophies highlighting Dale's personal and professional life through the decades of the '70s, '80s and '90s, will be on hand at the event. During the official Dale Earnhardt Day ceremony, starting at 3 p.m. ET., The Hershey Company will unveil a replica of a fan photo mosaic as a tribute to the racing legend. A mosaic bearing Earnhardt's likeness will be comprised of more than 1,000 photos from fans across the country. Fans on-site will have an opportunity to be photographed for the final permanent mosaic at the Hershey's Photo Booth. When completed later this year, the final mosaic will be on display at the Dale Earnhardt Inc. headquarters. In addition, Dale Earnhardt Inc. Sprint Cup drivers will be on hand for the ceremony, which also honors The Dale Earnhardt Foundation Legend Leadership Award Winners and the Dale Earnhardt Motorsports Scholarship recipient winner from Clemson University. ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch will serve as the emcee for the event, with live entertainment being provided by Nashville Star & Combustion music recording artist Brent Keith, who sang Looking for a Road, the title track for the movie DALE. Also performing will be local band Coconut Groove. Fans at the event will have the chance to win prizes and bid on limited edition collectibles and raced sheet metal from Dale Earnhardt Inc. racecars. All proceeds from the raffle and auctions will benefit the mission of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. Furthermore, The Dale Earnhardt Tribute trailer will be on hand continuing to accept new or gently used books for the Dale Earnhardt Book Center at the Center of Hope in Charlotte, N.C. In addition, Bass Pro Shops and the U.S. Army will operate outdoor activity areas, and Turtle Wax, the NASCAR Technical Institute and Hershey's will also be on hand with interactive displays. Also, Dale Earnhardt Inc. drivers and personalities will be on hand for the ceremony and to sign autographs. The event will feature three separate autograph sessions, with upcoming DEI drivers, Kerry Earnhardt and Mark Martin signing at 11 a.m. ET.; Martin and Aric Almirola signing autographs at 4:30 p.m ET.; and Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard and Regan Smith signing at 5:30 p.m. ET. Taylor Earnhardt of the Earnhardt Equestrian division will be doing riding demonstrations during the day, and will be on hard to sign autographs as well. Wristbands will be handed out for Martin's morning autograph session and each of the afternoon autograph sessions to the first 350 people in line requesting them, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on the day of the event. Each session WILL require a different wristband and only one wristband will be handed out per person for each session. Due to time constraints, autographs will be limited to ONE per person with NO EXCEPTIONS. For more information about the event, click here. Whisky River giving Junior a new way to keep saneYou have to look really hard for clues that Whisky River, a new nightclub in town, is owned by someone famous in racing.That is, unless you know more about Dale Earnhardt Jr. than he usually lets on. Then the place immediately begins to make sense. Don't come looking for racing memorabilia or a Martinsville-style hot dog. For that matter, don't come looking for any food at all (at least not yet, although a kitchen with presumed bar-food menu supposedly is in the works). But if you are looking for that rare combination of country and rock-n-roll music, a little live music mixed in with a whole lot of dancing and people-watching and partying in a laid-back atmosphere, then this might just be your place. Oh, and don't forget the mechanical bull, which the nightclub's Web site promises to produce "the best eight seconds of your life." Earnhardt invited the media for a look-see on Tuesday, when he explained why he is getting into the nightclub business and talked openly about how important it is for him to pursue interests outside of mainstream racing to protect his own sanity. Of the club, he said simply: "I think it's a bit of Southern gentleman and a little bit of Carolina country." A humble Web site Check out the Whisky River Web site and you'd never know Earnhardt is one of the owners. There is no mention of it. There are no pictures -- or at least there weren't as of Wednesday morning -- of Earnhardt mugging for the camera. The place is described as thus: "Nestled between the rising steel of Uptown Charlotte and the Bobcats Arena," Whisky River promises to be "Charlotte's crown jewel of nightlife and entertainment." For the right price, "your group can select just a portion of The River or you can rent the entire place." Junior, at heart a simple guy who seems to most enjoy many of life's simplest pleasures, just wanted to own a place where folks could go and have a good, hassle-free time. His definition of that is having perhaps a few drinks and mostly listening to music. Yet he is smart enough to realize that many of his patrons won't have the same exact interests as himself. "We wanted the bar to have a Carolina, country feel to it, but we didn't want to be known strictly as a country bar. I wanted to kind of weasel myself into a spot that was available, that nobody had covered. We play a little rock-and-roll, more rock-and-roll than country," Earnhardt said. "So it's old rock-and-roll and Southern rock early in the evening. Of course later in the evening you get into dance music. Everybody wants to dance on the dance floor, so you get into that kind of stuff later and it turns into more of the traditional sense of club. "For the most part we tried to stay more Southern rock. It's kind of a challenge to deal with because you don't get a mass audience showing up to a bar like that. You get the locals or the regulars, the after-work guys, but you can't pack a bar with 1,300 people playing Southern rock all the time. We're just trying to give people a fun place to go. It's really more about who comes than anything." Then again, Junior doesn't need 1,300 of his supposedly and frequently self-acclaimed closest friends to have a good time away from the track. A few truly close ones will do. He credits one of those, former Daytona Beach bartender J.R. Rhodes, with helping him turn the concept of Whisky River into a reality. Rhodes is the mover and shaker behind the scenes, taking care of all the little details that have brought the place to life. Earnhardt also enlisted the help of a female interior designer, with the end result being a place that sort of is a cross between something straight out of Star Wars (you gotta love the little glowing lights embedded in the bar) and Gunsmoke, what with the aforementioned mechanical bull and imitation cowhide on the backs of chairs and VIP booths. Speaking of the VIP booths, the Web site promises "it's the equivalent of being in the pits on race day ... you know, except for the 100-decibel engines and having to watch out for oil stains on the ground." That currently is the only visible reference to racing on the entire site, which, like the nightclub itself, is still going through the final, little-detail stages of construction prior to this weekend's Grand Opening for the public. Tables in the VIP areas can be had for a mere $400 and $300, respectively, but before doth protest too much, that down payment is then applied to your progressive drink tab. What's in a name? The name for Whisky River comes from the Western-style saloon Junior built on his property just outside of Charlotte. "I built that Western town right next to the creek on my property and we named it Whisky River after the Willie Nelson song," Earnhardt said. "When we started building this I was still with Bud, and we couldn't name it that. We had a bunch of other names that were pretty cool, but when we parted ways with Bud, I was like, 'We have to name it Whisky River. It's such a cool name.' "We had other names with Junior in it and they sounded cheesy. People want to go to Whisky River. They don't want to go to Junior's Bar or Junior's Garage. That's just not my style. I don't wear my name on my belt. The name gives the bar a personality that I can't give it." Yet when one looks closely enough, Earnhardt's personality is all over the place. It is a large and calculated part of its appeal. No kitchen? Who cares? There is cold beer, a giant (and we do mean GIANT) bottle of Jack Daniel's behind the main bar, and, of course, the requisite coolers filled with 20-ounce cans of AMP Energy Drink to keep everyone going well past midnight. On Thursdays, management promises to bring in "the best in local, regional and national acts from the worlds of country and rock 'n' roll." Recording artist Gary Allan, representing what Earnhardt considers one of the best combination acts of both worlds, was to play the stage for a special, invite-only Grand Opening on Wednesday. Members of select race teams, sans girlfriends, got the invite as Earnhardt reluctantly had to scale back the guest-list to accommodate the local fire marshal's occupancy limit. The general public can begin wrapping its hands around the place this weekend. Or as the Web site says, folks can "experience the crazy Whisky Party that will have you wondering why you ever went anywhere else. Plus, you never know who might drop by and really Amp up your night." The truth is, Junior won't be there all that much and will no doubt attempt to keep a low profile in a VIP booth when he is. He does have his day job, you know. And he is quick to remind everyone that he only owns a piece of the place; he doesn't drive himself crazy with the day-to-day details of running it, nor does he have all that much time to hang out there. His focus, he promises, is on driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. It's just that everyone needs something to do on the side, something to occasionally take their minds off the rigors and pressures of a Sprint Cup race season that grinds on for nine and a half months. "People think I'm on the phone wheeling and dealing, ordering the beer and liquor and positioning everything like I want it. I'm not the one doing that," Earnhardt said. "I'm racing in Phoenix, for crying out loud." But folks can dream, can't they? After all, the Whisky River Web site also asks: "Can you just picture your boss standing on stage singing with the band? How about Eileen in accounting riding the bull?" Eileen in accounting? We care even less about that than the fact that there currently is no kitchen. How about Junior on the bull instead? "You won't ever see me on that thing before midnight, I'll tell you that," he said, smiling. SPEED to Air Comedy Special at Dale Jr.'s NightclubSPEED TO AIR COMEDY SHOW MAY 15 AS PART OF NEARLY 90 HOURS OF ALL-STAR WEEK COVERAGEAlonzo Bodden, winner of Last Comic Standing 3, will turn the tables on NASCAR with his comedy act at Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s new nightclub, Whisky River, in Charlotte, N.C. SPEED will air Bodden's NASCAR '08 All-Star Comedy Special on May 15 at 7 p.m. ET as part of the network's nearly 90 hours of coverage of All-Star Week. Bodden, a car enthusiast, also has been tabbed as host of SPEED's new program 101 Cars You Must Drive, premiering in July. It didn't take him long to find the punch line in the NASCAR world. "I'm a big black guy from New York and I've got to talk about NASCAR," Bodden joked. "I find a lot of humor in the sport, although I'm no NASCAR expert. I know they drive fast and turn left and when they added the right turn at Sonoma last year, the Formula One guy (Juan Pablo Montoya) won, which I thought was funny." Bodden, a New York native and former jet mechanic who helped build Stealth Bombers, emerged on the television scene when he won the grand prize on Last Comic Standing 3 (Fall 2004) after finishing runner-up in Season 2. He returned as a judge for the show's fifth season last summer. Bodden's movie roles include Scary Movie 4, Bringing Down the House and The Girl Next Door, in addition to several television roles. Who does Bodden think has the best sense of humor in the NASCAR garage? "I know Tony Stewart is the bad-ass hothead and I'm learning about the rest," Bodden said." Earnhardt hopes Sunday is 'his day' once again at TMSAs he bounded into a helicopter to whisk him away from Texas Motor Speedway following the DirecTV 500 in 2000, Jeff Burton was surprised to find Dale Earnhardt already strapped into the flying machine.Burton was trying to make a quick getaway from the track after finishing second in the race to Earnhardt's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. It was the younger Earnhardt's first victory in the Cup Series. "What in the hell are you doing? You ought to be in Victory Lane celebrating with Junior," Burton told the elder Earnhardt. "Nah," replied big Dale. "This is his day, not mine." Burton was remembering that moment Friday, not long before Junior went out and won the pole for this Sunday's Samsung 500 at the same track. Earnhardt's blistering pole-winning lap of 190.907 mph was a reminder that this is a place that has held magic for him in the past. Not only did he capture his first Cup win at Texas, but he also earned his first victory in what was then the Busch Series (now Nationwide) at the venue in 1998. Of course Earnhardt's father did pay a visit, however brief, to Victory Lane that day Junior captured his first Cup victory. There is a large, poster-sized photo of dad giving son a crushing hug there on one of the walls in the TMS media center. Plus, son clearly remembers it. "I remember how cold it was that day and when he grabbed me, he knocked my hat crooked and that was how I had my hat on that day in front of a national television audience. Crooked," said Junior, grinning. "That win was as unexpected as anything. "When we won the Nationwide race, well, we had run second at Vegas and we run good at a couple of other races. But that [Cup] win right there just shocked me. I could hardly hold the gas pedal down the last 30 laps. My legs and my whole body were just shaking. I don't know if I could top that even winning here again -- how that feeling was." He would like to attempt it this Sunday, however. He has gone on to register 16 more Cup victories since that cold Texas afternoon in 2000, but none since his last win at Richmond in May of 2006. That was 68 races ago. And even though he began this season with thrilling back-to-back victories in non-points events at Daytona International Speedway -- in the Bud Shootout and his Gatorade Duel qualifying event for the Daytona 500 -- he still longs to break the drought in a race that matters. He also is eager to earn his first victory in the No. 88 Chevrolet that he began driving this season for Hendrick Motorsports, after making the switch from Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company founded by his father. "I guess the feeling that I would get the next win I have, there will be a lot of appreciation for the company that I drive for now, the team that I work with now for getting me there, for giving me that opportunity and giving me that chance," Earnhardt said. He also wants to make sure that everyone knows how happy he is and how satisfied he is with the start he has had driving for team owner Rick Hendrick this season, despite having not won a points race yet. He enters this Sunday's event ranked fourth in the driver standings. "I think the majority of the people are as hungry as I am to get a win," Earnhardt said. "The thing that I'm trying not to look past or underappreciate is how much better I'm doing in my career and in this position I'm in this year -- how much of a better situation I'm in and how much happier I am as a person and just what all good has come from this change that I made. "I knew that Rick's program and his company were awesome, and they continue to do things that are impressive and organized to me. So I want to go out there and get a win. I want to get that out of the way and tack it onto my stats and all that good stuff." The irony is that Earnhardt said he isn't as big a fan of Texas Motor Speedway as one might think. "I don't like it more or less than any other track," he said. "It just so happens this is where I got my first win in the [Nationwide] Series and in the Cup Series, so you never forget it. "It's a cool place. The fans are great. The best thing about this track is the fans, to be honest with you. There are nuances about the surface of the track and character that the track has, but they're neither good nor bad. They're just things you deal with. "The great thing about it is, this is our best market west of the Mississippi. We struggle in our other areas west of the Mississippi, right? And this is great to be able to come to Texas and get people excited. They really love seeing us come here." Many no doubt would love seeing him leave here with his winless streak no longer intact. Burton said he has no doubts that wins will start coming again for Earnhardt, whether it is this Sunday or some weekend soon. "I'm surely not going to make an assessment on why one particular driver, one particular team hasn't won -- other than to tell you that it's very difficult," Burton said. "This is a hard sport. There are a lot of really, really good race teams with great equipment and great crew chiefs, engineers, and it's very competitive. It's hard. "Junior has run really well this year. He's been probably the top performing Hendrick car so far. Their wins are coming, there's no question about that." Junior Claims Pole Deep In The Heart Of TexasDale Earnhardt Jr.’s first season with Hendrick Motorsports continues to pay huge dividends, both on the track for the team and in terms of Earnhardt’s peace of mind.Earnhardt claimed the poll for Sunday’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, turning a lap of 190.907 miles per hour around the 1.5-mile oval.It was Earnhardt’s eighth career NASCAR Sprint Cup pole and the first since he joined the team, a move the driver continues to enjoy more with each passing race. “I knew that Rick (team owner Hendrick) and his employees had an awesome organization, but they do surprise you with the things they do and the things they’re capable of doing. They’re always working on stuff and always working to improve.” So far this season, Earnhardt’s performance has eclipsed his teammates Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears, something Earnhardt said he did not expect. “I’m surprised that we were able to do as good as we did when we raced against them,” said Earnhardt, who won both his first NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at TMS. “But it sure is fun to be part of it, you know what I mean?” Qualifying second behind Earnhardt was the Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Carl Edwards, who lapped the track at 189.487 mph. With two victories on high-speed ovals already this season, Edwards will be one of the favorites on Sunday. Starting Sunday’s race on Row 2 will be the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry of Kyle Busch, 189.069 mph and Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman, 189.043 mph in a Penske Racing Dodge. Completing the top five was Jimmie Johnson, who ran 188.772 mph in a second Hendrick Chevy. The second five consisted of David Reutimann, David Ragan, Matt Kenseth, Mike Skinner and Kasey Kahne. The three drivers who failed to qualify were Burney Lamar, Chad McCumbee and Dario Franchitti. Qualifying was delayed for 72 minutes, while track workers repaired the SAFER barrier in Turn 1, where Michael McDowell had a vicious head-on crash that he was fortunate to walk away from. Quietly, Earnhardt Jr. is living up to all the hypeJeff Burton and Kevin Harvick are surging, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are regrouping, the bunch at Roush Fenway Racing is on its feet again after starting so unsteadily last year. A new car and an old tire are struggling to adapt to one another, familiar faces risk missing races, and a kid from Las Vegas is proving he can win in almost any vehicle on four wheels. Eclipsed by all these dominant storylines from the first few months of the 2008 season, NASCAR's most popular driver goes quietly about his business, each week continuing to live up to the hype.Last Sunday at Martinsville Speedway brought an under-the-radar sixth-place finish, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s fifth result of ninth or better in six Sprint Cup starts this year. Everybody's waiting for the end of that now 68-race-long winless streak, which dates back to Junior's last victory at Richmond International Raceway almost two years ago. That will come, eventually. Right now, he's doing the less glamorous but absolutely necessary under-the-basket dirty work of getting himself in contention for the championship, churning out top-10 after top-10 to solidify his place in the Chase. "The wins will come," Earnhardt said after the Martinsville race. "We just have to be patient and be happy and mindful about the points we are getting in this stretch. We have a little bit of a period in the summer where we go to tracks that we are off and on, hot and cold at. We need to get a good base of points built up as early as we can, in case we have any kind of struggles in mid-season, so we're just trying to be guarded and smart." They're doing that, and in the process dispelling the myth that Junior is simply a last name incapable of challenging for a title on his own merits. His detractors -- and for all his popularity, there are many of them, people who think he gets attention disproportionate to his 17 career race wins -- have been waiting for his fall, waiting for him to get into that unparalleled Hendrick Motorsports equipment and embarrass himself. It hasn't happened. If anything, the cynics have grown strangely silent as Junior's early-season march has continued. He's now fourth in points, 69 behind leader Burton. He'd be higher if he hadn't been taken out in a weeper-induced wreck at California, his one poor finish of the season. There are no more questions about whether he can meet expectations; he's doing it every week. No, he hasn't won yet. He doesn't need to. This is the real Earnhardt, the one unburdened by the family and equipment concerns that always seemed to shadow him at Dale Earnhardt Inc., the one capable of grinding out high finishes like a golfer shooting 71s that will keep him in contention at the end. Each week, it becomes more obvious that the genuine Junior isn't the one who finished 16th in final points in 2007, or 19th in 2005. It was the one who finished third in 2003 and fifth in '04 and '06. It's the one who's cranking out those requisite top-10s heading to Texas, where he earned his first Cup victory exactly eight years ago. How significant would it be if Earnhardt earned his first win in his No. 88 car at the same, 1.5-mile track? He daydreams about that moment, about pulling into Victory Lane in his new blue, white and green colors, about ending the winless streak, about serving notice to everyone that he's back. But he also knows how important it is to quietly climb the ladder, to record those often anonymous seventh- and eighth-place finishes, to bank those points while someone else sprays champagne. "We have to do this every week," he said at Martinsville. "If we can't get those wins right now, it is best to get what we can get and build upon making the Chase." But consistently high finishes bring with them their own satisfaction, especially for a driver who spent too many Sundays last year sitting in the garage because of a cracked piston or rod. "I enjoy running good and running up front and really being consistent. That's something I haven't been called in a long, long time," Earnhardt said. "So it's a good feeling how we've been going right now. We'll just keep working and keep doing the same job." Ahead loom eight months and 30 races, plenty of time for a promising young season to go awry. But the groundwork for championship seasons is often laid in something as nondescript as a sixth-place finish at Martinsville. Earnhardt Jr. is well on his way to returning to the Chase, of rejoining that elite cadre of title contenders he never rightfully should have left. He's doing it quietly, living up to all the hype that surrounded his move from DEI to Hendrick, even if others are getting all the attention. Earnhardt Jr. will go retro on May 10 at DarlingtonDale Earnhardt Jr. will race a special one-time-only throwback paint scheme on the No. 88 Chevrolet at Darlington.To kick off Mountain Dew's "Old School New School" promotion, Earnhardt will pilot the No. 88 Mountain Dew AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet with a throwback paint scheme modeled after the 1981-82 entry driven by Darrell Waltrip. "I'm so excited about this paint scheme. To run a paint scheme like the Mountain Dew one is a tribute to the history of the sport and the heritage at Darlington," said Earnhardt. "I can't wait to see how the car looks on the track because it looks awesome on paper." Could the throwback Mountain Dew paint-scheme be a good-luck charm for Earnhardt as he chases that elusive Darlington victory? The Mountain Dew colors have certainly proven to be lucky at Darlington in the past. Mountain Dew was on the hood of Darrell Waltrip's car in 1981 when he won 12 races, including the Rebel 500 at Darlington. Mountain Dew also will launch the "Old School New School" promotion that will give consumers the chance to win "Cars, Kicks and More." Those who participate in the "Old School New School" promotion will be able to decide which "school" they prefer. Beginning May 19, winning consumers will choose between new and retro prizes like 2009 Corvette or a vintage Corvette, an arcade game or an Xbox and many other items. You can learn more about Mountain Dew "Old School New School" by going to www.oldschoolornew.com. "Dale Earnhardt Jr. has such high regard for our sports past, it's only fitting that he be the one to bring back the retro Mountain Dew paint scheme at a historic track like Darlington Raceway," said Mark Dyer, President and CEO of Motorsports Authentics. "We are pleased to partner with Dale Jr., AMP Energy/Mountain Dew and Darlington Raceway on this program by giving fans the opportunity to commemorate this event with Action Racing Collectables die-cast and other 'Old School New School' memorabilia." Adidas making waves across Junior NationNASCAR's most popular driver has teamed with one of the biggest names in apparel and lifestyle gear to launch one of the best selling product lines of 2008. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Adidas inked a licensing agreement last summer that has spawned a comprehensive selection of Dale Jr. footwear, apparel and accessories for race fans of all ages.Merchandise started hitting the shelves in February, and now more than a dozen items from the Adidas Dale Jr. collection are now on sale in the NASCAR.com SuperStore. "I've been wearing Adidas my whole life. It's who I am. Throughout my career I've been fortunate to partner with brands that fit my lifestyle, and Adidas fits," says Earnhardt Jr. "Because of that, I'm excited to bring Adidas into our sport, introduce them to our loyal fan base, and work with them to apply their performance technologies and innovation to create cutting edge products that will help me as a race car driver and allow me to remain true to myself. I'm also really looking forward to working with the Adidas designers to continually create cool Adidas gear for my fans." As Earnhardt Jr. alluded to, the arrangement includes the design and production of the groundbreaking driver's uniform and shoes that he is wearing this season. But for the JR Nation, the biggest news is the catalog of merchandise that will be available to Junior's legion of devoted fans. The product is inspired by his personal style, and he will work with the Adidas' design team to put his thumbprint on every item from the line. "Adidas is all about getting to know the athlete and making products perfect for them," says Mark Clinard, business director for Motorsports, Adidas America. "Our philosophy has always been to work closely with athletes and have them involved in the design process. Dale Jr. has been involved every step of the way providing feedback, comments and opinions." Many of the garments offered to consumers feature Adidas' patented ClimaCool technology. Developed by the highly-acclaimed Adidas Innovation Team, ClimaCool pulls sweat away from the skin to the outer fabric face for quick evaporation, enhancing the body's natural temperature regulation. It is the same technology incorporated into the design of Junior's firesuit. "Working with Dale Jr., we realized NASCAR has a huge emphasis on technical innovations for the car, but not the driver -- and Adidas can provide that critical link to help drivers stay more comfortable, more focused and ultimately help them perform better," Clinard elaborates. "Adidas is bringing a fresh approach and innovation to NASCAR athletes, including drivers, the pit crews and other support staff. As we're making his race suit and race shoes to help Dale Jr. perform better in the car, we're able to translate technology like ClimaCool out to the fan gear." Earnhardt to run Texas Nationwide raceDale Earnhardt Jr. will make his first appearance in a Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway since he captured the 1999 series championship, the track announced Wednesday.Earnhardt is entered as the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the O’Reilly 300, which will be run on April 5. Earnhardt has made two previous series starts at Texas and both came during his run to consecutive championships in that series. En route to his title in 1998, Earnhardt captured his first career series victory at TMS and followed with a 10th-place finish during his 1999 championship run. “It’s been a while since I’ve raced at Texas in the Nationwide Series, so I’m looking forward to getting back there,” Earnhardt said. “It’s hard to believe that first win came 10 years ago - time goes by pretty quick. “Texas is a special track to me, and it would mean a lot to win there next weekend.” Junior Wants First HMS Points VictorySo far in 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had the measure of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears. Earnhardt is hoping that holds true this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, site of the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race. History suggests he’ll have an uphill battle.In 16 previous starts at the 0.526-mile Virginia short track, Earnhardt has amassed seven top-five finishes, an impressive record. But his teammates Gordon and Johnson have been almost unbeatable there, combining to win eight out of the last 10 Martinsville races. And that means Earnhardt will have his work cut out for him. “Honestly, what has been between me and victory lane is Hendrick Motorsports,” said Earnhardt. “They have an amazing run going at Martinsville. I run well there due to my short track background, but I seemed to always find myself finishing behind my new teammates (Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson).” Earnhardt currently sits fourth in NASCAR Sprint Cup points, compared to 13th for Johnson and 14th for Gordon. That might bode well for his chances this week at Martinsville, where Earnhardt would like to win one of the grandfather clocks the tracks awards as trophies to each race winner. “Hopefully we can turn the corner and get a win there because the track is important to me with its deep history within the sport,” said Earnhardt of Martinsville Speedway, which opened in 1947. “This track and its importance in the season is often overlooked, and I continue to try and capitalize on that each year with consistent top-five finishes. A win is our goal without a doubt.” In last year’s race, Earnhardt led 137 of 500 laps en route to a fifth-place finish. Darian Grubb, who is engineering manager for Earnhardt and Mears, is hoping to visit victory lane at Martinsville, too. “I absolutely love going back to Martinsville just because it’s very close to my hometown,” said Grubb. “It’s only about 45 minutes down the mountain from Floyd (Va.) where I grew up. A lot of good memories from back in the late model racing days when we’d have 160 cars show up, and you had to get in there and try to make the show. That was actually one of the first race tracks I ever went to. I was about 16 years old. I love that place and have a lot of good memories come back every time I go there.” Dale Jr. on ESPN Magazine CoverFive-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is among a select group of professional sports stars featured on unique covers for ESPN The Magazine’s 10th anniversary issue, released this week.The double-sided special edition features 10 covers, five on each side and in random order. The front half highlights athletes who have dominated their respective sport in the last 10 years – baseball’s Ichiro Suzuki, NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson, pro basketball player Tim Duncan, tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams, and professional snowboarder Shaun White. The flip side is devoted to athletes believed to shine over the next 10 years – Earnhardt Jr., pro basketball player LeBron James, hockey star Sidney Crosby, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and NFL quarterback Vince Young. Earnhardt Jr.’s cover was shot by photographer Matt Jones, who shows the driver not in typical NASCAR attire but in a single-breasted Armani suit and tie. This marks the third time Earnhardt Jr. has appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine. He and Matt Kenseth shared the cover for the 1999 NASCAR Preview, and he alone was the subject of a cover story in the Feb. 18, 2002 edition. “It was a real honor to be included in this 10th anniversary project for ESPN The Magazine,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It’s humbling to be among athletes of this caliber. I hope ESPN is correct in that we can generate a few headlines in the next 10 years. I feel like we can.” Prominent in each of the 10 cover shots is a diamond-studded ESPN The Magazine hat designed by jeweler Lorraine Schwartz. The hat includes 760 round white diamonds, 108 round black diamonds, and 40 ruby baguettes. Each athlete signed the hat, which will be auctioned off for charity. In addition to the 10 covers, each athlete was photographed in settings of special meaning or personal significance for the inside pages. In homage to the history of NASCAR and his racing roots, Earnhardt Jr. took ESPN The Magazine to his vintage gas station in Mooresville, N.C., where photographer Sarah Friedman shot Earnhardt Jr. and his 1972 Camaro. “I have a great appreciation for the history of NASCAR where I grew up in Kannapolis,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “This old-school gas station reminds me of that town, where the old cotton mill was the big industry. It’s all torn down now, and I’m real nostalgic for it.” ESPN The Magazine’s 10th anniversary edition is on newsstands now. Fans can also log on to www.espnthemag.com for behind-the-scenes footage of each athlete at their respective photo shoots, as well as prominent feature articles that have appeared in the magazine during its first 10 years of publication. Earnhardt Jr. Fights Hard For Fifth Place at BristolDale Earnhardt Jr.’s fifth-place finish in the Food City 500 didn’t come easy.Earnhardt Jr. started 15th in Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, but the handling on the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was off early in the race. But Earnhardt and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. worked to make the car better, making changes on several pit stops. In the final 100 laps, the car got better, and Earnhardt Jr. methodically moved toward the front. And though he didn’t win, Earnhardt Jr. was the top Hendrick driver for the fourth time in five races of 2008. "Well, we need to start the race a little bit better than we did,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “We worked really hard today. I am pretty proud of my team.” Earnhardt Jr. said his car was “pretty good” in Saturday’s practices, and after working his way to the top 10 on Sunday, he ended the weekend wanting more. “To start where we did, work as hard as we did, to not get tires there at the end to try and win the race, I am a little disappointed,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I have to give it to Tony Jr. and the guys for working so hard and dialing this car in. I give those guys a lot of credit, they built me a good race car and I am real proud to drive it.” Junior, others feel their concerns fall on deaf earsAsk someone from NASCAR to name the vilest word in the English language, and you might get a five-letter response: U-N-I-O-N.Historically, the sanctioning body has resisted, with all its might, attempts to organize drivers into a unified body -- if that's even possible where the individualists who pilot racecars are concerned. In 1961, Curtis Turner earned a lifetime ban from NASCAR racing for attempting to create a drivers union -- until Big Bill France commuted his sentence in 1965. NASCAR later squashed the Professional Drivers Association spearheaded by Richard Petty, after France held the inaugural race at Talladega in 1969 despite a boycott of the sport's top stars. Tony Stewart's outspoken criticism about the hard tires used last week at Atlanta has brought to the forefront the larger question of drivers' input into competition issues. How much should they have, if any? And what form should it take? Dale Earnhardt Jr., for one, doesn't expect to see a formal drivers organization, but he'd like to believe that NASCAR is listening when those behind the wheels speak their minds. "There's all kinds -- a million different ways that that could be done -- it's obviously not likely," Earnhardt said of a drivers organization. "The main situation is that, as a driver, you have a hard time listening and believing someone that has never been behind the wheel trying to tell you what needs to happen out on the racetrack, or how things need to be, or should be or this is the way to go." Only a driver knows what it's like, Earnhardt says, to approach a corner at Daytona that has an awkward transition to the soft walls, or to hit a gap in the backstretch wall at Las Vegas, as Jeff Gordon's Chevrolet did less than two weeks ago. "We don't sit around and search these things out just to pester," Earnhardt said. "These are things that we actually run into as we go back to these venues over and over and over, and we continue to get frustrated with it and eventually might run into [NASCAR president] Mike [Helton] somewhere or someone and say 'Hey, this is what I think, take it for what it's worth,' and that's that. "I would like to think that NASCAR does talk to the drivers, the Jeff Burtons and those types. Jeff always errs on the side of safety, and he always has great points and great ideas, in my opinion. I would like to believe that NASCAR does have conversations with those guys somewhere, wherever it would be. I would like to think those things do go on, and that there's a driver influence in a lot of their decisions. I would hope that's the way it is. "It's just a sort of secret society thing that nobody knows about. That needs to be the case. Atlanta was just a reminder of that, really. "We all do sound off and go push buttons a little too hard sometimes, but for the most part, we don't want to ruin the racing for the sport. We don't want to make it worse for the fans. We want to make it as big as we can make it, just like the rest of the guys in that [NASCAR] trailer down there do. We've got the same thing at stake when we go home. It's just as important to us that the race is great." Stewart, who ignited the firestorm over tires, is content to express his own opinion as he sees fit and leave it at that. "There was [a drivers association] in the IRL [Indy Racing League], but we never really did anything," he said Wednesday during a NASCAR Winner's Circle appearance at Martinsville Speedway. "I don't know that I want to be a part of that. I'm not sure I'm smart enough ... "There's a lot that goes on. I'm one side of the pie, one side of the equation from the driver's side. Especially when you get up to this level of racing with NASCAR, there's so many angles -- marketing, advertising. How do you keep the fans happy? How do you keep the teams happy? How do you keep the drivers happy? There's a lot of variables that go into making that, and I'm not sure I want to be part of the decision-making process on that. "If I feel like there's something that I first-hand have experience that something's not right, I don't have a problem saying, 'Hey, I think this is not right.' Then it's up to the people that do make the decisions to do the right thing at that point." Gordon, Earnhardt's teammate, pointed to the negative effects strikes have had on other professional sports but nevertheless believes that drivers should voice their concerns and issues to NASCAR en masse. "I think we all have so many different agendas and ideas that to see them all try to come together as one would be tough," Gordon said. "What I would like to do, I would like to see NASCAR have a quarterly meeting where they bring all the drivers into a room and bring up hot topics and talk about things and allow us to vent or to share our opinions -- and just listen to us. "Just going up into the [NASCAR] trailer one at a time, where one guy says the exact opposite of the next guy who comes in -- I think all it does is confuse them. So we're not going anywhere. I believe communication is the key in every business and every team. We're together with them. We're partners in this whole thing. I would love to work with them further on that, but I'm out of breath doing it individually. It doesn't go anywhere." Gee was more than link between Hendrick, Dale Jr.They would drive down from places like Maine and Massachusetts, all their earthy belongings wedged into the back of their automobile, and look for the little restaurant at the corner of U.S. Highway 29 and Morehead Road. It was just a diner, really, but it stood across the street from the track then known as Charlotte Motor Speedway, and everyone from parts cleaners to crew chiefs could be found there on weekdays eating breakfast or lunch. So the hopefuls would enter, many times with no money and no place to stay, and begin asking around for work.And more often than not they'd be sent around the corner to the house on Hudspeth Road, where the lights were on until 2 o'clock in the morning and there was always an extra steak on the grill. There they'd find the big man, likely with a cigar clenched between his teeth, almost certainly sanding or polishing one of the car parts he cared for like they were living things. Robert Gee would take them in, give them something to eat and a place to stay, help them find a job. And in his own way this simple fabricator, whose son-in-law would become a seven-time NASCAR champion and grandson would become the sport's most popular driver, would himself grow to be a legend throughout the garage. He impacted so many lives -- son-in-law Dale Earnhardt, grandsons Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Eury Jr., Darrell Waltrip and Rick Hendrick, countless others who became mechanics or crew chiefs or team executives because he helped them get a foot in the door. His close relationship with Hendrick, an old neighbor from back in South Hill, Va., laid the groundwork for Earnhardt Jr.'s move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports. Few outside the industry knew his name until that day when car owner and driver spoke so fondly of the man who was the common link between them. But inside the garage, they've long known, loved and respected Robert Gee. "He was a legend," said Jimmy Makar, now vice president of Joe Gibbs Racing, who lived with Gee for four months when he first got into the sport. "He was my best friend," said Waltrip, the three-time NASCAR champion who fielded his cars out of Gee's modest backyard shop for three seasons. "I miss him every day," said Brett Bodine, NASCAR's director of cost research, who worked as a fabricator under Gee while awaiting his break as a driver. And it goes on and on and on, the admiration pouring forth from figures both well-known and little-known, many of them students of a man whose cars were as pretty to look at as they were fast on the track. He may have worn a gruff, intimidating exterior, but inside was a fun-loving personality that sang in bars in Daytona Beach, and until his death of a stroke in 1994 displayed an absolute willingness to share his craft. Over and over, those chasing the dream of a job in NASCAR showed up on his doorstep. Those who knew him are hard pressed to think of any he turned away. "He's touched a lot of people in this sport," said Eury Jr., crew chief for his cousin Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 car at Hendrick Motorsports. "Everybody knew he was a friend. I have never met one person who said, 'I never cared for him much.' I have never heard that in the garage. I've heard, 'I know him. I miss him.' You hear that, and it's very, very touching to know he had that much influence on so many people with what he was doing." Eury Jr. is seen by many as the walking embodiment of Robert Gee, both in his appearance as well as his choice of career. He began hanging out at his maternal grandfather's house when he was 16, mowing the grass, cleaning the shop, doing anything necessary to get a chance at working on the cars. The first NASCAR event he ever attended was a Busch race at Road Atlanta, along with his grandfather and family friend Rick Hendrick. Now he's working for Hendrick, just like granddaddy did. "I can remember the first two or three times I went out there, and my mom telling me, 'Look, your granddaddy is such a perfectionist, the one thing you need to understand is, you do the best you can do, and it's never going to be good enough for him.' Which was real good, because he stayed on you all the time," Eury Jr. said. "You learned a lesson there that no matter what you did, you always did it the best. Every one of us knows inside ourselves if you didn't try your hardest. If you left a little out there, you know it. I would always go out there to try and impress him, do as much as I possibly could to get his attention." He wasn't alone. Robert Gee's stamp of approval went a long way toward helping a young mechanic or fabricator get a job. "Robert had a network of people. He could get anything done in racing," Hendrick remembered. That's because Gee had a reputation as the best body man of his era, and independent teams that lacked resources flocked to him for help. He also owned his cars, which he would eventually co-own with Hendrick, and by all accounts they were showpieces. He labored over them as if they were his own children, going to tremendous lengths to perfect even small areas hardly anyone would be able to see. "Robert was absolutely the best body man, fabricator that I'd ever seen or ever known," Waltrip said. "He didn't do like these guys today. These guys today are what I call R-and-R men, they remove and replace. Robert was a genius. He'd take a piece of sheet metal crumbled up, and he would lay there and beat on it with a hammer and a dolly and rub on it, with a cigarette hanging out of the end of his mouth with ashes at the end of it, and could make it into a thing of beauty." His meticulousness was legendary. He was one of the first to use a torch to give the dashboard a wood grain appearance, or rake the car's body back for superspeedway use. He would shine up and pinstripe panels that would go behind the driver or over the wheel tub, intricate details the untrained eye would never notice. Under the hood, every piece was polished to a high sheen. He would cut out decal letters and apply them individually, sand down body parts again and again until they appeared silken. If he found a dent or an imperfection, he started over. If his car couldn't win, it was at least going to look good. "If you used the wrong spray bottle, he let you know it," Eury Jr. said. "You had to use black lacquer. If you used black enamel on his car, it was on. I can remember getting a chewing about that." His cars were so well-made, there was never any question as to whether they'd fit the NASCAR templates. They always did. His greatest showpiece was a Busch car called Emma, named after his mother, which won at least 14 races during a span of several years. The vehicle was so revered at Hendrick Motorsports that Earnhardt Jr.'s car for this season's Daytona 500 -- his first race for his granddaddy's old team -- had the same name bestowed upon it. Almost every Hendrick driver of the era won a race in Emma. If they wrecked her, Gee would painstakingly piece her back together again, and eventually she would return to Victory Lane. "That chassis, it was like you couldn't kill it. You'd wreck it, he'd fix it. When it came back, it was always better," Hendrick said. "He petted it," remembered former Hendrick co-worker Frank Edwards. "He was just like that. If it went out to go to the race, it was spotless. It was polished, shined and spotless. And if there was something wrong with it, it was fixed. I've been with him when the car went to Daytona. Junior Johnson would be kidding him about it. Robert would be raising the hood, showing him under the hood, showing him under the trunk, because it was a showpiece. Everything under the hood was chrome and laid exactly in place." He had no education in aerodynamics, but he could look at a racecar and figure out how to reduce the drag. He could be so singularly focused; Edwards remember visiting his shop late one night to find Gee sanding Bondo, his pants having fallen down around his ankles, the seat filling up with dust. He didn't pull them up until he was finished. After Gee died, his planishing hammer -- a tool fabricators use to smooth crumpled metal -- was handed down to Eury Jr. Most planishing hammers have a face about the circumference of a silver dollar. Gee's was about as big around as a dime, a testament to his attention to detail. "He was very, very much a perfectionist," said friend and former co-worker Mike Jarrett, who now works at Haas CNC Racing. "I can't explain it. I've never met anyone like it. It's almost like it was a dadgum disease. He's got me doing that now. I don't want my stuff looking nasty. All my corners have to be curved. I catch myself sometimes saying, 'Robert, this is all your damn fault.' But I'll tell you something, the man taught me way more about life than he did about a racecar." Nowhere is Gee's meticulousness more evident today than at Hendrick Motorsports, where he built many of the cars that helped set the organization on a path to greatness. One of the first things that struck Earnhardt Jr. after he moved to Hendrick was the craftsmanship with which the cars were constructed, no surprise given the tight bonds between his grandfather and his new boss. "You walk through this garage right now, Rick Hendrick has the nicest racecars in this garage," Eury Jr. said. "You look at it from the wiring to the body work, everything. Rick has a passion for winning, and he knows what it takes and how much meticulousness you have to have. Yeah, I think he's got some of [Robert Gee] in him." Robert Gee's sons, Robert Jr. and Jimmy, who hang bodies at Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports shop, would agree. "Rick, he likes the same things Daddy did as far as that goes," Jimmy Gee said. "He wants his stuff neat." It's not a coincidence. When the teenaged gear head named Rick Hendrick needed a hood scoop mounted on a 1965 Chevelle, there was only one place in his native South Hill, Va., to go -- the body shop at the Flying A gas station at a place the locals called Fastback Corner, an outfit run by the man everyone knew as Big Gee. As always, that gruff exterior came out first. "The first thing he would say is, 'Boy, we ain't got time to mess with you and your sh--,'" Hendrick remembered. But of course he did, and he did the best work around at minimal cost. Mutual respect was forged between the two. Years later, after Gee had moved to Charlotte and Hendrick had made his name as a car dealer and started a fledging NASCAR operation, the two got together again. Hendrick sponsored Gee's dirt car, and they co-owned the Busch car in which Dale Earnhardt won Hendrick's very first NASCAR race. Although Gee also worked as a fabricator on Hendrick's Cup team, the Busch car was fielded out of the shop behind Gee's house. It was an arrangement not unlike the one today between Earnhardt Jr. and Hendrick, who fields his Busch cars out of JR Motorsports. Gee worked days at the Hendrick Cup shop, and nights on the Busch cars in his own garage. Hendrick thought so much of Gee, that when he brought his old friend Edwards to work in the race shop, the first thing he did was take him by Gee's house. When Gee began to suffer the strokes that would eventually claim his life, Hendrick kept him on the payroll and was a fixture at the hospital. It was during those difficult times that Hendrick grew close to the rest of Gee's family, among them his daughter Brenda and her children, Kelley and Dale Jr. As a result, strong bonds of trust formed, bonds that are evident even today. After their father died in 2001, it was Hendrick the Earnhardt children often turned to for advice, because they remembered how well he treated their granddaddy. Ask Hendrick whether Earnhardt Jr. would be driving for him without the presence of Robert Gee, and the seven-time champion car owner isn't quite sure how to answer. "I don't know," he said. "I think there's a sense of comfort that [Dale Jr.] has and Kelley has. Kelley is a big part of it, and definitely Tony Eury Jr. You know what, now that you say that, probably no. They wouldn't have been coming to me for advice even when they were going to buy DEI. We had a relationship that way. So I think there's a certain comfort level they had because of the relationship." Earnhardt Jr. believes those bonds between him and Hendrick would have formed eventually. "Rick would still be the same person, and we would still have the same friendship that we have," he said. "I didn't meet him directly through my granddaddy. I think things probably still would have happened as they happened. But the trust factor, and my ability to trust Rick and believe what he says and feel confident in the opportunity, comes from how he treated my grandfather and how he treated my mother and sister and the people he knows that I know." The impact Gee left on Hendrick becomes clear whenever the old fabricator's name comes up in conversation. Hendrick breaks into a wide smile as he describes Gee's narrow eyes, large sunglasses, and penchant for falling asleep -- once even against the pit wall during a Busch race at Darlington. Geoff Bodine woke him up over the radio under caution, asking whether they should pit. Gee told him to do what the leader did. "Robert, we are the leader," Bodine replied. Well then, Gee said, let somebody by. "He touched a lot of people," Hendrick said, clearly touched himself. No wonder having Earnhardt Jr. and Eury Jr. in the fold now feels like bringing two old family members home. No wonder Hendrick Motorsports carries on the organization and the attention to detail in which Robert Gee took such pride. "I would say that Robert Gee probably had a pretty good little impact on the way Rick set his stuff up and started," Edwards said. "Rick Hendrick is a man of his own. Anybody who makes an impact on Rick had to be somebody kind of special, and Robert Gee was that special." He never really intended to leave South Hill. By all accounts he enjoyed his time there, working at the Flying A and partying with his buddies, even though he had a rather unsettled home life -- he lived at times in a hotel room and a trailer -- and money was often tight. He paid best friend and co-worker Billy Reekes $40 a week in quarters emptied from the shop's pinball machine. But then there was an argument, reputedly involving a woman, so Robert Gee locked his shop and packed his bags and moved to Charlotte. He never really intended to get into racing. He took a job at Young's Ford, patching up passenger cars. "He wasn't chasing the dream or anything like that. He was just a body man," Reekes remembered. "He could take sheet metal and a paint gun, the tools of the trade, and he could fix anything. It wasn't racing then. He was just trying to make a living." The way Jimmy Gee remembers it, his father started going to races and doing some body work for car owner Elmo Langley. Another car owner, Ray Fox, noticed how good Langley's cars looked, and offered Robert Gee a job in racing. That was 1968. From then on, Big Gee never did anything else. "His daddy was a farmer, but Big Gee wasn't going to be a farmer," Jimmy Gee said. "He loved cars. And then he got into racing, and he loved fast cars." Gee was soon well-established as one of the best in his field, and a regular at the old Apollo Restaurant across the street from the big speedway. Breakfast and lunch brought out a who's who of racing, as employees from all the shops in the area met to eat and swap stories. "That place was like the chamber of commerce," Hendrick remembered. And it was a mecca for those hoping to break into the industry, a place where a budding mechanic or fabricator could introduce themselves to men like Jake Elder or Harry Hyde or Robert Gee. Racing was a fledgling industry back then, and there weren't many jobs around. That never seemed to concern Gee, who took in these hopefuls one after another, providing them with shelter and food, and working them in his shop until they found work of their own. "He just had a very big soft spot in his heart," Mike Jarrett said. "They'd got to the Apollo Restaurant, they wouldn't have a job, they wouldn't have a place to stay, they'd come here in the hopes of getting a motel room and finding a job in a couple of days, they'd run low on money, they'd get rejected here and there. They'd tell them, 'Why don't you go and see Robert Gee?' Next thing you know, somebody would be driving up the driveway: 'I ain't got no money, and I don't know anybody, and can you help me?' Robert would say, 'Sure, come on in here, we'll find you something. You can live here at the house for a little while. You don't have to pay me nothing. If you find a job and want to hang around for a while, you can pay me some rent then.' That was just the way he was." Jarrett would know. He had met Gee at a race in North Wilkesboro, N.C., and showed up at his shop a few weeks later looking for work. In his typical style, Gee at first growled that he didn't have any work. But if Jarrett wanted to, he could write his name and phone number on the back page of the phone book in Gee's desk. Jarrett, then 18, went into Gee's office, opened up the back of the phone book, and saw the entire page filled with names and phone numbers. He took a thick, black marker and wrote over all of them, in huge letters. Before he left, he had a job that paid him $250 and two tanks of gas each week. "He took me over there and put me on the Hendrick Motorsports payroll," Jarrett remembered. "We progressed together. I lived in his house for a while. He was a big teddy bear. I mean, we'd take strays in off the street, everybody that came from anywhere in the country to [Charlotte] to look for a job in racing." Jimmy Makar would know. The current vice president of Joe Gibbs Racing visited Gee in the mid-1970s when the fabricator did work on a racecar owned by Makar's father. Before he left, Gee offered Makar a job. A few weeks later the future crew chief, who won a championship in 2000 with Bobby Labonte, moved from New Jersey and into Gee's home on Hudspeth Road. He lived there for four months. "If you were going to do it, do it 100 percent. There was no halfway. It was right or wrong, no in between," Makar said. "If it took you three, four, five times to get it right, that's what you had to do. He didn't accept anything less than that. He was hard to work for if you tried to cut corners or get by with just enough. That didn't fly. It had to be right. Whether it was the paint work, the body work, the metal work, the details, the pop rivet spacing, it had to be right, which is a good lesson to learn as a youngster. It's easy as a kid to want to short-cut things and do it just good enough to get by. He didn't do that. He saw something that didn't look right, you did it again. I've learned since then to have a good work ethic." It paid off, in the form of an eventual Cup job with Harry Hyde, and now a long career with one of the elite teams in NASCAR. And it all started with Robert Gee. "You don't run across people like that very often," Makar said. "Most people don't have time. But Robert was just a very giving individual, that's all I can say about him. He didn't know me from Adam, and he let me come live in his house and took me in like a son. I'm very grateful. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be here, probably." Brett Bodine would know. The former Cup race winner and current NASCAR executive worked as a fabricator under Gee while waiting for his break as a driver. That came in 1985, when a scheduling conflict forced his brother Geoff out of a Gee-built car he was supposed to drive in a Busch race at Martinsville. Geoff talked co-owners Gee and Hendrick into letting his little brother drive, and Brett responded by winning the race. Later that season he won two more, and his career was off. "He was a teddy bear," Bodine said of Gee. "He was just a fine human being. Robert worked, worked, worked hard, and Robert also played hard. He was one of the most talented guys I've ever seen working with Bondo and the things it took to make an aerodynamic racecar. He would just massage on a car, and everything had to be just perfect. We never raced a car that wasn't pretty. The ductwork in the front was all polished aluminum. He taught me a lot, gave me just a tremendous opportunity. I'm very thankful." And Dale Earnhardt would know. The former NASCAR champion was married to Gee's daughter Brenda from 1971-77, and according to Jimmy Gee often went to his father-in-law for assistance, equipment and advice. It was Robert's connections that helped Earnhardt land one of his first Cup rides, with owner Johnny Ray at Atlanta in 1976. Gee had made Ray a promise: Give Earnhardt the seat, and if anything happened to the car, I'll rebuild it. Earnhardt raced toward the front, but was caught up in a crash. Gee, true to his word, rebuilt the car. "He was all about giving Dale that opportunity," Eury Jr. said. "I honestly think Granddaddy helped Dale get his start, because of all the connections Granddaddy had. He got Dale into some rides. He was a big influence in making that happen. ... [Earnhardt] was a good racecar driver, but you know as well as I do, in this sport it's not about what you know, it's about who you know." And Robert Gee was a good one to know. "He just loved to help folks out and to share knowledge and to help people get started," Makar said. "That's just the way he was." Living two days for one Robert Gee's generosity was as legendary as his way with a racecar. Growing up in South Hill, Reekes remembered, Big Gee would pay the bill at the truck stop diner if he had sold a little gas or cashed an insurance check the day before. Years later, Hendrick employee Frank Edwards remembered Gee taking in not only future racers, but even a trucker and his wife whose rig had broken down in Charlotte. Often Edwards stayed with Gee, and the fabricator once woke him at 1:30 in the morning with a steak fresh off the grill. On Charlotte race weekend, his front yard became a haven for independent Busch or ARCA teams trying to make the show. "Robert was like the Pied Piper," Hendrick said. "All the homeless racers would come to him. They weren't homeless, but they'd be in town trying to make the race, and no sh--, there would be eight or 10 racecars out there in the yard from different people, everybody working on everybody's car, trying to make the race." But for Earnhardt Jr., who didn't spend as much time around Gee as his cousin Eury Jr. did, his grandfather could be a difficult man to know. It was hard for a child, even an Earnhardt, to penetrate the brusque exterior that hid the real person underneath. "I was always intimidated by him," Earnhardt Jr. admitted. "He was always real tough, cigar in his mouth. When he was at that grill cooking, you thought that if you got within five feet he was going to slap the sh-- out of you. He wasn't that kind of guy, but he looked like it. He looked like the kind of guy who would bite your head off. For a long time, when you're a kid, you don't try to get close to people like that." He began to appreciate his grandfather around the time Gee had his first stroke, which came as a complete surprise to the family. Big Gee had survived prostate cancer surgery, had a received positive reports from his doctor, and was hanging a body on a No. 25 car to be driven by Ken Schrader when he was first stricken in January of 1994. Once Gee recovered, Mike Jarrett remembered, he couldn't wait to build another car, so he constructed a Late Model that Hendrick employee Tom Darling drove on local short tracks. He dearly wanted to return to the big races at Daytona and Darlington, but he never had the opportunity. The second and fatal stroke arrived in October of that same year. But that's not the Robert Gee his friends remember. They remember the one who had uncompromising standards in building a racecar, who loved a house full of people, who never met a stranger. They remember the one who, when friends moved to Charlotte to work in the industry, would beg them to live not up on Lake Norman but with him. They remember the one who was such a fixture in the bar at the Pirate's Cove motel in Port Orange, Fla., during Speedweeks that the message "Robert Gee parties here" blinked in lights from the establishment's sign on A1A. They remember the one who worked hard and raced hard and partied hard, and wrung every little bit of living out of life. "He always said, he lived two days for one," son Robert Gee Jr. said. "That's the way he did pretty much everything he went after." And they remember the one who in many ways became the godfather of the modern garage area, who helped more people find jobs than anyone can count, who left an indelible mark on NASCAR even though most followers of the sport never really knew who he was. "People who know my daddy, they know what he's done," Jimmy Gee said. "Just the average public, they don't have a clue how much influence he had on racing. He didn't mind getting noticed, but I guess some people get noticed and some don't. Maybe he didn't go out and holler enough." Now, he doesn't have to. His friend Rick Hendrick and grandsons Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Eury Jr. do it for him, with every lap they turn on the track. Hendrick Still Searching For SuccessIf any diehard members of the Earnhardt Nation had any question about whether their hero would get the good stuff when he moved to Hendrick Motorsports for 2008, they should be thoroughly disabused of that notion by now.Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished third in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, once again best among the four Hendrick drivers in the race. Earnhardt, who qualified second, led the first 60 laps in the 325-lap event, but only led two other laps over the final 265 circuits, as he had nothing for the Joe Gibbs Toyotas of Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart, who swept the top two places. Still that made him best in class among his Hendrick teammates Jeff Gordon (fifth at Atlanta), Jimmie Johnson (13th) and Casey Mears (17th). With four races in the books in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Earnhardt is sixth in points, the only Hendrick driver in the top 12. For Earnhardt, this season has been far better than the miserable 2007 he endured at Dale Earnhardt Inc. But for the powerhouse Hendrick outfit, which won 18 of 36 points races last year and seven of the last 13 Cup championships, including back-to-back titles in 2006-07, so far 2008 continues to be a disappointment, with no victories and just five top-five finishes combined for its four drivers so far. “We had a real good car at the start of the race, but we went the wrong way on how we let our spring weight fall away out of the tires during the race. It is pretty complicated stuff,” said Earnhardt. “Tony, Jr. (crew chief Eury) did a hard job today just trying to get that car better for me. I was hard on him. He had a rough day today. I am proud to finish good and proud of my team and happy for our sponsors AMP Energy and National Guard. It was just a hard day, a lot of sliding around man.” As for Gordon, a four-time series champion, he was anything but happy. “I felt like I was going to crash every single lap,” said Gordon. “I’m exhausted right now. I feel like I’ve run a thousand miles here. There is just no reason for this. And it’s not any one person or group’s fault. It’s a combination. This car, this tire, at this race track was just terrible.” Phoenix Sprint Cup testing speeds: Monday afternoonSpeeds following Monday afternoon's session of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at the 1-mile Phoenix International Raceway with position, driver, team and speed:1. Clint Bowyer, No. 07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, 130.222 mph Earnhardt rebounds at Las VegasDale Earnhardt Jr. mashed the accelerator on his Chevrolet, spun the rear tires and saw the leader drive away while two cars passed him on a late-race restart.Earnhardt thought he had blown the race. But before the two cars that had passed him late in the NASCAR Sprint Cup UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway could get through the second turn, they both crashed as Matt Kenseth’s Ford and Jeff Gordon’s Chevrolet made contact. What followed was sheer calamity as Gordon’s car nailed the inside wall near an opening on the backstretch, destroying his car. Kenseth would also suffer damage in the incident as NASCAR officials waved the red flag, stopping the race just five laps from the finish. That’s when Earnhardt realized he was right back where it all began; in second-place behind Carl Edwards. “Shoot, I had a shot to try to beat Carl,” Earnhardt said. “We had some pretty good restarts during the race. I should have been paying a little more attention to what the 17 (Kenseth) was doing, trying to lay back a little bit myself to get a better start. Carl sort of slowed down real quick before he went. “When I jumped the gas, my car just spun like hell. Tire’s so hard, hard to get hooked up on the restart.” Once the race was restarted, Earnhardt chased Edwards for two laps heading to the checkered flag. Although Edwards got his second-straight win, Earnhardt scored his highest points finish of the season with a second-place. “Yeah, that’s really fortunate,” Earnhardt said. “I would have talked myself into being satisfied with a top-five finish no matter where it was. After last week, I just needed to get that kind of a finish.” One week after finishing ninth in the season-opening Daytona 500, Earnhardt’s season of rejuvenation was expected to continue in Fontana, California last Sunday. But in a race that was marred by rain and weepers, Earnhardt was a victim of a crash involving Hendrick Motorsports teammate Casey Mears and Sam Hornish Jr. Mears lost control of his Chevrolet when he ran through some moisture in the first turn at California, sending his car into the wall. Hornish hit the wall, cutting his brake lines and sending the hood up over his windshield. Earnhardt tired to avoid the crash lost control of his car, smacked the wall and was out of the race with a 40th place finish. So as the Sprint Cup competitors arrived in Las Vegas, Earnhardt was trying to regain some of that lost momentum and was in position for a win. But this is Las Vegas and just as the dealer at a Casino tries to sucker the players, Edwards and Kenseth tried to sucker Earnhardt by laying back on a restart. “We worked so hard to get into second and get by Matt Kenseth,” Earnhardt recalled. “You get so mad. I wanted a shot at Carl, but he was just so strong. And he kind of conceded that fact with 10 to go. You hate to see the cautions come out because you know guys are going to pull tricks out of their bags. “Matt laid back a little bit on that restart when I spun my tires. I should have been laying back. I can’t complain about him laying back. I was the one that should have been laying back.” Earnhardt admitted it has been so long since he has been a threat to win races that he has nearly forgotten the subtleties and tricks that are played on late-race restarts. “I’ve been out of the game so long,” Earnhardt said. “Hell, man, I ain’t had a whole lot of practice at that stuff. So I looked like a tool out there. I was running in the back of Carl when I should have been waiting and getting a run. I was running into the back of him, spinning tires and the 17 (Kenseth) and 24 (Gordon) got the run. “I should have been doing what they did. That’s what you have to do. It’s a fine line I’m sure with NASCAR what they perceive as a jump or laying back too much. But I wasn’t. I needed to be a little more aggressive trying to get into the gray area with that. I was staying caught up, being a little too nice about it.” Compared to the difficulties Earnhardt has overcome in recent years, and the fact he made a mistake on the restart by spinning his tires and still finished second, the Hendrick driver was reminded of his good fortune. But Earnhardt admitted to some “high anxiety” while he was parked on the backstretch during the red flag. “I’m happy,” Earnhardt said. “I’m sorry I’m not happier. The damn red flag, anxiety just kills you sitting there and sitting there and sitting there. You don’t see what’s going on with how they’re cleaning the track. You don’t know how long it’s going to take. Yeah, I mean, anxiety just kills you, kills you. You’ve been running all day, and to have to be parked for 20 minutes, it’s all you can stand. It’s all you can take. “I wish all you knew what that felt like. I’m sure you do, and I just don’t know how to compare it to anything that each of us has done. But it’s tough, man. And you hate it. You know, I would have been glad if we had just run second under green flag, no crash. We were in good shape. I was running good times. Red flags are no fun. I hate them. They’re part of the sport. You got to man-up when it comes time.” He may not have won the race but he was able to climb back to 10th in the standings after three races so even though he didn’t hit the jackpot, Earnhardt certainly isn’t leaving Las Vegas as a loser. “Carl wasn’t going to get beat today,” Earnhardt said. “It’s good to just put one in the bag after last week. I so desperately wanted to finish where I thought the car was capable of finishing, and we did today.” Junior, 50th 500 lead to sales spike for SuperstoreThe NASCAR.COM Superstore reported that licensed merchandise sales were up 30 percent in February and up 28 percent for the week of the Daytona 500 over last year.Dale Earnhardt Jr. was again the dominant sales force with his merchandise accounting for 47 percent of all sales. Daytona 500 "50th running" licensed merchandise was second at 9.3 percent with Ryan Newman, the 500 winner, third at 9.1 percent. Spreading the message The clock had just struck 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1 when workers began painting Coca-Cola red over Pepsi blue at Daytona International Speedway, officially ending Pepsi's 49-year reign as Daytona's soft-drink king. By the time fans arrived for the Daytona 500, Coke had more than made its mark with special event packaging through the state of Florida and an abundance of signage at the speedway that made it nearly impossible for fans to leave the track without somehow coming across a Coca-Cola or Coke Zero message. Ben Reiling, director of motorsports, Coca-Cola North America, said the signage was roughly split 50-50 between Coca-Cola Classic and Coke Zero, the latter being the brand used on the title for Daytona's summer race. "We were looking for a good blend of iconic messaging for both brands," said Reiling, whose marketing team walked the grounds at Daytona countless times devising the strategy for where to place Coke or Coke Zero marks on the 45 flags, video screens, banners and concession displays throughout the speedway. Coke hospitality entertained about 350 people at the race, a mix of contest winners, customers, retail partners and executives. Through different sampling stations at the speedway the week of the 500, Coke Zero samples were handed out to 125,000 consumers, Reiling said. Coke brands also unveiled several new driver relationships at Daytona, including Juan Montoya and Powerade, Carl Edwards and Vitaminwater and Kyle Busch and NOS Energy. Powerade plans to use Montoya extensively in its point-of-sale displays and the sports drink is expected to appear on Montoya's Nationwide Series car later in the year. Adidas increasing its brand presence within NASCARAdidas is negotiating with Hendrick Motorsports and a handful of speedways to broaden its rights in NASCAR beyond its deal with Dale Earnhardt Jr.Mark Clinard, Adidas' business director of motorsports, said in Daytona that he'd like to acquire rights at select tracks to develop a fan experience that would expose consumers to its ClimaCool wear. He has had some initial discussions with Lowe's Motor Speedway. Adidas launched its first line of Earnhardt signature wear on Feb. 15, the Friday before the Daytona 500, at The Sports Authority with GMR Marketing, Charlotte, handling the debut. Those jackets, T-shirts, jerseys and hats are available at The Sports Authority, Adidas' own retail stores and online. NASCAR gear has been extremely limited and often nonexistent in the major sporting goods retailers. "We're asking Dale Jr. fans to shop in a different place," Clinard said. "This is apparel that will be exclusive to the sporting goods channel, not department stores or lower-level retailers." Clinard did not discount the possibility of selling the apparel trackside at some point. The beauty of its entrée to the sport is that Adidas encounters virtually no competition in its category. Nike, which used a sponsorship at Joe Gibbs Racing to introduce its Starter brand to NASCAR, has since vacated the sport, in part because it could not secure rights to Earnhardt. Clinard's talks with Hendrick have centered on researching in-car conditions and ways in which its ClimaCool technology could possibly be used for the seat material. Adidas already is working with Earnhardt on a ClimaCool firesuit, which is expected to debut later this season. A deal with Hendrick also might give Adidas rights to put the Amp and National Guard marks from the car on its sports wear. Adidas' initial line of product features mostly the black and orange of Earnhardt's JR Motorsports and the fan club marks, JR Nation, as well as Junior's signature. Adidas also has interest in putting its marks on Earnhardt's No. 88 Chevy. Adidas marks are currently on Earnhardt's firesuit and his crew's uniforms, as well. Whether Adidas comes back with any ad spots this year remains to be seen. "I'd rather have the exposure we get through athlete wear than anything we might buy with a bunch of media," Clinard said. If Adidas does an ad, it likely will debut in August for the back-to-school sales season, he said. Clinard also shared a story about working with Earnhardt that he has found to be a bonus. When Earnhardt signed with Adidas, the equipment manager at the University of Nebraska, an Adidas school, sent him a bag of assorted Cornhusker apparel and a helmet because Earnhardt collects helmets. The equipment manager was surprised when the phone rang soon thereafter and it was Earnhardt on the other end, calling to say thanks. "With Dale Jr., there's always this sense that he's going above and beyond," Clinard said. Hat's off to the winner: How Pepsi landed Dale Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s move to Pepsi all started with a couple of Mountain Dew hats.Junior was walking the grounds at Michigan International Speedway during a Busch race in August 2006, several months before his departure from Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team started by his celebrated father and stepmother. At the race, Brian Vickers was driving a car with a retro Mountain Dew paint scheme and wearing a matching firesuit. Earnhardt liked the look and asked the Pepsi team for some of the Dew retro gear. "We gave him two or three caps," said David Dzanis, vice president of client services for Pepsi's sports agency, Genesco Sports Enterprises. "Obviously, there was a lot of work between then and signing Junior. But that was probably when we first got his attention. We're all thinking, 'Here's a guy driving for Bud and he wants Mountain Dew hats?' But we knew then that he drank our product." More than a year later, the cap giveaway paid off. Pepsi ended up paying a share of the estimated $25 million to $30 million per year to put its Mountain Dew Amp brand on the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevy. The sponsorship and personal services contract with Earnhardt makes him the highest-paid endorser in Pepsi's long history of celebrity spokespeople, according to company executives. It's a history that has included sports icons as varied as Alex Rodriguez and David Beckham, and pop stars as diverse as Madonna and U2. Ray Charles is part of the Pepsi generation, and so are Joan Crawford and Regis Philbin. Junior's multiyear deal with Amp is more than Michael Jackson was paid to moonwalk for Pepsi at the top of his game and more than fellow driver Jeff Gordon gets from Pepsi after 12 years. And it all started with a couple of caps. All of the executives involved in bringing NASCAR's top attraction into the Pepsi fold and interviewed for this story say that in addition to signing a big check, the stars had to align -- independent of resources that the $39 billion soft drink and snack food giant could bring to bear. And they did. "No one would describe anything this big as easy," said Ralph Santana, Pepsi's vice president of sports media and interactive marketing, "but the planets just seemed to line up for us. Nine months ago, this really wasn't on our radar screen and it happened so quickly and so easily, it's almost scary." The first of those constellations in motion was that Junior grew up drinking Mountain Dew, a Pepsi-owned brand since 1964. In addition, Pepsi had a successful relationship with Junior's new team, Hendrick Motorsports. One of its star drivers, Gordon, has been sponsored by Pepsi since 1996. For Pepsi, getting Gordon's buy-in was key. Given its longtime relationship with him, Pepsi approached the four-time NASCAR champion before it ever spoke to Earnhardt directly, seeking Gordon's blessing, if not his permission, to sign the driver who had raced under the Bud flag for nearly a decade. "It's kind of like A-Rod and Jeter," Genesco CEO John Tatum said. "You don't want to ruin the dynamics in your locker room, even if you are adding a superstar. But Gordon was behind this from the start; [he] figured it was just another teammate for him in the race." But the impetus for Pepsi to empty its wallet for America's top motorsports attraction derived from a different race. While full-calorie sodas have been bubbling out of fashion over the past decade, energy drinks, most notably Red Bull, have become a $6.5 billion market -- and one with considerably better margins than carbonated soft drinks. Pepsi is accustomed to being first or second within beverage categories. But within energy drinks, it has a somewhat haphazard portfolio: SoBe's No Fear, some Starbucks-branded beverages and Amp, which has a market share of around 6 percent depending on the data source. Unaccustomed and tired of riding the fifth horse in a five-horse energy drink race, Pepsi's senior management decided early last year that it would spend against this growing market and it knew that to challenge competitors, it would have to ramp up Amp. Every energy drink has action sports endorsers and many have motorsports ties of some kind. But none had a driver near Earnhardt's stature. Before Earnhardt's defection from DEI became public last May, Pepsi executives knew that was where they wanted to spend behind Amp. "It's a big bet," said Santana, a 13-year Pepsi marketing veteran, who helped engineer the company's largest individual endorsement deal in just his second year running Pepsi's sports marketing. "Anyone in the business will tell you that it [the energy drink category] is still growing, that it's still highly profitable and there is no real sign of it slowing. So for us, it was about figuring out which brand to focus on. When you look at market dynamics, where consumers are headed and where the real growth is, clearly this is it." Looking for a sponsorship that would bridge the gap with its energy-drink competitors, Pepsi decided early in 2007 that a motorsports play was the answer. Earnhardt was a better solution than they could have imagined. "We felt all along that if we could find the right equity in racing, we could immediately tap into a larger fan base for Amp. Dale's got the most fans, so he was nirvana for us," said Lance Bloomberg, racing manager in Pepsi's sport marketing group. "If you do it the right way, we'll have a base to start with and you can reach out with your creative to try and broaden it." Earnhardt's legacy, both as a fan favorite and one of NASCAR's "regular guys," dovetailed nicely with the repositioning Pepsi was planning for Amp. While Red Bull and its clones have successfully marketed their beverages as frenetic energy, best used to stay up in the nightclub and later if needed, the "new" Amp is about energy that lends focus to daily tasks, even if they are as complex as driving at 200 mph. Pepsi felt Earnhardt would deliver a different and more diverse consumer, as well as lend a sense of maturity to the category. For Earnhardt, it was a step away -- although not too far away -- from the party-boy image he had cultivated with Budweiser, while maintaining a sense of authenticity with Mountain Dew. He might occasionally wear neatly pressed white shirts to Hendrick Motorsports functions, but no one is confusing Junior with a choir boy just yet. "Adding Dale makes Amp the working man's coffee," said Tom McGovern, director of sports marketing at longtime Pepsi agency, OMD. "That should really separate Amp from Red Bull and the rest of that market." Genesco's Dzanis, a former employee at International Speedway Corp., recalls having passing thoughts about landing Junior as early as January 2007, when reports began to surface that Junior might not renew with DEI. When Earnhardt announced that he was leaving four months later, Dzanis immediately called Pepsi Sports Group Manager John Stamatis at home, reminding him of Earnhardt's selling power in the sport. Industry analysts estimate that Junior accounts for about a third of all NASCAR's licensed merchandise sales. "We have to get in on this," Dzanis recalls saying in his initial pitch. But first, Pepsi had to see which team would land Earnhardt. "If he wasn't going in the Hendrick stable, we weren't going to pursue him," Santana said. Conversely, Santana knew that having Junior with Hendrick gave Pepsi at least an even chance of landing the popular driver. Just days after Earnhardt hit the market, Genesco had some rough marketing concepts sketched out and presented the idea more formally the next week to Santana and Stamatis. On May 23, a very informal and initial conversation with Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Junior's sister and president of his JR Motorsports operation, indicated some mutual interest. Approval from Gordon came the next day. On May 29, Hendrick Motorsports director of marketing Pat Perkins was at Pepsi's headquarters in Purchase, N.Y., for some Gordon-related business. Santana and others told Perkins that if Junior joined Hendrick, they wanted him. Perkins told them they were at the top "of a very short list." Things heated up from there. Just after the Autism Speaks 400 race in Dover, Del., in early June, Gordon and Earnhardt discussed the deal on the helipad, and just about 10 days later, on June 13, Junior announced his decision to join Hendrick. The race within the race was on. Immediately following, a two-word e-mail from the ivory towers of Pepsi management convinced any doubters that the Junior hunt was real. The all-caps message from Chris Kempczinski, vice president of noncarbonated beverages, was simple and direct: "GET JUNIOR." Hendrick said he heard from more than 20 brands about sponsoring Junior's car. A few he knew, but most he didn't. "There were sponsors from within the sport and sponsors that I had no idea wanted to be in the sport," he said. "But it was always Pepsi's and [the] National Guard's to lose. And they never did anything to lose it." Rumors immediately surfaced regarding who would sponsor Junior's new car, and the speculation included Wrangler, Visa and M&M's. But June 17 was the first time the eventual sponsor's name came up publicly. Earnhardt confidant and longtime friend Darrell Waltrip did an interview on SPEED's Wind Tunnel that showed Pepsi's hand. "It will still be probably something you can drink," Waltrip said, when asked which company would sponsor Junior's new ride. "And it won't be in a red can." Even though Pepsi's existing deal with Hendrick offered it beverage exclusivity, Anheuser-Busch wasn't ready to surrender its relationship with Earnhardt. Within minutes of Junior's announcement with Hendrick, Tony Ponturo, Anheuser-Busch's vice president of global media and sports marketing, personally called Rick Hendrick to express his interest in moving over with Junior and sponsoring the car. But as the days passed, speculation surfaced that Bud and Hendrick weren't on the best of terms from their split a decade ago, and there was a prevailing sense that Earnhardt might be ready to go in another direction, as well. "We were going to have a hard time with [Anheuser-Busch] anyway because there was already the conflict with Pepsi," Perkins said. "Then there was the whole Dale Jr. side of it. So there were a lot of major hurdles to get past before we could have any real serious discussions with Pepsi." Santana remembers an initial meeting with Hendrick in the team owner's trailer at the July 7 Pepsi 400 at Daytona, where he again tried to get first dibs. But those involved said if there was a single critical meeting, it was one just after Baseball's All-Star Game in San Francisco on July 10. Since-deposed Pepsi CEO and president Dawn Hudson, along with Santana, Stamatis, Dzanis and Bloomberg, flew by private jet from the West Coast to Hendrick Motorsports' headquarters in Concord, N.C., just outside of Charlotte. On the other side of the table, the Hendrick team included the team owner, Perkins, Earnhardt, Elledge and Thayer Lavielle, vice president of marketing and brand development at JR Motorsports. It was the first time all the dealmakers met face-to-face. A pitch book was handed out and the tone, Dzanis said, was, "We're serious. We hope you are." A scheduled two-hour meeting lasted closer to four hours. "I know I got home really late that night," said Perkins, who acknowledged that the familiarity between the two sides helped negotiations progress briskly. "It made for an easy dialogue." By the end of the meeting, Junior had already expressed an interest in designing the new Amp car. He was then handed a stack of new businesses cards with the title that read simply: "Manager -- Pepsi Racing." "The message was clear," Bloomberg said. "We wanted to put him to work." As their jet took off for New York that evening, the Pepsi team celebrated with toasts and high fives. "That's when we felt it really was going to get done," Santana said. "Emotionally, I felt we were on the same track." Perkins said the team at Hendrick shared that enthusiasm. "Everyone left there feeling good about it," he said. Because Junior's interest was catalyzed by his childhood memories of Mountain Dew, explaining to him that the Dew he grew up with was not sponsoring the car may have been the toughest part of the deal. Mountain Dew was still part of Amp's brand name and Junior still ended up wearing white and green. "I'd call it more of an education than an 'upsell,' " Tatum said. "He had to understand the market dynamics and that, if we were going to get the deal done, it was going to be with Amp, because that's where Pepsi was placing their cannons." Still, Earnhardt had to be sold on the idea. The strategy behind marketing Junior has been to partner with a few select, elite brands that are authentic to his likes and tastes. Wrangler has been a longtime sponsor, while Sony and Adidas were added to the fold in 2007. The idea of a primary sponsor with so little market share was cause for a brief pause. "Let's be honest" Perkins said. "There's a certain perception with energy drinks -- hard-living, extreme personalities. There's definitely a persona to it. But as they went through their plan and positioned it as 'everyone's energy drink,' that it was something more mature, more refined than other brands in the category. You could see that it appealed to him. But, yeah, that was a sort of sales process." Even before financial terms were finalized with Junior, Pepsi executives began rounding out their plan. They felt confident enough to have a preliminary discussion with Talladega Superspeedway president Rick Humphrey about buying title sponsorship to a 2008 race at the track long known as Junior's favorite. In a deal completed later, the Oct. 5 Sprint Cup race at Talladega became the Amp Energy 500. There were more meetings to come. National Guard, like Pepsi, expressed an interest in sponsoring Junior's car and had a relationship with Hendrick from sponsoring the No. 25 car driven by Casey Mears. Because of those pre-existing relationships, Hendrick said the sponsorship was theirs to lose, which they never did. Hendrick met with National Guard officials in late July and in August, then brought Pepsi and National Guard officials back for their first joint meeting. The co-primary is a model that has worked for Hendrick before. On Jeff Gordon's No. 24, DuPont shares space with Pepsi and Nicorette. "It was a chance for everyone to get to know each other," Perkins said. "Each meeting was extremely positive and it stayed that way each time we met. The partnership was something that everyone felt good about." By then, most of the heavy lifting was done. Other than the number of personal appearances Earnhardt would approve, terms of the deal were worked out in relatively easy fashion. Pepsi and Hendrick officials went to a Los Angeles Galaxy game in late July where Beckham was a no-show, and the financials were finalized during a three-hour meeting later at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. A letter of intent followed. The deal still had to be approved by Pepsi's board in September, and the sell-in process offered paradigms in which endorsers and product were large, inseparable and symbiotic. Hudson was armed with convincing examples, such as Nike and Michael Jordan, EA Sports and John Madden, Canon and Andre Agassi and George Forman's ubiquitous grill. The board was convinced. "Everyone got the appeal right away, and a lot of people in there were charged up about it, but in a boardroom, that goes away after five minutes," Santana said. "Ultimately, we had to make the business case, and that was probably the hardest part. We could take this same money and spend it on a TV campaign and the probability of it being able to deliver you an instant fan base is not high. So the case that we made was that his fans would become our fans." The announcement of the Junior/Amp alliance at a Pepsi bottlers' meeting in Dallas on Sept. 19 elicited an unprompted standing ovation of nearly two minutes. There's applause within Pepsi as well. Earnhardt won the Feb. 9 Budweiser Shootout and the first Gatorade Duel 150 five days later, and Amp's sales volume has doubled during the past six months. Name a major retailer -- Sam's Club, Kroger, Wal-Mart -- and it has bought into a massive activation program that will run across the NASCAR season. If Junior keeps winning, Amp won't have any problem with brand recognition. He finished ninth in the Daytona 500 after spending a race-high 196 of 200 laps in the top 15. A few days before the 500, Santana was marveling about his new No. 1 endorser, who was splashed on top of his car hood across the cover of Sports Illustrated. Junior's pose shows more car and the gleaming green logo of Amp than it does of the driver -- a remarkable boon for a brand still seeking widespread awareness. "Y'know, you can't buy exposure like this," Santana said, looking down at the SI cover. "Or maybe you can." Most Popular Driver Voting BeginsEffective immediately, Chex Most Popular Driver wants you, and all your friends and family, to go online and be a part of NASCAR’s prestigious and historic award determined by fans. Fans can now log onto http://www.mostpopulardriver.com and make their vote count towards the prestigious Chex Most Popular Driver award won by NASCAR greats such as Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and others. Last season, NASCAR fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned his fifth consecutive Chex Most Popular Driver Award, which is administered by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA). Earnhardt Jr. continues to be one of only four drivers to have won the award three or more times. He is on a list of drivers that includes champions Bill Elliott, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty. Only Earnhardt Jr., Petty and Elliot have won the award five consecutive times since the inception of the award in 1953.Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets little help from Hendrick teammates, finishes 9th in Daytona 500Dale Earnhardt Jr. could have used some help from his new Hendrick Motorsports teammates.Too bad all of them were out of contention. Four-time champ Jeff Gordon had mechanical failure, while two-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears wrecked in the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday. None could offer Junior any assistance. And he couldn't get it done by himself, ending his chance at becoming the first driver to win the exhibition Budweiser Shootout, one of the twin qualifying races and The Great American Race in the same season. Earnhardt finished ninth, the highest of the Hendrick cars, but still a disappointment for NASCAR's most popular driver who got off to a great start with his new team. ``I made the wrong choices with the runs I got,'' Earnhardt said. ``If you're in the right line, the help goes with you.'' Earnhardt was strong in the Shootout and even better in his 150-mile qualifier, establishing himself as one of the favorites for the season-opening 500. His Hendrick teammates were right up there, too. But Gordon, Johnson and Mears ended up way back -- unable to team with Earnhardt and help him get to the front. ``That's what happens when you get a lot of hype and expectations,'' Gordon said. ``You've got go out there and make it to the finish.'' Johnson was 27th, Mears was 35th and Gordon was 39th. Gordon was the first in trouble, making a pit stop on lap 154 and then heading to the garage with suspension failure. Johnson's day ended 23 laps later, after he slid sideways in turn two, got nudged by Sam Hornish Jr., and then spun around and slammed into Martin Truex Jr. Mears was running with the leaders with six laps to go, but trying to block Tony Stewart, got hit and tagged the wall. That left Earnhardt all alone for the final restart. He was fifth with three to go but got stuck on the inside groove and dropped well back of Penske Racing teammates Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch, who gave Dodge a 1-2 finish and team owner Roger Penske his first Daytona 500 victory. Earnhardt's finish was lower than expected, but he quickly turned it into a positive, especially since he was 32nd here last year and never recovered during his final season with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and owner and stepmother Teresa Earnhardt. ``I was really satisfied with how the week went,'' Junior said. ``Believe me. It could have been a whole lot different. It could have been disastrous. It could have been a struggle. ``We could have ran terrible. We could have had a lot of mishaps and misfortunes. We were lucky, fortunate, had some success, got something to build on. I think my cars are going to be great this year.'' Junior's got a new car and something left to proveIf sentiment could fuel a race car, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would win the 50th running of The Great American Race by a heartbeat.NASCAR boss Brian France wants it to happen because Junior is the franchise. He said just that last month, calling Earnhardt the sport's Los Angeles Lakers. "We're no different than that. If Dale Jr. has a big year," France said with typical understatement during his state-of-the-sport speech, "that will help." Fox wants it because every time Dale Sr.'s second son and namesake wins, the needle on the TV ratings box jumps. And Junior's fans, the sport's biggest tribe by far, want it to prove his drought is less about being overrated than driving underpowered cars the last few years at DEI. Heck, even a few of his rivals in the beleaguered U.S. auto industry wouldn't mind seeing Junior pull his Chevy into Victory Lane, if only because that means a Toyota won't win. The Japanese cars look especially formidable in just their second year of competing at NASCAR's top level, stoking fears that dominance in the showrooms could extend to the racetrack. None of them, though, have anything on Junior. Earnhardt has a new team, a new car, a new sponsor and plenty to prove. Nothing would signal a cleaner break from the past better than winning NASCAR's Super Bowl a second time, right after joining Hendrick Motorsports on the rebound from DEI, the team his father created and left for his third wife and widow, Teresa, to run as she pleases. "It makes you feel like you've got to be luckiest guy on the face of the earth," Earnhardt said. "There ain't a guy out there that wouldn't trade to be in this position. I know that. "I'm getting ready to drive Hendrick cars -- best cars in the business, most popular driver -- and I'm on the mind of the head dude? That's where you want to be," he added, "other than holding the championship trophy." NASCAR is at a crossroads, struggling with sagging TV ratings and selling out fewer venues. Managing the sport's explosive growth has proven every bit as tricky as achieving it, with nearly every change, from the launch of a playoff system to the crackdown on drivers' conduct, drawing yowls from old-school fans. But a win by Junior could help bridge that gap, too. For all the talk about the good old days, the reality is that the racing has never been more competitive. "During one bad race in NASCAR," said Juan Pablo Montoya, who was rookie of the year after moving to NASCAR from open-wheel racing, "we have more passes than an entire season of Formula One." And the Daytona 500 produces more than most. Restrictor-plate races limit every car's horsepower, a feature that makes for close racing and plenty of drafting and bumping. The finish of last year's race might have been the best last lap since the bootleggers and backwoodsmen moved the circus from ramshackle dirt ovals to asphalt superspeedways. Dale Sr., perhaps the best restrictor-plate racer ever, was killed in a last-lap crash in 2001, in the debut race of NASCAR's first national TV contract with Fox. Instead of dampening interest in what was still a niche sport, that tragedy, and the ensuing debate it touched off over the safety of stock-car racing, only stoked it. But although most of Senior's fans seamlessly made the segue to Junior's camp, he hasn't won anything meaningful since the summer of 2006. So the move to Hendrick Motorsports has already paid off with victories in the Budweiser Shootout and a qualifying race at Daytona this week. But unless Junior adds Sunday's crown jewel to his haul, it's going to be a tougher sell than ever. A full-bore resurgence by Junior in 2008, beginning with the season opener, would put more money in everybody's pocket. Yet reaction among the drivers has been predictably mixed. Competitive as they are, new teammates Jimmie Johnson, the circuit's two-time defending champion, and Jeff Gordon, a NASCAR great and fierce rival of Dale Sr., couldn't have been more supportive. But the feeling wasn't unanimous. "Honestly," said Kyle Busch, who was fired by Hendrick to make room for Earnhardt, "I don't care. I'm here to beat him." More typical was what Clint Bowyer said. "I guess it's good for the sport, but people can't pretend to be surprised. I mean, it's not like the guy has forgotten how to drive." More important, he hasn't forgotten what it would mean here, of all places, to drive into the winner's circle. "Daytona is a special place. How many times has an Earnhardt won here?" Junior asked. "Daddy won 30-something. I won, I don't know? Eleven (actually 12) races? That's a lot. I didn't think it was that many. "I embrace that. This is where we lost him, and I want to keep whoopin' it, you know what I'm saying?" Fan demand makes Earnhardt's new adidas clothing the iPhone of NASCARA half hour before the doors to the store open, the line stretches to nearly 100 people. Fans are working themselves into a frenzy, dancing awkwardly for the chance to win free T-shirts and chanting their favorite driver's name over and over.You folks know Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't actually here, right? ``We've already seen him,'' Earnhardt fan Krystle Forsythe said, standing at the front of the line. ``We've been stalking him all week.'' Welcome to Juniorpalooza, a celebration of NASCAR's most popular driver that's sure to put cash registers in high gear. Friday morning marked the formal launch of Earnhardt's new signature line of clothing from sportswear manufacturer adidas, combining Junior's sense of style with adidas' familiar three-stripe pattern. Earnhardt is only the fourth athlete to receive his own personal line with adidas, joining David Beckham, the NFL's Reggie Bush and the NBA's Tracy McGrady. Judging by the scene outside the Sports Authority store across the street from Daytona International Speedway on Friday, the new clothing line could become the racing equivalent to Apple's iPhone or Nintendo's Wii. ``Well, it's more important to me, because I don't have either of those,'' said 23-year-old Forsythe. She and her mother, Diana Brock, flew all the way down from Collingwood, Ontario, to attend Sunday's Daytona 500. And if that wasn't enough of a show of loyalty to their favorite driver -- who's ``just funny and he can drive really good,'' according to Forsythe -- they also lined up early to get first crack at Earnhardt's new souvenir line. How early? Try 10:30 Thursday night. ``We're from Canada, so we won't be able to get this stuff for a while,'' Forsythe said. Among the huddled masses yearning for the chance to buy a new Dale Jr. hat, T-shirt or track jacket were Junior fans of all ages, sizes and shapes, ready to pounce on their first chance to buy clothing that their favorite driver not only endorses, but helped design himself. The result is a line of clothing that breaks away from the loud colors and gaudy sponsor logos that have become standard practice in NASCAR clothing. ``He knows what these guys want,'' says Mark Clinard, head of U.S. sports and motorsports for adidas. ``It's going to look different, and it's going to feel different. And that's a reflection of Dale Jr.'' What are their sales expectations? ``We are new to this,'' Clinard said. ``So how big is big? We don't know. But the interesting part is, our retailers are fighting for the product. We are making it as fast as we can.'' Among the items still to come are replicas of the driving shoes Earnhardt wears. The company even is considering selling the same fireproof suit Earnhardt will wear in his car -- an item that could cost more than $2,000 and has no discernible practical use to someone who doesn't drive race cars for a living. But that's down the road. For now, fans are gobbling up the new gear. Once inside, fans gobbled up rack after rack of merchandise that filled nearly the entire front half of the store. Earnhardt fan John Starks came out with a big bag of gear and didn't even bother to look at his receipt. A 49-year-old history teacher from Seattle, Starks got into NASCAR because he loves cars and speed. And Junior. ``It started with Dale Earnhardt Sr., and the apple didn't fall far from the tree,'' he said. Starks, who is black, would like to see more minority fans come to the racetrack. ``I've always been involved in this sport since I was knee-high to a tumbleweed, because I loved cars and speed,'' Starks said. ``Kids nowadays, they want to be like Jordan and all those other big name stars in those sports. If you ask me, I'd like to be like Dale Earnhardt Jr. I'd like to drive one of those cars. And I think I'd drive the wheels off of it, just as good as he can.'' Earnhardt off to a great startWhen Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was joining the star-studded Hendrick Motorsports team beginning this season, some thought he might be making a gamble.After all, with two-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, four-time Cup title winner Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears already on the team, how would Earnhardt fit in? And the pressure would squarely be on Earnhardt because the equipment at Hendrick is the best in NASCAR. If he didn't win in this situation, then his critics might begin to question his talent. Then there is NASCAR Chairman Brian France, who said last month that if Earnhardt started winning, it would improve television ratings and attendance. There's no doubt much is riding on the shoulders of Earnhardt Jr., whose late father Dale Earnhardt remains a legend in the sport. So as NASCAR's most popular driver enters Sunday's 50th Daytona 500, he's more than answered those questions. He is currently undefeated for Hendrick, winning Saturday's Budweiser Shootout and Thursday's Gatorade Duel at Daytona. If Earnhardt is successful with the "Three-peat" he will add another milestone victory to his legend as the winner of the 50th running of NASCAR's biggest race. "I have been riding this out man and it is has been great," Earnhardt said. "I just go out there and do my job. I am a great race car driver; I have won a lot of races. "I have won the Daytona 500, won the Winston as a rookie; I have won at Dover, Richmond, Phoenix, Talladega, several different size and shape race tracks. I am very fortunate. I want to thank my lucky stars for the opportunity that I have gotten." Earnhardt admits winning Daytona in its 50th year would be big on several levels. "It would mean we have a good race car," he said. "It would mean that we have some awesome stuff down here. I'm just going to try to do whatever I can to win that race. It's going to be hard to win it, but it's going to be hard for everybody." If Earnhardt continues this success, he will overshadow his much more successful teammates. That is something Earnhardt has been very cognizant of since he joined the Hendrick team, following a tumultuous ending to his career at Dale Earnhardt Inc. "There have been a lot of references to me coming over here and it has taken over the headlines here," Earnhardt said. "I'm uncomfortable with that. I don't want those guys to resent me for that. I'm just trying to come in here and do well." Gordon has 81 race victories to go along with his four Cup titles in a career that began with the final race of the 1992 season. Johnson has 33 race victories and two series titles in just seven seasons. Earnhardt has 17 race victories in nine seasons but no Cup championships. In fact, his highest finish in the standings is third in 2003. He finished 19th in 2005 and 16th last season. Johnson won 10 races last season to become the first driver with double-digit victories in Cup since Gordon won 13 races in 1998. Gordon won six times last season and finished second to Johnson. Casey Mears, the forgotten driver at Hendrick, scored his first victory last year in the Coca-Cola 600. By comparison, Earnhardt was winless last year and hasn't won a Cup points race since Richmond on May 6, 2006. "I don't want to give them the opinion that I'm trying to steal the limelight when those guys are deserving of it," Earnhardt said. "Jimmie is a champion, has been the champion the last two years. The big story going into the season should be whether he is going to three-peat. That's the story. "For me to have not won a race last year and be a page ahead of him in the newspaper, it shouldn't be that way. That's not my intention. I just want to come in here and work and have them glad that I'm here and to have me as their teammate." It seemed that Earnhardt and DEI were made for each other but - after falling out of favor with his stepmother, Teresa - Earnhardt felt it was time to leave the family business. Teresa Earnhardt questioned his desire and that put a series of events into motion that led to his departure from the team. It's a decision he does not regret. "I didn't want to be there anymore," Earnhardt said of DEI. "It was part of the process to get to where I am now." There are no excuses this season because at Hendrick Motorsports, winning isn't a possibility, it's expected. "I desperately want to get into victory lane as soon as I can because I miss that feeling," Earnhardt said. "Not to prove it to you or to anybody else or myself, I miss the feeling of winning. I miss getting out of the car and celebrating. That was fun. "I feel pretty confident. We have all kinds of resources here. I don't think I have to prove I'm a good race driver. I think I've already proven that. I've won some big races on the race track. Some people must have a short-term memory, I reckon." He already has won a Daytona 500, driving to victory in 2004. "I was relieved to have won it in my fifth year; to know for sure I wasn't going to have to go 20 years like my father," Earnhardt said. "I felt so lucky and relieved that I wouldn't be chasing it because it consumes you and it consumed my dad to chase that win." Team owner Rick Hendrick has put together an All-Star team but knows that it can sometimes be a combustible mixture of egos and personalities. "I believe with all my heart what is going to make us good is working together and not having any fracture inside," Hendrick said. "I think it automatically goes off in their head if they do it, they will have to deal with me and I will be there. "Junior so far, from what I've heard about him from before, about being late, about not wanting to do certain things, he's been the first guy with his hand up. He wants to do well and we want to see him do well. You see why he's so popular once you get to know him." Earnhardt's popularity has not gone unnoticed on France, who has to be pleased with recent events. "He is the marquee driver that we have no different from the marquee franchises in other sports," France said last month. "We're not different from that. If Dale Jr. has a big year, that will help. He has the biggest fan base and he will energize his fan base. If he has success, it will benefit us." Earnhardt was nearly bewildered when told of France's thoughts. "Wow, that guy is telling me I'm driving television ratings?" Earnhardt said. "There is no real answer to that question. But if the chairman of NASCAR, the top dude, makes that kind of statement, it makes you feel like you have to be the luckiest guy on the face of the earth." At Daytona, Earnhardts share a winning historyHe chased it for 20 years, enduring failures and frustrations and one infamous cut tire, patiently stalking the Daytona 500 the way his car owner stalked big game. Dale Earnhardt left this earth with more trophies than any other driver ever to compete at Daytona International Speedway, but for so long his legacy at NASCAR's marquee facility seemed to revolve around the one event he was unable to win.That all changed 10 years ago, in one burst of emotion and speed. To those who were there, the memories remain so vivid -- the special Goodwrench Plus paint scheme, Earnhardt shouting "we won it" over the radio, the lucky penny glued to the dashboard, the crewmen on every other team lining up to congratulate the sport's iconic driver. Earnhardt's long-awaited victory in the 1998 Daytona 500 brought as much relief as joy, and it cemented the Intimidator's record as the best ever on this big 2.5-mile track. "He wanted it real bad," car owner Richard Childress remembered. "To see him finally get it was the most rewarding part of it." He had every right to hate the place. Daytona dealt Earnhardt more than his share of heartache, from the 1986 empty fuel cell to the 1990 cut tire to crashes while battling for the lead in 1991 and 1997. But he thrived on the speed and the tactics and the draft, and won virtually every four-wheeled event the facility had to offer. He won in binges -- 10 consecutive Daytona 500 qualifying events, five consecutive then-Busch races, four consecutive International Race of Champions trophies and three consecutive Budweiser Shootouts. He won a record 34 times at Daytona before he lost his life in the last turn of the last lap of the race he loved most. His statue stands outside the track's main entrance. Had he lived to retirement age, Childress believes, Earnhardt would have still come back and raced at Daytona year after year. His legacy is as permanent as Daytona's 31-degree banked corners, and each Speedweeks it is carried on by his youngest son. Inside the car, as the drivers vie for position on the racetrack and try to use the air to their advantage, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is very much his father's son. The way he drives, the way he uses so much of the racetrack, and the way he excels in the draft, they all remind many of the man called Big E. And like his dad, he wins here -- 12 times and counting, including last Sunday's victory in the Bud Shootout and Thursday's win in the first 150-mile qualifying event. "He's that good here," Childress said. "He's just like his dad was." And now, he's clearly asserted himself as the favorite to win Sunday. Earnhardt Jr. has one of those runs brewing like the one he unleashed on Speedweeks in 2003, when he swept the Shootout, the then-Busch race and a qualifying event before an alternator failure derailed his bid for the 500. "It looks like he's going to sweep Speedweeks if he doesn't break," Kenny Wallace said. But there is one notable difference between the Earnhardts at Daytona -- the son isn't still chasing a victory in NASCAR's biggest race. He achieved that in 2004, in just his fifth attempt, and today is still grateful that he's not forced to duplicate his father's long, quixotic quest. "To know for sure that I maybe was not going to have to go 20 years and not win it ... there are a lot of great names in this sport that didn't get the chance to sit in that Victory Lane with that trophy," he said. "It's unfortunate, and it brings you down a little bit, when you're so passionate and a historian of the sport like me. The Mark Martins and the guys that deserved it, and put their heart and soul into this sport. I felt so lucky and just relieved that I had gotten that, because it consumes you. It consumed my dad to chase after that win. So that was the biggest feeling that I had. We were celebrating like hell when we won it. The relief was amazing." As it surely was for his father six years earlier. A little girl in a wheelchair gave Earnhardt a penny in an attempt to change his bad luck in the race, and his crew glued it to the dash. It rode with him as he led 107 laps, successfully evading all the gremlins that had thwarted him in the past. On the final laps, Childress stayed off the radio -- they had gotten this close too many times to butt in now. After he crossed the start-finish line Earnhardt exclaimed "we won it," something that still gratifies Childress to this day. "Dale was never one of those guys who said, 'I won it,'" Childress said. "He said, 'We won it.'" Because of the man behind the wheel, because of all the pain and disappointment that preceded it, that 1998 Daytona 500 still stands out. Now it's time for the younger Earnhardt to try to add another chapter to the growing Earnhardt legacy at NASCAR's most famous track. "I feel like we've got a shot, you know what I mean?" Earnhardt said. "Nobody's boastful enough, I don't think, personality-wise, to come in here and claim [to be the favorite]. I wouldn't expect anybody here to do that, but I think we have a great shot. We've won some races down here, so we've got to be in the group if there's a group of them." Jr. 'Disappointed' by Team ViolationDale Earnhardt Jr. says he is disappointed in his JR Motorsports Nationwide Series team following a rules violation at Daytona International Speedway.NASCAR officials confiscated the rear decklid and spoiler from the team’s No. 5 entry being driven by Earnhardt Jr. The parts were replaced on Friday morning. “We’ve got good cars, this car won here last year … Everybody tries to get a little bit out of their cars and bend the rules and get in the gray area, but our guys were trying a little too hard on the cars and didn’t need it," Earnhardt Jr. said after his qualifying lap. “The cars pretty good, so we all learned a lesson down here. We’ll move forward. We’ll have to deal with some penalties probably next week … which is pretty much standard. But we’ll be all right.” JR Motorsports merged its Nationwide operations with Hendrick Motorsports for this season, converting all its cars to Hendrick chassis. Earnhardt wins first of two qualifying races; Wallace, Vickers advance to Daytona 500Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 2-for-2 in his Hendrick Motorsports debut, winning one of Thursday's qualifying races and establishing himself as the favorite to win the Daytona 500.Earnhardt led 26 of the 60 laps to score his second win of Speedweeks, proving NASCAR's most popular driver is a perfect fit with the sport's most dominant team. Earnhardt, who also won the exhibition Budweiser Shootout five days ago, was out front for much of the race but still needed a late pass of Ryan Newman to secure the win. ``I didn't think I had (Newman) cleared, I don't know if he lifted to let me have it 'cause I might have wrecked the deal there,'' Earnhardt said. ``I come on in front of him, but it must have been inches. He had to lift a little bit, but he got a run on the inside of me there. That was pretty fun.'' Earnhardt, the 2004 Daytona 500 winner, will start on the second row of Sunday's season-opener. He'll be searching for his first points victory in nearly two years. ``It's a Cinderella story,'' said Kenny Wallace, one of two drivers to race their way into the 500 in the first qualifier. ``It looks like he's going to sweep Speedweeks if he doesn't break.'' The first qualifying race was a showdown between Red Bull Racing teammates Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger, who both had to race their way into the 500 field. Vickers made it in with a last-lap pass of Joe Nemechek to finish 11th and secure his spot in the field. It was a comeback for Vickers, who was spun by Boris Said three laps into the race and had to make an unscheduled pit stop for a flat tire. Vickers, a one-time star at Hendrick Motorsports, struggled horribly through his first season with Red Bull when the team struggled to make races. ``Oh, it's like I won the race,'' Vickers said. ``I think the last time I felt this good was when I won a race (at Talladega in 2006). I mean, the 50th running of the Daytona 500 is special, but just to start the year off right.'' Allmendinger failed to make the 500, finishing 13th in the qualifier. He too struggled to make races last season and was disappointed in not being able to put both Red Bull cars in the field. ``Pretty much sucks as bad as it can,'' Allmendinger said. ``I mean, unfortunately, everybody at Red Bull, they deserve to have two cars in. It's good that Brian got in, at least, (for) the guys back in the shop but my guys deserve better than that. Just never had the car right.'' Kenny Wallace earned the other spot that was up for grabs in the first qualifier, finishing eighth. Nemechek, his teammate at fledgling Furniture Row Racing, also earned a spot in the field as one of the fastest cars in time trials not already qualified for the 500. Kurt Busch lost power in his Dodge about 10 laps into the race, and the failure had a huge effect on several drivers. Because the 2004 series champion gave his points earned from last season to new teammate Sam Hornish Jr. -- a move that ensures Hornish a spot in the first five races of the season, Busch will make the Daytona 500 under the past champion's provisional. ``We got some burned-up wires under the dash, so that's not good,'' Busch said. ``We've got the champion's provisional to fall back on, and so we're not too worried about it.'' But it created a huge worry for three-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett, who had hoped the provisional still would be available for him just in case he failed to race his way into the field in the second qualifying race. Jarrett is retiring next month and could conceivably miss his final 500. The provisional goes to the most recent former champion, and the order for awarding it is Busch, Jarrett and Bill Elliott. Reed Sorenson followed a strong run in the Shootout with a second-place finish in the first qualifier, and was followed by Ryan Newman, Casey Mears and Carl Edwards. But the race once again belonged to Earnhardt, who had to drive from the back of the field to win his race. A rash of bad lifters in motors made by both Hendrick and several Toyota teams forced a flurry of engine changes Wednesday, and all the teams that made switches had to drop to the back of the field. That included Earnhardt and all three of his Hendrick teammates. But it made no difference to Earnhardt, who scored his 12th victory in various series at Daytona. ``I'm real proud of my team, they built me a great car,'' Earnhardt said. ``The engine guys worked overnight to bring us the replacement motors down here. They're great, as we see.'' HMS faces engine woes at DaytonaThose powerful, seemingly unbeatable Hendrick Motorsports cars had major engine problems Wednesday during practice for the Daytona 500.Two-time defending champion and pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson, four-time series champ Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears all were forced to change engines because of a lifter problem likely caused by a bad batch of coating. Scott Riggs, driving for Haas CNC Racing and using Hendrick power, also swapped engines. In all, five of the nine Hendrick-powered cars had problems. "It's a concern, naturally, because it's a widespread problem," said Jeff Andrews, head engine builder at Hendrick. "But it's early enough that we can fix it." The engine swaps will send those five Chevrolets to the back of the field in their 150-mile qualifying races Thursday, which will help set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. "It wouldn't have lasted the 150s, and you don't want to risk it blowing up and starting an accident that would have taken other cars out," Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, said. Four Toyotas had similar problems during Speedweeks, including two-time series champion Tony Stewart and three-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett. A.J. Allmendinger and J.J. Yeley were the others. Yeley changed engines twice, including once Wednesday. All the trouble stemmed from lifters, which connect the cam shaft to the push rods. Lifters used to be cast iron, but teams now use steel ones that need coating to slide. Since so many teams use the same coating company, one bad batch could lead to an engine epidemic. "If the coating wears off just a little bit, it's like glass and then you have steel on steel and you have that coating going through your engine," said Richie Gilmore, who runs the joint engine program between Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Richard Childress Racing. None of Gilmore's engines had lifter problems, but the issue had him and other teams scrambling to check their equipment following practice. "Everybody's going to be pulling stuff apart and looking at it, and it might be a bigger issue," Gilmore said. Junior, Hendrick Sweet On EmmaEvery NASCAR Sprint Cup driver has a favorite car in his fleet, one that he feels especially at home in. Darrell Waltrip, for example, was famous for extolling the virtues of “Bertha,” a Chevrolet Monte Carlo that won many races in back in the day three decades ago.In Sunday’s 50th running of the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be driving a car that has a lot of sentimental attachment for himself and his Hendrick Motorsports squad – and presumably a lot of speed, too. Officially, the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet that Earnhardt will drive in the 2008 Daytona 500 is Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-475, but it’s known around the shop as “Emma.” The car is named in honor of the original Emma, which the team built in the mid-1980s. The original Emma was built by Earnhardt’s maternal grandfather, fabricator Robert Gee, and raced for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series by drivers Geoff Bodine and Tim Richmond in the 1980s. Both Bodine and Richmond won with the car, which Gee nicknamed after his mother. “My grandfather (Robert Gee) named one of his favorite race cars ‘Emma.’ It’s a tribute to him and the Gee family,” Earnhardt said. “It makes me proud.” Earnhardt’s cousin and crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., is equally excited about Emma, which was the fastest car in pre-season Daytona testing. “It’s a fitting tribute to my granddaddy,” Eury said. “He had a big part in getting me into this sport, but my dad also taught me a lot. I can remember going to (Lowe’s) Motor Speedway with my granddaddy, and we had the car ‘Emma.’ It was really cool when we were able to see Emma down in the Hendrick Motorsports museum. That car is a tribute to my great-grandmother, my grandmother and Rick Hendrick. This organization is and always has been about family, and now it’s like the family is all back together. I hope we win with Emma. It would be a great tribute.” Frank Edwards, one of the first five employees hired at Hendrick in 1984, said he remembered working on the original Emma. “Robert Gee’s ‘Emma,’ she was a beautiful race car,” said Edwards, 72, who still works as a fabricator and mechanic at Hendrick. “He would spend as much time making the bumper look right as he would putting the engine in it. It had several different front ends for the car. Tim Richmond won races in it, and Geoff Bodine won Darlington in it. That car has a soul to it. That’s one of the few cars I’ve ever seen that you just have a different feeling about it. Even if I didn’t grow up around here, which I did, I would still feel like there’s just something when I’m around that car. And it just feels like, you know, when someone’s around you, and you can just feel that presence? That’s how I feel around that car. It’s like it’s alive. Like there’s something there.” Amid banners at Hendrick, Junior looks for his placeWhen the hot water heater in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s motor coach broke down during last year's fall race weekend at Richmond, Va., his future employer stepped forward with a potential replacement. Rick Hendrick wasn't traveling to the next event in New Hampshire, so the car owner offered Earnhardt the use of his new motor coach, which would otherwise sit idle. Even though the driver would be working for Hendrick Motorsports in a few months, the proposal made him uneasy."I can't take your coach," he told Hendrick. "I haven't earned the right." Earnhardt may be the most popular and most marketable driver in NASCAR today, but those facts have never diluted his very clear sense of place. He is well aware of his role in the sport, what his legions of fans expect from him, the weight and legacy carried by his last name. He's as passionate about the circuit's history as he is its present. He knows he has no Cup-level championships, he knows he has no race wins in more than a season, and he knows he's joined an organization with an abundance of both. Debates about how Earnhardt will fit in at Hendrick often center on the purely visual, on how a driver who likes to wear facial scruff and untucked shirts will mesh with a race team where everyone else is freshly shaven and outfitted in crisp Oxford knit. And it's true, there is often a stark contrast in both personality and appearance between Earnhardt and his new teammates, who aren't often seen publicly in just a T-shirt and jeans. But as much as Earnhardt burns to be the best, as much as longs to unleash that championship driver that he believes dwells inside him, his immediate acceptance at Hendrick centers around one thing -- humility. It's not a personality trait often associated with an Earnhardt. But it's there, in his willingness to fly to Daytona for a test session he wasn't scheduled to drive, just to show support for teammates who were. It's there in the eagerness and anticipation that led him to be the first Hendrick driver to show up for offseason photo shoots. It's there in the way he keeps quiet and listens when he's on the sprawling Hendrick campus in north Charlotte. It's there in his admittance that teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are the drivers with all the championships, and his uneasiness with the fact that his very move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. may be upstaging them. "There have been a lot of references to me coming over here, and it's sort of taken over the headlines here, so to speak. I'm kind of uncomfortable with that. I don't want those guys to resent me for that. I'm just trying to come in here and do well," said Earnhardt, who hasn't won a Cup points event since his triumph at Richmond in the spring of 2006, now 62 race weekends ago. "When we're working around here or doing things around here, I just keep my mouth shut. I don't want to give them the opinion that I'm trying to steal the limelight when those guys are well deserving of it. Jimmie's a champion, been the champion the last two years, a big story going into this season should be whether he's going to three-peat. That's the story. For me to not have won a race last year and be a page ahead of him in the newspaper, it shouldn't be that way. That's not my intention. I just want to come in here and work. I want them to be glad I'm here. I want them to be happy to have me as a teammate because I helped them in some way throughout the year. That's my goal." But only so much of that is within Earnhardt's control. The size of his fan base, easily the biggest in NASCAR, is unquestioned. So is the weight that his last name carries. His split with stepmother Teresa over ownership of DEI had an irresistible, almost soap-opera quality to it, and dominated headlines last year. At a recent media day at Hendrick, the size of the crowd around Earnhardt dwarfed those around Johnson and Gordon, drivers with six titles between them. His new teammates seem to accept the fact that the attention comes with the driver, and also seem able to separate the two. "I've learned a lot about him since he's come to Hendrick, and what I've learned is, this is a guy who cares a lot about his on-track performance, he cares a lot about what people think about him, and he wants to make a good impression," Gordon said. "Those are great things. Those are assets for us, and without him coming over here, you don't really know and see some of those things. I think he fits very well here. While we were even questioning some of the same things other people were about managing these high-profile drivers, I see that really not being an issue." Added Johnson: "I don't feel like he's stealing our thunder in any way. The way we all operate as drivers and crew chiefs, we just all want respect from one another, and we want to go out on track and do our jobs. Junior is a racer at heart, and that's one thing I've always respected about him, and I don't ever see that being any different. That's where the foundation of this four-car team, and even with Jeff and Casey [Mears] involved, is going to come from. The outside things, they are what they are. We all recognize that after we've been in the sport long enough. There's just a certain appeal and a huge freaking fan base that he has, and I can't do anything about that. But we're going to be great teammates and try to go out and win a lot of races." Earnhardt has certainly helped smooth the process. His late-night decision last month to jet down to Daytona and watch the other three Hendrick drivers test impressed his teammates to no end. He sees his No. 88 cars being built in the Hendrick shop, and he can't wait to drive them. He can't wait to see how he gets around Martinsville, can't wait to practice, can't wait to see how his cars perform at any number of tracks. He used to open each season with the slightest fear of failure lurking in the back of his mind; now he's consumed by opportunity. Every driver is optimistic at the start of a new season, but Junior's level of expectation is stratospheric, and his teammates sense it. "Absolutely," Gordon said. "It's no different that Jimmie Johnson winning back-to-back championships, that's motivation for us. How [crew chief] Chad [Knaus] and he communicate, those are things for us to learn from and grow from and only become better. Same thing with Junior. When somebody fresh comes in and they do things a little different, same thing with Casey last year. Sometimes you get complacent and you get too comfortable. It's nice to see some of that refreshing excitement, especially when it's somebody like Dale Earnhardt Jr. That only rubs off on everybody else." And then there's Earnhardt's relationship with his new boss, someone he knew as a person long before he knew him as an employer. Rick Hendrick has been in Dale Jr.'s life for years as an advisor and mentor, helping the driver think through the process of leaving DEI even before it became clear that Earnhardt wanted to land at Hendrick. He once owned a then-Busch car in which Earnhardt's father won a race, and employed Earnhardt's grandfather as a fabricator. Hendrick knew the younger Earnhardt, knew his family, knew his desire to drive dependable equipment and erase the questions over whether he could win a title. Would Little E fit? There was never a doubt. "We made it clear how we operate, and he wanted that," Hendrick said. "I've used this word a ton, but it's 'respect.' If the guys don't respect me, or they don't respect each other, then it can be a free fall. You can have people tear it up. I've said it before, this company won't be broken down from the outside, it will happen from the inside. I'm determined not to let that happen. When you see a problem, you've got deal with it. These crew chiefs here, they see a guy that doesn't fit, doesn't want to participate, that thinks it's all crap, the meetings and the way we approach things, they get them out of here. It's like a cancer, it grows and it creates problems. Can you have too many talented people? I don't think so. I think as long as they work together, they're OK." Sure, these days, Earnhardt may have to shave a little more often. But it's still him, the auburn-haired kid from Mooresville, N.C., with the twangy accent. He and Hendrick keep running score on the shirttail -- tucked in for the media event, but left out for a sponsor engagement the night before. The colors and the packaging may have changed a bit, but not the person. Dale Jr. knows who he is. It all goes back to that sense of place. "I've known Rick forever. Rick comes from a small town just like I do. Rick knows rough times. Rick knows what a shirttail looks like," Earnhardt joked. "You see where people are now, where Rick is now, where Jeff is now, Jimmie now. That's not how they were when they started. They weren't always that way. They can appreciate that I don't strive to make it to New York as far as a residence. That's not going to be my place to go kick back in a bar or a club. I like Mooresville. That's the kind of person I am. That's who I'll always be. They won't change that, and I don't expect them to ask me to do anything differently." Through tragedy, crew member works to put Earnhardt in victory laneA blind child who could see. A deaf child who could hear. A miracle is a miracle, no matter how short it lasts.Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s big victory in his debut with his new team was a speed bump compared to one crew member's struggle to help his family with life and death -- all while continuing his work to put Earnhardt in victory lane. That's why Earnhardt's Hendrick Motorsports crew dedicated their win in Saturday's Budweiser Shootout exhibition race to teammate Joey Arnold, whose 4-year-old son, Cayden, had died eight days earlier. Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. choked up with emotion during the postrace news conference, saying how stunned he was to return to the team's shop in Charlotte from a recent test session and find Arnold already back at work and talking about, of all things, winning the Daytona 500. ``I said 'Joey, what are you doing here?' His kid had died the day before,'' Eury said. ``He said, 'This is my best chance to win the Daytona 500 and I want to be a part of it.''' Arnold was stunned by the gesture from Eury, who came to the Hendrick team with Earnhardt in the offseason and doesn't know Arnold well. ``It shows that he's a class act, and that he has the perspective that there's bigger things in life than race cars,'' Arnold said in a telephone interview from the team's shop. But Arnold and his wife still are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their son, who had been battling a birth defect that severely hindered his brain development and confined him to a wheelchair. By speaking out, Arnold hopes to raise awareness of his son's condition. ``He was full of life,'' Arnold said, pausing as his voice cracked. ``His body restricted him, but his mind, his heart was still full of little boy.'' In many ways, it was a miracle that Cayden even was born. Doctors diagnosed Cayden with holoprosencephaly, a disorder that prevents complete development of the brain, in the womb and told Arnold and his wife, Shira, that he would likely die before being born. Cayden proved them wrong -- and then some. ``We prayed to have 10 minutes with Cayden so we could hold him and love him,'' Arnold said. ``And God gave us 4 1/2 years.'' Still, the Arnolds were told to lower their expectations. Cayden was born blind and deaf, and wasn't likely to develop mentally. ``We were told that he would not know love, he would not know who his parents were -- basically, that he would most likely be a vegetable,'' Arnold said. ``And he certainly proved that theory to be wrong.'' With an implant, he could hear. His vision developed. He could recognize colors and objects. And he certainly knew who his parents were. ``You just knew by his gaze at you, his smile,'' Arnold said. ``He would move his arms the best that he could with a sense of excitement when he saw you come into a room or spoke to him or touched him. He certainly was aware of people around him, and absolutely knew his family.'' In recent weeks, Cayden started taking bigger steps -- literally. He was beginning treadmill therapy to learn how to walk. He was beginning to learn how to use a computer to speak. Then one day he was able to eat solid food, not pureed food, at three meals for the first time ever. That night, he surprised his parents by figuring out how to drive his motorized wheelchair to the end of the driveway and back without help. Then he went to bed and never woke up. How did the Arnolds explain that to Cayden's 2-year-old sister, Skylar? ``We told her that Cayden had died and he had gone to heaven and we would be reunited with him some day,'' Arnold said. ``Her response was, 'He's with Jesus and he's happy.''' Cayden died Feb. 1, a Friday. Arnold went back to the Hendrick shop that Sunday, and told a co-worker that he'd be back into work on Monday. Arnold used to travel with the team to races, but took a job that didn't require him to travel after Cayden was born. He's now Earnhardt's car setup specialist, meticulously checking and adjusting parts and pieces before each race car leaves the shop. He finds comfort in the family atmosphere at Hendrick, and a purpose: Winning Sunday's Daytona 500. ``I really felt that we had a legitimate shot and I wanted to be involved,'' Arnold said. ``And I also feel like watching Mr. Hendrick go through, and the way that he handled himself during his tragedies, being at Hendrick Motorsports was a comforting place to be.'' Hendrick lost his son, Ricky, his brother, John, two nieces and several key team members when a team plane crashed in 2004. Hendrick called Arnold when he heard about Cayden, and was shocked to hear that he was at the race shop when he answered his cell phone. ``I think he needed to put his energy somewhere, but I don't know that I could have done that,'' Hendrick said. Arnold isn't finding it hard to concentrate on his job -- not any harder than any other day of his life, anyway. ``Cayden was always in the back of my mind,'' Arnold said. ``And none of us ever know when our last day is, but due to our situation, it was always back there. I always thought of it. I don't really find today any harder than two weeks ago.'' The Arnolds laid Cayden to rest last Wednesday. At the funeral, he spoke of salvation. His wife talked about Cayden's ability to beat the odds. ``She had a blind child that could see, a deaf child that could hear,'' Arnold said. ``Now we know that he's in heaven running.'' On the Web: www.familiesforhope.org and www.holoprosencephaly.net Earnhardt chasing his Daddy in restrictor-plate record booksDale Earnhardt was widely considered the best restrictor-plate racer in NASCAR history -- the one guy who could see the air, work the draft, slice his way through the field and always a threat to make that one, final winning move.Could his little boy be even better? Tony Stewart thought so Saturday night, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. used a late pass to snatch the exhibition Budweiser Shootout away from the two-time champion. The victory ended a nearly two-year winless streak and returned Junior to the forefront of NASCAR's best plate racers. ``It's hard to beat Dale Jr.,'' Stewart said. ``He's one of the best restrictor-plate drivers there's ever been. He learned a lot from his dad, and I'm not sure he's not better than his dad in all honesty.'' Debatable? Yes. Out of the question? Maybe not. Even Junior pretty much acknowledged his success at NASCAR's most famous track. ``Daytona is a special place. How many times has an Earnhardt won here?'' he asked. ``Daddy won 30-something. I won, I don't know? Eleven races? That's a lot. I didn't think it was that many. ``I embrace that. This is where we lost him and I want to keep whoopin' it, you know what I'm saying?'' There was a time when Junior seemed well on his way in following in his father's footsteps as the best plate racer. After the elder Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Junior started a streak of seven wins in the next 15 plate races -- including four-straight at Talladega and the 2004 Daytona 500. It earned him the reputation as a driver only capable of winning plate races, something that bugged him quite a bit and wasn't even close to being true. One glance at his resume shows that NASCAR's most popular driver has won on a variety of tracks stretching from Bristol, Dover, Richmond and Phoenix. Then two-plus years of struggles made Earnhardt yearn for those days of dominance. ``I have always good confidence in myself at these race tracks. I've always had good confidence in knowing what to do,'' he said. ``There's times when I've come down here and I've had cars that were difficult and that made me feel average and made me feel like maybe I wasn't something special when it came to plate racing. ``And there was a time when it seemed like all I could win was plate races and I didn't want to take credit for it, because it seemed like it's all I ever was gonna be -- a plate-race winner. But now I have embraced it.'' He should. With a new Hendrick Motorsports ride and three teammates eager to help him succeed, Earnhardt has a chance to win next Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500 and continue building on his legacy. The Shootout win was his 11th at Daytona International Speedway, and he's got his eye on his father's mark of 34 victories at NASCAR's most famous track. Earnhardt was jubilant following the Shootout and quickly claimed he's a contender to win this 500. Grinning ear-to-ear and cracking jokes in a wide-ranging winners conference, the pressure to be successful as the newest member of Hendrick Motorsports had obviously been lifted with the victory. Hendrick said the closing laps of the Shootout, when Junior received a huge push from teammate Jimmie Johnson to pass Stewart for the win, were a wave of emotions for the car owner. He thought back to his late son, Ricky, who first suggested the team hire Earnhardt. And he thought of Earnhardt's maternal grandfather, Robert Gee, who worked at Hendrick and co-owned a Busch Series car the elder Earnhardt drove to a 1983 win at Lowe's Motor Speedway. So when Hendrick found himself in Victory Lane on Saturday night with Earnhardt and Tony Eury Jr., his cousin and crew chief, it almost seemed as if he was celebrating his first career win. ``I have never had so many emotions going through me at the end of a race,'' Hendrick said. ``I thought about Ricky, because he wanted this and they talked about doing this, and this happened. Then I thought about Robert Gee, because he and I came down here and raced together in a Busch car named Emma. ``The car (Junior) is going to drive in the 500 is Emma ... and I have his two grandchildren sitting here, so there is a whole lot of neat stuff going on. I mean, we are like giddy. It's a different feeling, we are having a lot of fun.'' Earnhardt begins Hendrick era with Shootout victoryIt didn't take long for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to break in his new car. Junior, who is in his first year driving for Hendrick Motorsports, won his first race in the No. 88 Chevrolet by dominating Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout.Earnhardt worked his way to the front at Daytona International Speedway via the draft early in the first 20-lap segment. After the 10-minute break in the exhibition race, Junior commanded the majority of the second 50-lap segment by working with new teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon on the outside line. Tony Stewart was a late threat, but he couldn't overcome the Hendrick freight train. He did manage to slip by Earnhardt for the lead with nine laps to go. Kurt Busch then brought out the race's fourth caution due to a cut tire with six laps remaining. The top nine cars stayed out while the rest of the field pitted. On the double-file restart with three to go, Stewart got a strong jump but Earnhardt got a run on the outside with the help of Johnson hooked on his bumper. Earnhardt grabbed the lead as the draft came off Turn 4 and took the white flag. He kept his car in the middle of the two primary lanes and held off Stewart and Johnson for the victory. Stewart finished second, followed by Johnson, Gordon and Reed Sorenson. The fourth Hendrick car, Casey Mears, wound up sixth. It was Earnhardt's first trip to Victory Lane, albeit an exhibition race, since the spring Richmond race in 2006. LVMS race fans pinning hopes on a Junior title runWhat would a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship by Dale Earnhardt Jr. mean to race fans?Answer: For 8,888 fans who participate in a unique promotion offered by Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it would mean free tickets to the spring 2009 Sprint Cup Series event at LVMS. In one of the most extraordinary promotions in sports history, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is offering free tickets to thousands of race fans should Earnhardt power his No. 88 Chevrolet to the 2008 Sprint Cup title. The promotion, known as Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot, is sponsored by the South Point Hotel of Las Vegas. Fans can renew their weekend race tickets for 2009 -- and be included in the promotion -- Wednesday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 17. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m PT. Entries for the promotion will end at the scheduled start of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. "Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been the most popular driver in NASCAR for the past five years, and we're excited to give race fans a stake in his quest for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship," said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. "This promotion is unprecedented in our sport. We've bought the best insurance policy available, so if Dale Jr. is fortunate enough to win the title, we'll be ecstatic for all the fans who receive free tickets to our spring 2009 event." Said South Point Hotel owner Michael Gaughan: "The South Point has become synonymous with NASCAR, and we're thrilled to be a part of Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot. Our family has been involved in racing for many years, and we have a very strong relationship with Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the entire racing community. "Thousands of race fans stay at the South Point during NASCAR weekend in Las Vegas, so we're excited about the fans' opportunities to take advantage of this creative promotion. We wish the best of luck to Dale Jr. and his legions of followers." Individual ticket holders will have five days next week (Feb. 13-17) to renew their Weekend Package tickets for the spring 2009 NASCAR Weekend at LVMS. The people renewing the first 8,888 tickets -- reflecting Earnhardt's car No. 88 -- will be refunded the entire ticket amount for next spring's Sprint Cup event on Sunday of NASCAR Weekend if Earnhardt wins the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. As long as the number has not exceeded 8,888, the speedway will continue renewals until the scheduled start of the Daytona 500. The only way to participate in Dale Jr.'s South Point Jackpot is to call the LVMS Ticket Services department at 1-800-644-4444 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Feb. 13-16 and 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. New conduct policy? No one told EarnhardtIf NASCAR plans to loosen the rules of conduct for its competitors, they haven't told the drivers, says Dale Earnhardt Jr."What does that mean?" asked Earnhardt, who was 18th fastest among the 23 drivers who practiced Friday afternoon for Saturday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. "Tell me. Are we supposed to walk the line and see where we step over it? Are we going to get fines when we go too far? "What is it that they are saying? I think honestly they are playing to you guys [the media]; they are not talking to the drivers, they are playing y'all. I think it is basically they are trying to appear to be looser, when the message has not been relayed to the drivers as to what has been changed." Earnhardt to debut new Hendrick rideIt's been years since Dale Earnhardt Jr. dominated Daytona International Speedway, where he's won 10 times in two series.With a powerful new Chevrolet built by mighty Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt hopes to return to his winning ways starting with Saturday night's exhibition Budweiser Shootout. The first test of the most scrutinized move in NASCAR history is here, and Earnhardt is ready to get rolling in his new ride. ''I want to go out and run in the top-five regularly, I have to prove that to myself,'' he said. ''Once that is cool, I am fine. All I really wanted was to run up front every week and to go to the race track knowing that my car is good, my team is good.'' That's not in question now that Earnhardt is driving for Hendrick, which won 18 of 36 races last season. He signed with the team last June, after making the difficult decision to leave his late father's company. Choosing HMS capped a whirlwind six weeks in which all of NASCAR's top teams chased the sport's most popular driver. He picked Hendrick because of the potential the team gives him - he insists his resume stands on its own, but knows this pairing could make him one of the greatest drivers in history. ''I don't think we have to prove I'm a good race car driver,'' NASCAR's most popular driver said. ''I want to prove I'm a great one. When they make the next 50 greatest drivers list, I want to be on it.'' To get there, he'll need to start winning again. Earnhardt hasn't been to Victory Lane for 62 races, and he last celebrated at Daytona with a Nationwide Series win in 2006. He's eligible for the Shootout as the 2003 race winner. His lack of competitiveness can be pinned on a drop-off in performance at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Barring an early stumble by the No. 88 team, Earnhardt shouldn't have the same problem at Hendrick. ''I feel like I am in a better place. I feel like I have a better opportunity,'' he said. ''The odds are better for me to win championships at Hendrick. That is obvious between what they have been able to do already and the track record at DEI. ''I still had great race cars and a lot of fun and a lot of success at DEI, but statistically, the odds are better at Hendrick. You can't deny that.'' Earnhardt was just OK in the first Shootout practice Friday afternoon, where he was 18th out of 23 cars. Tony Stewart paced the session, going 191.290 in a Toyota Camry. Toyota drivers claimed three of the top four spots on the speed chart in the morning, giving the manufacturer hope that its first victory is right around the corner. But the competition took a decided turn after an eight-car accident in the evening practice session. It started when Clint Bowyer nudged the rear of Ryan Newman, sending Newman into a spin across the track. Newman's car skirted directly in front of Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, David Gilliland, Bill Elliott, Mark Martin and Carl Edwards. None could avoid it and all had to rush to the garage to repair their cars. ''I got under him, and I tried to let off and there wasn't no more room,'' Bowyer said. The accident unravelled a month of work for many teams who used January's test session here to prepare specific cars for both the Shootout and the Daytona 500. No driver wants to use his 500 car in Saturday's meaningless race, so most teams were frantically calling their North Carolina shops to have a new Shootout car sent to the track. The Hendrick teams immediately ran to haulers parked in the infield of the race track to unload the backups to the main 500 cars. They'll wait for a new backup to be sent from North Carolina. Gordon thinks the accident was the first of many as drivers adapt to the Car of Tomorrow on a superspeedway. The CoT raced at Talladega last October, but this is its first time at Daytona. ''We're going to see a lot of things like this happening because the drafting is so severe that there is a lot of movement going on out there,'' Gordon said. ''I've been saying it's going to be exciting, and I think there's a whole lot more excitement to come.'' 'Shifting Gears' to give glimpse inside Dale Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the focus of a new television series on ESPN, Dale Jr. -- Shifting Gears, premiering prior to next month's opening of the 2008 NASCAR season. The five-part series chronicles Earnhardt's move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports, in the Sprint Cup Series.The first episode airs Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The series provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal, corporate and competitive ramifications involved with the five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver award recipient changing teams. Dale Jr. -- Shifting Gears is produced by Earnhardt Jr.'s Hammerhead Entertainment, a division of JR Motorsports, in cooperation with Hendrick Motorsports and is presented by the National Guard. The new program is part of an exclusive, multimedia agreement between ESPN and Hammerhead Entertainment. "We were working on a new DVD about my life and the guys kept getting more and more footage, so they decided to put a whole TV show together to document the biggest career decision I've ever made," Earnhardt Jr. said. "The past year of my life has been a roller coaster, and it's pretty cool that we're giving everyone an inside look at how everything came together." Three of the five episodes of Shifting Gears air on ESPN2 in the nine days prior to the Daytona 500, including following ESPN2's live coverage of Nationwide Series qualifying on Feb. 15, and the Camping World 300 on Feb. 16. The final two episodes air on ESPN in prime time the week of the July 27 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, ESPN's first live Cup Series event of the season. The preseason episodes reveal never-before-seen footage from the 2007 news conferences and fan response to the announcements. Shifting Gears also chronicles the design process of the new paint schemes, the makings of Earnhardt Jr.'s Adidas fire suit and how the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet handles the pressure of working with new sponsors as he prepares for his first season with Hendrick Motorsports. The final two episodes, each one hour in length, will catch up with Earnhardt Jr. and the Hendrick team as he chases his first Cup Series championship. "Dale Jr.'s move to Hendrick Motorsports is obviously one of the most intriguing storylines heading into the 2008 NASCAR season," said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content. "This new series will not only help NASCAR fans gear up for the new season, but also will present a side of Dale Jr. that fans have never seen before." Dale Jr.'s new shoesAfter months of research, development and design collaboration, Dale Earnhardt, Jr will debut the adidas three stripes at the 2008 Daytona Speedweeks, which starts Feb. 9 with the Budweiser Shootout and ends Feb. 17 with the year’s premier NASCAR event, the Daytona 500. On Feb. 15, Dale Jr.’s exclusive adidas JR Nation Gear will go on sale at Sports Authority available first in Daytona."I’ve been wearing adidas my whole life. It’s who I am. Throughout my career I’ve been fortunate to partner with brands that fit my lifestyle, and adidas fits," explained Dale Jr. "I’ve been working with adidas on the design of the new suit, and I’m looking forward to debuting the three stripes at Daytona." Dale Jr. continues to work closely with the adidas Innovation Team to create a race suit featuring ClimaCool® technology. With extreme temperatures in the car, ClimaCool® will keep Dale Jr.’s body temperature lower, ultimately combating fatigue and therefore allowing him to be more alert and responsive throughout the entire race. "adidas’ philosophy has always been to work closely with athletes and have them involved in the design process. Dale Jr. has been involved every step of the way providing feedback, comments and opinions," said Mark Clinard, business director for Motorsports, adidas America. "Our ultimate goal is to help Dale Jr. perform at his maximum level and gain a competitive edge on the track. Along with the racing gear, Dale Jr. assisted in designing a complete adidas JR. Nation fan apparel line, which will provide fans access to the same ClimaCool technology that keeps him cool on the track." Dale Jr.’s official adidas JR Nation apparel line will launch with men’s and women’s apparel such as t-shirts, jackets, hats and jerseys. The adidas JR Nation fan collection features the same adidas ClimaCool technology that allows Dale Jr. to stay cool on the track and will be first available at Sports Authority in Daytona on February 15 at 9 a.m. in conjunction with Daytona Speedweeks. In celebration of the launch, the first 88 people to purchase adidas JR Nation Gear will receive an autographed hat. Fans can text "88" to "adidas" from their mobile phone to receive a message from Dale Jr. about the latest adidas gear. Throughout the season, new products, including footwear, accessories and other exclusive gear, will debut in conjunction with special events like All-Star in Charlotte this May. "I'm really excited for my first adidas line to launch here in Daytona," said Dale Jr. "It goes on sale Friday at 9 a.m. at Sports Authority, across from the speedway and on adidas.com. This stuff will have some of the same adidas technology, like Climacool, that I'll be racing with in the car. Fans can text ‘88’ to ‘adidas’ for more information." adidas ClimaCool technology is a ventilation system that addresses the needs of the body based on adidas’ research of body mapping. This system utilizes specially engineered air channels, materials and components to provide superior moisture management, enhanced evaporation and better breathability. Through adidas’ strong nationwide network of retailers including adidas stores and Sports Authority, the adidas JR. Nation fan gear will be more accessible for Dale Jr. fans than ever before. Junior's move to Hendrick hits high gear as he readies for Daytona debutThe crowd in front of Dale Earnhardt Jr. stretched five deep, everyone straining to hear the season goals of NASCAR's most popular driver.Across the room, his championship-winning teammates politely chatted with a more intimate crowd, neither surprised at their small turnouts. ``Well, Junior's in the house, you know?'' laughed four-time series champion Jeff Gordon. The hype surrounding Earnhardt's move to Hendrick Motorsports is in high gear, and only figures to grow when he takes his new ride down South later this week to prepare for the season-opening Daytona 500. NASCAR's biggest star will make his debut with NASCAR's best team, and the pressure is on everyone to make sure it's a resounding success. Considered by some to be an overrated driver who inherited his late father's passionate fan base, Earnhardt knows he has an opportunity to prove his talent level warrants his superstar status. After assembling NASCAR's version of a ``Murderer's Row'' lineup of drivers, owner Rick Hendrick understands the difficulties ahead in ensuring all four of his teams will contend for wins now that Earnhardt is in the mix. Even NASCAR, which has pushed forward despite sagging television ratings and declining attendance, recognizes the importance in Earnhardt finding success with Hendrick. It's documented that when Earnhardt is in the mix, ratings spike. When he's out of contention, his ardent fan base often tunes out. NASCAR chairman Brian France believes his sport is no different from any other in that it banks on its stars to help raise interest. ``He's the marquee driver that we have -- no different than a marquee franchise that other sports enjoy,'' France said. ``So when historically important teams like the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA do well, conversely the NBA does better. ``We're no different than that. If Dale Jr. has a big year, that will help. I don't think anybody wants to have success any more than he does. If he does, it will benefit us.'' As if the pressure wasn't already mounting, Earnhardt now has the burden of saving the sport. He doesn't seem to mind. After nine sometimes oppressive seasons driving for his late father's company, Earnhardt has unburdened himself from Dale Earnhardt Inc. while embracing his new job at Hendrick. Much like a kid in a candy store, he's taken every step with wide-eyed excitement that has seemingly re-energized his career. Stuck in a 62-race winless drought, this new beginning has given Earnhardt the confidence that his first Sprint Cup title is just around the corner. And if the sport's chairman believes an Earnhardt title can return NASCAR to its headier days, then Junior wants to deliver. ``It makes you feel like you've got to be luckiest guy on the face of the earth,'' Earnhardt said. ``There ain't a guy out there that wouldn't trade to be in this position. I know that. ``I'm getting ready to drive Hendrick cars -- best cars in the business, most popular driver -- and I'm on the mind of the head dude? I feel just fortunate and really blessed ... to be in that situation.'' It's also a dangerous place to be. Failure is not really going to be an option for Earnhardt, not with the level of investments tied into this Hendrick venture. Although his car has been stout during preseason testing, it's still possible the No. 88 team will stumble out of the gate. It happens to new teams all the time, even at Hendrick, where Casey Mears sputtered through the first three months of his first year. Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. left DEI six weeks early last year to get a jump on the Hendrick move and ensure the team is ready, but there's no guarantee Earnhardt will find immediate success. What happens if Earnhardt is successful? Hendrick drivers won 18 of 36 races last season, with Jimmie Johnson claiming 10 of them along with his second-straight Cup title. The competition between Johnson and Gordon, a six-time winner last season, is already intense. Once Earnhardt starts stealing from their win column, it could be difficult to keep everyone happy. Don't forget all the attention being showered on Earnhardt. Gordon is used to being the star at Hendrick, and Johnson has learned to live in his shadow. Now the new guy has stolen the spotlight, while also being anointed NASCAR's savior. Gordon gets it, and doesn't seem to mind. ``It's reality and if we don't recognize that, then we're foolish,'' Gordon said. ``It's not all about on-track performance. Dale's in a very unique situation, he didn't necessarily ask for it, but he handles it very well. And he's got to take advantage of it and if that's what is good for the sport, then I'm glad he's at our organization.'' Johnson, on the other hand, isn't as comfortable handing Earnhardt the keys to the kingdom. He acknowledges success for Earnhardt will benefit the sport, but thinks the 42 other drivers in the field each week also have important roles. ``At times (Earnhardt) references are made, and they certainly get my attention as `All right, the rest of us must not matter,''' Johnson said. ``I do disagree with Brian in that the sport is big enough. It's not just on one guy. ``But having Junior here, I know how bad he wants it, and you can't deny that it will increase ratings.'' Figuring out how to balance all the elements of Earnhardt's move to Hendrick might be a difficult job for Junior this season. Still, this is what he asked for when he picked Hendrick Motorsports over every other team in the garage, and now it's time to deliver. Because if he doesn't, everyone will be watching. Cali Cup Test - Feb. 1 Afternoon SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 48A Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 40.112 179.497 Cali Cup Test - Feb. 1 Morning SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 99A Carl Edwards Ford 39.791 180.495 Cali Cup Test - Jan. 31 Evening SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 99A Carl Edwards Ford 39.729 181.228 TMS Officials to Change Earnhardt Jr. BillboardTexas Motor Speedway officials have agreed to replace a billboard highlighting the strained relationship between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother after a complaint from his business manager, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge.The controversial billboard, located near the track, shows a picture of Earnhardt Jr. and says "Reason #88: Step-Mom" with the track's Web site listed underneath it to promote the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the track in April. The billboard is part of a campaign dubbed "Reasons" that TMS devised to help sell tickets for its race. Earnhardt Jr. left Dale Earnhardt Inc., which is owned by his stepmother, Teresa, after the 2007 season to go to Hendrick Motorsports, where he will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet. Cali Cup Test - Jan. 31 Afternoon SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 24A Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 39.888 180.505 Hendrick Drivers Meshing WellBy his own admission, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has never been comfortable playing the role of leader in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage, something his late father was so adept at. And Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are guys happy to share the media and fan spotlight, with Casey Mears a level-headed, even-keel kind of a guy who doesn’t get rattled by much.Put the different personalities together and the 2008 Hendrick Motorsports driver lineup so far looks like a good fit for all involved. This week’s Sprint Cup tests — Monday and Tuesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Thursday and Friday at California Speedway — are the first NASCAR-sanctioned tests where all four members of the Hendrick squad are on the track at the same time. Gordon and Johnson skipped the final test of 2007 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, while Earnhardt wasn’t in the same group as the other three during tests at Daytona International Speedway earlier this month. The results from Las Vegas were have been positive. For Earnhardt’s part, he said he’s simply trying to watch and learn the Hendrick way of doing things. “I'm just taking it in, man. I mean, I'm just listening to what they're saying and trying to find out what kind of drivers they are and how serious about their work they are,” said Earnhardt, who prior to this season had spent his entire Cup career at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. “Listening to the crew chiefs. I'm just trying to figure out how serious they are about their jobs, what the temperature is, you know. Sort of how to be or how to act around them, what they want from me, what they'd like to know from me and get to where we can get to some kind of routine that's working for everybody.” Earnhardt’s teammates said the new guy on the team is fitting in just fine so far. “My impression in working with him, I'm very impressed. He's done a great job,” said Johnson, the two-time defending series champion. “One, he puts a smile on everybody's face when he gets in there and starts talking about things and the race car. He just has a great sense of humor and keeps everybody lighthearted and laughing.” More importantly, Johnson said, Earnhardt knows what he’s talking about. “When he's describing what the car is doing, he has a very clear understanding what the car is doing. And that's something that you just don't know unless you work with someone,” said Johnson of his new teammate. “And he can break down the corner, know what his inputs are doing to the car. He knows how the car is talking back to him, the direction he wants to go in. He's not making it up. I mean, you can see a conviction in his eyes how he's describing it. That's what he's feeling. And that's what you need in our sport without data at the racetrack, the other modern tools that can be used. You need to be strong and have a good feel for the car and lead your team down that road to make thanks for coming in.” Asked his impressions of Earnhardt, Gordon added, “He’s doing very well. I’m extremely impressed. Today, really, being the first time at this type of track, Daytona is Daytona and we know he’s going to be good, but he was fast today and I feel like he and (crew chief) Tony Eury Jr. are a great asset to our organization. I’ve had a lot of fun working with him so far. He’s fit right in.” And Earnhardt said he’s comfortable, too, just being himself. Freed from the shackles of working at the family business, NASCAR’s most popular driver is liking life at Hendrick so far. “I ain't had any problem just standing over there being myself,” said Earnhardt. “They don't seem to have a problem with that, either. I'm just working and doing like I've been doing. Seems to be going pretty good. … I definitely never really was the kind of guy that's a stand-up leader. If I end up leading, that's fine. But I never really try to take those type of situations under my own control. I mean, I think every other week there's going to be a different guy that's sort of helping run that deal, being at the top of it, as far as drivers go. Hopefully we're all sort of enjoying some of that.” What about all the attention Earnhardt gets? “C’mon, man, it’s Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” said Gordon. “Let’s be honest that if you’re not realistic about the fact that he’s the most popular guy and the guy who gets the most media attention and that would be the case whether he’s on your team or on any other team, but you treat him as if he’s just one of us. We don’t treat him like he’s this hierarchy or anything. He’s a race car driver. He’s been very humble and appreciative about working with us and he’s the same way and it’s gone very well. But it’s no secret that on media day last week at Hendrick Motorsports who had the biggest crowd.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. clears up confusion about moving of cars and memorabilia at DEIDale Earnhardt Jr. said his feelings about the removal of show cars and memorabilia at Dale Earnhardt Inc. were mischaracterized, and he has no ill will toward his late father's company.Max Siegel, president of DEI's global operations, said Wednesday that the cars and memorabilia were returned to the showroom after the media luncheon on Jan 23. ``There is no anger or ill-feeling towards DEI, period,'' Earnhardt wrote Wednesday on his Web site. ``Nearly half the cars that were moved out of the showroom to accommodate the media tour consist of cars I've won races and championships with, and any fan of mine who wants a glimpse of my past can still and always will find it at DEI. I know that DEI is proud of its past.'' Earnhardt left DEI at the end of last season, and he'll drive for Hendrick Motorsports this year.The absence of Earnhardt-related items was noticed by media who attended a luncheon. Unaware the show cars had simply been moved, media members questioned Earnhardt, who initially said he didn't care. But when questioned about it again Monday during testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he said team members who were part of his Daytona 500 victory and two Busch Series championships should be recognized at the shop. ``I got to thinking about it, and it sort of hurt my feelings,'' he said Monday. ``It's sort of a hack at even the guys that are still there that worked on that car, to not see the accolades, any sort of appreciation for the work they did.'' Siegel has maintained for a week that the memorabilia was moved for the luncheon. He said Monday that ``as far as memorabilia, more than half of the showroom floor is dedicated to Dale Jr.'s history here.'' Earnhardt wrote on his Web site that ``Max Siegel has been nothing but honest, direct, and supportive. We both sincerely wish success for each other. We both want to move forward diligently with our individual futures in this sport. ``To continue to have to answer about the past makes it difficult for either one to achieve that. We're both solidly entrenched in new chapters of our lives, and it's a great feeling.'' Vegas Test Speeds - Jan 29 Afternoon SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 42A Juan Montoya Dodge 28.914 186.761 Vegas Test Speeds - Jan 29 Morning SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 99B Carl Edwards Ford 29.307 184.256 Earnhardt experienced 500 heartache with his fatherEven when he's on the other side of the continent, the Daytona 500 -- and the role it played in his family's history -- is never far from Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s thoughts.On Monday during testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Earnhardt talked at length about the emotions involved in winning stock-car racing's biggest prize, and the mental toughness his father needed when he came so close, year after year, without taking home the trophy. Earnhardt never wanted to find himself in that situation. "It scared me to death that I would be racing for 20 years, still trying to get the win," he said. "How many times will you have the opportunity, be in good cars, to be able to do it? I always worried that I would lose all the Daytona 500s in the cars that I should have won it in. That's kind of how it went for him." In Junior's mind, the toughest of the near-misses to take was in 1990. "... When he cut that tire on the backstretch, that was one of the hardest things to understand," Earnhardt said. "I was a sophomore in high school, old enough to really kind of understand what was going on around me. I just couldn't believe that. "I know there's worse things that can happen to you, and there's people that deal with worse, people that have it hard. But, dang, man, I wanted that race so bad. That was such a rough way to go." In fact, the younger Earnhardt worried how that might affect his father, but his fears turned out to be unfounded. Instead, he learned a valuable lesson that he continues to carry with him. "I didn't know what kind of person he was going to be when he got home," Earnhardt said. "Whether my daddy was going to be different the rest of his life. "You know, he dealt with it. That made me admire him more. You know, that made me hopefully a better person just experiencing that and being that close to him and watching him go through it. When I deal with those types of things, when you deal with losses, when things don't go your way, maybe I'm better off having witnessed him doing it." So what is it like to win the Daytona 500? "It's hard to answer that question," said Junior, who won the race in 2004. "It is hard to try to tell someone that hasn't ever been there what it feels like, 'cause it's just the craziest things. It's a great, great feeling. You ride that for days and days. You know, it's just amazing. "... When we won the Daytona 500, I carried that feeling for months. I didn't even have to try. It's so hard to win. There's so many great drivers that never won it, that deserve it. So the wave of relief was apparent." For Junior, the prestige of the race -- and the feeling that comes with winning it -- go hand in hand, which is why teams work so hard and expend so much time and energy in trying to win this one event. "You know, the races in the season are so important at every stop," he said. "You tell me why we focus so much on that race and why we test so hard and why we massage those cars more than any other car that we'll race the rest of the year. "I mean, [we] spend hours on them damn things, and it don't make one bit a sense that it's more important than the other races. But it is, and it always will be." Vegas Test Speeds - Jan 28 Afternoon SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 29.415 183.580 Missing memorabilia creates hurt feelings for JuniorA mix-up over memorabilia has created hurt feelings with Dale Earnhardt Jr., while his former team claims it's all a misunderstanding.Earnhardt said Monday he's upset that all signs of his stint at Dale Earnhardt Inc. had allegedly been removed from the shop. First told of the absence of his memorabilia last week, he originally said he didn't care. But at the first day of testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Earnhardt said time to think about it had made him mad. He said the team members that were part of his Daytona 500 victory and two Busch Series championships should be recognized at the shop. ``It sort of hurt my feelings that it's sort of a hack at even the guys that are still there and have worked on that car,'' Earnhardt said. ``To not see the accolades or any sort of appreciation for the work that they did, and they're still there.'' The absence of Earnhardt-related items was noticed by media who attended a luncheon at DEI last Wednesday. The driver left his late father's company at the end of last season, and he'll drive for Hendrick Motorsports this year. But Max Siegel, president of DEI, said Monday that the team has Earnhardt memorabilia on display and ``about nine of his old cars'' had been moved off the showroom floor to make room for the luncheon. ``There seems to be some confusion over memorabilia and merchandise,'' Siegel said. ``We no longer have a relationship with Dale Jr. or Budweiser, so we have no license, agreement or business reason to sell any of that merchandise in our gift shop. But as far as memorabilia, more than half of the showroom floor is dedicated to Dale Jr.'s history here.'' Vegas Test Speeds - Jan 28 Morning SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 11A Denny Hamlin Toyota 30.292 178.265 Dale Jr. revs ESPN realityNASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is on the road to reality television."Dale Jr. -- Shifting Gears," a five-part series to premiere February 8 on ESPN2, will follow Earnhardt as he moves from his late father's Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports -- a move that Earnhardt has called "the biggest career decision I've ever made." Three episodes will air before the Daytona 500 in February, with the final two airing in primetime on ESPN in July before the Allstate 400, the first NASCAR Sprint Cup to be telecast live on ESPN. Junior's Big Mo' candy bar now on store shelvesAfter months of anticipation by NASCAR and chocolate fans alike, "Dale Jr.'s Big Mo' " chocolate bar is now on shelves at most major food retailers nationwide.The Big Mo' was created specifically for NASCAR's mega star driver through the R.M. Palmer Company. The name Big Mo' is a play off Earnhardt Jr.'s hometown of Mooresville, N.C., and the longtime moniker used for he and his closest friends, the Dirty Mo' Posse. Weighing in at an impressive 2.5 ounces for only 99 cents, the king-size, quality milk chocolate bar is available with either creamy caramel or peanut butter filling. Creating the exclusive recipe of the Big Mo' bar included numerous taste-tests by Earnhardt Jr., and was tailored to please his palate. "We went though a few rounds of taste tests with the team at R.M. Palmer, and I was very happy with the final result of the Big Mo'," Earnhardt Jr said. "I'm excited that it's now available so I can finally get the reaction from the race fans." To coincide the launch of the Big Mo' bar, R.M. Palmer Company has created the "Big Mo'ment with Dale Jr." sweepstakes which runs through April 30. Thousands of winners will be awarded prizes; however, the grand prizewinner will be treated to "the" Big Mo'ment, which will include lunch with Earnhardt and his JR Motorsports race team, a limousine tour of area race shops, suite tickets to a VIP weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and $250 in spending money. Fans will be able to enter the sweepstakes by visiting www.BigMo-ment.com and typing in the entry code on the inside wrapper of the Big Mo' bar. The initial announcement of the Big Mo' chocolate bar and the Big Mo'ment sweepstakes was made by Dale Jr. and R.M. Palmer in September at the 2007 All Candy EXPO in Chicago. Since the announcement, Richard Palmer Jr., president of R.M. Palmer, has been overwhelmed by the positive response. "We have had an enormous amount of interest and excitement stemming from the announcement of the Big Mo' and our partnership with Dale Jr. and JR Motorsports," Palmer said. "Great feedback from race fans, chocolate lovers, and tailgating enthusiasts has created a lot of terrific buzz around the bar. We're anticipating the Big Mo' to be one of our most successful products to date." Sabates: All things equal, no one can touch HendrickAs he shuffled through some expected storylines for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season during the Lowe's Motor Speedway media tour on Monday, Brian France mentioned a continuation of one from last year.The chairman and CEO of NASCAR said that Hendrick Motorsports "is on the way to being the New England Patriots on wheels. Can they continue their dominance?" Felix Sabates, who owns a piece of Chip Ganassi Racing (enough for it to officially be named "Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates"), thinks he knows the answer to France's pointed question. "If Hendrick puts a car on the track and everything is perfect, nobody is going to touch him," Sabates said Monday during the first stop on the 26th annual tour. Long one of the most outspoken owners in NASCAR, that wasn't all Sabates had to say. He said that he believes the key to Hendrick's success throughout the years -- which includes back-to-back championships for the No. 48 car driven by Jimmie Johnson the past two seasons and a total of seven championships since the first of four for driver Jeff Gordon in 1995 -- is loyalty. "Rick, for one thing, is probably the nicest guy I've ever met in my life. He's also the most loyal guy I've ever met in my life," Sabates said. "He doesn't fire people; he promotes them to better jobs. It's like, 'Rick, aren't you going to fire that guy?' And he'll be like, 'No, I'm going to give him a promotion so he's out of the way.' "If you look at the people who work for Rick, they're like Moonies. If he tells them to drink the Kool-Aid, they're going to drink the Kool-Aid." Humpy Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, added of Hendrick: "He's a great motivator. If he had been a football coach, he would have won Super Bowls." Sabates pointed out that employees very rarely leave Hendrick, and said that when they do, it's usually because of special circumstances such as when former crew chief Ray Evernham left to start up his own race team for Dodge or, more recently, when Hendrick essentially traded Kyle Busch for Dale Earnhardt Jr. last season. "Ray Evernham, he left for the big bucks. He became very rich overnight because of Dodge," Sabates said. "Then you had Kyle Busch. He had to leave because he didn't fit there. He was going to leave or they were going to leave him. And I think Rick did that kid a big favor -- because I think Kyle Busch is going to be a much better person, not being at Hendrick. "You know, Rick and I are very, very close. And he was telling me the other day, 'If Kyle had been the way he was the last six or seven races of the year in the first half of the year [in 2007], I never would have even thought about bringing Dale Earnhardt Jr. in.'" Now that's he's on board, though, Earnhardt should be a good fit for the Hendrick organization because of his laid-back style and his long relationship with the Hendrick family, according to Sabates. "You've got to remember Junior was very close friends with [the late] Ricky [Hendrick, Rick's son]. I mean, Ricky used to live across the street from me, and Junior was there all the time. They had a real friendly relationship, and I think that has transferred to Rick," Sabates said. "I think Rick looks at Junior more as Dale's boy than he does him as Dale Jr., which is great for Dale Jr. because then he can look at Rick as a father figure, not as a boss figure. Dale would not be a good fit with Jack Roush, because Jack would expect him to do this [racing stuff] 24 hours a day -- and Dale doesn't want to do that. Rick is a great fit. But the pressure is going to be on him to win." That pressure will be intense, Sabates added. "I just think he's going to have his work cut out of him. He's with the best organization in racing -- and if he doesn't win six or seven races this year, people are going to say, 'What's wrong with him?' Nobody's going to be asking what's wrong with Hendrick," Sabates said. What also sets Hendrick apart from other teams, Sabates added, is money. As in Hendrick has lots of it because of various other business ventures. "Hendrick isn't like a lot of other car teams. Chip's livelihood is automobile racing. He doesn't have another business. Roush now has a partner who demands a return on the big money he paid him," Sabates said. "[Joe] Gibbs has to live off this business; it's how he makes his living. [Richard] Childress doesn't have any other income, plus he's got a partner who owns 50 percent of his business, anyway. So this guy has a responsibility to make cash. "Rick doesn't need a dime. If he breaks even, he's happy. If he loses money, he's still happy." That makes it difficult for other teams to compete on a level playing field, Sabates argued -- although he added that he doesn't begrudge Hendrick anything he and his organization have earned. "It's hard to do. That's what I'm saying," Sabates said. "No one is going to be able to catch Hendrick. Unless NASCAR makes a rule that Hendrick can have three tires and the rest can have four, no one will catch them. No one is ever going to catch them. "That doesn't mean they're going to win every championship. That doesn't mean they're going to win every race -- because they don't. But that means when you go to the racetrack, that's the team you have to beat every week. You can beat 'em. People have beaten them before; but you've got to have a lot of luck to beat 'em. All things being equal, you can't touch 'em." Earnhardt's Crew Chief Eager to Race for HendrickTony Eury Jr. said he could hardly wait for Preseason Thunder test sessions at Daytona to get here.Following his early exit from Dale Earnhardt Inc. last season, Eury says he was especially eager to get started on his new venture as crew chief for the No. 88 Chevrolet with Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s good to be back at the track and working on these cars and being around these guys,” said Eury during a lunch break last week at Daytona International Speedway. “The guys are getting pumped up. That’s what this week is about – getting the atmosphere of your team and getting them in the right frame of mind.” For Eury, that means putting in those long hours since the close of the 2007 season to good use. “It’s been full bore to make sure everything’s in line,” Eury said. “We’ve got one shot at this 500 and you’ve got to start the first weekend of December to make that happen.” This year’s Daytona 500 takes on added significance. Not only is it the 50th running of “The Great American Race,” it’s the first for Earnhardt and Eury with a new race team. Earnhardt also parted ways with DEI following the 2007 season and begins his first season with Hendrick Motorsports. NASCAR Preseason Thunder, which begins the lead-up to the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, is the first superspeedway test for Earnhardt with his new team. “It’s been pretty nice to be able to concentrate on the things that are important right now – testing and working and getting to know the guys,” Earnhardt said Tuesday during a visit to the infield media center at Daytona International Speedway. “I’ve got a really good owner that makes me feel comfortable and so that eases a lot of other pressures – talking to him and listening to his thoughts on what we’re doing. It takes away some pressure from that side of it. “But I don’t know the guys that well yet, so I’m just nervous in getting to know them and hoping they like me and like the kind of driver I am, and they’re happy to have me as their driver.” 2008 competition changesQualifying procedures: • In all three national series, teams that are not locked into the starting field will qualify together as a group at the end of their respective qualifying sessions.Revisions to pit road rules: • Over-the-wall pit crews in NASCAR's three national series will be able to hand push their car no more than three pit boxes away from their assigned pit box -- limiting the crews to the same three-box length for pushing as the vehicles can drive through getting onto pit road. • Outside tires that have been removed from a vehicle during a pit stop can no longer be free-rolled from the outside of the pit box to the wall. The tires must be hand-directed to the inner half of the pit box before being released. Fuel cell size: • All three national series will run the same up-graded fuel cell -- which is another safety feature -- and is the same fuel cell used in 2007 by the Sprint Cup Series. Engines: • A new engine combination package introduced in the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series will allow for cost-saving opportunities for teams. • Modifications reduce RPMs and horsepower, which will help engines and pieces to last longer. In turn, teams will have the opportunity to run multiple races using the same engine components. Tire usage at non-sanctioned tests: • Teams in all three national series will receive an allotment of tires to use for non-NASCAR sanctioned tests. Cup Series teams will have access to 200 tires over the course of the year; Nationwide teams will get 160 tires and Truck teams will get 120 tires. NASCAR fines: • Money collected from fines issued to drivers will now go to the NASCAR Foundation, which supports a variety of charitable initiatives. Previously, fine money was added to the season-ending point funds paid to drivers based on their finish in the point standings. SPEED Announces Daytona Speedweeks ScheduleSPEEDWEEKS OPENS ON SPEED WITH COVERAGE OF BUD SHOOTOUT DRAW, SECOND ANNUAL SPEED PERFORMANCE AWARDS FEB. 7VODA, HAMMOND TO HOST SPEED COVERAGE OF GATORADE DUEL AT DAYTONA. SPEED will deliver 100 hours of High-Definition programming from Daytona Speedweeks, highlighted by coverage of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. ET with a prime time replay at 9 p.m. ET, the season opening NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Feb. 15 at 7;30 p.m. ET, the ARCA 200 on Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. ET and special editions of the high-energy NASCAR pre-race show, NASCAR RaceDay. Krista Voda and Jeff Hammond will host SPEED coverage of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona, with Hammond being joined in the booth by Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip for race coverage. Steve Byrnes, Dr. Dick Berggren and Matt Yocum will report from the pits. "SPEED has been at Daytona since Jan. 7, covering all of the NASCAR news and events from Preseason Thunder test sessions," said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. "But Daytona Speedweeks 2008 has been circled on our calendars for some time now. It marks the beginning of SPEED HD, the beginning of the new widescreen SPEEDtv.com and the unveiling of major upgrades to our at-track SPEED Stages. Everything from new sets and locations to tripling the size of our 'Gianormitron' for our live audiences to enjoy in HD. But most importantly, it marks the beginning of the NASCAR racing season and SPEED will be right there with the fans all year long." SPEED opens its Daytona Speedweeks lineup with coverage NASCAR Media Day on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the Bud Shootout Drawing at 8 p.m. ET. The second annual SPEED Performance Awards (10 p.m. ET), culminating with Mario Andretti's crowning of the SPEED Performer of the Year will close out first-day coverage. In addition to extensive on-track action, Daytona Speedweeks marks the return of popular NASCAR on SPEED programming, including NASCAR RaceDay, NASCAR Victory Lane, Trackside Live, Tradin' Paint with Kyle Petty, NASCAR Live!, NASCAR Performance, Go or Go Home, Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain and The SPEED Report. Speedweeks on SPEED also will mark the debut of The Humpy Show, with legendary promoter and NASCAR storyteller Humpy Wheeler making the connection between NASCAR's past and current storylines. The premiere airs Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. ET with guests Buddy Baker and Kurt Busch. SPEED is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 78 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority. 2008 DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS SCHEDULE Thursday, Feb. 7 Friday, Feb. 8 Saturday, Feb. 9 Sunday, Feb. 10 Monday, Feb. 11 Tuesday, Feb. 12 Wednesday, Feb. 13 Thursday, Feb. 14 Friday, Feb. 15 Saturday, Feb. 16 Sunday, Feb. 17 JR Motorsports Combo is Starting to GelJR Motorsports has the same name, but a new look, this season. When two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports last summer, he and Rick Hendrick also announced that Hendrick’s NASCAR Nationwide Series program would merge with Earnhardt’s, instantly creating one of the strongest teams in the series.The team consists of the No. 88 U.S. Navy Chevrolet driven by Brad Keselowski and owned by Earnhardt and the No. 5 National Guard / Delphi / GoDaddy.com / Lowe’s Chevrolet owned by Hendrick with driving duties shared by Earnhardt, Mark Martin (the series all-time leader in wins and poles), two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and road-course ace Ron Fellows. During Friday’s first session, both of the team’s cars were among the top 10 fastest; Keselowski was fourth at 187.809 mph and 1994 series champion David Green had the eighth and 10th-fastest times while shaking down the No. 5 car. “We’re doing a lot of small changes – just moving fenders, doing some different shapes of the body and making small gains on it throughout the day,” said Cam Strader, crew chief for the No. 5. Keselowski was positive about the mix. “It's pretty cool having teammates to work with,” he said. “The guys have been bouncing ideas off each other to see what we can find and we both picked up a bit from the morning to the afternoon. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow though. Junior's coming down to draft with the No. 5 if the weather cooperates, and I want to get out there and learn as much as I can from him. He's a master at this, so having him as a boss and teammate has its perks here." Cumulative Single-Car Speeds (All Sessions)Pos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed Session1 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.434 185.820 1-15 AM 2 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 48.532 185.445 1-14 PM 3 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.555 185.357 1-15 AM 4 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 48.568 185.307 1-14 PM 5 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.572 185.292 1-14 PM 6 20A Tony Stewart Toyota 48.624 185.094 1-14 PM 7 48A Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 48.706 184.782 1-7 AM 8 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 48.718 184.737 1-14 PM 9 5B Casey Mears Chevrolet 48.761 184.574 1-7 AM 10 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.766 184.555 1-14 PM 11 27B Jacques Villeneuve Toyota 48.792 184.456 1-8 AM 12 28B Travis Kvapil Ford 48.875 184.143 1-8 AM 13 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 48.896 184.064 1-7 PM 14 84B A.J. Allmendinger Toyota 48.900 184.049 1-8 AM 15 96B J.J. Yeley Toyota 48.951 183.857 1-8 AM 16 38A David Gilliland Ford 48.957 183.835 1-14 PM 17 24A Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 48.964 183.809 1-8 AM 18 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 49.027 183.572 1-14 PM 19 00A David Reutimann Toyota 49.043 183.512 1-7 PM 20 21A Bill Elliott Ford 49.071 183.408 1-14 PM 21 01A Aric Almirola Chevrolet 49.082 183.367 1-7 PM 22 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 49.100 83.299 1-14 PM 23 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.127 183.199 1-14 PM 24 1A Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 49.142 183.143 1-8 AM 25 6B David Ragan Ford 49.160 183.076 1-15 AM 26 10C Patrick Carpentier Dodge 49.194 182.949 1-15 AM 27 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.196 182.942 1-15 AM 28 34A Eric McClure Dodge 49.228 182.823 1-14 PM 29 42B Juan Montoya Dodge 49.250 182.741 1-7 PM 30 66H Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.253 182.730 1-15 AM 31 17B Matt Kenseth Ford 49.265 182.685 1-8 AM 32 60B Boris Said Ford 49.268 182.674 1-14 PM 33 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.276 182.645 1-14 PM 34 70A Jeremy Mayfield Chevrolet 49.287 182.604 1-7 PM 35 19A Elliott Sadler Dodge 49.292 182.585 1-7 PM 36 01B Regan Smith Chevrolet 49.302 182.548 1-14 PM 37 16B Greg Biffle Ford 49.316 182.497 1-8 AM 38 78A Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 49.331 182.441 1-8 AM 39 98A Jason Keller Dodge 49.337 182.419 1-8 AM 40 8A Mark Martin Chevrolet 49.344 182.393 1-8 AM 41 7A Robby Gordon Ford 49.344 182.393 1-8 AM 42 07A Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 49.362 182.326 1-8 AM 43 45A Kyle Petty Dodge 49.362 182.326 1-8 AM 44 41A Reed Sorenson Dodge 49.380 182.260 1-8 AM 45 99A Carl Edwards Ford 49.403 182.175 1-7 PM 46 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.403 182.175 1-15 AM 47 2B Kurt Busch Dodge 49.408 82.157 1-7 PM 48 50A Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 49.409 182.153 1-15 AM 49 77A Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.430 182.076 1-15 AM 50 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.467 181.939 1-14 PM 51 33 Kirk Shelmerdine Chevrolet 49.551 181.631 1-7 PM 52 26B Jaime McMurray Ford 49.607 181.426 1-14 AM 53 49A Ken Schrader Dodge 49.661 181.229 1-15 AM 54 09B Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.758 180.875 1-15 AM 55 08A Carl Long Dodge 50.410 178.536 1-15 AM 56 57A Norm Benning Chevrolet 50.889 176.856 1-14 PM Cumulative Drafting Speeds (All Sessions)Pos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed Session1 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge 47.591 189.111 1-16 2 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 47.662 188.830 1-9 PM 3 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 47.665 188.818 1-16 4 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 47.689 188.723 1-16 5 01 Regan Smith Chevrolet 47.703 188.667 1-16 6 12 Ryan Newman Dodge 47.724 188.584 1-16 7 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 47.747 188.494 1-9 PM 8 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 47.836 188.143 1-16 9 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge 47.845 188.107 1-16 10 20 Tony Stewart Toyota 47.857 188.060 1-16 11 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 47.877 187.982 1-16 12 6 David Ragan Ford 47.888 187.939 1-16 13 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 47.894 187.915 1-9 PM 14 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 47.909 187.856 1-16 15 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 47.910 187.852 1-16 16 15 Paul Menard Chevrolet 47.912 187.844 1-16 17 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 47.914 187.837 1-9 PM 18 84 A.J. Allmendinger Toyota 47.922 187.805 1-9 PM 19 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 47.922 187.805 1-9 PM 20 34 Derrike Cope Dodge 47.925 187.793 1-16 21 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota 47.958 187.664 1-16 22 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 47.992 187.531 1-15 PM 23 66 Scott Riggs Chevrolet 48.007 187.473 1-16 24 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.014 187.445 1-16 25 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 48.019 187.426 1-16 26 96 J.J. Yeley Toyota 48.036 187.359 1-8 PM 27 5 Casey Mears Chevrolet 48.040 187.344 1-9 PM 28 21 Bill Elliott Ford 48.042 187.336 1-16 29 2 Kurt Busch Dodge 48.047 187.317 1-8 PM 30 8 Mark Martin Chevrolet 48.049 187.309 1-9 PM 31 10 Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.052 187.297 1-16 32 38 David Gilliland Ford 48.065 187.246 1-16 33 16 Greg Biffle Ford 48.075 187.207 1-9 AM 34 99 Carl Edwards Ford 48.089 187.153 1-9 PM 35 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 48.090 187.149 1-9 AM 36 78 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 48.093 187.137 1-8 PM 37 83 Brian Vickers Toyota 48.099 187.114 1-15 PM 38 42 Juan Montoya Dodge 48.107 187.083 1-9 PM 39 00 David Reutimann Toyota 48.111 187.067 1-9 PM 40 28 Travis Kvapil Ford 48.118 187.040 1-9 PM 41 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 48.157 186.889 1-9 PM 42 7 Robby Gordon Ford 48.181 186.796 1-8 PM 43 27 Jacques Villeneuve Toyota 48.295 186.355 1-9 AM 44 70 Jeremy Mayfield Chevrolet 48.299 186.339 1-9 AM 45 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge 48.332 186.212 1-8 PM 46 09 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 48.345 186.162 1-15 PM 47 50 Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 48.429 185.839 1-6 48 34 Eric McClure Dodge 48.434 185.820 1-15 PM 49 49 Ken Schrader Dodge 48.456 185.736 1-16 50 45 Kyle Petty Dodge 48.516 185.506 1-9 PM 51 08 Carl Long Dodge 48.611 185.143 1-16 52 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 48.969 183.790 1-15 PM 53 60 Boris Said Ford 49.225 182.834 1-16 54 98 Jason Keller Dodge 49.241 182.775 1-9 PM 55 33 Kirk Shelmerdine Chevrolet 49.304 182.541 1-9 PM 56 57 Norm Benning Chevrolet 50.171 179.386 1-16 Cumulative Speeds (Jan. 14-16)Pos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed Session1 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge 47.591 189.111 1-16 2 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 47.665 188.818 1-16 3 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 47.689 188.723 1-16 4 01 Regan Smith Chevrolet 47.703 188.667 1-16 5 12 Ryan Newman Dodge 47.724 188.584 1-16 6 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 47.836 188.143 1-16 7 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge 47.845 188.107 1-16 8 20 Tony Stewart Toyota 47.857 188.060 1-16 9 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 47.877 187.982 1-16 10 6 David Ragan Ford 47.888 187.939 1-16 11 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 47.909 187.856 1-16 12 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 47.910 187.852 1-16 13 15 Paul Menard Chevrolet 47.912 187.844 1-16 14 34 Derrike Cope Dodge 47.925 187.793 1-16 15 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota 47.958 187.664 1-16 16 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 47.992 187.531 1-15 PM 17 66 Scott Riggs Chevrolet 48.007 187.473 1-16 18 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.014 187.445 1-16 19 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 48.019 187.426 1-16 20 21 Bill Elliott Ford 48.042 187.336 1-16 21 10 Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.052 187.297 1-16 22 38 David Gilliland Ford 48.065 187.246 1-16 23 83 Brian Vickers Toyota 48.099 187.114 1-15 PM 24 09 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 48.345 186.162 1-15 PM 25 50 Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 48.429 185.839 1-16 26 34 Eric McClure Dodge 48.434 185.820 1-15 PM 27 49 Ken Schrader Dodge 48.456 185.736 1-16 28 08 Carl Long Dodge 48.611 185.143 1-16 29 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 48.969 183.790 1-15 PM 30 60 Boris Said Ford 49.225 182.834 1-16 31 49 John Andretti Dodge 49.930 180.252 1-14 AM 32 57 Norm Benning Chevrolet 50.171 179.386 1-16 Daytona Jan. 16 Session*Pos. No Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 47.591 189.111 2 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 47.665 188.818 3 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 47.689 188.723 4 01A Regan Smith Chevrolet 47.703 188.667 5 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 47.724 188.584 6 77B Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 47.836 188.143 7 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 47.845 188.107 8 20B Tony Stewart Toyota 47.857 188.060 9 55M Michael Waltrip Toyota 47.877 187.982 10 6B David Ragan Ford 47.888 187.939 11 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 47.909 187.856 12 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 47.910 187.852 13 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 47.912 187.844 14 20A Tony Stewart Toyota 47.919 187.817 15 34B Derrike Cope Dodge 47.925 187.793 16 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 47.958 187.664 17 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 48.002 187.492 18 66H Scott Riggs Chevrolet 48.007 187.473 19 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.014 187.445 20 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 48.019 187.426 21 21B Bill Elliott Ford 48.042 187.336 22 10B Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.052 187.297 23 38B David Gilliland Ford 48.065 187.246 24 11A Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.082 187.180 25 77A Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 48.101 187.106 26 01B Regan Smith Chevrolet 48.141 186.951 27 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 48.147 186.928 28 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 48.179 186.803 29 50A Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 48.429 185.839 30 49B Ken Schrader Dodge 48.456 185.736 31 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.493 185.594 32 08A Carl Long Dodge 48.611 185.143 33 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.636 185.048 34 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 48.679 184.885 35 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 48.780 184.502 36 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 48.780 184.502 37 10C Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.872 184.155 38 34A Derrike Cope Dodge 48.928 183.944 39 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 48.979 183.752 40 21A Bill Elliott Ford 48.991 183.707 41 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 48.992 183.703 42 49A Ken Schrader Dodge 49.090 183.337 43 60B Boris Said Ford 49.225 182.834 44 6A David Ragan Ford 49.231 182.812 45 60A Boris Said Ford 49.347 182.382 46 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.421 182.109 47 66C Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.467 181.939 48 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.474 181.914 49 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.642 181.298 50 09A Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.732 180.970 51 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.788 180.766 52 57A Norm Benning Chevrolet 50.171 179.386 * Rain forced officials to run one session instead of two Daytona Jan. 15 Afternoon SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 47.869 188.013 2 01A Regan Smith Chevrolet 47.968 187.625 3 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 47.976 187.594 4 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 47.992 187.531 5 40A Dario Franchitti Dodge 48.038 187.352 6 20A Tony Stewart Toyota 48.043 187.332 7 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 48.046 187.320 8 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 48.093 187.137 9 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 48.099 187.114 10 88A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.109 187.075 11 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 48.136 186.970 12 10B Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.170 186.838 13 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.227 186.617 14 55M Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.248 186.536 15 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 48.253 186.517 16 6B David Ragan Ford 48.255 186.509 17 66H Scott Riggs Chevrolet 48.275 186.432 18 21B Bill Elliott Ford 48.288 186.382 19 77A Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 48.337 186.193 20 09A Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 48.345 186.162 21 34A Eric McClure Dodge 48.434 185.820 22 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.442 185.789 23 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.523 185.479 24 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.601 185.181 25 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 48.606 185.162 26 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 48.724 184.714 27 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 48.757 184.589 28 11A Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.780 184.502 29 10C Patrick Carpentier Dodge 48.856 184.215 30 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.858 184.207 31 38A David Gilliland Ford 48.925 183.955 32 38B David Gilliland Ford 48.952 183.854 33 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 48.969 183.790 34 21A Bill Elliott Ford 49.055 183.468 35 20B Tony Stewart Toyota 49.062 183.441 36 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.092 183.329 37 77B Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.111 183.258 38 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 49.120 183.225 39 6A David Ragan Ford 49.122 183.217 40 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.150 183.113 41 01B Regan Smith Chevrolet 49.186 182.979 42 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.233 182.804 43 60B Boris Said Ford 49.242 182.771 44 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 49.345 182.389 45 60A Boris Said Ford 49.396 182.201 46 50A Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 49.471 181.925 47 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.473 181.917 48 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.514 181.767 49 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 49.541 181.668 50 49A Ken Schrader Dodge 49.576 181.539 51 09B Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.797 180.734 52 49B Ken Schrader Dodge 49.954 180.166 53 08A Carl Long Dodge 50.192 179.311 54 57A Norm Benning Chevrolet 50.466 178.338 Junior finds peace of mind with new team and ownerNerves? What nerves?Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday he remembers what it feels like when, as a driver of a racecar about to approach speeds of 200 mph, you're more than a little nervous to get behind the wheel. And what he has felt the last two days while testing at Daytona International Speedway in his new No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports has felt nothing like it. "The worst I ever felt was trying to qualify for my first race in Charlotte," Earnhardt said. "I was so scared and wanted to get out of the car, but it was too late. I already told them I'd drive it. "We were sitting right there [on pit road]. We were like two minutes away from going out to qualify -- and I was so nervous, it was painful. It was actually painful to be that nervous. Somehow, we ended up qualifying in the top 10." Somehow, despite all the attention, he posted the top single-lap time during the morning session of Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona on Tuesday, making it around the 2.5-mile track at scintillating speed of 185.820 mph (48.434 seconds). He sounded afterward like he wasn't surprised. "Nowadays, I've been doing this for a while, and I sort of understand what's around the next corner," Earnhardt said. "Right now I'm pretty much set on what I know I need to do. Although this is a high-profile race team and I'm a high-profile driver, I can handle it. With how I've grown up in the sport, I think I'm as prepared as anybody could be for this certain situation." The situation of which he speaks has been well documented. After spending his entire career -- which began at the Cup level with that first start at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte in May of 1999 -- driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc., Earnhardt is making the jump this season to the Hendrick organization. He said the decision to leave DEI -- made last May but not executed until the end of last season -- forced him and long-time crew chief Tony Eury Jr. to grow up in a way that might not have occurred had they spent their entire careers with the company founded by his late father. "There is peace of mind," said Earnhardt, 33. "I think one of the changes has been not being the son of the boss anymore, going somewhere else. Me and Tony Jr. both experienced sort of a little bit of a growth or maturity just going from one door to the other overnight. "I grew up over the years. But when I first started, you could get away with saying things and being quoted certain ways. I was able to get away with it, working for my daddy. I wouldn't be able to now. My job now is to stay out of [team owner] Rick [Hendrick's] office as much as I can." Earnhardt said he is well aware of the high expectations of his new team. Eury Jr. said on Monday that he would be disappointed if they don't win "at least four races." Television analyst Darrell Waltrip has said repeatedly that he expects Earnhardt to win the Daytona 500 and "at least six races." Yet Earnhardt contended Tuesday that in some ways, he is under less pressure heading into this season than he was going into last season -- when his future was up in the air as contract negotiations with DEI were deteriorating. "It's been pretty nice to be able to concentrate on things that are important right now, like testing and working and getting to know the guys [on the team]," Earnhardt said. "There is a little bit less pressure in certain areas and more pressure in other areas. "I didn't have to worry about job security when I was over at my other job, but I've got to worry about that now. I think if I do what I've been doing, I should be fine. But it's not like before. Being the son of the guy who built the place, you can get away with a few more things than most guys could." Not that anyone expects him to encounter any difficulties getting along with the affable Hendrick, including Earnhardt himself. Plus he's armed with a five-year contract, so it's not like his job in on the line every week in the truest sense. "I've got a really good owner who makes me feel comfortable," Earnhardt said. "Talking to him and hearing from him and listening to his thoughts on what we're doing, it takes away some pressure from that side of it. "But I don't know the rest of the guys [on the team] that well, so I'm just nervous in getting to know them. I'm hoping that they like me and like the kind of driver I am and that they're happy to have me as their driver. That's what you want from the guys working on your cars -- for them to be glad you're there, that you are 'the one' driving it." So his nervousness comes these days more from getting to know his new teammates when he's outside of the car, rather than at any time when he's in the car behind the wheel. And that, he added, is a good thing as he is coming off the first winless season of his Cup career. He also said that the tests this week at Daytona are going a long way to helping him settle nerves all the way around -- his and those of his new teammates. These days mark the first hopeful baby steps toward their ultimate and common goal of getting Earnhardt back to Victory Lane. "I don't want to sit here and guess how many races we'll win," he said. "We'll win some races, and I expect to win soon. I'm a good driver with a good team -- and if we don't make mistakes on Sunday, we should have great finishes and win some races." Earnhardt feeling the pressure of new Hendrick rideDale Earnhardt Jr. is already feeling the pressure, and the season hasn't even started.As his winless streak nears two years, NASCAR's most popular driver knows he must produce in his new Hendrick Motorsports ride. Anxious about the new job and the pressure of driving for the elite team, Earnhardt showed up a week early at preseason testing just to talk to his new teammates. Back this week to actually drive his No. 88 Chevrolet, Earnhardt went right to work. His single lap speed of 185.820 mph on Tuesday morning easily bettered the mark of 184.782 mph set by teammate Jimmie Johnson in last week's session, and Earnhardt was 10th fastest when drafting began in the afternoon. ``I just like running up front every week,'' he said. ``I like going to the racetrack and being ... toward the top of the chart, at least on the left side of the page in practices.'' It's a good start to a fresh season, one without the drama that engulfed him last year when he publicly sparred with stepmother Teresa. His unhappiness was painfully evident this time last year, when he used his media availability session at testing to reveal their relationship ``ain't no bed of roses'' and said contract negotiations with Dale Earnhardt Inc. were tense. Four months later, he decided to leave his late father's company and embarked on the most frenzied free agency in NASCAR history. Courted by just about every car owner in the industry, he settled on Hendrick in June and anxiously awaited switching teams. Now that he's officially a Hendrick driver, he knows the expectations are immense. Hendrick drivers won 18 of 36 races last season, and Johnson is the two-time defending Cup champion. Earnhardt, meanwhile, hasn't won since May 6, 2006, in Richmond, a span of 62 races. ``There's a little bit less pressure in certain areas and more pressure in other areas,'' he said. ``I didn't have to worry about job security when I was over at my other job, but I've got to worry about that now. I think if I do what I've been doing, I should be fine. But with being the son of the guy who built the place, you can get away with a few more things than most guys could. ``But I've got a really good owner that makes me feel comfortable, and so that eases a lot of other pressures, talking to him and hearing from him and listening to his thoughts on what we're doing. It takes away some pressure from that side of it.'' The expectations clearly exist, though, and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. did his part to pile on by predicting Monday the team will win four races this season. He didn't back off the number when pressed Tuesday, either. ``You try to find a realistic number because too many people try to get you to make predictions and want you to say `We're gonna win 11, or we can for sure get 10,' `` Eury said. ``But four should be simple. I mean, I look at how competitive we ran last year -- and things happened -- and if we close out them deals this year, we should be able to win four races easily. ``I'm not guaranteeing anything. But I'm going to be disappointed if we don't win at least four. I know what kind of equipment we've got around here, know what kind of people we've got around us. I don't see any reason why that shouldn't be our goal and it should be a reachable goal.'' Earnhardt refused to play the prediction game. ``I don't want to sit here and guess how many races we'll win,'' he said. ``We'll win some races, and I expect to win soon. I'm a good driver with a good team, and if we don't make mistakes on a Sunday we should have great finishes and win some races.'' All of that has allowed Earnhardt and Eury to relax a bit after a stressful 2007 that saw them fighting to stay focused amid all the drama that surrounded their exit from DEI. The team failed to make the Chase, which ultimately freed Eury to go to Hendrick before the season ended but still led to a disappointing departure. Now, with a clean slate, both driver and crew chief are excited for the season to start next month. ``I am 10 times happier,'' Eury said. ``And you can see it on Dale Jr.'s face. He's more pumped up than ever. He's pumped up to be down here, and the main sign was he showed up last week at the test. He used to never want to be at the race track, and this year he's down here hanging out with the guys and his teammates. ``We really just can't wait to get rolling.'' Junior Enjoys Challenge, Dismisses PressureDale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't seem to be too worried about the pressure he faces this season as the latest addition to the Hendrick Motorsports arsenal. The driver says that he's enjoying getting to know his new team and testing together.Earnhardt Jr. has been fast in all three test sessions this week at Daytona International Speedway, with his No. 88 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chevrolet topping the speed chart Tuesday morning. Half of the Cup teams tested last week, with 31 participating in this session. A year after heading to Daytona while trying to negotiate a contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team his father founded, Earnhardt Jr. says it's nice not having to deal with business matters this time. He's just focused on adjusting to his new group. Daytona Jan. 15 Morning SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.434 185.820 2 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.555 185.357 3 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 48.744 184.638 4 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.754 184.600 5 20A Tony Stewart Toyota 48.758 184.585 6 55M Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.823 184.339 7 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 48.843 184.264 8 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 48.854 184.222 9 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.866 184.177 10 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.893 184.075 11 11A Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.919 183.978 12 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 49.018 183.606 13 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 49.099 183.303 14 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 49.123 183.214 15 38B David Gilliland Ford 49.138 183.158 16 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 49.140 183.150 17 20B Tony Stewart Toyota 49.142 183.143 18 6B David Ragan Ford 49.160 183.076 19 10C Patrick Carpentier Dodge 49.194 182.949 20 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.196 182.942 21 38A David Gilliland Ford 49.249 182.745 22 66H Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.253 182.730 23 34A Eric McClure Dodge 49.340 182.408 24 60B Boris Said Ford 49.355 182.352 25 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.367 182.308 26 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.373 182.286 27 01B Regan Smith Chevrolet 49.374 182.282 28 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.403 182.175 29 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 49.408 182.157 30 50A Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 49.409 182.153 31 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 49.419 182.116 32 6A David Ragan Ford 49.423 182.101 33 21B Bill Elliott Ford 49.428 182.083 34 77A Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.430 182.076 35 60A Boris Said Ford 49.469 181.932 36 21A Bill Elliott Ford 49.472 181.921 37 66C Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.486 181.870 38 77B Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.541 181.668 39 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.546 181.649 40 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.577 181.536 41 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.580 181.525 42 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 49.596 181.466 43 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.627 181.353 44 49A Ken Schrader Dodge 49.661 181.229 45 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.702 181.079 46 09B Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.758 180.875 47 01A Regan Smith Chevrolet 50.013 179.953 48 09A Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 50.013 179.953 49 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 50.053 179.809 50 49B Ken Schrader Dodge 50.069 179.752 51 08A Carl Long Dodge 50.410 178.536 52 57A Norm Benning Chevrolet 51.400 175.097 Junior gets off to great start in first test in No. 88At precisely 11:54 a.m. on Monday, in a seemingly symbolic move, the No. 88 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned into a garage stall at Daytona International Speedway right in front of the Budweiser-sponsored Sprint Cup car now bearing No. 9 and driven by Kasey Kahne.Kahne sped on past, moving down the road and taking Earnhardt's past with him. Earnhardt Jr. climbed out of his new car, conferred with long-time crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and kept the media waiting. What was he thinking? How did his new ride for Hendrick Motorsports drive in his first test? Junior -- as in Earnhardt Jr. -- wasn't saying. At least not to anybody but the handful of insiders gathered around him. He will speak at length to the media Tuesday, but left the talking Monday to Eury, the other Junior on the most scrutinized Cup team on the planet. As with the other Junior earlier, Eury did nothing to downplay what he admits are "huge expectations" of the No. 88 team heading into their first season at Hendrick, the Sprint Cup behemoth that also fields the powerhouse teams of two-time defending points champion Jimmie Johnson and four-time champion Jeff Gordon, as well as the No. 5 of Casey Mears. "Man, it's been exciting for me," Eury Jr. said. "As soon as we left Homestead in November [following the final race of last season], I was ready to go. That's when I kind of took over. I've just been trying to get the team together. We've got some things we've been changing around, just trying to bring the level of this team up to what the 24 and the 48 are. There's no doubt that they're the best teams in the Hendrick organization, and we're going to make the 5 and the 88 the same amount -- so we'll have four great teams. "I've been pumped up. I think I've seen Dale Jr. more pumped up right now than he's ever been. He was down here for the first test [last week]. That's a sign of just how excited he was to get into the car. All in all, I think both of us are just happy to get this one test right here done -- and we're looking forward to February." Fast times The Juniors had reasons to smile after Monday's morning practice session at Daytona. Earnhardt's top lap speed of 184.646 mph (48.742 seconds) was second-fastest behind only a lap turned by Dale Jarrett (184.987 mph). It also was the fastest lap turned by a Chevrolet driver. In truth, running fast in these practice sessions means next to nothing. To put it in perspective, Paul Menard, Earnhardt's former teammate at Dale Earnhardt Inc., posted the fastest times in one of the practice sessions a year ago -- and subsequently failed to run fast enough to qualify for the Daytona 500 when he returned a month later. But in light of all the publicity swirling around Earnhardt's departure from DEI and his long-awaited arrival on the track in a Hendrick car, Eury said that in this case it meant something. At least to them. "I mean, we're in the top five on the speed charts, so that's a good thing," Eury said. "We're just kind of doing our normal deal. We're not sitting here making qualifying runs, trying to be at the top of the sheet. We've just got a really good car, and we've got a little bit left in it. So we're pumped up." They also have yet to put the car in a drafting scenario, which is so important at Daytona. That won't occur until Tuesday afternoon. But Eury said Earnhardt's eagerness to get behind the wheel of his new ride has been contagious within the team. That eagerness was magnified last week when Earnhardt surprised everyone and attended the first day of testing for his teammates -- just to watch Johnson, Gordon and Mears and learn as much as he could. "I was actually at the shop and he called home and said, 'You'll never guess where I am,'" Eury said. Right away, though, Eury had a pretty good idea. "I knew it was pretty noisy," Eury said. "To be honest, it kind of surprised me that he was down here. But that's good. His teammates probably appreciated him being down here, and I think that showed the organization how serious he is." On the other hand, Earnhardt is changing cars, sponsors, and team uniforms -- but not who he is. "He's not really no different," Eury said. "I mean, I think he was pretty pumped up when he got here. But it's normal Junior. He goes out there and tells you what [the car] does, and listens to a little bit of Ipod while he's sittin' out there [and the crew is working on the car]." At least four? It was when Earnhardt's new car was unveiled in Dallas last September that the gauntlet was laid down on expectations for the No. 88 this season. Former points champion and current television analyst Darrell Waltrip predicted then that Earnhardt would win the Daytona 500 and "at least six races" in 2008. That day, Earnhardt did not flinch when told of the bold prediction. Neither did team owner Rick Hendrick. On Monday, Eury was asked if he thought those lofty expectations were indeed realistic. "I think so. I'd be very disappointed if we don't win at least four, to be honest," he said. "I just look at the races that we had problems with last year, where we were running in the top three and were in contention. That's the biggest thing in this sport -- you've got to put yourself in contention, and then anything can happen at the end of these races. "That's all we've got to do. We've got to make the right calls, and be in the right position at the end of races -- and then we can win those races. We didn't win any last year, but it wasn't for a lack of effort. There were several races where we were running in the top three, top four at the end of the race and something would happen. A motor would blow up, or we would get in an accident, or something else would happen. "I don't think it's totally out of line. I think it's up to us what we do." Both Juniors know that the racing world will be watching ever so closely. Eury said they are used to the scrutiny. "It's no more pressure than I've ever had on me," said Eury, Earnhardt's crew chief on the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet at DEI prior to making the switch to Hendrick last year. "I think there's pressure that comes along when you're dealing with Dale Earnhardt Jr. But expectations are good and they're huge. I just have to go out and do our job and make sure we're competitive and win races. He makes it sound easy. But he knows it won't be. Meanwhile, at least Monday was a good start. Daytona Jan. 14 AfternoonPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1. 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 48.532 185.445 2. 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.537 185.426 3. 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 48.568 185.307 4. 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.572 185.292 5. 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.589 185.227 6. 20A Tony Stewart Toyota 48.624 185.094 7. 55M Michael Waltrip Toyota 48.637 185.044 8. 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.676 184.896 9. 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 48.701 184.801 10. 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 48.718 184.737 11. 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.766 184.555 12. 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 48.879 184.128 13. 11A Denny Hamlin Toyota 48.898 184.057 14. 38A David Gilliland Ford 48.957 183.835 15. 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 49.027 183.572 16. 21A Bill Elliott Ford 49.071 183.408 17. 40A Dario Franchitti Dodge 49.074 183.397 18. 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 49.100 183.299 19. 88A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 49.102 183.292 20. 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.127 183.199 21. 38B David Gilliland Ford 49.144 183.135 22. 6B David Ragan Ford 49.162 183.068 23. 10C Patrick Carpentier Dodge 49.212 182.882 24. 34A Eric McClure Dodge 49.228 182.823 25. 21B Bill Elliott Ford 49.234 182.801 26. 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.241 182.775 27. 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 49.262 182.697 28. 60B Boris Said Ford 49.268 182.674 29. 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.276 182.645 30. 66H Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.301 182.552 31. 01B Regan Smith Chevrolet 49.302 182.548 32. 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 49.331 182.441 33. 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 49.356 182.349 34. 6A David Ragan Ford 49.395 182.205 35. 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.424 182.098 36. 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.444 182.024 37. 60A Boris Said Ford 49.453 181.991 38. 66C Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.455 181.984 39. 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.467 181.939 40. 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.489 181.859 41. 10B Patrick Carpentier Dodge 49.492 181.848 42. 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.506 181.796 43. 77A Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.526 181.723 44. 77B Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.619 181.382 45. 50A Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 49.696 181.101 46. 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.701 181.083 47. 49A Ken Schrader Dodge 49.740 180.941 48. 09A Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.941 180.213 49. 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 50.003 179.989 50. 49B Ken Schrader Dodge 50.168 179.397 51. 09B Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 50.183 179.344 52. 08A Carl Long Dodge 50.764 177.291 53. 57A Norm Benning Chevrolet 50.889 176.856 Daytona Jan. 14 Morning SessionPos. No. Name Make Best Time Best Speed1 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.652 184.987 2 88B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.742 184.646 3 40 Dario Franchitti Dodge 48.832 184.305 4 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.854 184.222 5 20A Tony Stewart Toyota 48.968 183.793 6 11B Denny Hamlin Toyota 49.035 183.542 7 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 49.039 183.527 8 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 49.099 183.303 9 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota 49.100 183.299 10 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 49.116 183.240 11 87 Jeff Fuller Chevrolet 49.123 183.214 12 88A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 49.154 183.098 13 55M Michael Waltrip Toyota 49.164 183.061 14 38A David Gilliland Ford 49.186 182.979 15 11A Denny Hamlin Toyota 49.200 182.927 16 40A Dario Franchitti Dodge 49.224 182.838 17 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 49.226 182.830 18 20B Tony Stewart Toyota 49.239 182.782 19 38B David Gilliland Ford 49.332 182.437 20 60B Boris Said Ford 49.394 182.208 21 66H Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.399 182.190 22 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.411 182.146 23 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 49.463 181.954 24 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 49.476 181.906 25 21A Bill Elliott Ford 49.482 181.884 26 6B David Ragan Ford 49.486 181.870 27 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.491 181.851 28 34A Eric McClure Dodge 49.493 181.844 29 01B Regan Smith Chevrolet 49.499 181.822 30 21B Bill Elliott Ford 49.557 181.609 31 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.559 181.602 32 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.561 181.594 33 66C Scott Riggs Chevrolet 49.587 181.499 34 6A David Ragan Ford 49.591 181.485 35 26B Jaime McMurray Ford 49.607 181.426 36 10B Patrick Carpentier Dodge 49.618 181.386 37 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.650 181.269 38 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 49.670 181.196 39 60A Boris Said Ford 49.689 181.127 40 77A Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.708 181.057 41 77B Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 49.762 180.861 42 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.794 180.745 43 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 49.796 180.737 44 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 49.814 180.672 45 01A Regan Smith Chevrolet 49.817 180.661 46 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.849 180.545 47 50A Stanton Barrett Chevrolet 49.923 180.278 48 49A Ken Schrader Dodge 49.930 180.252 49 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.995 180.018 50 09A Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 50.313 178.880 Eury Jr. Expects Earnhardt Jr. to Get 4 WinsTony Eury Jr. expects a strong showing for Dale Earnhardt Jr. this season, saying he'd be disappointed if the new Hendrick Motorsports driver doesn't win at least four NASCAR Sprint Cup races.The crew chief and his driver began testing at Daytona International Speedway today in preparation for the season. Eury seems pleased with the team's progress and says that his move to join Hendrick late last season, instead of waiting for the offseason to make the move from Dale Earnhardt Inc., should pay off for the group. Earnhardt Jr. is the only Hendrick driver testing this week. His teammates, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears, were all in the opening session last week, and Earnhardt Jr. was at the track with them on the opening day of the session. Teammates Laud EarnhardtDale Earnhardt, Jr. doesn’t officially test at Daytona International Speedway until next week, but he flew to the 2.5-mile superspeedway anyway, to watch as his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears put their Chevrolets through their paces on the first day of preseason testing.Earnhardt’s decision to head to Florida has earned plaudits from his high-profile teammates, who collectively have won six of the last 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup championships. “He's down here today for the test, which is a huge, I think, a credit to his commitment, wanting to be here,” Johnson, the two-time defending series champion, said of Earnhardt. “It's painful watching other cars go around the track, especially here at this type of test session. For him to come down, show the team how committed he is to being up front, winning races and championships, says a lot to the team, his teammates, to the team members and I think to the racing public, that he's down here, ready to go, ready to get after it.” “Most drivers, if they're not here testing, they don't want to be here,” added Gordon, the four-time series champion who finished runner-up to Johnson last season. “So I was surprised. I think it says a lot. And it's smart, you know, on his part. So I'm really proud of him for doing that because he's going to be here without his teammates next week, however the points thing worked out the way it did. We've got three of us here and one of us next week. It really shows a lot, that he's here. I think that was a really smart thing on his part.” Earnhardt, who had driven exclusively for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. since his rookie Cup season of 2000, announced last fall that he’s be joining the powerhouse Hendrick outfit, winners of seven championships with three different drivers since 1995. He brought with him his crew chief, cousin and long-time confidante Tony Eury, Jr., who actually begin working at Hendrick late last year to get a head start on the transition. “I think Tony Eury, Jr., coming into Hendrick when he did was a huge help,” said Johnson. “And it really let us - it let him watch the systems of Hendrick, put his crew together, get things going.” But like everything else this time of year, it won’t be until Earnhardt starts racing that the success of his new partnership with Hendrick will be able to be evaluated. “I think the fact that he's here today means a lot. It shows where his focus is and how fired up he is about this season,” Gordon reiterated of his new teammate. “I think they're going to have a great season. What that necessarily means, I don't know. I think - I mean, we'll just have to wait and see. I know that the equipment is there. Everything is there. But you've got to get the chemistry and you've got to get all the other ingredients that it takes to be successful. And now, as well, with the new car … what advantage we may have had in the past years at Hendrick, we might not have that advantage this year. I guess everything is just going to have to be compared to the other drivers at Hendrick. That's probably going to be the true measurement.” We Hear...THAT powerhouse publicist Simone Smalls has launched her own agency, Simone Smalls PR, with clients including NASCAR franchise Dale Earnhardt Inc., Epic Records pop star Kat DeLuna, hip-hop artist Talib Kweli, and Usher's younger brother, producer JLackNATIONWIDE: Junior, Cassill To Share No. 5The Army National Guard will sponsor the No. 5 Chevrolets driven by Landon Cassill and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2008. The team will be fielded by Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports in partnership with Hendrick Motorsports.The 18-year-old Cassill, who demonstrated flashes of brilliance during six NASCAR Busch Series starts in 2007, will enter 19 events in the No. 5 National Guard Chevys, kicking off his season Feb. 23 at California Speedway. The campaign will mark the most extensive racing action for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native and 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate since he signed with Hendrick Motorsports in December 2006. Earnhardt will drive the No. 5 in the Feb. 16 season opener at Daytona International Speedway and the Nov. 15 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The two-time circuit champion has earned five Nationwide-level victories at Daytona. “The National Guard is very pleased to be sponsoring the No. 5 National Guard Nationwide Series car in 2008,” said Lt. Col. Diana Craun, Deputy Division Chief, Strength Maintenance Division, National Guard Bureau. “The Guard's presence at Nationwide Series races will honor America's finest Citizen-Soldiers in an exciting way by featuring a unique Unit Patch on the hood, deck-lid and rear quarter-panels of the car. Additionally, Army Guard Soldiers from these honored units will be invited to watch the No. 5 car as it reaches Victory Lane.” In 2007, the National Guard backed 25 Nationwide-level races, including each of Cassill's six starts in the series. The 2008 season will mark the kickoff of Earnhardt's relationship with the Guard, which will also be a co-primary sponsor of his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series efforts. Early odds: Handicapping the 2008 NASCAR seasonIt isn't even 2008 yet, but sports books in Las Vegas already have posted their odds for the upcoming Sprint Cup season. To the surprise of absolutely no one, back-to-back champion Jimmie Johnson is the favorite to win the series title.It also comes as no surprise that Joe Gibbs Racing's switch to Toyota has lengthened the championship odds on Tony Stewart to 10-1 at most books. Inspired by the oddsmakers, I've decided to express my take on the upcoming Cup season in terms of betting propositions, some of which you might actually find at a Vegas sports book. • Odds that Johnson will win a third consecutive Cup title: 4-1. That was the number I had in mind before I looked at the Vegas odds, which show a range from 4-1 to 7-2. During the past two years, the No. 48 team has been the strongest unit within stock-car racing's strongest organization, Hendrick Motorsports. Johnson's willingness to drive on the edge with the title on the line impressed everyone in the sport in 2007. The only thing arguing against a third consecutive title is history. Only one driver, Cale Yarborough (1976-1978), has won three consecutive championships. • Odds that Chad Knaus will serve another suspension: 15-1. Johnson's crew chief will be on his best behavior in 2008 in light of NASCAR's track record of vigorous prosecution of offenses involving the new racecar. On the other hand, Knaus sat out the first four races of the 2006 season, and Johnson won the title. Knaus served a six-race suspension in 2007 for taking liberties with the front fenders of the new car, and Johnson won his second championship. Is there a trend here? • Odds that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win at least one race: 2-5. Earnhardt's prestige and credibility are on the line, and the same goes for owner Rick Hendrick. They'll get to Victory Lane in 2008, come hell or high water. • Odds that Earnhardt will make the Chase for the Sprint Cup: also 2-5. In Hendrick equipment, Earnhardt is as close to a can't-miss proposition as you can find. Last year, his Chase run degenerated into an episode of Mission Impossible. ("Your mission, Mr. Earnhardt, should you decide to accept it, is to run your butt off and challenge for the lead. Your engine will self-destruct with six laps to go.") Improved reliability alone will assure him a spot in the Chase this year. • Odds that Toyota will win a race: even. The logic is that all three Gibbs drivers -- Stewart, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin -- won't be shut out of Victory Lane in 2008. And don't rule out the possibility of a win for Bill Davis Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing or Team Red Bull. The addition of Gibbs engine maven Mark Cronquist to the Toyota brain trust makes the Camry competitive. • Odds that an open-wheel interloper will win the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award: 1-9. There's strength in numbers, and four open-wheel stars -- Sam Hornish Jr., Jacques Villeneuve, Dario Franchitti and Patrick Carpentier -- are battling Regan Smith for top rookie honors. Just don't expect any of the 2008 rookie crop to duplicate the 2007 performance of Juan Montoya, much less Hamlin's memorable run in 2006. • Odds that an open-wheel rookie will win a race: 20-1. Again, no member of the gang of four appears to be as quick a study as Montoya. If I had to pick a rookie to win a race, it would be Carpentier at Infineon or Watkins Glen. • Odds that there will be no first-time winners in 2008: 3-1. With Hendrick drivers claiming 18 of the 36 races in 2007, there were only four first-time winners last season, all with established teams: Casey Mears, Martin Truex Jr., Montoya and Clint Bowyer. Who's left? My top two picks for possible breakthrough wins are Reed Sorenson and Dave Blaney. • Odds that either David Ragan or Robby Gordon will cause the first caution of 2008: 6-1. Statistics don't lie. According to numbers compiled by USA Today, Ragan and Gordon led the Cup Series with 22 and 16 incidents/spins, respectively, in 2007. Together, they were involved in more than 15 percent of the 240 wrecks and spins that took place during the 2007 season. The over-under on the last time a broadcaster refers to the Sprint Cup Series as Nextel Cup or the Nationwide Series as the Busch Series: November. Old habits die hard. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya Join Sound & SpeedDale Earnhardt Jr. and Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya have joined the roster of drivers who will sign autographs at the Sound & Speed event in Nashville on Jan. 11-12. Fellow drivers Clint Bowyer and Scott Wimmer will also appear at the fan event which brings together well-known personalities from the worlds of country music and NASCAR. Alan Jackson will headline the concert at the Sommet Center. Other musical guests include Taylor Swift, Jason Michael Carroll, Josh Gracin, the Wrights and Bryan White. The event benefits the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.Junior, Ambrose share track at V8 Super SchoolIn Australia on vacation with friends, Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Friday dropped in on Marcos Ambrose's V8 Super School for the opportunity to drive a one of the school's 450-horsepower race cars around the 2.1-kilometre road course.Ambrose only recently arrived back in Australia after collecting his eighth-place championship trophy at the Busch Series awards ceremony in Orlando, Fla. Earnhardt Jr. talked with Ambrose late this season about an impending trip to Australia, taking tips from the Aussie native regarding his homeland. The two agreed to catch up on the Gold Coast in Queensland so that Ambrose could host Earnhardt Jr. and his friends for a day at the V8 Super School, which Ambrose co-owns with Australian V8 Supercar driver Paul Morris. "It was great to catch up with Dale and give him the chance to experience one of our cars at the V8 Super School," Ambrose said. "I always make a point of visiting everyone here at the V8 Super School when I am back in Australia, and this time around they were very impressed with the friend I brought along for a drive." Earnhardt said he relished the time behind the wheel of one of the V8 car. "I have really enjoyed the chance to drive these cars on a road course-style track. It's great fun and Marcos and Paul Morris have been great to me and really looked after us. We are having a ball. "It's been great to experience Australia and see how racing is down here. Our group has all had a blast and Marcos' advise on where to go and everything he has set up for us has been awesome. "He's a great guy and I think he is doing very well in NASCAR and has the potential to go a long way." Earnhardt Heads Down UnderNASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made a visit to Australia, where he was the guest of fellow NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose at Ambrose’s V8 Super School on the Gold Coast.Ambrose hosted Earnhardt, who is in Australia on holiday with friends, and gave the American the opportunity to drive one of the school’s 450-horsepower race cars around the V8 Super School’s 2.1-kilometre road-course circuit. Ambrose and Earnhardt shared the track in a Ford and GM-Holden respectively for some laps before speaking with the assembled media contingent. “I have to thank Marcos for everything he has set-up for me on this trip,” said Earnhardt. “This is my first trip to Australia and I absolutely love it. Everyone here has been so good to me and to all of my friends and we will never forget this trip. Ambrose recently arrived back in Australia after collecting his eighth-place championship trophy at the NASCAR Busch Series Awards banquet in Orlando, Florida. “It was great to catch up with Dale and give him the chance to experience one of our cars at the V8 Super School,” said Ambrose. “He’s a real driver’s driver and he’s got awesome skills. You can see how quickly he has adapted to these cars today just how good he is and I look forward to the day where I can hopefully get to his level and run side-by-side with him because he’s a great driver and a great guy. “It’s been great to experience Australia and see how racing is down here. Our group has all had a blast and Marcos’ advise on where to go and everything he has set up for us has been awesome,” said Earnhardt. “He’s a great guy and I think he is doing very well in NASCAR and has the potential to go a long way.” As Earnhardt Jr. matures, so does JR MotorsportsHe didn't tuck in his shirt when he appeared before the cameras to announce his impending split with Dale Earnhardt Inc. He didn't tuck in his shirt for the news conference announcing his new five-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports. But when it came time to announce driver and sponsor extensions for his own Busch team, there was the notoriously scruffy Dale Earnhardt Jr., with a crisp, white shirt tucked neatly into a pair of pressed dark pants.It's a concession that likely had to do with the presence of officials from the U.S. Navy, which is backing the No. 88 car of driver Brad Keselowski at JR Motorsports, and likes things to be spic-and-span. But it also says something of the affinity NASCAR's most popular driver has for his burgeoning enterprise on what will become the Nationwide Series next year. He may have 17 Nextel Cup wins, two Busch titles, a new contract with the sport's best team and a legion of passionate fans, but it's easy to see the pride he has in JR Motorsports, which started in 1999 with one employee. It's his baby, and it's grown up with him. "I think the things that we have done at JR Motorsports and the things that we have went through, our trials, have been just as much of a learning experience as anything else as a lot of the stuff that has been well publicized in the Cup Series with the changes we made there," said Earnhardt, who signed Keselowski to a two-year extension prior to the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "The Busch Series can be a lot of work. There is a lot of attention and focus that it requires, so we have had our hands literally full all year long." JR Motorsports has come a long way since it was a one-man operation run out of a shed on DEI's property. Founded as a marketing tool to help the then-Busch driver Earnhardt sell a few more T-shirts, it became a racing entity in 2002 when Earnhardt and a few friends built a street stock and entered it in 10 races at Concord (N.C.) Motorsports Park with driver T.J. Majors behind the wheel. Over the next two years the team traveled the country, participating in bigger Late Model events, before breaking into the Hooters Pro Cup series with driver Mark McFarland in 2005. Late that same season, JR Motorsports made its Busch debut. Earlier this year, the team moved into a new, 66,000-square-foot shop in Mooresville, N.C. And beginning next year, JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports will combine operations for the Nationwide Series, fielding a two-car squad based out of Earnhardt's shop. Thirty employees were shifted from Hendrick's main campus to JR Motorsports in the move, which effectively makes Earnhardt and new Nextel Cup owner Rick Hendrick business partners. Earnhardt will own one of the two cars -- Keselowski's No. 88 -- and his boss the other. For Earnhardt, playing car owner brings about experiences very different from those he encounters in his day job. There's the presence of family, like mother Brenda Jackson, sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, and uncles Danny Earnhardt and Tony Eury Sr., all employees at the JR Motorsports shop. There's dealing with sponsors, which occasionally forces him to tuck in his shirt. There's the sometimes unfortunate duty of firing a driver; earlier this season, he cut Shane Huffman loose for wrecking too many racecars. And there's also the credibility he feels he receives by tackling his own business enterprise, something he can't get behind the wheel. "I have learned a lot. There are so many things that you tackle, things you enjoy. The relationship with the Navy has been really fun. Working one-on-one as the owner with a sponsor was new to me. We have really enjoyed the relationship. I have learned a lot through the Navy and how that actually works and how you have the working relationship and compromising," Earnhardt said. "With the drivers it has been challenging as well, an enjoyable challenge. Brad is a likeable young guy and we have a lot of things in common. We get along great. I want to see him succeed. That is sort of my motivation is to help to achieve whatever he wants to achieve and get to where he wants to go. I feel like the credibility I seek has been in respect from the community, whether it be my sponsors, the drivers and crew members that work for me and amongst the garage. It is great when you have guys come knocking on your door on Monday wanting to know if there are openings or opportunities for them to work in our program. That is a compliment for us every time it happens. It has been happening quite often." Now, in addition to Keselowski, Earnhardt's stable also includes a Hooters Pro Cup car, a Late Model team headlined by Martin Truex Jr.'s cousin Curtis, and the Hendrick Busch entry that could feature Landon Cassill and an array of other drivers. Personally, his goal is to perform well enough that Keselowski merits a Cup ride -- but with a team other than JR Motorsports, which the owner has no plans to take to NASCAR's top level. "Our ultimate goal right now is to stay in the Busch Series and to work there," Earnhardt said. "I enjoy that series. It is part of my history. It is part of me as a driver. That is where I hope to stay and enjoy a lot of success and be formidable for many years. We have aspirations to look further ahead than that. I think it would do an injustice not only to our partners such as the Navy, but ourselves, if we do not tackle the challenges we are facing now. We are still trying to become a successful team in the Busch Series. Until we are and have mastered and seem to be in control of that, we can then see what other places and opportunities we may have to grow. But that is definitely not even in the back of my mind right now." Truthfully, he has more pressing interests. In addition to getting his team ready for the 2008 Nationwide Series, there's also the small matter of preparing for his ride in Hendrick's No. 88 Sprint Cup car. Tony Eury Jr., his crew chief, has been deep in preparation since October. Earnhardt, who hasn't won a race at NASCAR's top level since May of 2006, believes the pieces are in place for a breakthrough. But it won't be easy. "I feel right now that Tony Jr. is very stressed out and has a lot on his mind. The last couple of months, since going to work there, the information has just been crammed into his brain," he said. "He could use a vacation. He knew when we signed on that we were going to kind of have to up our program a little bit, up our efforts. Jeff [Gordon] gave me a little bit of advice at the end of the season, that the work ethic might be a little more intense than I was accustomed to as a driver. For the crew chief, it's probably the same. Tony Jr. talks of 7 o'clock meetings every [morning]. He seems really stressed to me. His mentality is positive and focused, like he's going after it and attacking it. But you can tell he's in a new environment. There's just a little more going on that he's got to get in tune with." Junior named most popular NASCAR driverFor the fifth straight year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the most popular driver in NASCAR.The son of the late Dale Earnhardt garnered 1.4-million of the 3.8-million votes cast by fans online. He joins Richard Petty and Bill Elliott as the only other drivers to have won the award five consecutive times. "I'm extremely honored to win this award again, because it puts me with a very select group of drivers who I have a lot of respect for," Earnhardt, Jr. said at a luncheon on Thursday in New York, where NASCAR will stage its year end celebration on Friday. "When I became a Cup driver in 1999, I never would've imagined that we'd be talking about five consecutive Most Popular Driver awards. I have a special place at JR Motorsports where I put the MPD trophies, so I'm honored to add another one to the collection. The award caps what has been a difficult season for Earnhardt Jr. which featured public spat with his stepmother and team owner of DEI Inc., eventually leading to his decision to leave his father's team for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. Junior also failed to win a race for the first time since his first partial season in NASCAR back in 1999 and he missed the Chase for the Championship by 385 points. "I don't want it to sound like a cliche, but this award really does mean a lot to me after all we have been through this year," said Earnhardt Jr. "This year has marked a significant transition in my life and career, and I knew the fans could go either way in supporting my decision or not. It was tough, and I don't underestimate the fans' support. It's been overwhelming, and I really appreciate it." Jeff Gordon, who finished runner-up in the Chase championship, was second in the balloting to Junior followed by Michael Waltrip, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick. Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was seventh in voting. Sporting News announces NASCAR award winnersThe most dominant driver and team owner of 2007 head the list of winners of the annual Sporting News NASCAR awards.Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson on Tuesday was named Sporting News Driver of the Year, and Rick Hendrick, whose drivers won 18 of 36 Nextel Cup races, was named Owner of the Year. The winners were selected by writers and editors of Sporting News. Johnson won 10 races en route to his second consecutive Nextel Cup championship and edged out Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon for the award. Gordon won six races and finished second in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Pat Tryson was named Crew Chief of the Year, and Juan Montoya won Rookie of the Year. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the recipient of the Dale Earnhardt Tough Driver Award. Driver of the year: Jimmie Johnson Johnson's performance in the final five races of the Chase for the Nextel Cup was about as emphatic a statement as a driver can make -- four consecutive wins and a title-clinching seventh place in the final event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Entering those five races, Johnson trailed Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon by 68 points -- but wound up beating him by 77. The way Johnson rallied to claim his second consecutive championship spoke to his willingness to push the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet to the edge of its capabilities. Emblematic of his title run was a side-by-side battle with Matt Kenseth at Texas in the eighth Chase race. Where another driver might have backed off and settled for second place to protect his position in the standings, Johnson risked calamity to claim the win. A week later at Phoenix -- where Gordon had visited Victory Lane earlier in the season -- Johnson won again, and his teammate threw in the towel. Johnson is the first driver since Gordon in 1997-98 to win consecutive Cup titles, and with 10 victories, he is the first double-digit winner in the series since Gordon won 13 races in 1998. Owner of the year: Rick Hendrick Talk about a no-brainer. Not only did Hendrick have the top two drivers on the circuit for most of the season, he also facilitated the cooperation between Gordon's and Johnson's teams, a collaboration that made both outfits better. Hendrick won his seventh championship in 2007, leaving him only three behind Petty Enterprises on the all-time list. Hendrick cars won 18 of the 36 Cup races. Hendrick encouraged extensive offseason testing, and his teams parlayed that research and development into wins in the first five COT races. There was another prize that went to Hendrick this year, one whose real value has yet to be realized. He enticed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to drive for his organization, thereby increasing both the firepower and marketability of the company. Crew chief of the year: Pat Tryson It's hard to overlook Chad Knaus, an inseparable part of Johnson's championship equation. It's equally difficult to pass over Gil Martin, who helped Cup Series second-year star Clint Bowyer to his first win and a third-place finish in the Chase. The real difference-maker on the pit box, however, was Tryson, who took over as crew chief for Kurt Busch's No. 2 Penske Dodge before the road course event at Infineon Raceway in late June. Before the change, Busch had been foundering. Four consecutive finishes outside the top 15, along with a 100-point penalty for a pit road incident with Tony Stewart at Dover, had dropped the 2004 champ to 16th in points. Two weeks after the Infineon race, Busch finished third in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. August brought victories at Pocono and Michigan, and Busch qualified for the Chase and finished seventh in the final standings. Tryson's know-how, and his calming influence, had a lot to do with their success. Rookie of the year: Juan Montoya Though David Ragan showed vast improvement during a solid rookie season, Montoya dominated the rookie class in his first full year of Cup racing. The Colombian superstar, a former Indianapolis 500 winner and Formula One driver, adapted quickly and finished fifth at Atlanta Motor Speedway in his fourth Cup start of the season. Montoya quickly demonstrated that his reputation as a hard charger was well-earned. In March, he won the Busch Series road race in Mexico City with a late-race bump-and-run on teammate Scott Pruett. In June, he won his first Cup race on the road course at Infineon. In his return to Indianapolis in July, Montoya qualified second and finished second to Tony Stewart. Dale Earnhardt Tough Driver Award: Dale Earnhardt Jr. No driver dealt with as much adversity, on and off the track, as Earnhardt experienced in 2007, but he weathered it all with class and grace. In May, Earnhardt made what he called the most difficult decision of his life when he resolved to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., the organization his late father founded. A month later, with considerable fanfare, he announced he would drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 and beyond. Six engine failures kept him out of the Chase, and he failed to win a race for the first time in his eight seasons. In the closing stages of the October race at Atlanta, Earnhardt suffered one of the hardest hits of his career when he slammed into the Turn 1 wall, but the next day -- still a bit shaky from the impact -- he tested the COT for Hendrick and fielded questions from reporters. Makes you think of someone else named Earnhardt. Title belongs to Johnson, but '07 belonged to JuniorHe has a second consecutive championship and the big silver trophy, and next week will receive a check worth several million dollars. The 2007 season concluded as it began, with Jimmie Johnson as the man to beat. He fully deserves it -- you seize control of a title hunt by winning four in a row and erasing a 68-point lead by the sport's most successful active driver, and you've earned it, brother. Sure, Johnson got an assist from the system. But he still needed to produce results, which he and his No. 48 team did unquestionably.By winning his second consecutive championship, something no one has done in a decade, Johnson propelled himself toward greatness. But even those historic exploits weren't enough to unseat another driver as the year's top newsmaker, one who didn't make the Chase or even win a race. Yes, the title belongs to Johnson. But the season was dominated by Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose divorce from the team his late father founded and alliance with the sport's top organization consumed 2007 from beginning to end. The story had a massive, 11-month arc. In January, Dale Jr. and his stepmother, Dale Earnhardt Inc. owner Teresa Earnhardt, appeared on stage together during the sport's media tour, and played nice for the public. One month later, Dale was demanding 51 percent of the company. We learned that Dale and Teresa couldn't be in the same room with one another, and that newly installed company president Max Siegel was trying desperately to keep it all from coming apart. Which eventually it did, with spectacular results. In May, Dale announced he was leaving DEI. Everybody wanted a seat at the table -- Richard Childress, Joe Gibbs, even Bobby Ginn, who played the role of ornery upstart before selling out and leaving dozens of employees in the lurch. In June, Earnhardt announced that "my new boss" was Rick Hendrick, the soon-to-be seven-time championship car owner and overseer of NASCAR's top team. Both sides beamed. At last, the soap opera was over. But it wasn't. There was still wrangling to be done over Junior's car number, and a failed bid to secure the No. 8 from DEI that crystallized just how at odds Dale Jr. and his stepmother were. There was the acquisition of crew chief Tony Eury Jr. There was that test session at Atlanta, when Earnhardt slipped into Hendrick gear for the first time. There were all those engine failures, all those unfounded rumors of bad parts and sabotage, and that unfulfilling finish last week at Homestead that was a microcosm of the whole year. And there were the aftereffects. Because of Junior's move, Hendrick had to bump Kyle Busch, who moved to Joe Gibbs Racing to replace J.J. Yeley, who unseated Tony Raines at Hall of Fame Racing. DEI absorbed Ginn's team, adding Mark Martin, Aric Almirola and Regan Smith, and leaving Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek jobless. Mountain Dew and National Guard replaced Budweiser, which replaced Dodge Dealers on Kasey Kahne's car. Casey Mears was moved from Hendrick's No. 25 team to its No. 5. And Tony Gibson, Eury's understudy at DEI, became a crew chief. Some people are quick to dismiss Junior, claiming he's a media creation or that he's living off his father's name or that he hasn't won enough to deserve all the attention he receives. But to all those thousands of people in the grandstands who wore red No. 8 apparel, he matters. He's important enough that when he's not winning, television numbers drop. And he's influential enough that when he makes decisions, hundreds of little dominoes fall. Just as we all witnessed this year. The rest of the top 10 stories of 2007: 2. Gordon's year 3. Back-to-back 4. Tomorrow is now 5. Montoya's mark 6. Open-wheel invasion 7. Inauspicious debut 8. Fear and loathing on Fridays 9. Tuning out? 10. Part time, no problem Surprises 3. Dave Blaney 2. Martin Truex Jr. 1. Clint Bowyer Disappointments 3. The Chase 2. Gillett Evernham Motorsports 1. ESPN Awards Driver of the Year: Gordon • Runner-up: Johnson. The machine shows no sign of slowing down. • Honorable mention: Montoya, who rarely looked lost in his first season in stock-cars, and set the bar for all the open-wheel expatriates to follow with a victory and six top-10 finishes. Crew Chief of the Year: Gil Martin, RCR • Runner-up: Chad Knaus, the Evernham of today. • Honorable mention: Doug Randolph, who breathed some life into Petty Enterprises before bolting to DEI. Owner of the Year: Rick Hendrick • Runner-up: Richard Childress, who placed all three members of his stable in the Chase. • Honorable mention: Jack Roush, who has a solid 2008 title threat in Matt Kenseth, a fleet of other contenders, and was somehow able to convince NASCAR to let him expand to seven cars. Sort of. Race of the Year: Centurion Boats at the Glen, Watkins Glen • Runner-up: Daytona 500. Plenty of controversy, especially at the end. • Honorable mention: Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, just for the fabulous Johnson vs. Kenseth finish. Early 2008 championship pick: Johnson Junior's final race at DEI ends like so many this yearIf it wasn't clear already, it's crystal clear after Sunday's Ford 400 in front of a sell-out crowd at Homestead-Miami Speedway.Dale Earnhardt Jr. is ready to move on. In fact, that is a massive understatement. After completing his nine-year run with Dale Earnhardt Inc. with a 36th-place finish Sunday, Earnhardt sounded like a man who can't wait to change into his new work clothes at Hendrick Motorsports, where he will begin racing next season. "It's been hard, man. This whole year has been hard -- and I don't ever want to do it again," Earnhardt said. "I just want to get happy. I want to get to where I'm in a good place, and I want to get to a place where I can run well and win races like I know I can. I want to get around good people and quit having to deal with jerks, and just set myself apart from all the things that get on my nerves and get right." Earnhardt had hoped to end his run at DEI, where he clashed with his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, in memorable fashion. If he did so, his final race in the red No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet was much like his entire final season in the car. It will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. On Lap 50, he tangled with Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick as he attempted to head into the pits. And after getting tagged in the left rear by Busch and turned sideways, Earnhardt ended up going back out on the racetrack -- resulting in a penalty for a commitment line violation. His troubles actually started even earlier than that. He qualified 13th-fastest Friday, but had to move to the rear of the field when the car required a transmission change after Saturday's practice. Until his run-in with Busch, he was sailing up through the field, climbing as high as 11th at one point after starting in 41st. (Sam Hornish Jr. and Johnny Benson also had to move to the rear of the field prior to the start). But none of it lasted. On the Lap 57 restart following the caution brought out by his pit-road mishap, Earnhardt got rear-ended by Jeff Burton's No. 31 Chevrolet, adding to his misery. It was almost piling on when Earnhardt subsequently was penalized twice more -- first for pitting before pit road was open and also for excessive speed entering the pits. Each time he was penalized, Earnhardt was forced to go to the end of the longest line. By then it hardly mattered. His car was so damaged that he was three laps off the pace, and he eventually fell six laps behind the leaders. "I had a great car. I got up to 11th. Did y'all see that? I mean, we were running good -- and I got run over by a veteran on a restart. I don't know what in the hell that was," Earnhardt said. "I'm so disappointed. We all try to take care of each other on the racetrack, and Jeff Burton is one of the guys that I would expect the most of that out of -- give-and-take. I don't know. He said the sun was in his eyes, and it was blinding down the front straightaway. "But my luck, I didn't think it could get worse -- until then. And then Jeff was the guy. It's upsetting, but there are bigger things. Kyle was being a jerk early on, running into me, trying to rile me up. I don't know why he spun me out on pit road. I guess he was blinded by the sun, too, or else he just can't see at all. "But integrity is what's important, and that's what I'm going to hang onto. I can't wait to get to work [at Hendrick], and get this over with, get past this. I want to win races." Attempting to keep his integrity intact is what apparently kept Earnhardt going over the final two hours or more of Sunday's race that lasted just a couple of minutes over three hours. He said it was important to him that he at least finish after all that had happened to him earlier -- in the race and during the season as a whole. "I, uh, we didn't want to quit. So we kept going," Earnhardt said. As the race that was won by Matt Kenseth in his No. 17 Ford wound down and his future Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson clinched his second Nextel Cup championship in a row, Earnhardt came on the radio and apologized to crew chief Tony Gibson. "Sorry, old man," Earnhardt said. "Sorry it ended like this. I wish you the best of luck in everything." "You, too, man," Gibson replied. "God, I hope so," Earnhardt muttered. After pulling into the garage area following the race, Earnhardt climbed out of the red No. 8 for the final time and took one final slow walk around it, surveying the damage. The rear end was basically torn completely off, both sides in the rear heavily bandaged with thick black duct tape. It was not the way he wanted to bring it back for the last time before switching into the No. 88 he will drive for Hendrick Motorsports. But it was the final piece of evidence of a season when nothing seemed to go right -- as he failed to win a single race for the first time since becoming a full-time driver in the No. 8 for DEI in 2000. "I try not to let my confidence get abused or hurt. But so many things have happened this year," said Earnhardt, who won 17 races overall in the previous seven seasons but faded to 16th in points this season and failed to qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup. "You may not think it's your fault or you're doing anything to put yourself in that situation, but someone on the other side of the fence may see a better way of putting it and a better solution on how I could quit finishing like I've been finishing." Still, Earnhardt denied that he couldn't wait for this season to end. He didn't want it to end like it did, and he's certainly glad to be moving on, but he said he never felt impatient for the end to come about. "I like driving cars, so I don't want the season ending sooner. I like doing that. And in the offseason, I don't feel like I have a job," Earnhardt said. "So I'll be anxious to get behind the wheel of a car and stay there -- especially in Rick's stuff. I'm a pretty lucky guy to be going there. I'm pretty fortunate to be having that opportunity. "I can't thank the Lord enough. I can't thank Rick and all those guys enough for believing in me, knowing that I can win championships and will bring some more championships to that team. I just can't thank them enough. Making the change that they made, I think they made the right choice -- and I'm going to try to make 'em proud." His new boss, owner Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports, reiterated last night that he expects Earnhardt to do well right off the bat. "I don't foresee any problems at all. I think the pressure is on me because of his fan base expecting him to do well," Hendrick said. "I don't think we'll have a bunch of hiccups. I think it's going to be fairly smooth." Earnhardt sure hopes so. "I don't ever want to be in this situation again. I guess what's gotten old is everybody was telling me, 'You had a lot to deal with and a lot of bad things happen, but you handled it well,'" Earnhardt said. "I'm tired of bad things happening and handling it well. I mean, everybody has got their limits. But now this is past me." Earnhardt set for final race with DEIDale Earnhardt Jr's term at Dale Earnhardt Inc. will come to an end after Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup Ford 400.Earnhardt will move over to his new team at Hendrick Motorsports, where he will join Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears. "It makes me feel good that people even call it an era," Earnhardt said. "I had a lot of great wins with that car and a lot of great friendships made with that group. The hardest part for me this weekend is knowing that when I walk into the garage for my first practice in Daytona, most of them faces won't be in that stall with me. "That's really, really hard because I really like all those guys and feel like they're my brothers and we all really got along great. I didn't see that sort of camaraderie through other teams." Earnhardt will also be moving to a new sponsor, which is a combination of Mountain Dew, Amp Energy Drink and the National Guard. The new sponsor arrangement will allow the popular driver to be marketed to the under-21 crowd, something that was prohibited with Budweiser, his current sponsor. "I'm going to miss driving for Budweiser and the relationship we had," Earnhardt said. "I like that car, am used to being in it and am going to miss that part of it, but I guess the hardest part is the personalities and friendships and relationships I have with all my guys on my team because it's really, really strong, stronger than a lot of people would assume. "We all work together and people think we just show up on weekends. We call each other on Mondays, hang out and get everybody together at a pub, and still do that." What bothers Earnhardt the most is that he will no longer be driving for a team that was founded by his father, the late Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in a crash at the end of the 2001 Daytona 500. "I will be sad for my father that things aren't different," Earnhardt said. "I'm sad for him, not for me or anybody else. I'm just sad because his vision was different. He was such a great person and his visions were great and worthy and should be realized. That'll be a shame. "I got some great support from Rick (Hendrick, his new team owner) whenever I need it and that's going to help a lot to get from one place to another. He knows exactly what I thinking and what I'm going through, he knows exactly what kind of guy I am and the things that matter to me." EARNHARDT NAMES KESOLOWSKI TO NATIONWIDE SERIES RIDE: Earnhardt Jr. announced Brad Kesolowski will be his driver at JR Motorsports in the Busch Series, which will be renamed the Nationwide Series in 2008. The United States Navy will be the team's sponsor. "We are excited to announce that were signing a two-year deal with Brad Keselowski as our driver," Earnhardt said. "We are hoping to give this guy all the equipment and success he needs to find himself wherever he wishes to be and reach the goals that he wishes to obtain in his driving career." Keselowski, 23, was recruited to join the Navy team midway through the 2007 season. In 13 starts in the No. 88 Navy Chevrolet, he has accumulated five top-10s and eight top-15 finishes. "I would like to think that I had a pretty good eye for talent," Earnhardt said. "Every driver that we have been associated with definitely gave us great ideas and great reason for us to put out support behind them. Brad has done the same thing. "I felt like when he was racing for his previous team, he was pretty sought after and well watched amongst the guys in the garage area in the Busch Series." While Earnhardt is best know as a Nextel Cup driver, he has learned the challenges of owning a Busch Series team. "There are so many things that you tackle, things you enjoy," Earnhardt said. "The relationship with the Navy has been really fun. Working one-on-one as the owner with a sponsor was new to me. We have really enjoyed the relationship. "With the drivers it has been challenging as well, an enjoyable challenge. Brad is a likable young guy and we have a lot of things in common. We get along great. I want to see him succeed." Offseason calls for getawayThe NASCAR season has undoubtedly been long and, like a 500-mile race, tends to wear on the drivers in the last laps.Down time in the offseason is cherished and, depending on who you are, is spent either in North Carolina keeping a low profile or around the globe doing anything but. "I'm going to have some time off," said Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Ford. "I think we're going to go somewhere crazy, out of the country, where they don't speak English and don't know anything about NASCAR, and get a week or so of that." Edwards, the 2007 Busch Series champion, also said, "I'm going to do some flight training next week, starting Monday, and I'm really looking forward to Christmas." And if you're Dale Earnhardt Jr., you're preparing for a new job, but still trying to have some fun nevertheless. "I started bow hunting, which was pretty fun," Earnhardt said. "Me and Tony [Eury] Jr. went to Oklahoma and I killed my first buck with a bow. So I'm enjoying those types of things where I can spend more time with Martin [Truex Jr.] because that's all he does in the winter time. You can't hang out with him because he's deer hunting." Earnhardt tests Hendrick car, getting head start on new rideDale Earnhardt Jr. zipped up the white racing suit, this one with a shoe company's name plastered across his chest instead of a popular beer, and climbed into a car that made him look even more out of place.It was white instead of red. No. 5 was painted on the side instead of No. 8. The logo was for Hendrick Motorsports, not the team that bears the name of his late father. Earnhardt gave an intriguing glimpse of what the very near future holds on Monday, taking the wheel of a new car with his new team for the first round of a two-day testing session at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Junior was tired from NASCAR's grueling schedule and sore from a nasty crash the previous day, when a hard lick in the closing laps cost him a chance to go for the win in a Nextel Cup race on this same 1.5-mile oval. Still, Earnhardt got down to work with Hendrick Motorsports, which will be his home beginning in 2008 following a nasty split from Dale Earnhardt Inc. and its owner, stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, who remains his boss for three more races. ``It's like going to a new school and trying to make new friends,'' Earnhardt said. ``It's hard to make friends. It's hard to make relationships when you're starting over with a new group of guys. I have a great rapport with all the guys on the team I'm currently with. I'm going through the challenge of building respect and trust with a whole new group of guys.'' At least he heard a familiar voice over the radio. Tony Eury Jr., his cousin and one-time crew chief at DEI, has already made the move to Hendrick, getting a head start on next season. ``It's really cool to be back with him,'' Eury said. ``I'm trying to be the bridge between Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Jr. so they can understand him quicker. We've got a lot of work to do to make sure it's game on when February comes.'' Since announcing his move to Hendrick, Earnhardt has walked a balancing act between his new team and soon-to-be-former operation. He conceded that it was a little strange to head to a different hauler on Monday, leaving Regan Smith to drive Junior's No. 8 in testing. ``A couple of guys from the 8 car came over to see me today and asked me if I was all right and how things were going with the 5 car,'' Earnhardt said. ``They're looking out for me. We have work left to do there, and we're going to do it.'' Earnhardt had endured a difficult season, on and off the track. A series of blown engines scuttled his chances of qualifying for NASCAR's 10-race playoff, leaving him as both a lame duck and a guy who has no chance of winning the Nextel Cup. But he'll be moving to the powerful Hendrick team, which already has the top two contenders in the title race, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Casey Mears will actually take over Kyle Busch's No. 5 car, while Earnhardt switched to No. 88 so he can retain some link to his past. Negotiations to bring the single 8 with him from DEI fell through. ``He hates what he's having to leave over there,'' Eury said. ``On the other hand, I think if you said Dale Jr. could start the 2008 season tomorrow, be would be happy. He's sad and happy, but I think he's pretty much ready to go.'' This wasn't Earnhardt's debut behind the wheel of a Hendrick machine. That came in April, when he jumped into Busch's No. 5 car at Texas after a crash that took out both drivers. Busch's team repaired his car but couldn't find the driver, who apparently left the track thinking his day was done. So Earnhardt jumped in for the final nine laps, a precursor to his announcement in June that he was moving to Hendrick in 2008 -- to take Busch's job. But this was Junior's official debut with his new team, an occasion that Hendrick marked by having him drive a specially painted car bearing the company's original name, All-Star Racing, its former white and red paint scheme and a throwback sponsor, ``City Chevrolet.'' Earnhardt also broke out his new white racing suit, which had Adidas in red letters across the front instead of the more familiar Budweiser, which has been his sponsor since he broke into the sport and quickly became one of its most followed drivers. ``I don't know what it's supposed to feel like yet,'' he said. ``This is just getting an opportunity to work with these guys a little early. I'm still focused and dedicated toward finishing my job with dignity over at the 8 car. That's important to me.'' After his firing, Busch signed on with Joe Gibbs Racing. He tested Monday in the No. 18, which will be his car next season, and couldn't resist a jab at the guy who was driving the 5. ``It felt good to actually pass it,'' Busch said, breaking into a smile. ``I'm going to miss the guys. I've been working with them for three years. But sometimes you've got to move on to bigger, better, badder things elsewhere.'' Busch looked good with his new team. He put up the fastest speed of the morning session (186.190 mph) and was third-fastest in the afternoon (184.358). Earnhardt drove two versions of the 5 car, running seventh-best in the morning (184.450) and eighth in the afternoon (183.667). Clearly, he would have preferred to take a few days off instead. ``I was looking forward to it waking up this morning, but I knew by lunchtime that the actual testing part of it was going to be boring as always,'' Earnhardt said. ``We've been here all weekend. I think NASCAR is trying to punish us for some reason. I know it's a lot more convenient to just stay here, but, man, it makes for a long week.'' Earnhardt plans to remain the same blue jeans-wearing, shirttail-hanging-out sort of guy he's always been, but Eury has already made some concessions to joining the more buttoned-down operation at Hendrick. ``I'm wearing my shirttail in and I got my hair cut,'' the crew chief said. ``Dressing up is fine. It's part of the deal, and it's good to look nice.'' Hits keep coming for Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr. is enduring quite the painful ending to his final run at the company his daddy created.As the races tick down in the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, as well as his tenure at Dale Earnhardt Inc., Earnhardt has been stung by a number hard hits both on the track and in his quest to avoid a winless campaign. Sunday's race at Atlanta was a microcosm of Earnhardt's final season in the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet before moving on to drive for Hendrick Motorsports, beginning in the 2008 season. Earnhardt qualified fifth, fell a lap down after a tire went flat but was able to battle back into contention in the closing stages of the race. But while running third during a green-white-checkered finish, the left-rear wheel fell off the back of Earnhardt's Monte Carlo and it careened up the track. Meanwhile, Earnhardt slammed into the second-turn wall and was then hit by Jamie McMurray. That turned a potential win for Earnhardt into a disappointing 25th-place finish. "Man that was a hit," Earnhardt said. "It was hard and loud - bam! - into that wall. I knew when I was sliding up there it was gonna be big, and it was - loud and hard. We lost a left rear wheel. We must have had an issue with the hubs or something, because we had loose lugs and a loose rear wheel several times through the day. "When that wasn't a problem, we were fast as hell. We passed a lot of cars today, but you can only do that if everything is tight and screwed on correctly. All I know is I have a headache, and I'm going to my bus to rest up." Headaches have been the norm all season for Earnhardt, who has failed to finish six races thanks in part to engine failures which have raised eyebrows and sparked rumors of conspiracy theories. All espionage talk aside, Earnhardt has created his own share of problems on the track, including running over Kyle Busch at Kansas - the driver he is replacing at Hendrick next year. That didn't endear Earnhardt to his new team which qualified for the "Chase for the Nextel Cup" - something he could not do even though the field was increased to 12 drivers this year. By missing the Chase for the second straight season, the only thing left for Earnhardt to do is win races - something he has yet to do this year. "We've had a nightmare of a time getting to the finish of so many races this year," Earnhardt said. "The only way to overcome those feelings is to be pouring Budweiser all over each other in Victory Lane at the end of the night." Earnhardt has just three chances remaining to have that type of celebration. But if recent history is any indication, the next beverage he will be spraying in Victory Lane will be Amp - his primary sponsor next year. Earnhardt says final season at DEI should have been more rewardingDale Earnhardt Jr. isn't so much melancholy about leaving his late father's team as he is agitated about the way his final season at Dale Earnhardt Inc. has gone.``We feel we missed a great opportunity this year with a great chance of winning the championship and challenging for it, and we're really ticked off about that,'' said Junior, who failed to qualify for NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup championship for the second time in three years. In 2005, Earnhardt's No. 8 Chevrolet was often less than competitive with the top cars. But this season has been far more frustrating, with engine failures, flat tires and crashes the biggest problems. ``We've run in the top five every week,'' said Earnhardt, who will start fifth in Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. ``I don't think anybody even realizes, you know, because when we blow a motor and fall out of the race, the story is who won and how exciting the race was. We're lost in the back of the newspaper somewhere and we get no credit for how good we've been. ``As far as handling and running up front, I've never ran up front as often as I have this year. This year, I've been going to the racetrack and been in the top five 95 percent of the races and I've never been that way before, and it's a shame we won't be able to get the credit or the attaboy for it.'' Now, with just four races remaining before he leaves DEI for Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt is just hoping for a strong finish. ``There ain't no pressure,'' he said. ``I feel ridiculous going winless this year because we should have won. I feel pretty gypped, you know.'' Eury Sr. stepping in as crew chief for KeselowskiJR Motorsports Director of Competition Tony Eury Sr. has been named interim crew chief of the No. 88 Navy team and driver Brad Keselowski for the remainder of the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series season, replacing Wes Ward.JR Motorsports has chosen not to renew Ward's contract, and is giving him the opportunity to pursue other options. With the help of car chief Ricky Cade, Eury will serve in an interim capacity until a full-time replacement has been determined for 2008. Eury joined the JRM staff on June 27. He has more than 15 years experience as a crew chief, working with such drivers as Dale Earnhardt, Neil Bonnett, Steve Park, Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. throughout his tenure at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Eury will continue to serve his primary role as Director of Competition throughout this interim assignment. Eury ready to hand over 8 car reins to GibsonDale Earnhardt Inc. crew chief Tony Eury Jr. is down to his last two races working for the "family team" with cousin Dale Earnhardt Jr.But Saturday afternoon at Kansas Speedway, Eury said his departure from the No. 8 Chevrolet team after next weekend's UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway would be an opportunity for him and his replacement, the current No. 8 car chief, Tony Gibson. "We'd basically said if we didn't make the Chase, it might be an opportunity for Gibson to do his deal with our boys and for me to do it with Hendrick," Eury said. "I just felt like I'd be halfway comfortable if I could get to where Dale Jr. would only have to run five or six races until the end of the year. "And all of them are like [Kansas] -- similar to here, Charlotte, Texas, Atlanta -- and those are like the places where Gibson took over when I was out [in May and June, a six-race suspension for a COT violation at Darlington]. [Gibson] knows what to do there, and it's all laid out for him, so he just needs to go to the racetrack. "It gives me a big chance to get over there and be with [Hendrick competition director] Ken Howes and Rex [Stump, lead Hendrick engineer] and all those guys and just learn their procedures and go with [Darian] Grubb and the 25 car each week and just kind of analyze guys and see what's happening. "I'll be [at the racetrack] every week and from what I hear I've got a lot of testing that I'll be doing early in the week and then I'll go to the racetrack. It's a pretty full plate, but that's what I told them: I've got two-and-a-half months until the biggest exam of my life, [the Daytona 500] so I've got to be ready." Eury said he had no doubt Gibson, who won a Cup championship as Jeff Gordon's car chief at Hendrick Motorsports in 2001 before moving to DEI for the first of his two stints there, will do well -- though it pains Eury to leave a man he's close friends with. "It's gonna be tough," Eury said. "Gibson's a great person and I really enjoyed working with him, but pretty much the way I looked at it is he came to DEI to be a crew chief, and I'm happy that he's going to get the chance to do it again. "He kind of got in a bad situation the first time he come [in 2002 with the No. 1 car] and this is going to be a really good one. He's accustomed to all the guys and I think he's going to do great. Hopefully Regan [Smith, Gibson's planned driver] comes in and picks up on it pretty quick." Strong runs don't soothe thoughts on COTDale Earnhardt Jr. was seemingly giddy to finish a race Sunday without blowing an engine.After a third-place finish in Sundays' Dodge Dealers 400, the No. 8 driver held his ball cap in the air and saluted the media gallery as he exited Sunday's post-race news conference. "We had a lot of luck go our way and we also worked really hard to get to where we got. I am real proud of my team, they gave me a great opportunity [Sunday] to run great and we ran up front early in the race and were able to stay there most of the day," Earnhardt said. "We had some down parts in the race and got a lap down but were able to get that back." The "down parts" may have something to do with Earnhardt's less-than-glowing review of the Car of Tomorrow. After multiple races and development, drivers are still taking issue with the new chassis meant to make racing safer and competition closer. "The COT and the concrete surface here made it difficult to race," Earnhardt said. "Cars don't have any downforce on the front. It's either hitting the ground or too high; the car is really tight or really lose. There's no middle ground." Chase points leader Jeff Gordon finished 11th and said his car wouldn't do anything he wanted it to do; the driver of the No. 24 battled an ill-handling racecar all day. When asked to give the COT a letter grade at this stage of the game, after 13 COT races, Gordon simply said, "no." But he agreed with Earnhardt's comments. "There are guys out there making this car work ... I need to hold back what I really want to say," Gordon said. "I just don't see how we're going to get it done under the current conditions of this car and put on the kind of races that we need to put on. And we haven't even gotten to the 1.5 miles [tracks] yet." For months, Earnhardt was guest who wouldn't leaveSometimes it seems as if he's staying in the guest bedroom, with a freshly pressed red firesuit hanging in the closet and a No. 8 cap on the nightstand. We go out to dinner, and he's there. We go to the movies, and he's there. We go on vacation, and he's there, ready to interrupt the whole thing with yet another big announcement.It's life with Junior. As NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. demands a certain level of attention. Virtually anything he does is of interest to a very large segment of the sport's following. But none of that prepared you for this season, and the almost constant cycle of news that left reporters in a perpetual state of readiness. From May 10, when he announced his plans to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., until Wednesday, when his new car number and sponsor were finally revealed, Junior was the household guest who wouldn't leave. You checked on him every morning, tucked him in every night, and ran around the country to hear what he had to say. It began, innocently enough, at The Home Depot. We were looking for new bathroom fixtures -- the good brushed nickel kind, not that tired chrome stuff -- when the BlackBerry buzzed. It might as well have been Junior knocking on the door, suitcase in hand, announcing that he was going to stay a while. There was a press conference scheduled in Mooresville, N.C., ultimately to announce the driver's split from DEI, but not where he was going. It was as if Junior had plunked himself down on the sofa, put his feet up, and asked you to set an extra place setting for the near future. Oh, and to fetch him a Bud. The BlackBerry became the bearer of bad news. It would buzz, she would see the look of consternation on my face as I checked it, and ask, "What did Junior do now?" When we would go to dinner on a rare weekend night off, she would steal it, hide it in a drawer or threaten to throw it out the window. Because otherwise, I'd have to check it every five minutes or so. Just to make sure Junior hadn't done anything. She'd look at me, eyes afire, hands on hips. "I'm going out with you," she'd say, "and not with Junior." Bless her. But still, sometimes Junior would hide in the backseat and go along for the ride, announcing himself at the worst possible moment. Like at a nice place on Hilton Head, where we were enjoying a few peaceful, Junior-free days of vacation until I spotted the familiar visage of driver No. 8 on the television above the bar. According to the closed captioning, he was asking people to lay off Teresa, his stepmother and DEI's owner, a fact that needed to be in the column I had written and filed before we left. Suddenly, notes were being jotted down on a cocktail napkin. I begged a few minutes with the BlackBerry to e-mail in a couple of additional paragraphs (read more). She relented. She had begrudgingly become used to having Junior around. We joked about our family -- the two of us, dog Oreo, cat Zeke and Junior. But it wasn't always funny. News of an impending announcement from Junior led to a flurry of telephone calls to public relations representatives, the checking of flight schedules, the re-examination of vacation days. "Honey, I know we're supposed to be on vacation in New Hampshire, but Junior has a press conference scheduled in Chicago," you'd say, and receive only a steely silence in response. Thankfully, it was just to unveil a new candy bar. False alarm. The relationship is saved for yet another day. Still, he has a way of creeping up on you. You know you've become too used to having Junior around when you refer to the pets as "Tony Jr." and "Pops," when you add yet another red shirt to your wardrobe, when the refrigerator contains a little too much of a certain malted beverage. Junior moved in just as we began extensive renovations to the house. I begged to add a basement bar -- Club D, maybe? -- and build a Western-style village in the backyard. Thankfully, she rejected both requests. As houseguests go, Junior wasn't necessarily a bad one; he never played his Elvis Presley albums after midnight, he never spilled Budweiser on the furniture, and he always picked up after himself. Still, we felt a burden lifted when those No. 88 cars were unveiled on Wednesday, and we knew it was time for him to move out. There are no more loose ends to tie up, no more reasons for him to hang around. As much as we liked the guy, he had become something of a third wheel. We felt plenty of relief when at last he packed up all his storylines and news announcements and carried them out the door, toward his new home at Hendrick Motorsports. Now, there's just one more question. What am I going to do with all of this Amp? Jeffrey Earnhardt's low-key position what driver wantsThe skinny, strawberry blonde-haired kid in the red driver's uniform has his cap pulled down low to keep his fair skin out of the sun's rays. He leans in the window of his car, turning the steering wheel as the rest of the crew pushes it slowly across the dusty access road that leads to the pits at Dover International Speedway.Running in one of NASCAR's lower-level regional series, he's an 18-year-old "developmental driver," learning the trade far from the spotlight, which means you help where you can. The only thing that gives him away as somebody special are the Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Bass Pro Shops logos. Welcome to Jeffrey Earnhardt's world. While he toils in near obscurity in the Busch East Series, running at places like Elko, Minn., and Beaver Falls, N.Y., the national media rushes to cover uncle Dale's every breath. But that's exactly how Kerry Earnhardt's middle son wants it. "There's pressure because everybody automatically expects you to run good because of your name," Jeffrey Earnhardt said. "But I'm just like all these other guys. I have to learn it all, the same way they did. "You sort of have to not think about it, just go out there. I'm out here to learn and that's what I was sent out here to do, learn how to drive a racecar." That comes with the Earnhardt name, Jeffrey admits. But there's a certain pride in being a fourth-generation NASCAR driver. "My family's been in this sport ever since I can remember and I'm hoping I can keep it going, keep the name out there," he said. "There's a lot to learn and this is making the next step to get there. I think this is a real good learning experience." Just like most aspiring young drivers, Earnhardt started at a young age, running hobby stocks and Late Models. When he did well in a General Motors-sponsored driver development search last season, it led to an opportunity to drive one of Andy Santerre's cars. Of course, having Earnhardt on the uniform leads to increased expectations, sometimes unfair ones. Jeffrey said other teams in the series weren't sure what to expect when the No. 1 Chevrolet rolled off the hauler early in the season. "I think we've done a pretty good job of staying [out of the spotlight] and still running fast," he said. "We started out the season, and everybody was like, 'Oh, boy, what are they going to do.' And now we're out there, beating on their doors. "I know our team is real happy with the way the season's going and I think we've done a little better than what people were expecting." Some of that has come from Jeffrey's father, who has been able to add some advice when needed. "He's helped me a lot, figuring out how to get around tracks and other things," Earnhardt said. "He really helped me with getting around Loudon. We had a real good practice there and two pretty good races." So what's next for him? "I think we're going to run another full season of Busch East and maybe some Busch races," Jeffrey said. "I'm really looking forward to next year and having the same team members, so we can keep that relationship going. That's a big key to running good." Until then, Earnhardt doesn't mind paying his dues away from the media glare that seems to swirl around anyone with the same last name. And, not surprisingly, his long-term goal is the same as his more famous uncle's: "Hopefully to win a championship in the Cup Series some day." Earnhardt crew chief Eury Jr. set to get head start at HendrickJunior is getting a head start at Hendrick Motorsports.No, not Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is finishing his final nine races before leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. for the Hendrick racing team powerhouse. Rather, Earnhardt crew chief Tony Eury Jr., Junior's cousin, who will leave DEI early and start his new job at Hendrick next month. ``It's really a difficult decision as far as which is the right one,'' Earnhardt said after qualifying Friday. ``Obviously, half of me wants him to stay and finish the season out, because I think we have a great opportunity to win races this year. But I know whoever is in charge of the car whether it's Tony Gibson or Steve Hmiel, whoever, I'll have that shot.'' Gibson served as Earnhardt's crew chief earlier this year when Eury served a six-race suspension for an illegal modification to the Car of Tomorrow at Darlington Raceway. Gibson was expected to take over after the Oct. 7 race at Talladega Superspeedway. Earnhardt, who said he's focused on winning races for DEI, said he was glad Eury has the opportunity to start working on next year's car. Earnhardt said he won't worry about Hendrick until December and January. ``It gives Tony Jr. the chance to know what he's up against, know what he needs to work on and get really acquainted with the atmosphere and get the team in the direction that he personally thinks it needs to be going in,'' Earnhardt said. Still, the transition would be easier if Earnhardt and Eury were allowed to participate in a Car of Tomorrow test for Hendrick in late October at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Earnhardt said that decision was up to DEI officials. ``If they don't have a problem with it, I may be running a car there just to get some experience behind the wheel,'' he said. Earnhardt enters Sunday's race 13th in the points standings and out of contention for the Nextel Cup title. He qualified 21st Friday and would love to give DEI at least one more win before he leaves the team his late father founded. No matter what the results are down the stretch, Earnhardt said it's going to be tough to keep his emotions in check. ``It will be pretty emotional at Homestead,'' he said. ``I've got some great friends on this team; I've got some great friends on DEI as a whole. That will be a difficult weekend. But we have a lot to be really happy and proud about.'' MOVING ON: Robert Yates said he wanted to be remembered in NASCAR as a fair owner. That's why Yates, retiring at the end of the season, said it was only right he transferred the No. 88 to Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Yates' association with the Earnhardt family dates back four decades and spun stories in the back of his hauler Friday about learning respect from Junior's grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, and the appreciation he always had for Dale Earnhardt. Ralph Earnhardt drove the No. 88 Olds in 1957, and Yates said he was a believer in tradition and the importance of NASCAR families in the sport's history. ``I have a lot of reasons why I wanted to do that, and I'm happy to do it,'' he said. ``This is for Ralph and Dale Sr.'' Robert Yates Racing won the 1999 Cup championship with Dale Jarrett driving the No. 88. Ricky Rudd drove the No. 88 for most of this season until a separated shoulder forced him out of the car. Kenny Wallace will drive the car Sunday at Dover International Speedway. Junior will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet next season after stepmother Teresa Earnhardt refused to give up her rights to the No. 8. ``He's going to do a great job with the number,'' Yates said. ``They'll do that number justice. I think they'll take the 88 where it needs to be.'' Already ahead of the curve with Junior merchandiseAt 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the first Dale Earnhardt Jr. apparel featuring Mountain Dew, Amp and National Guard hit shelves at JR Motorsports' shop, JR Nation, the Hendrick gift shop and online.Rollout of a limited collection will follow in the next two weeks. That's fast work, and it's important work, because Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the box-office king of the $2 billion-plus NASCAR merchandise market. The faster such merchandise is available to the public, the more hits it gets, and the more money it makes. "It's Hendrick Motorsports' day, and Amp and Mountain Dew and National Guard," said Mark Dyer, president of Motorsports Authentics, the leading distributor of licensed NASCAR products and collectibles. "We're so proud at Motorsports Authentics to be partnered with Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports and these great sponsors. This is a great day for Junior Nation and for NASCAR. I think it's an exciting new chapter for everybody." Dyer said that die-cast is going to take a while, given the turnaround times for production, however. "Die-cast is available through our dealers, and QVC and other channels are going to take orders, and product won't actually ship until after the holidays," he said. "But we're getting a whole product array for 2008 and it will be at Daytona. Junior Nation will have plenty of selections for the new wardrobe." Out with the red, in with green and blue is the name of this tune. Team owner Rick Hendrick is happy with the combination of his new driver and sponsors he's worked with for years, especially in the licensed products arena. "I think definitely the sponsor has an impact on souvenir sales, for sure," he said. "I think it takes a combination of the driver, though, and the sponsor. Junior has a tremendous fan base. But then again, when you look at the colors of Pepsi, especially Mountain Dew and AMP and the National Guard, with the number of people that they touch through media and activation, that's the key, is growing our fan base and having products that can promote your driver and take your whole organization to the next level. "That's why with these sponsors, that's gonna help us with souvenir sales. I think you've got Junior, who is the most popular guy out there, and he's leading in the souvenir sales. Just adding these brands, with their activation, it's just going to make it even better. We'll have to wait and see." Thanks to JR Motorsports VP of licensing Joe Mattes and VP of marketing and brand management Thayer Lavielle, the apparel was up and running at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, a task that still had Lavielle buzzing after the announcement. "Our VP of licensing, Joe Mattes, worked very hard to ensure we had limited items ready to go," she said. "We also had to work very hard to keep it a secret, as to what the sponsorship and number were, so therein lay somewhat of a conundrum of how to work with our licensees and treat them fairly. We worked specifically with one vendor to produce some items for us locally, and today they are available at our shop, in JR Nation, and online. As of 11 a.m. this morning, the licensees got the rest of the items and the rest of the outlets should have items out very quickly." To put this in perspective, you have to understand how licensing works. It's not as easy as coming up with an idea or design and starting to make products. There's a sample process, approvals, redesigns or tweaks, another round of approvals and so on until the final product is signed off on by everyone involved. "It's complicated in that you have a lot of different pieces that you want to bring to market, from a decal to a bumper sticker to a floor mat, T-shirt, hat, die-cast car, all these different items," Lavielle said. "As the negotiations kept going on longer and longer, we kept having to sort things out, not necessarily on the deal points, but in terms of getting marketing programs and logos ready. It's been a nail-biter. We're working as hard as we can with our licensees to get the products out there for Daytona, if not before." As for the sign-off process, Lavielle said it was fairly streamlined. "There are internal processes between Hendrick and JR Motorsports ... JR Motorsports controls and runs the licensing of Junior's Cup and Busch teams, but we work very closely with Hendrick on that to make sure it has the right look and feel." The group doing this pedal-to-the-metal project is an experienced one, with lots of hands from the old Action Performance and Sports Image days on staff. Even so, the process left Lavielle and Mattes gasping for breath. "It's full-boogie-tilt, pedal to the metal," Lavielle said with a laugh. "Joe and I were joking around the other day, as we were pulling our hair out, we said, 'just think, it's only going to get worse!' It's nice to be able to talk about it freely, so we can focus on getting the product out and serving everyone who has supported us." Earnhardt Jr. himself had a hand in some of the designs, including the paint schemes for the cars, and he exercises some control over products which bear his name, Lavielle said. "[Earnhardt's] totally easy to work with," she said. "We produce so many items; he doesn't look at all of them. Specific to adidas, for example, he looks over the line because it's a personalized Dale Jr. line of lifestyle clothes. He'll look at that, and not necessarily nitpick, but have suggestions. "On every race fan T-shirt, he's not going to put his thumbprint on all of them, but he does definitely put his thumbprint on certain items that are particular to him." Wednesday's announcement was a definite thumbprint from Driver 88, and its mark will be left on the industry as a whole. "I do know where Dale Jr. falls into [that $2 billion number], in terms of pushing items out the door, and that's a good position to be in," Lavielle said. Junior has his number, time to focus on resultsNo sooner had one numbers issue been settled Wednesday in Dallas when another quickly arose.Once again, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was right at the center of it. This time, just moments before Earnhardt unveiled the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports cars he will be running for sponsors Mountain Dew, Amp Energy drink and the National Guard next season, former driving champion Darrell Waltrip was asked if the pressure finally had been lifted from Junior after months of nonstop questions. The kid at last had the answers to which car he would run, right down to the paint schemes he personally helped design and the number -- 88 -- that should double the pleasure for most of his fans (and not cause too much pain for those who need to amend their No. 8 tattoos). Waltrip thought for a second about the question. It would be inaccurate to say he paused, for he rarely stops talking long enough for that description to apply. But then he laid out the new numbers that might keep folks talking. "I don't know about pressure. These are just things that distract you," Waltrip said. "When you have distractions and you're trying to win a race or just trying to get to the racetrack every week, and people ask you the same questions over and over, you get annoyed with that. I think this will give him a chance to move on. Everybody knows what he's going to do now. "Now the questions become: How's it going to go? And how many races to do you think he'll win? I think he'll win six races myself. I think he'll win Daytona right out of the box. He'll be great at Daytona and Talladega. He's good at Richmond; he's good at Martinsville. There are some other tracks where he'll slip up there and get a couple. So I think he'll win at least six next year." Six race victories? Next season? From a guy who hasn't won one since May 6, 2006 at Richmond? That was 53 races ago. But no one was flinching from Waltrip's prognostication Wednesday -- not even, and most notably, Junior himself. Quick learners Earnhardt talked about how his current and long-time crew chief at DEI, Tony Eury Jr., will follow him to his new place of employment. He talked about how Eury recently rode back from a race on one of the Hendrick team planes, discussing along the way every aspect of what is going to be his new job with current Hendrick crew chiefs and key employees, including team owner Rick Hendrick. Shortly after landing, the two Juniors -- Earnhardt and Eury -- had their own significant conversation. They talked about how they expect to excel in Hendrick equipment, and about how they noticed Casey Mears, who made the switch to Hendrick from Chip Ganassi Racing prior to last season, is really running well now after a slow start attributed to an early adjustment period that Earnhardt hopes to avoid. When he took several laps in Kyle Busch's Hendrick car at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year (Busch disappeared in a huff after wrecking), Earnhardt said he noticed that Busch's No. 5 machine turned differently than his own No. 8 DEI car. That, coupled with what he saw Mears go through, got Earnhardt to thinking about what he'll need to do to get fully acclimated to the Hendrick cars if he truly hopes to contend for the Daytona 500 that Waltrip already has him winning. "I saw that it took him several weeks [Mears] to really get it figured out. I really want to try to avoid as much of that as possible," Earnhardt said. "If it takes me a while to get used to these cars -- to understand them and how they work -- I want to alleviate that by testing as much as possible." So Earnhardt relayed that information to Eury and then asked him a pointed question. "If that doesn't work, are you still going to have everything we've always ran in your back pocket?" he asked him. "Of course," replied Eury. "No matter what, you've got that." That was comforting to Earnhardt, who later added: "So I'm glad he's in the fold. I feel like we can come out of the box and be very competitive. At worst, we can be our usual selves, which isn't too shabby. And if we're smart, we can take advantage of the resources that Rick has in his company -- and we're going to run better." What's in a number? They're also going to run in the No. 88. How they arrived at that is a great story in itself, and one worth telling. After choking down the disappointment of not being able to get his hands on the No. 8 from Teresa Earnhardt, who would be portrayed as the wicked stepmother if this was a Cinderella fairytale (which it is not), Earnhardt and his business manager, trusted sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, were left scrambling for other options. Eventually the talk turned to the possibility of acquiring the No. 28 that was controlled by but currently not being run by Robert Yates Racing. Yates also owns the No. 88, which it is running this season. "We got talking about the possibilities of trading out one of the other numbers," said Earnhardt Elledge, who led those negotiations on Junior's behalf. "The 88 makes perfect sense because it's double the 8. Two is better than one in some cases. We run the 88 on our Busch car in our Busch program [for JR Motorsports, which Junior owns]." It also is the number that once graced the side of a car driven by Ralph Earnhardt, Junior's grandfather, for precisely eight races when Ralph drove for Petty Enterprises during what was then the equivalent of the Cup series back in 1957. "Robert [Yates] is pretty easy to sit down and talk with. He's a good friend of our family. He's raced against Grandpa Ralph," Earnhardt Elledge said. "So it's easy to get in a room with him and hear a lot of stories about that, which I love. So it was real easy to work out a deal and for him to talk with [Yates' son] Doug and the rest of his family. That number obviously meant a lot to them. They won a championship with that number in their organization (with Dale Jarrett in 1999). "And so we're thankful that they thought enough of us to work something out with us, where they can bring the No. 28 back to the racetrack and we can carry on their legacy with the 88." To date, Earnhardt has never driven anything but the No. 8 in his Cup career, which began in 2000. Changing numbers is not something he took lightly at any point in the process, and he wanted a number with some solid history behind it. "I really didn't understand or know much about my grandfather driving the number," Earnhardt said. "You know, he drove so many different cars that it wasn't really a big surprise to me. But I'm more knowledgeable about and probably more connected to the history of the number from 1978 to '84 [and beyond] with Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison and Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd driving it ... [with] Dale Jarrett's recent success with the number. Donnie Allison drove it in the 70s. "It's had a lot of great drivers, and it's always had a lot of great respect. I feel like the number is very respected. Numbers have personalities, and numbers do talk. Numbers do kind of reach out and grab you. And some of the other options just didn't do that. They just didn't really hit me and make me feel good about them. This one kind of came out of nowhere when we started talking about the 28. I would rather be the 88." Crazy eights So can the 88 really win the 2008 Daytona 500 and a total of six races next season? Waltrip wasn't backing off his prediction even when given a chance to reconsider a little later. "I know what kind of ability Junior has," Waltrip said. "I know the equipment he's going to have. I know the people that Rick is going to put around him. There will be absolutely no reason that I can see why he won't come out and have an awfully good shot at winning Daytona right out of the box. "I drove for Rick. I know what Rick can do for you. He gives you the best. He gives you what you need. If you don't have it and you need something, you tell him and he'll get it for you. That's all a driver can ask for. "I know Junior's ability. I know when you put him in one of Rick Hendrick's cars, he'll win races. I think he'll win at least six next year." Hendrick did not seem put off by Waltrip's assertion about his new driver. "I think anytime you get him close at Daytona or any speedway, you're going to have a shot to win it," Hendrick said. "I can see five or six races he could have won this year, had he been there at the end. I think with his talent and Tony's talent, we can give them the resources to hopefully work with the rest of our guys and be competitive and be there every week. "So it's hard to bet against him. I've seen him take a car that was a 20th-place car at a speedway race and get it to the front. I'd love to win the Daytona 500 with him." With 17 career victories despite his much-publicized recent winless streak, Earnhardt declined to put a number on next season beyond the fact that he'll drive the 88. But he has a plan -- and Waltrip's number for next season appears to fit in with it reasonably well. Junior is thinking big picture. "There are no number of wins I want to surpass or anything like that," Earnhardt said. "It's just that when you retire, you want people to say that you were great." With that in mind, why stop at six next season? Why not start a new campaign slogan -- eight for the 88 in '08? Hey, at least it would give everybody something to talk about regarding Earnhardt just when it seemed the subject was finally all talked out. Earnhardt 'amped' about car, future with HendrickAt times it was difficult to keep track of it all, or to remember that it's all about what Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to be racing on the track beginning next season.Little E was in the Big D Wednesday to dish out the skinny on how he came to run the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, less than 24 hours after an appearance in Chicago where he unveiled plans for his new candy bar named "Big Mo." Is there ever a well-kept secret in Nextel Cup racing these days? By the time Junior's new car was unveiled at 2:30 p.m. ET, everyone pretty much knew it was going to be the No. 88 sponsored by some combination of Mountain Dew Amp Energy drink and the National Guard. If anyone who made the trek didn't have a clue about what was going to be on the car, the signs were everywhere as soon as they stepped foot into the Dallas Convention Center. As 18 members of the media who took advantage of a fairly-priced offer from team owner Rick Hendrick to fly in a chartered jet from Concord, N.C., to Love Field filed in, they had to sidestep several National Guardsmen on their way to a media work room laden with trays of iced Amp Energy drinks conveniently packaged in tall boy 16-ounce cans. "This is a perfect fit for me," Earnhardt beamed during the afternoon news conference that was in turn beamed to television outlets across the nation. "They got me up at 5 a.m. this morning, so I was able to test the effectiveness of the [Amp Energy] product. I pleased to be here in front of you now, not yawning." After the televised question-and-answer session, Earnhardt, Hendrick and others involved in making the deal happen adjourned to an adjacent hallway to unveil the color schemes of the No. 88 cars he will run beginning next season. Although Earnhardt had worked together with Hendrick and many members of the Hendrick organization on the designs, he hadn't yet seen the cars in their completed form -- and Hendrick made Junior wait until everyone else could see them, too. "Everything works together. The colors pop. The numbers pop. He's been like a little kid at Christmas, wanting to see them all morning," said Hendrick, who added that Earnhardt will pretty much split races down the middle next season between the mostly green-and-white Amp Energy car and the mostly blue-and-white National Guard car. "It was exciting to see him that excited about it." Make no mistake about it. Junior is, you might say, amped about everything that is happening around him as he prepares to transition out of the No. 8 Budweiser car he has driven for Dale Earnhardt Inc. since coming onto the Cup scene as a rookie in 2000. He announced his split from DEI on May 10, and announced he would be coming on board with Hendrick five weeks later. But Wednesday put a cap on the final threads of speculation that had been hanging over him. Now he knows for certain not only where he will be driving, but exactly what he will be driving next season -- right down to the paint schemes that he helped design. "The paint scheme itself is very basic. It's pretty simple," Earnhardt said. "With Amp and Guard sort of sharing the responsibility of partnering the car, we had to make the scheme itself as simple as possible to tone down as many decals as we have. If you make the scheme very busy, you're going to lose everything -- and the car is just going to look like a mangled mess going around there. So it was important to make the scheme really basic, so the car could be understood better and read better." This is the Junior that Dawn Hudson, president and CEO of Pepsi-Cola America, and Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard, both wanted. The new Junior. The polished Junior. A Junior who can reach vast numbers of their target audiences. Hudson said that Wednesday's announcement was made in Dallas largely because it was where a national convention of "1,500 strong" Pepsi bottlers were meeting. Earnhardt made an appearance at the convention earlier Wednesday, prior to the news conference, and Hudson said her employees "were overwhelmed." She talked of her company's long relationship with Hendrick Motorsports -- Pepsi has been a sponsor of Jeff Gordon's No. 24 car for 10 years and has been a secondary sponsor for Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 for four years -- and how she intends to use innovative marketing with Earnhardt to drive sales for Mountain Dew and the Amp Energy drink. Vaughn spoke enthusiastically of how the National Guard identifies with the way Hendrick does business and the way Earnhardt conducts himself. He said that he expects Little E to help pump up the volume at recruiting stations nationwide. "The Guard is like a family, and we want to be on this team," he said. Others in racing have insisted that now that he is out from under the marketing restrictions that limited him to a certain demographic with Budweiser, Earnhardt, already NASCAR's most popular driver, likely will become even bigger. More importantly, especially in Earnhardt's eyes, they seem to agree that getting into Hendrick equipment should make Earnhardt an instant contender next season for wins and possibly even his first Cup championship. "I think you saw the size of the community that his father [Dale Earnhardt] built running the Goodwrench car, and I think the job [Junior] has done personally as an individual, following the legend, has been remarkable," said Roger Penske, owner of Penske Racing South. "Having the chance now to reach 360 degrees of the population without having to pull back because of the alcohol requirements, I think he can only become bigger. "I think it's a great move for Rick Hendrick. I have a lot of respect for Earnhardt. I think during the last few races [before the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup began], I was amazed at how cool his comments were and he basically did everything he could to get in. So I see him as a real contender next year, and I think this also gives him a great chance commercially." Three-time driving champion Darrell Waltrip was on hand Wednesday and said bluntly that he expects Earnhardt to win the Daytona 500 next year. He went on to predict that Earnhardt will win a total of six races in his first season in the No. 88 car. "I don't see why he can't. Rick Hendrick will put him in the best equipment, and surround him with the best of the best people," Waltrip said. When they were flying to Dallas from Concord Wednesday morning, Hendrick said he turned to Earnhardt and said: "I wish the Daytona 500 was tomorrow." Later, Hendrick told the gathered media: "There is just so much energy at our place. We just can't wait to get it on." While stressing also that he intends to finish up strong over the last nine races of this season while driving the No. 8 for DEI, Earnhardt added that he is extremely eager for next February to arrive, too. "The last lap of the Homestead race will be very emotional for me," Earnhardt admitted of the 2007 season finale that will be his last one in the No. 8. But then he later added: "I'm ready to get to Rick's and start working. ... Everything over there is top-notch, from one end of their shop to another. I'm anticipating hitting the ground running at Daytona." No doubt his new sponsors will have him hitting the ground and running long before then. 2008 NASCAR Pets Calendar Features Six Fresh FacesDrivers’ Pets Take Center Stage With Proceeds To Benefit The Greg Biffle FoundationNASCAR Fans can once again spend the year with some of their favorite NASCAR celebrities – drivers’ pets! The 2008 NASCAR Pets Calendar is now on sale at select Kmart stores and NASCAR.com. This is the third year The Greg Biffle Foundation has produced the NASCAR Pets Calendar, which has proven to be very popular with fans. The calendar features NASCAR drivers and their pets and net proceeds benefit The Greg Biffle Foundation. “The NASCAR Pets Calendar is unique in that it shows drivers off the track with some very special family members – their pets – and it really resonates with our fans,” said Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 Ford and founder of The Greg Biffle Foundation. “The calendar’s success and the fan support allows us to help shelters across the country that need our help.” The 2008 calendar features returning NASCAR personalities such as Greg Biffle with his four dogs Foster, Gracie, Savannah and Daisy; Dale Earnhardt Jr. with his Boxer Killer; Matt Kenseth with cats Lars and Charlotte; Jamie McMurray and golden Labrador Jake; Casey Mears and black Labrador Nacho and Tony Stewart with dogs Kayle and Deuce. Some of the new faces in this year’s calendar include Kurt Busch, David Gilliland, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett and David Ragan. This year, the calendar holds special poignancy for the entire NASCAR community. Former NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr., who passed away in June, is featured with his wife, Betty Jane France, and their four dogs Will, Lizzie, Annie and Maxwell. Under Mr. France’s stewardship, NASCAR grew from a regional sport to become the nation’s No. 1 spectator sport with 75 million fans. With a $25,000 donation to The Greg Biffle Foundation, NASCAR partner Pedigree has signed on, once again, to sponsor the monthly pet tips. The tips are helpful to dog owners looking for ways to improve their canines’ fitness and health. “Everything we do at PEDIGREE is because of our love for dogs so a partnership with The Greg Biffle Foundation is a natural fit,” said Rob Leibowitz, vice president, marketing Mars Pet Care U.S. “Both The Foundation and Pedigree are committed to helping millions of homeless dogs find loving homes by encouraging dog adoption and supporting shelters and breed rescue organizations nationwide.” As part of the launch for the calendar, Greg Biffle will make a special autograph appearance at the Kmart store located near Dover International Motor Speedway on Thursday, Sept. 20. The autograph session will take place from 5-7pm inside the Kmart store located on 515 North DuPont Highway. Adopt a Boxer Rescue will be in attendance with pets available for adoption. Many of these pets were left without homes after Hurricane Katrina and are still in need of good homes. The Adopt a Boxer Rescue organization is unique in that they maintain close contact to the dogs after they are placed in homes and have a “no-questions-asked” return policy. These events are free, and open to the public. For more information on The Greg Biffle Foundation’s NASCAR Pets Calendar, visit www.gregbifflefoundation.com or www.NASCAR.com/foundation. Earnhardt's new car will have double-8s, Pepsi sponsorshipDale Earnhardt Jr. will have two 8s on his new car.NASCAR's most popular driver will be in the No. 88 Chevrolet when he moves to Hendrick Motorsports next season, the team announced Wednesday. Earnhardt's car will be sponsored by Pepsi, with the company's Mountain Dew soft drink and Amp Energy drink featured on the car. The National Guard will also be involved in the sponsorship. The new number and sponsor are another step in the rebranding of Earnhardt from party boy to serious corporate pitchman, one that now can be heavily marketed to the under-21 crowd. ``I never thought a car number would create this much excitement,'' said car owner Rick Hendrick, who has won five Nextel Cup titles. ``Trying to do it and keep it quiet from the rest of the world until you have it all together, it was probably the toughest thing I've ever done in motorsports.'' Earnhardt has driven the No. 8 Chevrolet for DEI since 2000 with Budweiser's sponsorship. He tried to take the No. 8 with him to Hendrick, but stepmother Teresa Earnhardt refused to give up her rights to it. Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will co-drive that car next year and it will be sponsored by the U.S. Army. Budweiser will become the primary sponsor next season for the No. 9 Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne. ``It's important that we work hard and make a good statement as we close this out and start a new chapter next year,'' Earnhardt said. ``The anticipation is at a boiling point. I'm ready to get over to Rick's and start racing.'' The No. 88 was retired by Robert Yates Racing, which asked NASCAR to transfer the number to Hendrick for Earnhardt. ``Ralph Earnhardt drove the No. 88 Olds in 1957 and because of this number's history with the Earnhardt family, I felt car No. 88 should continue with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,'' Robert Yates said in a statement. ``Younger fans don't realize I built cars and raced against Ralph. I also had a very close relationship with Dale Earnhardt, Sr. I'm proud to transfer this number to Dale Jr.'' The driver unveiled his line of candy bars, ``Dale Jr.'s Big Mo','' at a candy expo in Chicago on Tuesday. Earnhardt had already signed personal services contracts with Adidas and Sony. He became the fourth athlete to receive a clothing line from Adidas, joining soccer's David Beckham, football's Reggie Bush and basketball's Tracy McGrady. The car sponsorship was announced in Dallas, where 1,500 Pepsi bottlers were holding their annual meeting. Earnhardt appeared before that group before publicly announcing the deal. Hendrick not worried about adding Earnhardt Jr. to foldRick Hendrick has been down this road before.With Dale Earnhardt Jr. set to come on board at Hendrick Motorsports in 2008, he'll join an already incredibly successful program in which Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have combined to win five Cup championships and 108 races going into Sunday's event at Dover. Can it work? Will there simply be too many roosters in the hen house? Hendrick has a long history of mixing strong personalities. The outspoken Northerner Geoffrey Bodine was already a fixture at Hendrick Motorsports in the late 1980s when not one, but two outspoken characters joined the organization. Tim Richmond dominated the sport in 1986, a year before Darrell Waltrip entered the picture. Bodine, Richmond, Waltrip, Ken Schrader, Ricky Rudd, Ricky Craven, Terry Labonte, Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch, Casey Mears -- Hendrick has somehow managed to integrate them all into the grand scheme of things. Some have obviously fit better into the Hendrick Motorsports mold than others, but the car owner will be doing everything in his power to make the deal with Earnhardt work. He has to. "Junior's got teammates now, so it's not like he's coming from a one-man operation to something that's any different," Hendrick said at his sprawling complex a couple of miles from Lowe's Motor Speedway. "He made the decision to make a change to try to better his career. "That puts a lot of pressure on us. We've won before and we want to see him win. We're going to do everything in our power to put the best stuff around him, just like we do with every driver that's here, to make him more successful." This, though, seems different, a much more difficult undertaking. Gordon and Johnson are Cup champions, and Earnhardt is without question the sport's most popular driver. It's a move that gives Hendrick Motorsports three of the four top names in all of NASCAR. Sign Tony Stewart -- there's a thought that boggles the imagination -- and it'd be a clean sweep. Still, Hendrick just doesn't seem all that concerned about making things work with Junior. See, Hendrick looks at it this way. Gordon and Johnson both race to win and they're teammates, so why not race to race to win against Junior as a teammate? "I think you treat each individual differently," Hendrick said. "You try to create a relationship. You cannot create respect. Everybody has somebody they've got to answer to. I have to answer to sponsors, and I have to answer to fans. I think the key to our success is everybody working together." In Gordon, Johnson and Earnhardt, Hendrick has drivers with three very separate and very distinct personalities. Gordon is Madison Avenue refined, Earnhardt is the rock star and Johnson the laid-back Californian. Hendrick knows what he has to work with. He's not about to cram Junior into a box, to try to conform him into whatever the public's perception of what a Hendrick Motorsports driver should be. Hendrick's job is to give the superstar driver everything he needs to fulfill the expectations of Junior Nation. "I'm not going to try to change Junior's personality," Hendrick said. "What's made him popular is who he is. We're just going to try to surround him with good stuff and try to help him get to the level he wants to get to. The same with Gordon and Johnson. All of our guys are a little different. They've got their own quirks, and you adjust to that. "You're not going to change them, and you don't want to. Each one's a brand all his own. Jimmie and Jeff have a lot of respect for Junior. He has respect for them, and Casey's friends with all of them. I think it's going to do well." Long ago, Hendrick learned a valuable lesson as a NASCAR team owner. He can't stand pat, resting on the laurels of the success Hendrick Motorsports has enjoyed in the past. The championships and races that the team has won in the past won't mean a thing when Junior straps into a Hendrick Motorsports entry for the first time. Hendrick has to keep moving forward, for his sake. And Junior's, Gordon's, Johnson's and Mears'. "Most businesses I've ever been involved in, once you get it built, at some point you get to be on cruise control," Hendrick said. "You're able to sit back and watch it work. In this [racing] business, you're only as good as you were yesterday, the last race. "The lesson is, you've got to work. You've got to come in every single day committed to being better. You can't rest on yesterday, and you can't rest on the championship you won or even the race you won last weekend because this weekend is totally different." Earnhardt adds to long line of history behind No. 88There's a joke going around that Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s new number is twice as good as his old one, but there's a bit of truth to that. In fact, Junior won't even be the first Earnhardt to sit behind the wheel of a No. 88, since his grandfather did that back in 1957.While the No. 8 has been involved in five more races than the No. 88 since 1949 -- 1,269 to 1,264 -- the No. 88 has appeared on a winning car 65 times to the No. 8's 38, has won more than twice as many poles and nearly double the amount of top-fives and top-10s. And even though the numeral's success can most recently be traced to Dale Jarrett, Robert Yates and Ford, much of its previous trips to Victory Lane were by drivers under the General Motors banner, including another famous father and son combo. The No. 88 got off to inauspicious start at Langhorne in the first season of what was to become Nextel Cup in 1949, when Pepper Cunningham crashed and wound up 33rd. But it didn't take long for the numeral to gain fame. Buck Baker began running the No. 88 in 1954 and promptly put it in Victory Lane at the Wilson County fairgrounds dirt track, leading 117 laps and earning the $1,000 first-place check. Baker would go on to win once more that season -- at Morristown Speedway in New Jersey -- and a third time five years later in a Chevrolet, making a last-lap pass of Cotton Owens at South Carolina's Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Ralph Earnhardt drove a team car with Lee Petty for Petty Enterprises eight times in 1957, mainly in the No. 188. However, he started ninth and finished 13th at Martinsville while driving the No. 88 Oldsmobile. The numeral was most associated with Chrysler products for most of the early 1960s, as Major Melton, Neil "Soapy" Castles and a young Buddy Baker campaigned the No. 88 without much success. In 1966, the Baker team switched back to the General Motors banner. Benny Parsons used the No. 88 twice at Daytona, finishing seventh behind winner LeeRoy Yarbrough in the 1969 Daytona 500 and 14th, 13 laps down to Pete Hamilton a year later. Michigan racer Ron Keselowski then campaigned a No. 88 Dodge for three years, starting in 1971. In an interesting twist, Keselowski's son, Brad, has driven the No. 88 for Earnhardt Jr. in the Busch Series this season. Then in 1973, Mike DiProspero and Bill Gardner formed a new Chevrolet team -- DiGard Racing -- with Donnie Allison behind the wheel. After DiProspero was involved in a serious automobile accident, Gardner's brother Jim joined the operation. The list of former DiGard employees reads like a NASCAR Hall of Fame roll call: Team owner Robert Yates, former NASCAR research and development director Gary Nelson, competition director Robin Pemberton and crew chief Jimmy Fennig all were part of DiGard's early success, particularly when Darrell Waltrip came on board as driver midway through the 1975 season. With Waltrip behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet, the team dominated at Richmond in 1975 and Martinsville in 1976. With new sponsor Gatorade pouring money into the operation, DiGard was nearly unstoppable, winning six races in both 1977 and 1978 -- including the World 400 -- and seven more in 1979. Waltrip won five more races in 1980 before leaving the team to join Junior Johnson's outfit. A young Ricky Rudd was given the seat for the 1981 season, followed by Bobby Allison in 1982. Allison wasted no time, winning the Busch Clash and then the Daytona 500 -- one of his eight victories that season -- as Allison wound up runner-up to Waltrip for the championship by 72 points. When Miller Brewing came on board with DiGard in 1983, Allison switched to the No. 22, freeing the No. 88 for Geoffrey Bodine, now under the ownership of Cliff Stewart. When Bodine left for Rick Hendrick's team at the end of the season, Rusty Wallace took over driving duties in 1984. Buddy Baker started his own team in 1985 and returned to the family number for four years, then put Greg Sacks and Jimmy Spencer behind the wheel with limited success. The numeral was then used sparingly for the better part of five seasons before Yates decided to expand his operation to a two-car team. Dale Jarrett then switched over from the No. 28 -- and with backing from Ford's Quality Care and Ford Credit divisions, went on to win 28 races and the 1999 championship in the No. 88. Jarrett's last win -- and the last win for the No. 88 to this point -- came at Talladega in 2005. When Jarrett left to join Michael Waltrip's Toyota team at the end of last season, Rudd returned to Yates and drove the first 25 races before suffering a shoulder injury at Fontana. Kenny Wallace has subbed for Rudd since. With Rudd planning to retire at the end of the year, Travis Kvapil has been named as a full-time driver in 2008 -- with the car number to be determined. Answered questions equal more questions for JuniorAs we headed to Dallas for the grand unveiling of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s new life, a couple of thoughts kept banging off the top of the fuselage.Now that Junior has what he says he wanted, which is a chance to win races and championships, will it work out that way? If it does, that's great. He made the right move to the right team at the right time in his life, and it paid off. But what if it doesn't? Not to hose down Junior's parade before it even gets started, but the risks are tangible. How patient will Junior Nation be if he starts slow? They're already hopped up because Junior "turned his coat" and went over to Hendrick in the first place. A slow start means that he made the wrong choice, at least in the short run, and there's hardly any long run among fans any more. By informal tally, approximately 90 percent of the Official NASCAR Members Club's 60,000-plus members cheer for Junior, Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart. There's a chunk of Kahne fans, too, but the vast majority is soaked up in three drivers. Depending on the venue, you can go blind in a sea of red, blue or orange. For the most part, the Junior delegates in the ONMC have been calm about the change, preferring to think that now that their man is freed of unpleasant family entanglements, he has license to start chasing his father's hard-won fame in earnest without dealing with his ghost every time he turns around. We'll see about that, but for now, the focus is on getting the new deal right for Daytona -- and the Christmas season. There isn't any question about what sort of impact he is going to have on Hendrick Motorsports and the NASCAR fan in general. On Tuesday, Earnhardt unveiled a candy bar, Big Mo', a takeoff of his hometown (Mooresville, N.C.) and his group of friends known as the Dirty Mo' Posse. The last time there was a candy bar named for an athlete, it was Reggie Jackson of the (hated) New York Yankees. Wednesday, the sponsorship announcement to end all sponsorship announcements tied up the competition side. Right alongside comes new licensed merchandise from JR Motorsports, just in time for the end of the season and the holidays. That's Phase 1 of The Rollout ... licensed merchandise from wall to wall and sea to shining sea. Mel Brooks' movie SpaceBalls covered this: Dale the T-shirt, Dale the Placemat, Dale the action figure with the kung-fu grip ... you get the idea. Not that there's anything wrong with that, you understand. It's why he left DEI, or at least one of the reasons. There are worker bees among the 700 or so employees at HMS that do nothing but think about products and licensing, and the Big Kahuna of such things in NASCAR just signed on the dotted line. The point of all this is, as the questions we had in May are answered one by one, all they do is lead to more questions. How will he do? Is he a world-beater or just a good driver? How is he going to fit in at Hendrick? How will Tony Eury Jr. fit in at Hendrick? Who invented liquid soap and why? As the cover comes off the No. 88 Chevrolet and nice things are said about Pepsico, our Nation's Finest and the ever-increasing energy needs of NASCAR fans, there will be more questions yet. Until the car rolls out onto Daytona's pavement in February, it will be speculation, innuendo and surmise. When he drops the hammer for the first time in anger, there will still be questions. Wednesday in Dallas, some things were answered. Let's just be happy with that for a while, all right? There's plenty of time to bandy this about on Dale the cell phone. Sponsor announcements loom for Junior, KahneDale Earnhardt Jr. wasn't providing any hints."No," he said. "I've done about as good as I can do about narrowing it down and what not." And with that, he left reporters and fans to wait until Wednesday, when the final domino in the long line of them set in motion May 10 will finally fall. The sponsor and car number Earnhardt will use next season with Hendrick Motorsports will be introduced in Dallas, also the site of a national bottler convention for Pepsi-Cola. It's the perfect place to unveil what's expected to be a No. 81 car backed by the soft drink company. But Friday at New Hampshire International Speedway, Junior wasn't telling. "It's going to be a lot of fun to see the reaction of the fans," Earnhardt said prior to qualifying 19th for the Sylvania 300 on the 1-mile track. "I hope that they really enjoy what we're going to do, and we've been having a lot of fun with the design and with the approach and sort of forming what our identity is going to be on the racetrack and off the racetrack." Meanwhile, Earnhardt's old sponsor will find a home Tuesday, when Budweiser finally unveils its association with Kasey Kahne for 2008. Gillett Evernham Motorsports has called a press conference to announce a multi-year agreement, and Dodge director Mike Accavitti confirmed that Kahne's additional sponsorship will allow the manufacturer to spread more resources elsewhere. Evernham's No. 9 car, driven by Kahne the past four years, has been backed by Dodge dealers since its inception in 2001. "This does not change our commitment to be the manufacturing leader in NASCAR's premier series, win races and consistently contend for the Nextel Cup," Accavitti said in a statement. "We now have the opportunity to apply additional resources to areas that can directly impact the on-track performance of all our teams and expand marketing opportunities for our dealers." Kahne has a tough act to follow. Earnhardt has become synonymous with the beer brand through commercials and billboard campaigns, providing Bud with a level of visibility it never enjoyed in previous driver relationships. Pepsi-Cola now faces the challenge of meshing with Earnhardt, although the company does produce some brands like Amp and Mountain Dew that are marketed to a younger, edgier crowd. Earnhardt wants from his new sponsor the same thing he received from his old one -- the freedom to be himself. "The hardest part is not changing anything you do personally, about your personality or your mannerisms, or anything and trying to get them to understand that's who you are," he said. "That's how you stay comfortable and you stay grounded. Our new partners are very aware of that, that we want to continue with our personality and we don't really try to re invent the wheel or try to propose this new attitude or anything on the fan base. I just want to keep doing my job the same way I've been doing it and I want to keep being the same person I've been all this time and they're pretty comfortable with that." Junior likes teammate in ChaseDale Earnhardt Jr. addressed a number of topics Friday morning at New Hampshire, and one of them was his favorite to win the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Not surprisingly, he chose DEI teammate Martin Truex Jr."Well, I pick Martin to win anytime anybody asks me," Earnhardt said. "I think Martin's team is competitive enough. From what I'm seeing from the competition and I think the way Martin runs and his abilities and how competitive his team has become over the year, I think that he has the chance. "He has as good and probably a better chance than he even believes he has -- so really it comes down to trying to minimize your mistakes. And I've learned that the hard way a couple times. You can't have any part failures and you got to minimize the mistakes that you make as a driver. "The team will do their job and the cars will be competitive for Martin so he's got a good shot. He's my pick to win it." Earnhardt's faulty motors have conspiracy theorists abuzzIf not for five blown engines, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would be racing for a Nextel Cup championship in this final season driving for his late father's company.Instead, three failures in the last seven races -- including one with six laps to go Saturday night at Richmond -- knocked NASCAR's most popular driver out of the Chase for the championship. ``We broke another motor, and they seem to fall apart when they plug 'em into my car,'' Junior said. ``It's just really frustrating.'' It's also more than a little suspicious to his legion of fans, who have wondered for weeks if this was sabotage on the part of his stepmother. After all, his relationship with Teresa Earnhardt ``ain't a bed of roses,'' and Junior's impending split isn't exactly amicable. They've publicly feuded since December, he claims she's been unreasonable during negotiations and he's bolting for rival Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the season. The squabbling has been so intense on so many issues -- most recently Teresa's refusal to let Earnhardt take his beloved No. 8 with him to Hendrick -- that the idea that she would intentionally derail his season wouldn't surprise anyone. And because the DEI motors never even seem to sputter under the hoods of his teammates, it's actually believable. But DEI officials call the entire idea preposterous. ``I can assure you that's not the case,'' general manager John Story said Monday. ``We understand that there might be a natural assumption that because he is leaving, the team would say 'Who cares? We are not going to try for him.' ``But if anything, it's the other way around. We tried hard to get him in the Chase. We wanted him to win a championship. We always said that would have been the most appropriate way for him to leave DEI.'' Of course, DEI is going to say that. And conspiracy theorists will forever be convinced Earnhardt was the victim of an intricate and evil plot to punish him for his betrayal. It sounds awfully good. But it's probably not true. Sure, seeing Junior fail might bring a slight smile to Teresa Earnhardt's face, but it would be one of the most foolish business decisions she could possibly make. Since the Chase was launched in 2004, making it has been the standard for success. Those good enough to compete in the 10-race title hunt had a great year. Those not involved immediately go to work figuring out what went wrong. Keeping Earnhardt out wouldn't have hurt him. He's leaving anyway, and he's repeatedly said that although winning a Cup title for DEI would have been nice, he's comfortable with the effort he's put forth and will walk out the door with his integrity intact. And if anything, missing the Chase can be viewed as a luxury to Earnhardt. He's now free from the stress and pressure that the Chase provides, and he can relax and race for wins over the final 10 weeks of the season. But the fact is, DEI needed Earnhardt in the Chase for the health of the company and to support Martin Truex Jr. in his first run at a title. Truex is in, has been for weeks, and he's one of only two drivers who won't have a teammate in the field. Hendrick and Richard Childress both have three drivers in the chase, while Joe Gibbs and Jack Roush have two each. To think that Teresa would be so spiteful that she'd jeopardize Truex's chances makes little sense for a company she fought to keep control of. But Story knows the allegations are out there -- the same thing happened in May after Earnhardt said he was leaving and Truex promptly took off on the track. ``We didn't go in there overnight and put all the cars from Dale's shop and put them in Martin's shop,'' Story said. ``That's not the way it happens. And, what people don't consider is that (Earnhardt) has run as well or better than (Truex) over the last six to eight weeks. He just doesn't have the finishes to show for it.'' No, he doesn't, and that's partly because of the motor problems that Truex, Paul Menard and Mark Martin have been immune to. Although DEI has partnered with RCR on an engine program, Story said the teams are not yet using true common engines. They are combining parts and pieces, and he said his engineers are baffled as to why Earnhardt's keep breaking. Each failure, Story said, is something different. In Watkins Glen, the team knew the motor was ailing during Friday and Saturday practices, but thought it could last through Sunday's race. It's possible Earnhardt himself is damaging the motors. He's been driving the wheels off his cars the past few weeks, and perhaps he's been too hard on the engines. But on Saturday night in Richmond, when Earnhardt was headed to a gutsy top-five finish, that motor failure with six laps to go was devastating. He wound up 30th in his sixth DNF of the season, and the brief hug he shared with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. showed their heartbreak over another wasted run. ``We deserve to be in the Chase,'' he said. ``We race hard. We don't quit. We love racing. That's what we do. It's just disappointing, man. These dang motors.'' There's no doubt DEI's top officials were thinking the same thing, and they determined Monday that a broken oil pump belt -- possibly from debris on the track -- caused the failure. Either way, there was no joy in Earnhardt's failure. After all, whatever is going on with his motors can very well spread to Truex's, and then DEI would have no shot at all at its first Nextel Cup title. Earnhardt misses Chase for second time in 3 yearsDale Earnhardt Jr.'s season of turmoil won't end with him competing for a championship, but as NASCAR's 10-race playoff begins next week, at least he'll get to see how his future could look at powerful Hendrick Motorsports.The most popular driver in the Nextel Cup Series came up short of the Chase for the championship for the second time in three years Saturday night when he faced huge odds to make it interesting and never gave the guys ahead of him reason for concern. ``We deserved to be in the Chase,'' Earnhardt said after a blown engine ended his night. ``We love racing. We'll be all right. This is disappointing. These dang motors.'' Earnhardt started 21st and, more importantly, 128 points behind Kevin Harvick for the 12th and final spot in the Chase. To steal the spot, Earnhardt needed to win for the first time in 52 races, lead the most laps and have Harvick finish 33rd or worse. But while Earnhardt's future Hendrick teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson wheeled two of the best cars of the night around Richmond International Raceway, Earnhardt never led and never gave his ``Red Army'' of fans a chance to roar. ``We broke another motor and they seem to fall apart when they plug them into my car,'' Earnhardt said. ``I don't know what it is but we've had a good car all year long.'' At one point Saturday night, he was second behind Gordon, but rather than pressing NASCAR's other most popular driver for the top spot, he instead moved aside to let Tony Stewart take second after a few laps, and soon was overtaken by Johnson, too. Even when he ran in the top five for long stretches of the second half of the race, the drivers he was chasing both overcame early troubles to run far ahead of where they needed to be to cement their inclusion in the Chase, and Junior was out again. When his car started smoking heavily with seven laps to go, it was official, and he was left on the outside, much like two-time champion Tony Stewart was last year. Still, it's not the end of the world, Earnhardt said. ``There ain't no reason to get all upset and bent out of shape about anything because there's cooler stuff right around the corner and there's all kinds of things to be excited about, and I'm not just talking about next year,'' he said. ``I'm saying every day in life, you know? We'll have fun and laugh and enjoy ourselves as we race for the rest of the season. Hopefully, we can win some races there in the last 10 to put a period on what's been pretty much an up and down season.'' He finished 30th, Harvick was seventh, and No. 11 Kurt Busch, an even longer shot to get bumped from the playoffs, wound up ninth. Earnhardt came up 198 points shy. For Earnhardt, whose late father shares the career record of seven series championships, it was just the latest disappointment in a long, difficult season. Questioned even before it began for his commitment by stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, who also owns Dale Earnhardt Inc., Junior has seen contentious talks with her end with her refusing to relinquish a controlling interest and him deciding to leave the company founded by his father, and then her refusal to let him take the No. 8 to Hendrick. He's gone the entire season without winning a race, hasn't won at all since May 2006 at Richmond and has spent only eight weeks in the top 12 in driver standings. The last time he was there was after the Brickyard 400 on July 29. The next week, he finished a season-best second, but dropped to 13th in points when Busch won. It's been that kind of season, and one whose conclusion likely will be welcomed, especially if it finds him driving a contending car in the premier series in 2008. Hendrick close to announcing Earnhardt number and sponsorHis 2008 lineup finally set, team owner Rick Hendrick said he's about two weeks away from announcing a sponsor and car number for Dale Earnhardt Jr.Hendrick said he's close to completing the sponsorship part, but the number end is still a work in progress. The only thing that's certain, he said, is that Earnhardt won't drive the No. 8 or the No. 25. Junior has used the No. 8 since entering the Cup series, but DEI won't let him take it with him at the end of the season. The No. 25 is the existing number at Hendrick, which has been in use since 1986 when Hendrick gave it to the late Tim Richmond. But Hendrick said he's ready to ``walk away from the 25.'' ``The curse of the 25, I've heard that so many times,'' Hendrick said. ``(The No. 25) meant a lot to me over the years. I think now is time for a change. I hate to see the number go, but I'm actually looking forward to having a completely clean sheet of paper going forward.'' Hendrick said he'd like to find a number that includes an 8 for Earnhardt, and the team has applied for trademarks on the 28, 38, 51, 58, 81 and 82. NEW NO. 8: Mark Martin will replace Earnhardt in the No. 8 next season, and at least one person believes the late Dale Earnhardt would have approved of the hiring. Richard Childress, who fielded cars for six of Earnhardt's championships, said Earnhardt once put Martin on a short list of drivers he would like to see drive the No. 3 one day. The No. 3 has not been used since Earnhardt's 2001 death. ``I told Mark, I said, 'I think Dale would want to see you in the 8, and he'd be proud to see you drive it,''' Childress said. ``I think the 8 was made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr., but it's also the property of DEI.'' Martin will run a partial schedule next season in the No. 8 for DEI, splitting seat time with Aric Almirola. He said Childress assured him driving the No. 8 was the right decision. ``Richard was the one that really made me feel good about it,'' Martin said. ``He had some really awesome things to say about it and unfortunately, in this business, the numbers pretty much stay with the owners. That's all they have. Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets to take his name and superstardom anywhere he wants to go.'' Martin said he knows some fans won't accept anyone besides Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 8, even a respected veteran such as Martin. ``I know that there will be a backlash from a certain number of his fans,'' Martin said. ``But you have to understand that that number has a lot of meaning to DEI. I raced against Dale Sr. in the No. 8 Busch car owned by DEI in 1984. So its very important to this company and its part of keeping Dale Earnhardt's legacy alive. ``I'm sorry for the ones that don't like it but for the ones that do, I appreciate them.'' Click here to vist the Dale Earnhardt Jr New Archive Part 3 |