Dale Earnhardt Jr
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Johnson wins, Dale Jr. out of Chase Jimmie Johnson locked up as his spot as the favourite for the Nextel Cup title, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. was locked out of NASCAR's showcase event. Johnson easily raced to his series-best sixth victory of the season, winning Saturday night at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway to shore up the top seed in the Chase for the championship. The defending Nextel Cup champion will start the 10-race title hunt on top of the standings and with the momentum of two consecutive wins to help him hold off 11 other challengers. But NASCAR's most popular driver won't be one of them. Earnhardt will watch the Chase from the sidelines for the second time in three years, failing to race his way into the event. He ran in the top three late in the race, but his fifth motor failure with just a few laps to go sealed his fate. He finished 30th, and was clearly dejected as he shared a brief hug with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. The two are leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season and will join Hendrick Motorsports. "We deserved to be in the Chase," he sighed. "We love racing. We'll be all right. This is disappointing, these dang motors." Earnhardt started the race as the only driver mathematically eligible to race into the Chase, but the odds were stacked against him. Kevin Harvick, the driver on the bubble, had to finish 33rd or worse, combined with a flawless Earnhardt run, for Junior to make it. Harvick avoided two different accidents and coasted to a seventh-place finish to end any suspense. Earnhardt knows his chances of catching Harvick and making Chase are slim Dale Earnhardt Jr. has one last chance to race his way into the chase for the Nextel Cup, but knows the odds are stacked against him. Even if he wins Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway, Kevin Harvick would have to finish worse than 33rd for Earnhardt to make the Chase for the championship. ``It's obvious what our chances are,'' Earnhardt said Friday. ``I am just going to run hard and leave the rest up to chance.'' Earnhardt enters the race 128 points behind Harvick for the 12th and final qualifying spot. A handful of scenarios can get Earnhardt into the Chase, but none them is easy and most require him finishing inside the top five with Harvick coming in last. It's doubtful that Harvick will simply fall apart on Saturday night. In 13 Cup races here, he has one win, six top-10 finishes and has only been lower than 25th once. ``It's definitely a good track for us,'' said Harvick, who won here last September. ``We've had good success here in the past. It's just one of those places that fits what we do.'' His success has created a situation that will likely require Harvick to fall victim to an early accident or major part failure to open the door for Earnhardt. ``Junior is in a situation where it's the fourth quarter of a football game and they're down by 21 points,'' said Harvick teammate Jeff Burton, who already has his spot in the Chase field locked up. ``Not only do they have to do great, the other teams have to have bad luck or make a mistake that allows them to step in the door that's open.'' NASCAR widened its Chase field from 10 to 12 drivers this year, and the expansion has taken some of the drama out of this Richmond race. The first three years of the Chase saw several drivers start the Saturday night event on the bubble, starting with 2004 when Jeremy Mayfield won the race to overcome a 55-point deficit and claim the final berth. Ryan Newman advanced in 2005, and Kasey Kahne came from 30 points out to knock defending champion Tony Stewart out last season. But none of them had to climb from a hole as deep as Earnhardt's, and he can't really believe he's in this position. Although he hasn't won in 51 races (Richmond last May), he believes his team is better than this. ``It's just unfortunate, because I really felt we should have made it,'' he said. ``I really, really felt like we should have. I didn't think it would be close. I'm really disappointed we weren't able to realize our potential.'' He got into this position with five DNF's -- four of them due to engine failures -- and a 100-point deduction when his team was caught with illegal modifications on its Car of Tomorrow. And he's been dealing all season with the drama of his impending split from Dale Earnhardt Inc., his late father's company. Earnhardt is leaving because he doesn't get along with his stepmother, Teresa, and he'll drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season. Should Junior fail to make the Chase, he'll leave DEI without ever having won a Cup title. He won two Busch Series championships for the teams, but never came close to a Cup title. But he insisted he'll have no regrets, and is proud that he didn't quit on his No. 8 team. ``I think when you are put in positions like this, you have an opportunity to add value to your integrity or take it away,'' he said. ``What I try show my guys is the harder we try, even in the situations that are sometimes pointless, if we continue to try really hard, it just shows the integrity we have.'' His effort has not gone unnoticed in the garage, where his peers have praised him for fighting hard through all the adversity. ``Dale Jr. and his team have done an awesome job this year,'' said Mark Martin, who will replace Earnhardt in the No. 8 next season at DEI. ``I'm very proud of the way they've run, especially the last several weeks. They're going to fight right down to the end.'' It's a sentiment echoed by crew chief Tony Eury Jr., who will follow Earnhardt to Hendrick at the end of the season. ``We would have loved to win a championship at DEI and right now the chances don't look real good,'' he said. ``I've been extremely happy with the way the team has performed, but the results aren't there and that's what counts in this business. ``I guess you're always going to be empty because you didn't win a championship there, but you also have to look at how bright the future is and how many championships we can win with Mr. Hendrick.'' For Junior, odds aren't insurmountable, but close For Dale Earnhardt Jr. to qualify for the season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup, NASCAR's most popular driver will need an effort Saturday night similar to the one Jeremy Mayfield turned in on the eve of the 2004 playoffs. With one exception -- Earnhardt is going to require a little more help. Mayfield was 55 points out of the 10th and then final Chase berth when the series came to Richmond International Raceway three years ago. Facing a win-to-get-in scenario, he pulled off a dramatic victory that has defined his career. Earnhardt arrives at the .75-mile oval facing a deficit more than twice that of what Mayfield overcame, and needing an unlikely series of events to happen to avoid missing the Chase for the second time in three years. "I'm not the type that's going to make up something that's unrealistic," Earnhardt said. "If we make the Chase, great. But we know it's the longest of long shots. If we don't make it, I'll be sad for our fans and sponsors because they've been great to me all year even with everything that's happened. I want them to know that no matter what, me and the team are giving everything we've got. We're not going to lose focus or give up or pack it in." Still, the odds are incredibly long. The top eight drivers have already clinched berths in the Chase, and those in the ninth and 10th positions need only to roll off the starting grid to get in. Eleventh-place Kurt Busch can wrap up his position by finishing 36th or better in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, while 12th-place Kevin Harvick can clinch by finishing 32nd or better. Earnhardt, meanwhile, doesn't need to win the race. But he needs to come close, and have several other things happen. At 128 points behind Harvick, he can't finish any worse than fifth. But he'll also need to lead the most laps, and have Harvick finish last. If Earnhardt wins and leads the most laps, and Harvick finishes 33rd or worse and doesn't lead a lap, driver No. 8 will have pulled off an unthinkable comeback. "Dale Earnhardt Jr. can make it in the race if Harvick and [Busch] blow an engine and Junior has the race of his life," said former champion and current television analyst Rusty Wallace. "It's not impossible." But it is terribly unlikely. Richmond is statistically Earnhardt's best track, a place where his average finish of 10.13 ranks better than any other stop on the Nextel Cup tour. In 16 starts in the Virginia capital, he's racked up three victories and seven top-five finishes. His first career top-10 came at Richmond, where he finished 10th in just his fourth career start in 1999. So did his most recent Nextel Cup victory, in the spring of 2006, now 51 race weekends ago. But Harvick's no slouch at Richmond either, with four top-fives and a victory there in 13 starts, and an average finish of 12.46. The most points Earnhardt has ever gained on Harvick in one race at Richmond is 115. In 239 career races against the Richard Childress Racing driver, Earnhardt has gained more than 128 points just once, at Atlanta in 2002. "I check the standings right after each race, and then I forget about it," said Earnhardt, who will drive a white, Elvis-themed car Saturday night. "I know we're a long way back, and even though we have a mathematical chance to get into the Chase, we're going to worry about things within our own control. What we can do is take that white car out there Saturday night and be as aggressive as we can be. Let's lead all the laps and win the thing." Earnhardt is putting on a brave face, but he knows the odds are against him. Two consecutive fifth-place finishes haven't been enough to make up for the errors and engine failures that put his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team so far behind. Late Sunday night at California, crew chief Tony Eury Jr. -- who will follow his driver to Hendrick Motorsports next season -- sounded like a man who knew his playoff chances were over. "Everybody wants it," Eury said. "You can say. all right, this is his last year at DEI and you wanted to go out with a bang and be in the Chase, but unfortunately it's not going to happen. So we'll just kind of take what we got and move on." Eury to follow Earnhardt to Hendrick Tony Eury Jr. will be Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports. ``Tony Jr. and Dale have a successful history working together,'' team owner Rick Hendrick said Tuesday. ``They have trust in each other, which is the biggest part of the relationship between driver and crew chief.'' Eury has been vocal in his desire to follow Earnhardt, who is also his cousin, to Hendrick. Earnhardt said in May he's leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of this season, and Eury has been trying to get out of his contract with DEI since the announcement. Hendrick said Eury signed a multiyear contract to join the organization as a crew chief. ``Dale Jr. and I are both excited to continue working together,'' Eury said. ``With the resources we'll have at Hendrick Motorsports, it's an opportunity to consistently run up front and be in title contention every year. The goals are winning races and winning championships.'' The addition of Eury pushes Darian Grubb, currently the crew chief for Casey Mears, into a senior management role starting next season. Grubb moved into the crew chief job at the start of this season. ``We've asked Darian to shoulder more responsibility and take another step,'' Hendrick said. ``With all the challenges and difficult situations we've thrown his way, he has always proven to be successful. Darian is a star in our organization and his contributions will be vital.'' In addition, Mears will move to the No. 5 team next year as Hendrick makes room for NASCAR's most popular driver. Although Earnhardt said in June he had agreed to a five-year deal to drive for Hendrick starting next season, many details still had to be settled. He's technically replacing Kyle Busch on the Hendrick roster, but won't be stepping into Busch's ride. Mears, who drives the No. 25, will move into Busch's seat, with Alan Gustafson the crew chief. Earnhardt will instead fill the slot at the No. 25, although that's not likely to be his car number. He had wanted to take the No. 8 with him from DEI, but his stepmother, Teresa, wouldn't relinquish the number. Hendrick is still trying to decide Earnhardt's number and what company will sponsor him since Budweiser and Junior are parting ways at the end of this season. But in moving Mears into the No. 5, Hendrick was able to keep his very first car number. He launched Hendrick Motorsports in 1984 with the No. 5, and it's won 27 races with Geoff Bodine, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte and Busch behind the wheel. Labonte drove it to the 1996 championship. ``The No. 5 was our first car, so, for me, there's a lot of personal history in that team,'' Hendrick said. ``Casey has proven capable of winning and running up front, which is what the No. 5 has always been about. The goal is more victory lanes and championships for the team.'' Kellogg's and CARQUEST Auto Parts will stay on as sponsors of the No. 5 with Mears. Kellogg's has been on the car since 1994, and CARQUEST joined as an associate sponsor in 2002. Earnhardt Jr. Brings Trio of "Tribute" Cars to Lowe's AutoFair Like many of his peers, NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. is inspired by the competitors who came before him. The four-time winner of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing's most-popular-driver award will commemorate past racing greats by displaying three super-high-performance Chevrolets-two Camaros and a Corvette-during the Sept. 13-16 Food Lion AutoFair at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The yellow Corvette GT-R Earnhardt Jr. will have on display could easily be mistaken for the actual C5-R that the Earnhardt father-and-son team drove to a second-place finish in the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona. It is, however, one of two near-identical replicas Chevrolet built for the Earnhardts to commemorate their performance in the prestigious road racing event. The street-legal Corvette has a 450-horsepower, 346-cubic-inch LS6 V-8 engine and rides on Forgeline alloy wheels with Michelin rubber. Earnhardt Jr.'s 1973 Camaro Z-28 was built as a modern homage to the SCCA Trans-Am racers of the early 1970s, a period many consider the high-watermark of American road racing. In 1970, every American automaker campaigned factory-backed muscle cars in the Trans-Am series. Chevrolet's Camaro Z-28, Ford's Mustang Boss 302 and AMC's Javelin-all with V-8 engines nudging against the 305-cubic-inch displacement limit-were the fiercest competitors. Drivers such as Mark Donohue, Jerry Titus, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones and George Follmer became legends with these brutally fast machines. While commemorating the past, Earnhardt Jr.'s '73 Camaro is full of modern, high-tech performance components. The engine is a 440-horsepower, carbureted LS2 Corvette V-8 displacing 364 cubic inches, or 59 too many for the early 1970's Trans-Am rulebook. Six-piston calipers and huge ventilated disk brakes sit at the four corners, only partially hidden by 19-inch alloy Fikse wheels and low-profile Michelin radials. The original Trans-Am muscle cars would have shared this Z-28's full roll cage and fuel cell, but had to get along without the modern car's Recaro seats and concealed stereo equipment. The 2002 Camaro Earnhardt Jr. will show at Food Lion AutoFair is one of only 50 produced by Berger Chevrolet and GMMG Inc. as a tribute to drag racer Dick Harrell. Harrell died during a crash in 1971, but not before bringing national attention to drag racing and especially extended-wheelbase Funny Cars. He was known as "Mr. Chevrolet" because he campaigned the company's cars privately at a time when Mopar drivers had full factory support. Harrell was a standout in the racing world because he ran several successful businesses, all related to competition. One of his automotive sidelines was modifying Camaros, Chevelles, and Novas into drag racers that could be sold through the Chevrolet dealer network. Such transformations always began with the installation of a 427-cubic-inch big-block V-8 engine, which is why each 2002 Dick Harrell Edition Camaro has a 427-cubic-inch, Corvette racing V-8 that produces 630 horsepower. The limited-edition treatment includes competition body panels that make the Camaro wider, and a raised carbon fiber hood that gleefully announces the powerplant that lies beneath. Massive Goodyear radials sit on 18-inch Fikse alloy rims. Earnhardt special-ordered the 2002 in his trademark Gossamer Orange paint and requested a wide, non-factory black stripe. According to its owner, the Camaro accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. Other attractions scheduled for the Sept. 13-16 Food Lion AutoFair include Bumblebee and Ironhide from the hit movie "Transformers," TV host John Walsh's unique amphibious vehicle; a pair of awesome Audis; Dale Earnhardt's No. 3 "pass in the grass" Chevrolet from 1987; and world-class hot rods from Watty's Fabrications. Food Lion AutoFair is the world's largest automotive extravaganza. Attracting over 120,000 visitors, the four-day event includes a car show featuring various makes and models from more than 50 clubs; more than 7,000 vendor spaces that offer a plethora of automotive parts and memorabilia; and a collector car auction conducted by Tom Mack. A car corral, which completely circles the 1.5-mile superspeedway, features nearly 1,500 vehicles available for sale or trade. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking for the event is $5. For information, contact the speedway events department at (704) 455-3205 or visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. Fifth-place finish enough to keep Junior's Chase alive The race within the race Sunday night at California Speedway was at least as interesting as the battle for the win in the Sharp AQUOS 500. As Jimmie Johnson was motoring to his fifth victory of the season, tops in Nextel Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was waging a secondary war that ultimately earned him a fifth-place finish. That wasn't bad, but it probably was not good enough. Earnhardt entered the night 158 points out of 12th place in the driver points standings, with only Sunday's 500-miler and next Saturday's race at Richmond remaining before the top 12 are locked into the Chase for the Nextel Cup over the final 10 races. So he knew he had to drive the wheels off his No. 8 Chevrolet, finish as high as he could, and hope some of the others who entered the night near the bottom of the top 12 suffered through difficult nights. Afterward, he had gained precious little. Kevin Harvick had slipped slightly and dropped to 12th in points, as Kurt Busch, who entered the night in 12th, moved up to 11th. But Earnhardt remained mired in 13th, still 128 points off the pace. Clint Bowyer, who sits in ninth, can clinch a Chase berth just by starting the Richmond race -- and the same goes for Martin Truex Jr., Earnhardt's teammate at Dale Earnhardt Inc. who sits in 10th. Kurt Busch needs to finish just 36th or better at Richmond to clinch a spot in the Chase, while all Harvick has to do is finish 32nd or better and he's in -- regardless, in both of their cases, of what Earnhardt does. Basically, Earnhardt has to win at Richmond and hope for Busch or Harvick to struggle mightily to get in the Chase -- and Earnhardt hasn't won since the spring race at Richmond in 2006, more than a year ago. "I don't know much about the system," a sweaty and obviously weary Earnhardt said after Sunday's 250-lap event. "I never cared to. I just go out and run as hard as I can. It doesn't look like we're going to make it, but we're not going to quit trying until they tell us we're not in." There were flashes Sunday night when it appeared Earnhardt might actually have the goods to break his winless streak that now sits at 51 races. On Lap 70, he was running second. But Kurt Busch wasn't far behind in sixth and had moved from 12th to 11th in the points standings. Harvick, running 17th at the time, had dropped two spots in the points standings and stood in 12th -- just 104 ahead of Earnhardt. On the restart after a caution, Earnhardt passed Kyle Busch and took the lead. But he held it for only one lap before Busch caught and passed him again. Earnhardt regained the race lead after a Lap 90 restart following yet another caution -- one of the record-tying 11 on the night. But again, he was unable to hold it for long. By Lap 125 -- the halfway point of the race -- Earnhardt was running third and trailing Harvick, who was running 16th, by 112 points for the 12th spot. He pulled to within 99 by Lap 157, when he was back up to second and Harvick had fallen off to 19th after cycling through a round of green-flag pit stops. But time was running out, and Earnhardt knew it. On Lap 177, he came on his team radio and asked: "Where's the 2?" He didn't realize that the 2 car of Busch was no longer the foe directly in front of him in the points. With 65 laps left in the event, as Johnson took the lead, Earnhardt slipped to fifth and was 107 points behind Harvick, who was running 21st. "The car's starting to drag a little bit. It's real bouncy," Earnhardt complained on his radio. The No. 17 car of Matt Kenseth was gaining on him -- quickly -- and soon temporarily took fifth-place away. "It's very, very rough," Earnhardt told his team on the radio of his car's handling. By Lap 200, with 50 to go, he had lost ground again in the points and was 136 behind Harvick. He did get a run on Kenseth to reclaim fifth shortly thereafter, but on Lap 210, Earnhardt came on his radio and worried that disaster had just struck. "I think I've got a flat tire," he said. Fortunately for him, it came at precisely the time he and the other leaders were about to cycle in for green-flag pit stops anyway. He took on two right-side tires and got off pit road as fast as he could, but was all the way back to 10th by the time he got back on the track. From there, he battled back to fifth -- but it was the best he could do. It doesn't look like it will be good enough, but at least the effort kept him mathematically alive heading into Richmond. So it could have been worse. Afterward, Earnhardt made a quick exit. Asked for his post-race thoughts, he was brief and to the point. "Hot, tired. Real tired," he said, and he looked it after a race that began with temperatures on the track in the 140-degree range. Then he added: "I would like to thank my team. They worked hard. It's so hot out there, you get aggravated. You're never satisfied. But I'd like to think they can run just as good without me, but I would never be able to run that good without them. I want to thank my team." And then Earnhardt was gone. His crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., never even saw Junior after the race. "He probably got out of here pretty quick. As hot as it was today, I don't blame him," Eury said. "I told him good job on the radio, and he seemed pretty happy." As frustrating as his No. 8 team's situation is at the moment, Eury said mishaps earlier in the season -- such as four races they couldn't finish because of blown motors -- were to blame for the predicament. "Yeah, it's frustrating," Eury said. "But you've got to look at is as, we put ourselves in that position. You can't fix it in two races. We got here by having errors, have motors blow up, and stuff like that. We'll just have to chalk it up as we've just had too many problems." And that is all Earnhardt and his team have left to hang onto when it comes to their Chase hopes, which are hanging by the thinnest of threads. "You've always got a shot until they say it's over," Eury said. "Somebody can have a problem like we've had all year, blowing up motors and just stupid stuff happening. We'll see." Earnhardt has some car numbers in mind, but is more interested in sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr. does have a couple of numbers in mind for his new ride at Hendrick Motorsports next season. But he isn't telling -- yet. `I do have one or two that are on the top of the list,'' he said at California Speedway, where he will race in Sunday's Sharp Aquos 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup event. ``I don't think there is a reason to make a big deal out of it. ``The bigger deal to me is the people that we partner with and the sponsorship that we put together. That is where the main excitement lies for me in the next announcement we make. The number, it will be fun to have a new number and to being doing something different.'' There has been considerable speculation about the car number since negotiations to take his current No. 8 with him to Hendrick fell through. The numbers are owned by NASCAR but leased to the teams and Earnhardt's stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, decided to hold onto the 8 for DEI. Since then, there have been reports that Earnhardt's representatives tried and failed to get No. 38 -- a combination of his father's No. 3 and his old number -- from Yates Newman Haas Lanigan Racing, leaving the situation up in the air. But Junior, fighting what appears to be a losing battle for a spot in the Chase for the championship, said that he believes the more important issue is who will replace current sponsor Budweiser on his new car. ``I think the attention that has been placed on (the number) is a little bit over the top,'' Earnhardt said. ``I am more excited on who the sponsor will be and what the car will look like, the color and design-wise and what our approach will be as far as marketing that we are going to produce to try and market ourselves with our new partners. It is real close. We are probably about two weeks away.'' There has also been speculation that current DEI crew chief Tony Eury Jr. will go with his first cousin to Hendrick. ``We don't have any announcement yet, but Tony Jr. is working in that direction,'' Earnhardt said. Report: Junior linked to No. 38 It appears the next phase of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s NASCAR career will attempt to link the past and the present. According to ESPN.com, Hendrick Motorsports - who will field a car for Junior in 2008 - is in talks with Robert Yates Racing about acquiring the number 38 for his new driver next season. Earnhardt learned last week that he will not be able to carry his familiar No. 8 with him from DEI to Hendrick next season. Since then, Junior has spoken about several exciting possibilities as it relates to his new car number. The No. 38 would combine the famous No. 3 his late father used to win six of his seven NASCAR championships while with Richard Childress Racing with the familiar No. 8 he has used since beginning his Nextel Cup career. "I wish I could be in the No. 8.," Earnhardt said last weekend at Bristol. "The possibilities I'm looking at I like a lot and are pretty cool and I think I can make an identity with." David Gilliland currently pilots the No. 38 for Robert Yates Racing but the team also own the rights to No. 28, which was last campaigned in 2002. NASCAR would still have to approve any number transfer but that is not expected to be an issue. Notebook: Junior pleased despite not gaining ground Despite a fifth-place finish in the Sharpie 500 Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, time continues to run out on the chase to get into the Chase for Dale Earnhardt Jr. That would be the Chase for the Nextel Cup. The top 12 drivers in points after the first 26 races of the season qualify for it -- and with just two of the "regular-season" races remaining, Earnhardt still sits in 13th after Saturday. The last two races before the 10-race Chase begins are next weekend at California Speedway and the week after that in Richmond. Earnhardt was 163 points out of 12th place heading into Saturday's event, and now he is 158 out of 12th. Kurt Busch, who finished right behind Earnhardt in sixth at Bristol, remains in the 12th and final spot. Earnhardt didn't particularly want to talk about his dwindling hopes of getting into the Chase immediately after the 500-lap event at Bristol. "I ain't worried about that," Earnhardt said. "I had a good night tonight. I just ran 500 [laps] at Bristol, so I'm pretty stoked about finishing fifth. "We have Sunday off, baby! Finally! Every time ESPN [televises] a race, it rains Saturday night and we have to race Sunday. We're coming off just about the worst week ever after having to race [last] Tuesday [in Michigan because of a two-day rain delay]." Earnhardt jokingly chided the media for bringing up his dimming hopes of getting into the Chase. "Y'all make it miserable, because that's all you talk about," said Earnhardt, smiling. "[If] we don't make it, everyone will talk about it. It's a bummer when you see that and watch that [on television]. You kind of want to go under the radar when you can't get it done. "I'll be more upset if I don't win a race this year. I want to win. If I can't get in the Chase, I just want to win a race. That hasn't happened for Junior since May of 2006 at Richmond. His winless streak now stands at 50 races. Not enough banging? Earnhardt didn't agree with those who suggested there wasn't enough bumping and banging to put on a good show for the fans Saturday night. "We don't like running into each other all the time. Is that what y'all want us to do?" he said. "I want the tires to run straight. I go to beatin' on people, it just messes the car up." Besides, Earnhardt said he and Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Dodge that finished seventh, mixed it up a little on the newly resurfaced concrete track. "The 12 ran into me one time and almost put me in the fence. So we beat on each other a little bit for about 10 laps over that, but I reckon we got over it because he quit beatin' on me. But other than that, I didn't have to run into anybody," Earnhardt said. "We were coming off [Turns] 3 and 4, and I might have left him a little window for the radiator to fit in there and he hit me in the quarter panel. He hit me right square on the back end and I almost wrecked. I said, 'I'll get you back' and I did hit him three or four times. He was like, `What did you hit me for?' He hit me a time or two and then it was over." Earnhardt also denied that being so close to Newman in the points standings (Newman sits one spot behind him in 14th, a mere 17 points behind) had nothing to do with them banging on each other. "It doesn't have anything to do with that. He's aggressive and I'm aggressive," Earnhardt said. "We don't like taking crap from anybody. That's what happens when you hit two hammers. It's not going to be pretty." Quotable Told that Tony Stewart said driving on the new surface at Bristol in a Car of Tomorrow was the most fun he's ever had during a race at Bristol, Earnhardt laughed and said: "I don't believe him. I think he's making it up. When has he ever said anything like that? He had a good line at the end. You'll have fun doing that." Earnhardt Jr. to reporters: Back off with Teresa slurs Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Friday stubbornly refused to back off his decision to leave his family's Dale Earnhardt Inc. team, but he just as staunchly denounced the recent treatment of DEI's head, his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt. Junior, who next season will drive a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, admitted his and his stepmother's mutual stubbornness and lack of insight into each other probably led to the split, but that he was over any bad feelings about it and suggested everyone else feel the same way. "I think it's about time we give Teresa a break," Earnhardt said. "She makes the decision on that number because she owns it. And as much as I am disappointed and frustrated over the fact that I don't get to keep driving the No. 8, the stuff that I read on the Internet and the stuff that I'm hearing is going on -- the remarks about her, directed toward her -- I don't think anybody deserves that. "If people just take a step back and look, she hasn't done anything intentionally detrimental to me. I've got a good future, a good opportunity in my hands. She's doing what she feels like she needs to do. "I just think everybody needs to lay off a little bit because she was married to my daddy and I know he wouldn't be too happy about what's going on, what's being said about her. So that just kind of bothers me a little bit." Junior, who is not married, spoke like an outraged parent as he defended his stepmother and his half-sister, Taylor. "I hate to see somebody be crucified on the Internet like Teresa has," Earnhardt said. "She's got a daughter that goes to school, that's got friends and she has to put up with that stuff. It's just hardcore, man. "People have been really, really rude and really way over the line on some of the things that have been said. I know Teresa doesn't know half of it because she won't read it and she won't put up with it. If anybody in their right mind knew that was going on they wouldn't be around it and deal with it. "But it still gets back to Taylor. Nobody deserves that. It ain't fair." But as perturbed as he is about that, Junior says he's comfortable with his decision to leave, and he's excited about the upcoming announcements about his new number and sponsor. But while he said he looked forward to working with DEI on future projects, he was just as adamant about not wanting to get to know his stepmother any better. "When it comes to my driving career right now, I didn't like how it was understood between me and Teresa," Earnhardt said. "We obviously didn't have a good line of communication. We obviously don't understand each other. We obviously don't know much about each other. She underestimates my determination and my willingness to give it all I've got. Obviously, I probably know that little about her and her determination. But it doesn't matter. I'm going to do something different. "I want the best for DEI, simply put. If there's opportunities for me to help them or if there are programs they want to involve me in that are interesting and fun for me, I've got interest there and I'm wide open to doing those things because they'll make sense. "But the relationship that I have with Teresa as an owner, I dislike and I didn't enjoy and I didn't want anymore. That was the only single thing that has made all this what it is today. That will be the one thing that I avoid in the future when working with DEI." Number a driver's identity but change is imminent In NASCAR, it's all about the numbers. Or is it? With Dale Earnhardt Jr. just 13 races from giving up his signature No. 8 ride for a car number to be named later, much of the talk Friday around the Nextel Cup garage at Bristol Motor Speedway was about not what's in a name but what's in a number. Answers to the question were varied. After watching driver Kurt Busch motor the No. 2 Dodge of Penske Racing to victory last Tuesday in the rain-delayed 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Rusty Wallace, the legendary former driver of the No. 2, dropped a phone call to his successor. "That looked like me out there driving the car," Busch said Wallace told him. Wallace said he later took a phone call from team owner Roger Penske, pretty much saying the same thing. That's good and bad. When Busch took over for the retiring Wallace after the 2006 season, he took some heat from fans loyal to Wallace who weren't necessarily Kurt Busch fans. Some of those fans are still hot over the switch in drivers, a point that Wallace confirmed Friday. "I think there is a lot in the number. I think when people keep looking at that number, they keep thinking of Rusty Wallace in that particular number," Wallace said. "I almost wish Kurt and Roger would have stylized their own No. 2 and let it be their own identity -- because, yeah, unfortunately everyone keeps comparing Kurt to me. "Looking back at it, if we ever made a strategic mistake, it was that we should have taken that stylized No. 2 and that would have been what Rusty ran forever -- and let Kurt have his own design. Just change the way it looked." Wallace said that Fred Wagenhals, founder of Action Racing Collectibles, even suggested precisely that to give both the retiring Wallace and Busch their own identities in what, in fact, is the same racecar. Of course that should, in theory, have helped fuel separate sales of No. 2 die-cast cars and other racing souvenirs -- which really is what is at the heart of the matter when it comes to Earnhardt getting out of the No. 8. Earnhardt said he had hoped to keep the No. 8 next season, despite making the switch from driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports. But last week negotiations between DEI and Hendrick over the No. 8 finally broke down for good, and it was announced DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt, the stepmother of Dale Jr., would retain the number. Now it appears veteran Mark Martin, whose fans were so upset when he left the No. 6 he had driven for Roush Racing for years, is headed for the No. 8 next season. Sources say that DEI plans to run Martin and Cup rookie Aric Almirola in the car, splitting the 36-race schedule. Driver Elliot Sadler said all the number changes will make it hard for the competitors to keep up, let alone the fans. "You know, I was only in the 38 car for four years and it's still weird to see that number on the side of a different car," said Sadler, who switched to the No. 19 Dodge of Evernham Motorsports after 22 races last season and is in his first full season driving the 19. "You do get affiliated with a number and you kind of feel like it's yours. "Talking about the Dale Jr. deal, I can't see anyone else driving the No. 8 car but him just because that is all he's had in his lifetime -- being that he's the biggest name and the biggest face in the sport. I'll be honest. I wouldn't want to drive the No. 8 car. "I just can't see the biggest name in our sport in a different number. I can't see Terry Bradshaw being No. 9 and playing quarterback. It's just certain things you think about. I can't see Michael Jordan being something besides the 23. I'm a sports guy, so I affiliate a lot of guys with a lot of numbers. That's my opinion on it." Of course, even Jordan wore No. 45 for a while after returning from one of his retirements. But in truth, no one ever really got used to it and he eventually went back to wearing No. 23. Jimmie Johnson, who hasn't driven anything but the No. 48 Chevrolet at the Cup level, agreed it will be hard to get used to not seeing Earnhardt tooling around in the red No. 8. Earnhardt also will be parting ways with long-time sponsor Budweiser beginning next season. "I haven't had to think about driving another number," Johnson said. "But going back to Junior, it would be difficult to leave that number behind. The paint color or the number, I'm not sure what would be the most identifiable trademark to a driver, but I think the number is probably No. 1. "So it would be tough to leave that. But I know that with some guys that I've talked to in the past who have changed numbers, it's also a way to start over. There's a history with a certain number, and then there's an opportunity to start over with a new one. And I think with Junior and his fan base and how loyal they are, it's a good opportunity to start over." Well, not for all of them, Johnson admitted. "It's going to slight some of them, no doubt about it -- especially the people with the 8 tattoos," Johnson said. "I'm sure they'll not really like this ... but I really think coming to a new team like Junior is, it's a good opportunity for him to start over, re-identify himself and be at Hendrick instead of being a carryover from another operation." Kyle Busch, who is leaving the No. 5 Chevrolet he's currently running behind at Hendrick as he makes the move to Joe Gibbs Racing next season, said it's foolish for drivers to get too attached to a number. The numbers, he said, have always belonged to the owners of the cars. "A number is a number," said Kyle, Kurt's younger brother. "I come into this deal and have been driving the 5 car, which is Rick Hendrick's number -- it's been that way since the beginning [of the Hendrick operation]. The 8 has just been a part of the Earnhardt family, with Ralph [Earnhardt, the grandfather of Dale Jr.] driving it years ago and then I think Dale had it a little bit in his Busch Series career, and of course, Junior stepped into that Cup ride and has had it since then. "It's just a part of who wants it worse or whatever -- but Teresa's got it, so it's hers. It's really not that big of a deal -- slap an 81 on the thing [Earnhardt Jr.'s Hendrick car] and be happy and go." Carl Edwards, who has never driven anything but the No. 99 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, said all the fuss over the number switches will die down in time. But he admitted that it likely will take some time for that to occur. "It just gets down to [the fact that] people get used to certain things," Edwards said. "You build a brand around certain numbers and sponsors and drivers. I think it's always a shock when something changes. "I personally have never really thought about driving a car other than the 99 since I've been in it -- but I think with anything, after people get used to a change, it's OK. It took me a long time to get used to saying Nextel Cup Series, but now it sounds normal. I think people can get used to any change, but, yeah, you do get used to certain things and it's a bit of a shock when they change." Wallace and Kurt Busch are still discovering that. But Wallace said Earnhardt's situation with the No. 8 car is not the same as what has gone on with the No. 2. "I think that's all different," Wallace said. "The 2 car has always been blue and it's always been the same 2. And now it's a different driver and people are still having a hard time getting used to it. [Busch] is a damn good driver, and I think he deserves his own stylized No. 2." Busch said he appreciated Wallace's support for the No. 2 after two victories in the last three races. "He was real proud to see the car doing that well -- not just for Penske or myself -- but because he has a lot of heart and soul in that car as well," Busch said. "It's great to have everything come full circle." Simmons, Earnhardt, Gretzky in Nickelback The new NICKELBACK video for their song "ROCKSTAR" features three appearances by GENE SIMMONS lip-synching along with a diverse host of stars including WAYNE GRETZKY, DALE EARNGARDT JR, KID ROCK and NELLY FURTADO. You can view the video at http://www.nickelback.com. Earnhardt gains positions, but keeps losing ground Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent all day trying to make up ground, picking off one position after another in a race where a swapped-out transmission doomed him to start at the back. But at the end of a wet, extended weekend at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR's most popular driver found himself staring up a deficit even larger than the one he faced coming in. The difficulty of Earnhardt's bid to make the year-end Chase for the Nextel Cup crystallized Tuesday, when the driver of the No. 8 car overcame a pit-road miscue to finish 11th in the 3M Performance 400, moved up one position in the standings -- and still lost ground. Earnhardt came to Michigan 14th in points, 100 behind Kurt Busch for the 12th and final Chase berth. He left soggy Brooklyn in 13th place but 163 points out, and with his situation appearing more ominous as the final weeks of the regular season wind down. He's getting no help from Busch, who kept the pressure on Tuesday by winning his second race in three weeks, and extending a late push that's seen him finish 11th or better in each of the last six starts. To avoid missing the Chase for the second time in three years, Earnhardt now has to knock an average of 54 points off Busch's advantage over the next three events. Over his last three, he's lost an average of 65 points to the Penske Racing driver. "No, it's not frustrating," Earnhardt said. "When they beat you fair, you can't get frustrated about that. They did what they had to do. They've got a great feel going right now. They're really quick. When you get beat fair like that, you can't be frustrated. You have to take it like a man. We'll just go on and go next week." Earnhardt struggled with handling at times Tuesday, slapping the wall at one point -- "Whoa, my quarterpanel! I just knocked the fence down!" he screamed over the radio -- but overall recovered quickly from the transmission change and was in the top 10 by Lap 70. He led the race briefly for one lap, and was solidly in the top five when he overran his pit stall on a green-flag stop with 32 laps remaining. "I was watching the 66 [of Jeff Green] who was in his stall. I thought I pitted past him, but I was two stalls before him," Earnhardt said. " When you come down pit road, and guys are anywhere near your stall, you look at whether they're jacked up on the left, because if they drop and pull out you're going to have a crash, and I don't want to do that. I was just looking at that, and I drove right by my pit. My fault, totally." Earnhardt fell to eighth, slid to 15th after he was pinned behind traffic following a pit stop where some drivers stayed out, and never again threatened. That was left to Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammate Martin Truex Jr., trying to fight for the race victory and hang on to his spot inside the Chase at the same time. His runner-up finish helped him stay in 11th place in the standings, but Busch still carved a healthy 25 points out of his lead. "It's kind of odd," Truex said. "You think second is a good day, but the guy you're racing is finishing ahead of you. It's just like Pocono, when Junior finished second to Kurt. The 2 is on their game plan right now, and for sure we can't afford any mistakes." The No. 2 team isn't giving them any option. Ten races ago, after a crash at Charlotte and getting parked and saddled with a 100-point penalty for nearly running over one of Tony Stewart's crewmen at Dover, Busch was 17th in points. Pat Tryson was installed as crew chief three weeks later, bringing with him a patient plan that has his squad on the brink of a playoff berth. "Our plan has been all along, from when we started eight races or so ago, to try to get 20 points on everybody around us every week. Around us, in front of us," said Tryson, who started this season as Greg Biffle's crew chief at Roush Fenway Racing. "I think that's how we still have to look at it. It's easy to lose 90 points in one day. You can break a motor, you can get caught up in a mess. I think we just need to keep doing what we're doing, trying to get 20 on everybody around us every week. We do that, we'll be in good shape." Another good sign? Saturday night brings the annual stop at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Busch has won five times. Entering that race, Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin are locked into the Chase, while Matt Kenseth can clinch just by starting the final three events. Yet the points leader continues to have good cars and little to show for them; last week at Watkins Glen he led until overrunning the first turn with two laps remaining, while Tuesday he was among the leaders until he slid up into Kenseth and into the boggy infield grass with 10 to go. "Hey, I want my bad luck to come right now," said Gordon, who finished 27th. "I want all the good luck we can get [in the Chase]. Every time we're out there, we're learning something. I had a fast racecar today. I'm happy about that. Good pit stops. And we weren't going to get the 10 bonus points we were looking for today anyway, because the 2 car was too strong." Junior: Deal for 8 scuttled by Teresa's bid for control Dale Earnhardt Jr. had seen this movie before, and he knew how it was going to end. He wanted the 8. He went after the 8. But deep down, he knew he would never get it. "Personally, I sort of planned for this," he said. "I've been in these negotiations with the same person before, and they've never worked out in our favor. I knew this was the way it was going to be. I just didn't have the guts to tell my fans. They were holding out and hoping it would work out. I didn't have the guts to tell them it was just a waste of time hoping that would happen." That much became evident this week, when Hendrick Motorsports announced that Earnhardt's trademark car number will not follow NASCAR's most popular driver from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to his new home for 2008. (read more) Despite the work of his sister and manager, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, despite the help of DEI president Max Siegel, the quest was scuttled for the same reason Earnhardt Jr. was unable to obtain an ownership share of the organization his late father founded. Teresa Earnhardt refused to give up control. Earnhardt Jr. said Saturday at Michigan International Speedway that his stepmother, who owns DEI, wanted a share of licensing revenues from the number. Earnhardt Jr. even offered to return the No. 8 to DEI after he retired from driving, but ultimately negotiations fell apart in an episode that further underscored the growing bitterness of the division between the driver and his father's widow. "I'm not going to sit here and get personal about this. The personal stuff is way far away from the racetrack. It's upsetting as hell, and unfortunate. But you know, that's just what happens sometimes. Like I say, I kind of had an idea that we were going to come down this road and have to take another turn. I knew this was the way it was going to happen. I'm not really all that surprised," he said. "I knew I wasn't going to get the number a long time ago, but you wait and wait and wait. Kelley is working, trying to talk to Max, and Max is trying to help. Max tried his butt off to try and make it work, to talk some sense into [Teresa]. But she either feels too personal about the number, or the rift between me and her is too personal. I can totally understand. If I were in her shoes, I would probably be inclined to keep the number myself. But I will say that Max tried really, really hard. We had a deal that if we did get the number, I'd get him a set of golf clubs made by adidas. Unfortunately, he won't be getting his clubs." History wasn't on Earnhardt's side. While car numbers are owner by NASCAR, they're distributed to car owners, and traditionally stay in the same shop even if a driver leaves. That's what happened at Roush Fenway Racing, which kept the No. 6 even after Mark Martin, the driver who made it famous, moved on. "I know it is standard procedure for the owners to build equity in the number. That's what stays with them," said Martin, who now drives part-time for DEI. "The drivers take their superstardom wherever they may, when you make that choice to go. Dale Earnhardt won the rookie of the year and his first championship in the No. 2, then raced the No. 15, and then he raced the No. 8 on [Busch] cars all through the '80s. If you do the history instead of look at the last five or seven years, if you do the history and present it, then there's a whole different thing to it besides race fans. "Dale Jr. made a choice to make a change in his career, to change his path and to give it a new start and to go put himself in a position to go win his first championship, and I think that's great. But that also came with the chance that the number would stay with Dale Earnhardt Inc., where it has been since 1984." Jeff Gordon can imagine a similar reaction from car owner Rick Hendrick -- Earnhardt Jr.'s new boss beginning next season -- if he asked to take his trademark No. 24 with him to another team. "If I said, 'I'd like to take the 24 with me,' he would laugh at me," Gordon said. "You know, I understand if Teresa wants to keep the 8 and use the 8. I think it's going to make it very tough for any other driver to get behind the wheel of that car, and I think if she doesn't use the 8, I think that it's really a shame that he wasn't able to get it. But as long as she used it, she thinks there's as much a tie to it with DEI than anything, then I understand why they wouldn't want to let go of it." But it also has a tie to Earnhardt Jr., one much deeper and more personal than the numeral on apparel worn by his fans. He chose the 8 because his grandfather Ralph raced it, because of its significance within the family history. He intimated Saturday that his new number at Hendrick will have an 8 somewhere in it. "Hold on. Hang tight," he said, when asked about all those fans with No. 8 tattoos. "I'm definitely going to look at some 80s and things like that. That's just common sense," he said. "I want a number that I'm going to like, and it's going to be a number I like and one I design. I'll design the shape and the look. It will be mine, and we'll build a new identity with that. Starting with such a clean page next year anyway, maybe it's for the best, sort of a lesson in disguise to make that clean break. "Because when I walk away from DEI, I wanted no ties whatsoever. If I was to get the 8, and allow Teresa to have limited control of it, I'd still have to deal with her, and that wasn't what I wanted. We have to let the 8 go, and we have to get something new." Earnhardt can't bring No. 8 with him to Hendrick Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not be taking his familiar No. 8 with him to Hendrick Motorsports next season. Earnhardt is leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season and had hoped to take No. 8 with him to his new team. His late grandfather, Ralph, used that number and Earnhardt picked it when he entered the Cup Series in 1999. Although teams do not own numbers -- they are leased through NASCAR -- DEI had the first right of refusal on the No. 8, and Hendrick officials said Wednesday they were unable to reach an agreement that would have made DEI pass on choosing the number for 2008. ``We've been working hard to secure the No. 8 for Dale Jr.'s car number next season,'' said Marshall Carlson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. ``Obviously, he has a tremendous history with that number, and we know how important it is to his fans. Unfortunately, we couldn't reach a point where the terms made sense, and now we have to move forward with other options.'' Hendrick officials didn't reveal what number Earnhardt will use when he starts his five-year deal with the team next season. His sponsor has also not been announced, but Hendrick officials said Budweiser will not be on his car. Earnhardt is widely recognized with his red Bud car and number, so this turn of events will give him a fresh new look next season. But having to part with his grandfather's number was difficult. ``Our hope was to carry the No. 8 with Dale Jr. to his new team, but the last proposal Hendrick Motorsports received from DEI just wasn't viable,'' said Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, his sister and business manager. ``It was a difficult decision, but all of us agreed that it was best to move in another direction,'' she said. ``There's disappointment, of course, but we look forward to working with Hendrick Motorsports on what will be a great program for Dale Jr. and his fans in 2008.'' Earnhardt blows engine, damages Chase hopes Dale Earnhardt Jr. saw his hopes of qualifying for the Chase for the Nextel Cup take a blow Sunday when, for the fourth time this season, an engine failure in the Centurion Boats at The Glen sent him to the garage early. But neither Earnhardt nor his Dale Earnhardt Inc. organization is showing any sign of giving up, despite finishing 42nd Sunday and falling another position in the standings. Earnhardt dropped from 13th in the standings to 14th, 100 points behind Kurt Busch, who finished 11th. "It won't be easy, but we've done a whole lot harder stuff than that," Earnhardt said. "I can handle it. We'll just come back and try again. I'm going to make sure that I show my confidence in my team and make sure that I show them that I'm not giving up -- and they'll follow suit. "They'll show me a thing or two [and] we'll get something out of this." After a track vehicle pushed his No. 8 Chevrolet to the garage, Junior took full blame. He said a number of engine over-revs through the weekend had done him in. "I think it was due to some of the downshifts I was doing during practice -- we just beat on the motor too hard," Earnhardt said. "I think we was just too rough on it. The motor was good [and] the car was really, really good." DEI's director of motorsports Richie Gilmore -- the organization's former head engine builder -- said Earnhardt's day was doomed by a valve train failure in his car's Chevy SB2 engine, which was not from the new DEI/Richard Childress Racing engine program. "That was still a DEI combination," Gilmore said. "But it doesn't matter whose combination it is, if you turn 10,000 RPMs four or five times in practice Saturday and then you do it in the race, you're not going to finish the race. "That's what Junior was talking about when he apologized to the team. It broke a valve spring and I don't think there's any valve spring in the world that would hold up to that." Earnhardt said he had no gross over-revs in the race, but he knew his role. "We didn't turn anything over 10,000 during the race, but during practice all weekend, I was having trouble with the car and struggling -- I was using the downshift to slow the car down and get some speed out of the thing," he said. "We might have beat on the motor too hard this weekend, but [our engines] have been really good this year. We have had a lot of gremlins, but as far as failure in parts -- rods and things like that -- we haven't had them." Earnhardt suffered engine failures earlier this season at California, Texas and Indianapolis. "It's very unfortunate, because everybody looks at it as two engine failures in three weeks, and unfortunately it's circumstances that are out of our control," Gilmore said. "California, we broke a [valve] spring and here we broke a spring, and Indy, we broke a part, the front mandrill. "But this one here and Texas -- I mean, it's a team -- but both of them were driver-related. At Texas, when we got in the wreck when Kyle Busch hit us, it was over-revved and all the valves hit the pistons, and when we went back out, we broke a valve. "So the car was demolished, but at the end of the day it had a blown engine." Not only did Earnhardt lose ground to Busch, he fell four points behind Busch's Penske Racing teammate, Ryan Newman, who survived several incidents to finish 13th. Busch was hit with a pit road speeding penalty under a debris caution that flew right after Earnhardt's engine failed. Busch got knocked back into the pack as a result of having to restart at the end of the line, but finished 11th. "It was a good day," Busch said. "We worked our way up all the way to second at one point. We tried to be conservative on fuel and that put us in the back of the pack -- all those yellows at the end made it too tough to pass. "[But] it was good for the points. That finish bumped us up just a little bit -- [and] every little bit counts." In the end, the outcome was a disappointing one to a day it seemed Earnhardt's team had saved. After declaring after practice that his team would have to improve to contend in the race, Earnhardt's team had done just that through the first two-thirds of the Centurion Boats at The Glen. He started 14th when the lineup was determined by owner points but marched halfway to the lead in the first 10 laps. From that seventh position, he advanced to second by lap 50 and was fourth on lap 60. But on the 64th lap, Earnhardt's car faltered and then coasted a while before he pulled off on the backstretch. "I am real proud of my team -- we were terrible all weekend but that car was good during the race -- it was fun to drive," Earnhardt said. "I thought we were putting on a show, we were working really hard and had something to be proud of -- now all kind of disappointed, but we will come back next week." Gilmore said little will change in the team's focus. "We have to go back to the shop and look at what happened and evaluate that," Gilmore said. "But you can't get conservative because the people you are beating are top-notch organizations. "So we'll have to go back and look at what happened, evaluate it and make changes as we need to." Earnhardt in Champion's Anniversary Ads NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. talks about his off-track passions in an advertising campaign marking the 100th anniversary of Champion spark plugs. The online and print "Always a Champion" campaign features a series of ads that include Earnhardt's Chevrolet Corvette, all-terrain vehicle, dirt bike and boat. The spots appear in several magazines and on Web sites such as ESPN.com. The campaign "invites do-it-yourselfers and automotive professionals to experience the advantages of performance-driven Champion products," Federal-Mogul Corp., the Southfield-based auto parts supplier that owns Champion, said Thursday. Runner-up not enough to keep Earnhardt in top 12 Despite a valiant effort to recover from a spin and remedy an ill-handling racecar, Dale Earnhardt Jr. dropped one spot outside the Chase race and relinquished his highly coveted 12th-place position to Kurt Busch. Although judging from his attitude after Sunday's Pennsylvania 500, where the No. 8 held off most of the field to finish second, Earnhardt isn't "too worried about it." "I felt like I won," said Earnhardt, whose runner-up marks his best finish since a second-place finish last season in the September California race. Earnhardt started from the pole but failed to lead the first lap after Busch took the advantage on the outside. By Lap 72, problems and issues with a tight racecar had surmounted. The crew said their shock package may have been to aggressive from the beginning, making the car extremely tight and forcing Earnhardt to battle an out-of-control Chevrolet. "Even though we were up there in the top 10, the car was wicked tight," Earnhardt said. Finally, shortly after the halfway point of the race, it was the red No. 8 that brought out the caution flag after he lost control and spun in the infamous Tunnel Turn (watch video). "We were looking pretty bad there at one point ...," Earnhardt said. But when you're perpetually on the bubble in the 12th spot as he has been for weeks, you can't afford to have a poor showing. You have to make a little magic. And that's what the crew did. They turned around what looked to be an inevitable poor showing with what some have quickly dubbed the "magic shock." The left-front shock change dropped Earnhardt to 26th on the Lap 129 restart. He gained 12 spots by the time the caution came out again on Lap 138. And a two-tire stop on pit road catapulted Earnhardt 11 spots and eventually afforded the driver to the lead. Unfortunate for Earnhardt, holding off race-winner Busch would prove to be impossible. "That beer on Tuesday night might go down a little slower otherwise I'll be fine," Earnhardt said. "If I didn't run second I'd be worse and lose more points to Kurt. We got to feel pretty lucky to have stayed that close to him." The victory moved Busch up to 12th in the standings, while Earnhardt is now 13th, just seven points out of the transfer position. The new seeding selection where 12 as opposed to 10 drivers will make the Chase has every driver clawing for every position and the emphasis is on wins because winners are awarded 10 bonus points. After the Sept. 8 race at Richmond International Raceway, the top 12 drivers will be re-seeded according to wins throughout the first 26 races. Each driver in the top 12 will have their points reset to 5,000 points, plus any bonus points accrued. As for dropping outside the 12-driver cutoff with only five events left until the Chase for the Nextel Cup seedings are set, Earnhardt merely said he is running as hard as he can every week. "We are way better than 13th, but we've had bad luck, we cheated and got caught ... those types of things are going to hurt you," he said. "But the cream is going to rise to the top. I ain't too worried about it." Earnhardt captures pole at Pocono Dale Earnhardt Jr. waited out a short 45- minute rain delay then went out and captured the pole for Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway. Going out as the first qualifier after the track was dried, the No.8 Budweiser Chevrolet driver circled the 2.5-mile, tri-oval in 52.949 seconds (169.975 m.p.h.). The pole victory was Junior's first of the season and seventh of his Nextel Cup career. His last pole win was in 2002 at Kansas. "The rain cooled the track down and the track dried fast so they didn't have to run the blowers too much," said Earnhardt Jr. "We kind of stole one today. We had a pretty good car, we were going to be about 10th or so, maybe 15th, so we have to credit the weather and Mother Nature for this one." Starting alongside Earnhardt Jr. will be Kurt Busch, who posted a time of 52.984 seconds. "Each corner the car felt comfortable," said Busch. "I drove it in really hard into each of the corners and I was able to get back in the gas soon. That comes from a good setup in the car. The crew did an awesome job." Kyle Busch (53.009) and Ryan Newman (53.023) will make up row two. Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Kasey Kahne (fifth), Denny Hamlin (sixth), Jimmie Johnson (seventh), Jeff Gordon (11th), Kevin Harvick (23rd) and Tony Stewart (24th). Stewart has won the last two events - at Chicagoland and Indianapolis. With just six races before the beginning of the "Chase for the Nextel Cup," we are getting a better view as to the makeup of the 12 drivers who will compete for the title. The top nine in the standings, headed by four-time Nextel Cup champion Gordon, appear to be solidly in and can prepare for the "playoffs." The group also includes Hamlin, 2003 Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, two-time series champion Stewart, Carl Edwards, Daytona 500 winner Harvick, lame duck Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Busch and 2006 series champion Johnson. Johnson is the lowest ranked of the group, but still holds a 265-point lead over the 13th-place driver Kurt Busch. Barring a complete collapse he is in the "Chase." He will also get his crew chief, Chad Knaus, back from suspension shortly which should boost his performances. The final three spots should be a fun battle to watch over the next month and a half. Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. and Earnhardt Jr. currently own positions 10 through 12, but Kurt Busch, Newman, Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle are still within striking distance. Even "rookie" Juan Pablo Montoya still has an outside chance to make it into the "Chase." The race is scheduled to drop the green flag on Sunday at 2 p.m. (et). JR Motorsports, Hendrick combine NBS teams for '08 JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports will combine the two companies' Busch Series operations at the conclusion of the 2007 racing season with plans to field a joint effort beginning in 2008. The partnership will campaign two full-time racecars under the JR Motorsports banner that utilize Hendrick Motorsports engines, chassis and vehicle engineering support. Rick Hendrick will be listed as car owner of the No. 5 team and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be car owner of the No. 88. "It's a great opportunity to have the wholesale support that Hendrick Motorsports is going to provide," said Earnhardt, the owner of JR Motorsports. "Being a relatively new team owner in this sport, this is a huge step for me and everyone at JR Motorsports. It was never part of the equation when I was deciding where to drive next year, but it seemed to be a natural progression once Rick and I began talking about the transition into 2008." To support the operation, approximately 30 employees, including crew chief Chad Walter, will move to JR Motorsports' Mooresville-based facility from Hendrick Motorsports' Busch Series group in Concord. Walter will serve as crew chief of the No. 5 team next season. "Ultimately, Dale Jr. and I both want to win races and give our people the best possible chance at achieving success," said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "Instead of operating independently of each other, we have an opportunity to work together to field an even stronger Busch Series effort. "I have a great personal desire to see the No. 5 car succeed. My son [the late Ricky Hendrick] turned it into a championship team [as a car owner] and we are committed to continuing that legacy with both the No. 5 and the No. 88." JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports will also collaborate in the areas of partnership development, sponsorship services, marketing and media relations. The two companies are currently working together on JR Motorsports' 2008 Busch Series driver and sponsorship lineup, which will be announced at a later date. "Rick's Busch program is consistently one of the best in the series," Earnhardt said. "To be able to partner with him and utilize our combined strengths in competition, sponsorship and marketing will be a tremendous benefit to both our organizations." Junior still in last Chase spot despite failed engine How will Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s engine failure and resulting 34th-place finish Sunday affect his ability to make this season's Chase for the Nextel Cup? If history is any indication, it probably won't make much difference. However, what may play a bigger role is the fact that many of Junior's biggest rivals had similar fates in Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Earnhardt was a contender for the victory for much of the first half of the race, leading a career-high 33 laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and looking like the driver with the best chance of beating Tony Stewart. But as the No. 8 Chevrolet headed down Indy's famous frontstretch, the engine let go in a telltale puff of smoke, the white plume trailing behind the car as Junior's good run ended after 136 laps. "We broke the pulley off the front end of the motor," a disappointed Junior said after pulling the car into the garage. "The harmonic balance was still there and the pulley's gone. I guess the motor broke. You have bad luck every once in a while. "We've had great motors all year long and I'm real proud of the engine shop. That's what keeps us running up front at places like this. We need the same power the rest of the year." It was exactly opposite of the finish Earnhardt wanted -- and deserved -- on Sunday. Coming into Indianapolis with a 30-point lead over Ryan Newman for the 12th and final spot in the Chase, Junior left the Brickyard clinging to a 13-point advantage over Kurt Busch, unofficially. "You just got to take chances when you're trying to stay in the Chase," Junior admitted. "We had a good car [Sunday]. The car was fast and I was really enjoying myself. "We finished bad, and that is no good with the points deal. I'm not happy about that, but there's nothing we can do about it." In 2005, a Lap 62 crash on a restart left Earnhardt 43rd and dropped him from 14th to 16th in the standings, effectively ending his chances at making the Chase. But last season, a pit-road gamble gave him track position and a sixth-place finish, which set off a run of four top-10 finishes in the next five races, solidifying his position in the Chase. Things could have been worse for Junior if not for similar issues with many of the drivers directly below him in the standings. Newman qualified third and had hopes of gaining ground. Instead, his No. 12 Dodge immediately suffered handling issues and he quickly fell out of the top 10. Then on Lap 21, he slammed into the wall in Turn 4 and wound up 42nd. "It's unfortunate," Newman said. "It was a pretty good lick into the wall and it ended our day. It's devastating in more than one way. It just depends on how far we have to come back." Newman switched positions with Busch, and is now 59 points behind Earnhardt with six races remaining before the cutoff. Busch rallied over the last 60 laps to post an 11th-place finish. Jamie McMurray's dwindling Chase hopes -- and his No. 26 Ford -- took a hit on Sunday. McMurray was involved in a multi-car accident on Lap 46 which included Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Rudd, Scott Riggs, Bill Elliott and Carl Edwards. McMurray said it was a matter of more than one car trying to occupy the same space at the same time, especially on a track as narrow and unforgiving as Indianapolis. "You just don't realize how much you're sliding around here," McMurray said. "You're pretty much already out of control and when their momentum gets lost or someone makes a fast move like that, it's hard not to run into each other. "I was trying to stay off of Jimmie and then, I think, maybe [Riggs] or somebody got into me, which is not his fault. It's just one of those deals where maybe [we were] racing a little too hard, too early." McMurray is still 15th in the standings, but now trails Earnhardt by 113 points. Goodyear raises $20,000 with tire charity auction The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, the exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR's top three racing divisions, announced Tuesday that the Goodyear "Get there" Charity Auction raised $20,000 for The NASCAR Foundation and its driver-affiliated charities. As a result of the funds raised through the auction, Goodyear was awarded with the honor of being named a Champion Friend of the Foundation for the 2007 Nextel Cup season -- the highest level of participation that can be achieved by a one-time donor. "As a long-standing supplier of NASCAR, we're very proud to help support The NASCAR Foundation and its important mission," said Stu Grant, Goodyear's general manager of global race tires. "Goodyear would like to thank all the fans who bid on these unique race-used Eagle tires and helped us raise so much money for The NASCAR Foundation." The Goodyear "Get there" Charity Auction provided fans the opportunity to bid on 43 authentic Goodyear tires individually autographed by the top Nextel Cup Series drivers. Each autographed race-used Goodyear Eagle tire was accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, which included the driver's name and car number, the race in which the tire was used, the driver's finish in that race and the tire's RFID number. The top 10 most popular tires i the auction belonged to Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Juan Montoya, Elliott Sadler, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Paul Menard, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. This was the largest collection of certified, autographed race-used Goodyear Eagle tires that The NASCAR Foundation and Goodyear have combined to offer at auction. "We are grateful to Goodyear for helping us make this auction such a huge success and are proud to welcome them as a Champion Friend of the Foundation," said Sandy Marshall, executive director of The NASCAR Foundation. "The winning bidders should feel good knowing that the proceeds generated from the auction will go a long way in helping the Foundation achieve its mission of making a difference in the lives of those who need it most." Goodyear is the exclusive tire supplier of the Nextel Cup Series, the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series through 2012. The company has had an uninterrupted commitment to NASCAR since becoming a race tire supplier in the 1950s. This relationship has become one of the longest-running supply programs in any sport. Over those years, Goodyear has worked to bring innovation to its racing products, which, in turn, has helped foster heightened competition on the track. Goodyear also takes innovations and cutting-edge technology from the racetrack and applies that technology to tires that consumers use on streets and highways. To learn more about The NASCAR Foundation and how you can become a Friend of the Foundation visit www.nascar.com/foundation Earnhardt Jr. honoring dad's promise to Pilgram JR Motorsports announced Thursday that road racing veteran Andy Pilgrim will drive the No. 88 Navy Chevrolet in the upcoming Busch Series races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Watkins Glen International. For team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., the opportunity to have Pilgrim in the No. 88 Chevy not only puts a road course ace in his team's car, it also allows him to fulfill a promise his dad, Dale Earnhardt, made to Pilgrim several years ago. Earnhardt Jr. and his dad teamed up with Kelly Collins and Pilgrim to race a Chevrolet Corvette in the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Pilgrim tutored both Earnhardts on how to maneuver the lighter car. The team finished fourth overall out of 79 teams, and the elder Earnhardt promised to one day give Pilgrim a chance to drive one of his cars in NASCAR competition. "My dad told Andy that he'd give him a shot at driving one of his cars after racing in the Corvette at Daytona," Earnhardt Jr. said. "He wasn't able to make good on that promise, so I'm doing it for him. I just want to thank GM Racing and Pratt & Miller for loaning us Andy for these races. I also need to thank the Navy for their support as we continue to make this team better." When presented with the opportunity to drive a stock car for Earnhardt Jr., Pilgrim didn't hesitate to accept. "We talked about doing it with Dale years ago," Pilgrim said. "I remember Dale told me he wanted to put me in a car for a road-course race, and he seemed serious, but I'm one of those people who is a bit of a pragmatist. You don't say anything to anyone in case it never happens, but you're thinking, 'Man, that would be so cool.' Unfortunately that chapter closed, and it was like, 'That's OK. It was real nice to think about it.' "Suddenly Junior calls me and asks if I'd like to test the car and possibly race it. What can I say, I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of the deal. Even though this is obviously brand new to me, it feels like old times again. It feels like family." Pilgrim was approved for NASCAR competition after completing a successful test session with JR Motorsports at Virginia International Raceway on Wednesday. "I had a great time with those guys and was really happy with the way the test went," Pilgrim said. "It was all brand new to me. In 20 years of professional racing, that was the first time I had ever driven a car like that, and I have to say it was quite impressive. ."I went into it with a lot of respect for the car. I've talked a lot with Boris [Said] and Ron [Fellows] and I've listened to what they've said about the stock cars over the years. I was so impressed with the horsepower, the speed the car carried through the turns, and even the brake package. There is so much downforce on the car. You hear road-course drivers talk about driving stock cars and comparing it to old technology, but I must say it was quite impressive. I was pleasantly surprised with everything. Going down the straightaway I had a big smile on my face." His two-race deal comes as the team evaluates its options for a full-time driver to complete the remainder of the 2007 season. "Andy's a great racecar driver. His resume speaks for itself," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Putting him in our car for the road courses is a good opportunity for the team and for him. Last year Martin [Truex Jr.] finished sixth in one of our cars at Watkins Glen, so I know we've got the equipment that will allow Andy to contend for the win in Montreal and Watkins Glen." Pilgrim, born in Nottingham, England, started racing sports cars in 1984 and became a citizen of the United States in 1998. In his 23-year career he has competed on more than 60 different tracks, scored 55 wins in 10 different series and won five professional racing championships. Pilgrim currently competes in the SCCA World Challenge series for Team Cadillac and last month he finished fourth in the SPEED World Challenge GT race at Watkins Glen. That same weekend he finished seventh in the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen Rolex Sports Car Series race with co-drivers Tim Lewis and Leighton Reese. Dale Earnhardt Sr. Film Will Make TV Debut on CMT The new two-hour CMT feature film, Dale, will make its TV debut on Sept. 4 on CMT, with encore performances Sept. 5-6. A DVD of the film will be available early next year. Produced by NASCAR Images and CMT Films, Dale is the only authorized film about the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. Narrated by Paul Newman, it includes archival race footage, rare outtakes, never-before-seen family home videos and interviews with his closest friends and family, toughest competitors and most avid fans. Dale was produced with the support and endorsement of Richard Childress Racing, plus the Earnhardt family, corporation and team. Hendrick: Junior will have new sponsor next season New team. New sponsor. Indeed 2008 will be a new beginning for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports on Friday announced that contractual commitments to existing sponsors will preclude Budweiser from continuing as primary sponsor of the car driven by Earnhardt when he joins the organization next season. "We have agreements in place with sponsors for the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, which prevent us from having a relationship with Budweiser," team owner Rick Hendrick said. "Honoring our commitments is important to us. The trade-off is missing an opportunity to bring Budweiser, a marquee brand synonymous with NASCAR and its fans, into the fold." On June 13, Earnhardt Jr. signed on to race for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2008, but primary sponsorship of his team remains undecided. No timetable has been established for an announcement. ESPN.com previously reported that PepsiCo Inc. is expected to sponsor Earnhardt next season, while Anheuser-Busch is negotiating with Evernham Motorsports to possibly move the Bud sponsorship to Kasey Kahne's No. 9 Dodge next season. "Budweiser has sponsored Dale Jr. for nearly a decade, and we wish him the very best," said Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch Inc. "Budweiser will remain an active sponsor of NASCAR, and we look forward to building upon the legacy of the iconic Budweiser red car in 2008 and beyond." Budweiser has been Earnhardt's primary sponsor since his debut on May 30, 1999, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Sunday at Chicago will be his 274th start with Budweiser. A two-time Busch Series champion, Earnhardt has 17 wins, 72 top-five finishes and 116 top-10s in his Cup career. He has finished in the top five in points three times in eight full seasons, with a career-best of third in 2003. "To climb into that red Budweiser car each weekend has always been a privilege," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Although Budweiser and I will be unable to continue our partnership beyond this season, I remain committed to driving for Bud the rest of this year, and will continue to make it my beer of choice. "I'm a race car driver. All I can do is drive as hard as I can for my fans and sponsorship partners, and give my best effort each weekend." Earnhardt mainstreams his marketability Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a freshman in high school when he figured out that image is everything and for him to be considered cool, he had to have a pair of old-school adidas Samba Classic sneakers. With a clean look and simple colors, the Sambas were an extension of Earnhardt's shy, quiet personality. "When you are in high school in Mooresville (N.C.), your shoe is your hallmark," Earnhardt said. "What kind of shoe you have on, that's where you stand in the chain of command. It was really important, and I thought adidas was the best brand." Eighteen years later, Earnhardt still chooses his brands carefully and adidas again made the cut as NASCAR's most popular driver mainstreams his endorsement portfolio. His signing last week with adidas America on a multiyear personal services contract came just two weeks after he announced a similar deal with Sony. Both companies are international and significantly broaden Earnhardt's marketing image. Although he's a superstar in America, U.S.-based sponsors Budweiser, Chevrolet and Wrangler haven't made Earnhardt an international icon. His new deals could help, as Earnhardt becomes just the fourth athlete to receive his own personal clothing line with adidas. Also in that group? International superstar David Beckham, as well as New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush and Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady. "It's a little intimidating," admitted Earnhardt, who played soccer in high school. "I look up to Beckham and the things he's been able to accomplish and the persona he's built up over the years." Now Earnhardt has the opportunity to do the same. He announced in May that he was leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., and decided a month later to sign with powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports. The adidas and Sony deals came right after, and the timing is not lost on anyone. Earnhardt has spent his entire career with his late father's race team, and often found himself locked into deals that the late Dale Earnhardt picked for him. That didn't ease after the elder Earnhardt's death in 2001, as Junior had to take over many of his father's contracts to help DEI retain the business. "We had all them sponsors that DEI was bringing in, whoever they wanted to work with, and they didn't always match perfectly with me," Earnhardt said. "And when Dad died ... I had to help out to keep the contracts good. They were selling pieces of me here and there just to keep things going. "But when I decided to cut my ties with DEI, the phones started ringing and it was like 'Hey, we want to work Dale Jr.'" Earnhardt suddenly had his pick of endorsement deals, and adidas was No. 1 on the list. He'd tried five years earlier to land a sneaker deal with the company for his self-owned race team, but Germany-based adidas wasn't interested. The conversations resumed shortly after Earnhardt hired Thayer Lavielle, a former vice president with L'Oreal USA, to run marketing and brand development at JR Motorsports last July. Although interested, adidas didn't commit until after Earnhardt decided to leave DEI at the end of this season, said Mark Clinard, business director for motor sports at adidas America. "Obviously you sign him because he's enormously popular, but this focus on wanting to get better and committing to doing everything he can to win a championship just really fits perfectly with us," Clinard said. "When people get serious about winning and make some really tough decisions like he made, it's really a natural." The DEI decision may have pushed adidas over the edge, but Lavielle said Earnhardt's expanding portfolio doesn't correlate directly to changing teams. Instead, it's a culmination of the work she has done with his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, in the year since Lavielle joined JR Motorsports. Now that they've inked two significant deals, Lavielle said they will wait to see how sponsorship of his new Hendrick ride shakes out before making more moves. Budweiser has sponsored Earnhardt's Cup car since 1999 and wants to stay with him, but Hendrick might not be interested in signing the company. Regardless, Earnhardt has a personal services contract with Bud through 2008. Whatever company ends up sponsoring Earnhardt's new ride will use an intense marketing campaign, and Lavielle said they don't want the driver to become a rolling billboard. His late father was widely recognized as a pitchman for just a handful of companies, and Earnhardt wants the same image. "We want a small stable of partners, to align him with brands that he's comfortable with and projects that are fun for him," Lavielle said. "This sport is, by it's nature, riddled with sponsorships. But we are in a good position where we can say 'Hey, I don't know if that one fits for us,' and make careful choices when it comes to his lifestyle management." One deal already in the pipeline, though, is a candy bar that Earnhardt has had a hand in developing. He won't reveal many details, only that he and the JR Motorsports staff tasted endless combinations looking for the perfect match. Earnhardt has been involved with how the bar will be shaped, what it will look like and "if it's going to break into pieces when you take a bite. You gotta have it how you want it if your name is on it," he said. He's come a long way since his days as a short, skinny kid just trying to fit in at school, and Earnhardt has clear ideas on how he wants to be perceived. He believes carefully choosing his endorsement deals helps him convey his desired image. "I would like to be the guy, your friend next door that you hope gets home early so you can start playing video games," he said. "I want to be that guy." Report: Bud to end Earnhardt sponsorship It would appear that Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s association with Budweiser will come to an end when he joins Hendrick Motorsports next season. .Sources tell ESPN.com that Anheuser-Busch is shopping their sponsorship around for the best deal and that Kasey Kahne at Evernham Motorsports is one of four drivers they have targeted. Evernham Motorsports says no agreement has been reached with Budweiser and they continue to talk to several other companies about 2008 sponsors. It's possible Budweiser could remain with DEI depending on who the team signs to replace the departing Earnhardt. The beer brand has been on the No. 8 car since 2000. Meanwhile, PepsiCo Inc. is said to be interested in sponsoring Earnhardt in the No. 5 Chevrolet next season using its brand of soft drinks and sports drinks. Goodyear auctioning off autographed race tires The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR, will auction off 43 autographed race-used Goodyear Eagle tires to benefit The NASCAR Foundation and its group of driver-affiliated charities. Through July 15 fans have the opportunity to bid on the Goodyear tires individually autographed by top Nextel Cup Series drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards. This is the first time that NASCAR and Goodyear have joined together to officially put up for sale a collection of certified, autographed race-used Goodyear Eagle tires. To view the tires and bid in the auction, click here. Earnhardt Jr. takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' Coming off a pair of strong finishes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. couldn't catch a break Saturday night. The only things he caught were wrecks; two of them. The No. 8 was hit from behind in a chain reaction crash resulting from the Denny Hamlin vs. Tony Stewart incident on Lap 14. Bobby Labonte ran into the back of Earnhardt Jr. and Reed Sorenson was said to have made contact with Labonte. Earnhardt and company took the car to the garage for repairs, returned to the track on Lap 64, only to get hit a second time in a multi-car crash on Lap 131. He managed to hold on to his 12th-place spot in the point standings but hobbled home Saturday night in 36th position; with a sense of humor no less. Running a couple dozen laps behind the leaders, the team needed a fuel stop to make it to the end. Earnhardt asked for tires as well as fuel and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. replied, "You only have four laps on those." Earnhardt said, "Well if you like this set so much, you can take them home with you. I need tires. This place is like Darlington now." Officials to announce series name change to Sprint Cup Get used to calling NASCAR's premier series the Sprint Cup. On Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, executives from NASCAR and Sprint Nextel will announce the switch from Nextel Cup to Sprint Cup for the 2008 season and beyond. Following R.J. Reynolds' decision to leave the sport in 2003, Nextel announced plans to sponsor NASCAR's top series for a 10-year period, beginning with the 2004 season. The terms of the agreement were never publically announced, but were believed to be between $70 and $75 million per year with the value increasing with each season. The new sponsorship was a win-win situation for both sides at that point. NASCAR could expand its marketing efforts to fans under the age of 18 -- which it could not do with Winston -- and Nextel wound up with new loyal fan base to solidify its efforts in the wireless telecommunications sector. However, the alliance has had to weather some difficult circumstances in recent months, thanks to the merger of AT&T and Cingular. AT&T filed a suit in federal court against NASCAR in an effort to place its branding on Richard Childress' No. 31 Chevrolet. The resulting injunction caused NASCAR to file a countersuit, claiming the injunction is harming its exclusive sponsorship agreement with Nextel. Earnhardt Jr. adds adidas to sponsor list Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued to expand his relationships with lifestyle-based products in a Friday announcement of a long-term personal services agreement with sportswear manufacturer adidas. Both Earnhardt and Mark Clinard, business director for motor sports for adidas America, declined to reveal the term of the contract or its financial details. A central component of the agreement is the introduction of a full line of Dale Jr. footwear, apparel and accessories. The company also will design and construct a fire suit and racing shoes for Earnhardt, who will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Earnhardt revealed Friday that he has worn adidas shoes since childhood. In his business relationships announced recently, with adidas and Sony, Earnhardt has gravitated toward products he owns and uses. Earnhardt will have significant input into everything adidas designs and markets under his name, but he'll leave the strategic aspects of his brand expansion to others -- specifically his sister and business manager, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, and JR Motorsports' vice president of marketing and brand development, Thayer Lavielle. "That's the way they think," Earnhardt said. "I think, 'Cool.' Not to be a smart aleck, but they have the business avenue that they're always traveling, and they're thinking of ways to open up our image and open up our brand to as many people as possible. "I think not quite as three-dimensionally as they do. I'm a little more, 'This is exciting.' This is a company I've always thought was great and have always enjoyed, and I'd love to know more about it and work with them. I've always made those decisions like that, and they've always worked out." Earnhardt Jr., Keselowski discuss Busch ride Earnhardt Jr. confirmed Friday he has talked to Brad Keselowski about driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Busch Series car next week at Chicago and perhaps for additional races after that. Earnhardt himself took over the No. 88 Chevrolet for Friday's Winn-Dixie 250 Busch race after replacing driver Shane Huffman earlier in the week. "I think Brad Keselowski might drive in Chicago, and I'm talking to Brad about running it all the way to the race in Montreal [in August]," Earnhardt said. "I've got a neat little thing I want to do in Montreal and Watkins Glen with a buddy of mine I used to race Corvettes with, but I've got to take him testing first to make sure he's got what it takes." Past Daytona 500 champs promote 50th Great American Race Nearly two dozen Daytona 500 champions gathered in the same room Thursday, swapping stories to kick off NASCAR's promotion of the 50th running of the Great American Race. Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Junior Johnson, Darrell Waltrip and 14 others were on hand for the star-studded event. Current NASCAR stars Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson also took part, along with Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Ward Burton, Sterling Marlin and Bill Elliott. ``To sit there and be able to be in that group with them, that was special,'' two-time race winner Michael Waltrip said. ``I was 8, 10 years old watching Mario Andretti race and David Pearson race. I was in their company. I don't feel like I'm in their league. I wish that everyone had the respect and admiration for that elite group that I do. To me, they paved the road for us to come here and race today.'' Twenty-two of the 24 living champions were in attendance, posing for pictures, taking part in round-table discussions and sharing their favorite Daytona 500 experiences. The track will celebrate 50 years of NASCAR's biggest event in February. ``To have all of those personalities and champions and heroes of mine when I was growing up ... that was really, really cool,'' 2006 Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson said. ``I wish I could have had some more time. I was upset in a small way that I couldn't stick around and enjoy the experience any longer.'' The two past champions who couldn't make it were Cale Yarbrough and Fred Lorenzen. ``Our sport is a lot different than most other major sports,'' Michael Waltrip said. ``The people that laid the groundwork, our pioneers and our past champions, are walking around here. ... I never will get over the fact that I can sit with those guys and be part of their fraternity.'' EURY'S HOPE: Tony Eury Jr. is still hoping to join Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports next season, but said Thursday he's staying out of negotiations to get him released from his contract at DEI. Earnhardt wants Eury, his cousin and crew chief, to run his new team next season and Eury said he's talked to car owner Rick Hendrick about it. ``We really haven't gotten that in-depth,'' Eury said. (Hendrick) just knows I would like to come, and we left it at that. I told him I want to finish this deal out. I don't want to come early.'' Eury has one year left on his contract at DEI, and Earnhardt knows it's possible Eury won't get an early release. ``I like working with Tony Jr. We get along great, having that family, trust, it's important,'' Earnhardt said. ``I am doing whatever. Whatever the situation is, I will be excited and happy about it. I'll be successful, but if I could be in a perfect world, I'd like to keep working with Tony Jr.'' Earnhardt to drive Busch car at Daytona Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive his own race car Friday night when he replaces Shane Huffman in the Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt, a two-time Busch champion, will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet he fields for JR Motorsports. He said Tuesday he is searching for a permanent replacement for Huffman. "Upon a midseason evaluation of the performance of this race team, we decided we needed to make a change, and right now we have a window to do that," Earnhardt said Tuesday. "Because of the short notice, I am going to drive the Navy car Friday night at Daytona." The race is a big event for the Navy, which sponsors the No. 88 and will use a special Navy SEALs paint scheme this weekend in honor of the Fourth of July. Because of the added importance, Earnhardt wanted to pilot the car himself. He is the defending race winner, and lead 88 of 103 laps last year driving a car owned by DEI. This weekend will mark the first time NASCAR's most popular driver pilots a car fielded by his own race team. "I have always wanted to drive my own car, but I'm doing this to give us time to evaluate our options and see who we want to put in the car for the rest of the season," Earnhardt said. "I will get with my people at JR Motorsports, and hopefully we will have a new driver named in the very near future." Earnhardt, who won back-to-back Busch titles in 1998 and 1999, has 22 career wins in the series and is tied for seventh on the career wins list. Five of those wins are at Daytona. He's raced in three Busch events this season, all for DEI. Huffman, who took over the car last August, had six top-10s in 28 races. 10 Questions: Dale Jr. 1. What non-racing event are you most looking forward to attending with Rick Hendrick? Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Non-racing? What other events are there? You mean there's other stuff outside of racing? OK. Let me think on this one. Man, I don't know [because] I don't do anything besides race. Maybe it'd be a Redskins football game or something, because I'm a huge Redskins fan. I tell you one thing I am looking forward to. I'm looking forward to my first Hendrick [Motorsports] Christmas party. I haven't heard anything about 'em -- I'm just looking forward to going. 2. Your dog Killer's about to enter young adulthood, so what do you feel is his biggest challenge? Earnhardt: Yeah, he's 3. He's gotten way better at the accidents, which was his last challenge. But his biggest challenge now is that every time I let him out of the house, he runs to my sister's house. She [Kelley] lives about 300 yards up the driveway. And he goes up there to play with her dogs and it pisses me off 'cause I want him to just go out, use the bathroom and come back inside. But he wants to go up there, and the next time I see him he's full of mud and other smelly things -- he's got crap all over him and it's a pain in the butt having to keep him clean. If you let him out and expect him to come on back on his own, no -- that ain't happening. I've got to stand out there with him and holler at him every time he starts heading in that direction. He's like a horse that knows where the barn is. 3. What home entertainment accessory do you not have, that you feel you must have? Earnhardt: I'm not without anything right now. As far as everything goes, I've got it all covered. I've always been attracted to electronics, and home stereos and things of that nature. The fun thing is going to be seeing the next thing they come out with. I thought my 61-inch TV was pretty big -- but not after I saw that 70-inch that Sony had out here. So I'm going to go for the 70. I'm going to actually try to get something bigger than that, even if I have to remodel my living room. The one thing that I don't have is a projector so I can put a sheet in a tree -- you know, hang a sheet up in a tree and watch things outside, out at the pool and stuff. It would be kind of cool to have a projector so you can watch TV while you're out swimming in the pool. 4. If you had time to waste, how would you waste it? Earnhardt: If I had time to waste, I would rent a house on the shores of South Carolina -- somewhere around Charleston -- that had a front or a back porch, one or the other, facing the beach. And I would drink cold beer for about four days on that porch. That takes care of what I would do with a week's vacation, too.5. If you could have any one you wanted, which vintage Chevrolet would you most want to own -- and would it be more stock, or hopped up? Earnhardt: Vintage, eh? It'd be a Nomad. About a '55 Nomad, chrome from one end to the other underneath everything, orange and white. I like the Nomad because of the room inside. The Nomad can look real good if you paint it up right -- orange and white, with chrome from the front to the back, underneath the hood and the under-carriage and everything -- all chrome-plated. It doesn't have to have a whole lot of power. That's not important. And the less noisy the better, because you're going to ride in it, and have your buddies riding in it, with a good stereo. It sure would look good on a South Carolina beach. 6. If you were the mad scientist, which technological marvel would you most like to invent? Earnhardt: I think somehow or another I'd want to speed travel up, so if it was travel in a plane, I could make it twice as fast -- or not even need the plane at all. Yeah, like, 'Beam me up, Scotty' -- sort of like a teleport to get from one place to another. I want to go to Australia, all right? And to take my buddies first class is $12,000 a person. Now, we can get there, probably way cheaper than that in the coach, but if we're going to go for 10 days and have a good ol' time, I'm going to have to save up some money. Twelve grand a person is ridiculous! So obviously faster, cheaper air travel is what I'd go for. 7. Which home improvement project would you un-do, if you could? Earnhardt: I've got the concrete go-kart track I put in, and I should have asphalted it. It would have to be that, because it's so rough it's ridiculous -- totally useless. That was 60 grand down the drain, literally, because it's useless right now. I want to asphalt it, and I've just got to get somebody to come out there and do it. It's not something that somebody particularly wants to do. Even if you owned an asphalt company, you'd come out there and look at it, and go, 'I've got some other work I could be doing on some flat ground.' It's like Bristol, but 14 or 16 degrees of banking. 8. What makes the biggest first impression for you: A smile, a handshake or the first words spoken? Earnhardt: Well obviously, you see 'em before you hear 'em. So I think the first impression's probably gonna be their smile. But I think the one that [has] the most impact is probably what they first say. A lot of people, even if their smile says 'trust me, I'm cool,' and then what they say is totally the opposite -- then you're having a little trouble, there. But I really listen a lot, because it's real important to listen. 9. A number of your Hendrick teammates-to-be, in order to remain low-key, have homes outside the Carolinas. Is staying under the radar pretty important to you, and at any point do you plan to go the same route, and having a getaway place? Earnhardt: Staying under the radar definitely becomes a way of life as you get older, and I'm not quite there, yet. But I think the older you get, the less attention you want to call to yourself -- at least, unnecessary attention. So yeah, a lot of these guys find ways to have the same amount of fun, in another place where nobody knows, or nobody can say or nobody can form an opinion -- and they can just live their life. I haven't really got there yet, but I think eventually I will. I've thought long and hard, 'Man, I want to get a house there,' and, 'I want to get a house there.' But I think, since I'm still a little bit undecided on where that's going to be, I have yet to buy one. Because I know I'll try to get rid of it and then get another one somewhere else. But I think it's going to be a few years before I really settle on 'this is going to be my getaway.' I really don't know where that is, but it'll probably be closer to home than I think -- or that a lot of other people might think. Probably somewhere like that house in Charleston that I was talking about. It'd be somewhere quiet and somewhere where the weather is about the same, and where the people are about the same. I don't want to get too far away from home, yet at the same time some solitude every once in a while is nice. 10. You got anything that people might consider atypical on your portable music player? Earnhardt: Surprises? Well, I've always tried to come across as down to earth with everything I've done -- but sometimes things surprise you, like you got a Barry Manilow song on your iPod, or something. Well, I do. Weekend in New England is one of my favorites. He's awesome. I think a lot of people listen to him that wouldn't admit it. You can blame my sister for that. When our mom lived up in Virginia we'd take some long rides up there and [Kelley] got me hooked. 24, 48 and 8 keep success going with interim chiefs Steve who? Chad what? For all the talk about how the recent NASCAR suspensions of Hendrick Motorsports crew chiefs Steve Letarte and Chad Knaus might impact Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway, it didn't appear to have any ill affects whatsoever on the Chevrolets driven by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, respectively. And as far as Dale Earnhardt Jr. was concerned, one Tony is about as good as another when directing his Chevy -- whether he's got a Junior tailing his last name or not. Each of the three drivers -- who will become teammates at Hendrick next season after Earnhardt finishes this season driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. -- overcame the loss of his usual crew chief to register a top-five finish Sunday. Gordon finished second behind race winner Denny Hamlin, while Earnhardt placed fourth and Johnson fifth. Like Gordon and Johnson, Earnhardt ran Sunday's race with an interim crew chief. But Earnhardt's regular crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., was serving the final week of a six-race suspension while Letarte and Knaus were serving the first of their six-race sentences. Eury Jr. will be back on top of the pit box for Earnhardt's No. 8 Chevrolet team this Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. After Sunday's strong finish in a Car of Tomorrow race at New Hampshire, Earnhardt said Eury Jr. will have to be on top of his game to do as well as the other Tony -- as in Tony Gibson, Earnhardt's interim crew chief during the last six weeks. "I can't say enough about Tony Gibson being crew chief for the last six weeks. He's done such a great job," Earnhardt said. "Tony Jr. has his work cut out for him. Seriously, man, Tony Gibson has been amazing. We've run great with him. "So Tony Jr., he's been lazy. He's been laying out for six weeks. He's got to come in here and work hard. We expect a lot of him." Johnson said the Hendrick teams expected a whole lot out of their substitute crew chiefs, including Ron Malec for his No. 48 car and Jeff Meendering for Gordon's No. 24. Both interim chiefs were promoted from within the Hendrick organization. "Well, we've got a solid team. It certainly does hurt not to have Chad here [on the pit box]. There's no way around that," Johnson said. "But we've got a very strong race team. We've worked hard to put ourselves in this position -- where we have strong people around us at all times. "I think since we promoted within, it was business as usual for the most part. Ron Malec is [normally] the car chief. He's been there every week. He runs these guys, takes care of these guys. Our guys didn't have to learn how to operate with somebody new leading them -- and I didn't, either. That's why I think it worked so well, because we promoted within." There was a moment early in Sunday's race when Meendering and Gordon had an issue with communication during a pit stop. But other than that, they experienced a smooth transition atop the pit box as well. "You've got to have confidence in the person that you put up there on that box, and we have confidence in Jeff," Gordon said. "Obviously, you know, Steve [Letarte] and him have been in quite a bit of communication throughout the week -- talking about strategy, talking about setups and everything leading into this weekend. "So I feel like Jeff was well prepped. And I think we had enough guys up there helping him." Meendering was assisted on the pit box by former Hendrick crew chief and competition administrator Ken Howes, while former Busch Series crew chief Lance McGrew assisted Malec on Johnson's crew. All parties involved said they had no communication whatsoever with their suspended crew chiefs once the race began. "All an additional person on the phone or texting would do is complicate things a bit more," Gordon said. Earnhardt added: "We rely on Tony Gibson. They've got to rely on who's in that spot for them right now. If you try to do a lot of back-and-forth with the crew chief on the cell phones and the Internet and what-not, it just confuses everybody. It gets everybody all riled up. You've got two guys trying to make calls, and you need one chief up there." Sources confirmed that Letarte, Knaus and Eury Jr. were all at the track. Spokesman Ramsey Poston said the suspensions imposed on the crew chiefs prohibits them from being in the garage area at tracks and from being involved in radio communications with their teams during a race, but that NASCAR cannot police Internet or cell-phone communications, should a suspended chief attempt to use those means to interact with his team. Earnhardt said that he wasn't surprised the Hendrick cars ran so well despite this being the first week with the interim crew chiefs in place. "Those guys are setting those cars up at the race shop, and they come to the racetrack in the ballpark. There aren't a lot of adjustments that are needed to improve the car from there, if they're as good as they are," Earnhardt said. "I've run pretty good with Tony Gibson. I don't think it slowed our team down a bit, to be honest with you. Not even a tiny bit. It didn't really slow our team down at all." Eury Sr. named director of competition at JR Motorsports Long-time NASCAR crew chief Tony Eury Sr. on Wednesday was named director of competition at JR Motorsports. Eury is the uncle of Dale Earnhardt Jr., the owner and founder of the Busch Series team. Eury will oversee competition and technical support for the entire team. He also will work closely with crew chief Wes Ward, motorsports director Steve Crisp and driver Shane Huffman in preparation for Saturday's Camping World 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway. "Tony Sr. brings wins, championships, and an immeasurable amount of knowledge to JR Motorsports," Earnhardt said. "He also brings a sense of trust that you only have in family. This company needs his expertise, and I'm glad he sees the potential at JR Motorsports to want to work here." Autographed blocks of Bristol to be auctioned Owning a piece of the concrete surface from Bristol Motor Speedway's start/finish line is proving to be quite popular with fans from all over the country. Beginning July 2 those same fans will have the opportunity to bid on pieces autographed by past Cup winners at BMS. The concrete blocks, approximately 9 inches long and 4 inches in width, have been autographed by drivers who won on the original concrete surface, which made its debut at BMS in August 1992. Drivers who have autographed the pieces are Darrell Waltrip, who won the very first race on concrete, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Kyle Busch, the last winner on the old concrete this past March, and Elliott Sadler. An online auction will begin on July 2 at www.bristolmotorspeedway.com with the piece autographed by Harvick up for bids first. Each successive Monday leading up to the August race week (Aug. 22-25) another autographed piece will be auctioned off. The concrete pieces will be mounted in a display case, complete with the driver's history of wins on the BMS concrete etched on a plaque inside the case. A certificate of authenticity, signed by BMS president Jeff Byrd, also will be included. Bids will begin at $500 for each of the 12 concrete pieces. All proceeds will benefit the Bristol chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. The auction will begin at 8 a.m. ET on July 2 (Monday). The auction will end for each piece of concrete at 7 p.m. ET on the following Sunday, meaning the Harvick piece will be up for bids from July 2-8. Most of the rest of the concrete pieces will be auctioned off on the following dates: * July 9-15 -- Kyle Busch * July 16-22 -- Mark Martin * July 23-29 -- Matt Kenseth * July 30-Aug. 5 -- Kurt Busch * Aug. 6-Aug. 12 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip * Aug. 13-19 -- Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart Pieces signed by Sadler, Wallace and Jarrett will be auctioned off at the Eastman Motorsports Auction in the Bruton Smith Building at BMS on Aug. 23. For more information regarding the auction, please contact Barbara Kaiser at (423) 989-6975 or barbara@bristolmotorspeedway.com. Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs with Sony for Hendrick ride Dale Earnhardt Jr. has signed an endorsement deal with Sony Electronics, but he still isn't saying what role longtime sponsor Budweiser will have with him when he joins Hendrick Motorsports next season. ``I'm a big electronics fan. I'm a big computer guy. It's products I can dig,'' Earnhardt told reporters Thursday at a winery in the heart of California's Napa Valley. He will be competing on Sunday in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in nearby Sonoma. His deal with Sony is a personal services contract that gives the company use of his name, likeness and voice for promotions. He also has a similar deal with Budweiser that will continue next year, regardless of what's on his car. Budweiser has been Earnhardt's primary sponsor since 1999, and the beer manufacturer wants to continue its relationship with him at Hendrick. But car owner Rick Hendrick isn't actively pursuing new sponsors, and it's possible Bud could get shut out. Earnhardt also said a possible endorsement deal with sporting goods manufacturer Adidas was ``on the wish list.'' Earnhardt's move to Hendrick is expected to clean up his sometimes scruffy image to match that of his teammates, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, although he appeared at Thursday's news conference in a scraggy beard, an untucked dress shirt and worn jeans -- with Puma athletic shoes. Earnhardt, who convinced his sister to loan him the money to buy a computer when he was a teenager, said his father never believed the Internet would be a success. ``That's one place he was wrong and I was right. I took a lot of typing classes in high school,'' he said. Neither Earnhardt nor Stuart Redsun, Sony's vice president of corporate marketing, would discuss the financial arrangement or the length of the deal. ``We're very happy at Sony to have Dale Junior involved for some time,'' Redsun said. Earnhardt said he got a new digital camera out of the deal. ``The cash is great, but the product is good, too,'' he said. Four NASCAR drivers team with OCC for custom bikes Some of NASCAR's top drivers are lending their names to Sunoco and Orange County Choppers for a promotion that will launch this fall and reward one winner with a custom motorcycle. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson are each designing a motorcycle valued at more than $50,000 as part of the promotion. Orange County Choppers, a custom shop born in Montgomery, N.Y., in 1999 and made famous by the Discovery Channel show American Chopper will build the motorcycles. The four motorcycles will be unveiled June 29 in Loudon, N.H., at a photo shoot with the four drivers. The photos will be used to create "hero cards," which are similar to baseball cards, only larger. Sunoco's hero cards probably will be 6 inches by 9 inches with a shot of the driver and his bike on the front and statistics and facts on the back. The hero cards will be available at most Sunoco retail stations in September and October with a 10-gallon purchase. To enter the promotion on a Sunoco Web site, consumers will have to collect cards of all four drivers and match the cards together like a puzzle until a code forms on the back. By entering the code at the Sunoco Web site, consumers will be registered to win the grand prize of a custom motorcycle built by Orange County Choppers. The promotion will be supported with print, radio and online advertising. Sunoco is covering the cost of building the bikes, as well as the hero cards and other related materials. Sunoco, the official fuel of NASCAR, in the past few months worked out a deal to become the official fuel of Orange County Choppers, which meant installing a branded pump in the shop's garage and the occasional product placement on the show. "We've been thinking about ways that we can tie the two partnerships together," said Chris Buitron, Sunoco's senior brand marketing manager. "We're really excited to get the quality of driver that we've gotten." Orange County Choppers has been moving in more of a sports direction in the past few years, obtaining licenses from the NBA and the NHL to produce bikes with team logos. The winner of this year's EDS Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour also received an OCC bike. Sunoco and OCC first worked together last year when Sunoco asked for a custom bike that could be auctioned, with the proceeds going to Victory Junction Gang Camp. "This is an especially good fit because the demographics of the NASCAR fan matches up so well with motorcycle riders," said John Sohigian, OCC's senior vice president of marketing. "Plus, a lot of the drivers ride motorcycles off the track. We've had Tony Stewart in the shop, we've had the Pettys." Buitron said the bikes don't include an affiliation with the drivers' sponsors, although Stewart predictably went with orange on his bike. DEI mates put distractions behind them at Michigan The divorce papers have been filed and another marriage has already been arranged, but for now the Junior partnership at Dale Earnhardt Inc. remains intact and apparently stronger than ever. How else can Sunday's dynamic dual top-five finish for the DEI duo in the Citizens Bank 400 at Michigan International Speedway be explained? Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second and fifth, respectively, overcoming a week of distractions fueled by Earnhardt's announcement last Wednesday that beginning next season he will drive for Hendrick Motorsports. He had announced five weeks earlier that he would be leaving DEI when his contract expires at the end of this season. Truex was perhaps the class of the field at points in Sunday's race, particularly early. He led five different times for a total of 54 laps, second only to race winner Carl Edwards. He led most of them early -- but came back to lead six laps late after an accident on Lap 76 of the 200-lap event at the 2-mile oval almost ruined his day completely. "Well, we had an up-and-down sort of day obviously," Truex said. "We had an awesome racecar at the start of the race and we got out there and led a bunch. The car was really, really fast and was handling really great." Then came the mishap on Lap 76. The lapped cars of Jeff Green and Ryan Newman got together in front of him, sending Newman spinning off the track and causing Truex, who was coming up behind them, to eventually spin as well (watch video). But Truex amazingly appeared to avoid hitting anybody or anything and came out of it with very little damage to his No. 1 Chevrolet. "I saw the No. 12 or somebody start to turn sideways up ahead and I started to slow down before the guys in front of me even did," Truex said. "I got hit from behind, so that's when I started spinning. I was going straight backwards at one point and I was looking out the windshield and saw cars coming toward me. "Then I was almost stopped, and it started to spin around to go in the correct direction. I put it in gear and steered out of it and somehow it straightened out and I took off. I wasn't in total control the whole way -- just at the very tail end of it." A quick pit stop confirmed what he had hoped, the car wasn't damaged very much and would still run fast. "The left-rear quarter panel was bent up, tore up a little bit. But I don't think it had any effect on the way the car ran," Truex said. Meanwhile, Earnhardt was fighting his own battles. Just after the accident involving Truex and his 360-degree spin brought out the yellow flag, Earnhardt made three quick stops in the pits to repair his car after it apparently ran over something. At one point, his crewmates were banging on the front end of the car. Shortly thereafter he began a march toward the front that took him all the way to his sixth top-10 and second top-five finish of the season, moving him into 12th place in the points standings. Now he and Truex are both in the top 12 -- which would qualify them for the Chase for the Championship if they can maintain those positions through 11 more regular-season races. "I'm real proud of my team," Earnhardt said. "I got loose in the middle part of the race and they adjusted on the car and made it good at the end. We were as good as anybody; we just got too far behind. But I want to congratulate Martin. He had a great run. "This was a good weekend for DEI. It was a great points day for both teams and the rest of the season looks pretty good for both of us." It remains to be seen if Earnhardt will continue to run in the No. 8 car after he switches to Hendrick's team. The number is owned by DEI, but Earnhardt and his new boss, team owner Rick Hendrick, have expressed an interest in talking with DEI officials about acquiring it for the future. After Sunday's race, Earnhardt said that was a discussion for another day. He also said it felt great to be focusing solely on racing again after the months and weeks of dealing with off-the-track issues. "I'm in such a better mood," he said. "No offense to nobody, but I'm really enjoying being in a better mood. I got a lot of stuff off my back and off my shoulders, and, man, you know this was just a great day. To run like we ran, that's all I can ask for. I really enjoyed it and that's what I love to do and that's what I'm looking forward to with Mr. Hendrick and all those guys over at Hendrick Motorsports. "But first we got the rest of this season [at DEI] and we've got to give it 110 percent. We have a lot of fun. We race hard. I want to finish great and I want to win races because these guys deserve it. DEI deserves it. Martin is doing a great job. We're just having a great time right now." This is only the second full-time Cup season for Truex. After finishing in the top 10 just three times in the first 12 races and five finishes of 28th or worse, Truex won the first Nextel Cup race of his career at Dover and followed that up with a third-place finish at Pocono one week later. Sunday's finish gave him three top three finishes in a row. "We've evolved as a race team," Truex said. "We're running up front each week now and once that happens, you can't settle for anything less than what you're capable of. I know we're capable of running up front each and every week. We're just having a lot of fun right now." At least it appears that the divorce, when it comes, will be amicable as far as Truex and Earnhardt are concerned. DEI waiting to find out how much 8 is worth Hendrick Motorsports may be interested in obtaining Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car number, but the organization has yet to make an offer to the driver's current team. "I have no formal proposals from anyone about the No. 8," Max Siegel, president of global operations at Dale Earnhardt Inc., said Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. "If I get one, anything's possible. We'll talk about it. But I have no formal proposals." Soon, he likely will. Earnhardt expressed a desire to keep his car number on Wednesday, when his impending move to Hendrick was announced. Team owner Rick Hendrick reiterated his interest in acquiring the No. 8 on Sunday before the Citizens Bank 400. But right now, no one seems exactly sure of what it might take to get it. "I don't even know if you can quantify it," Siegel said. "I don't know if there's a number or figure for what it's worth. Before I can give any recommendation to my owner, I have to evaluate what the proposal is. One of the reasons why I'm not trying to speculate or give hypotheticals is because it's part of the Earnhardt legacy, whether it's Dale Jr. or the Dale Earnhardt Inc. family. I can't even formulate any kind of recommendation for my owner until someone contacts me and figures out what a meaningful proposal is." So what is a fair price for a car number? Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith said that depends on how much it would cost a team to rebrand all of their equipment and merchandise, and whether that number alone has enough value to sway potential new sponsors. You add all of that up, and you have a ballpark asking price. Of course, that's if you're willing to open up the checkbook in the first place. Smith, whose Roush team switched its flagship No. 6 to David Ragan after Mark Martin left for another team, believes fans will come to accept Earnhardt regardless of what number is on the side of his car. "I think the world will see that Junior could use Mandarin Chinese numbers on the car, and would sell just as much souvenirs as the No. 8. That's my official position," Smith said. "I personally think that the brand equity is with Junior. It's like the Nike swoosh. There was a Nike before the swoosh, but everybody got to know the swoosh because there was marketing around it. Whatever number he has will take his character. Even though there's some racing history that means something, I think a lot of times it means more to the crew guys and the people who have worked in an organization. At DEI, there's pride in, 'We are the 8.' It's not just the guy." If he were running DEI, he wouldn't sell. "The number of your team is like the name of your company," Smith said. "It's the 6 team. That's how you want to be known, and you don't want to change your name. So I'd be reluctant to give up my numbers, period." Earnhardt feeling better after decision Relief. That was the overwhelming emotion Dale Earnhardt Jr. felt after he decided earlier this week to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. It was a tough few weeks for Junior after he announced in May that he would be leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team founded by his late father, to seek a ride with a team that could help him win more races and the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship he covets. This week, on his radio show, "Dale Jr. Unrestricted," Earnhardt said, "Everybody knew that my contract was coming up, and I had a hundred people in my ear telling me `This is what you ought to do,' or `Would you ever think about leaving (Dale Earnhardt Inc.), think about this." You know, I had a hundred different people telling me a hundred different things." He said one thing that made his decision easier was the way team owner Rick Hendrick treated the situation as Earnhardt agonized over which way to go. "One of the things I think a lot of people would be surprised by - Rick said, `Hey, I just want you to be happy. Whatever decision you make, I want to help you make it.' "That stood out to me. I already knew that was the kind of guy he was, but he never once tried to persuade me, or tried to sell anything to me, or try to talk me into anything. He basically just left it up to me. He wanted me to make the choice that I wanted to make. And that meant a lot." Hendrick, a longtime family friend, has also been a longtime supporter of the younger Earnhardt. "If I would have decided to do something with another owner, he would have helped me do it," Earnhardt said. "He told me I will help you wherever I need to help you. I want you, as a person, to be happy. "He's known me for so long and that's the kind of guy he is. It's rare, not so much in the sport, but it's rare today in this world, when you have people like that (who) really are genuine." OH, BABY: Jeff Gordon's wife, Ingrid, is expecting their first child, a daughter, the week after the road race at Sonoma, California on June 24. But, since first babies rarely arrive when expected, the Hendrick team has a contingency plan. Mark Martin would be the substitute driver in case Gordon is called away by the blessed event. Of course, Gordon, a five-time Sonoma winner, the defending race champion and the current Cup points leader, would rather not miss the race. But, even if he does, chances are it would not hurt his chances of winning a fifth Nextel Cup title - especially with the current Chase for the championship format. The top 12 drivers after the first 26 races are eligible to race for the title over the final 10 events of the season. This year, a new gimmick has the 12 drivers seeded, with each one getting an extra 10 points for each race victory at the start of the Chase. Gordon and teammate Jimmie Johnson each have a series-leading four victories so far this season. "I don't think Jeff wants to miss a race and I don't believe he'll need to," Johnson said. "But in his position, it's a little easier for him to consider (skipping Sonoma). "Yes, (the Chase format) does take some pressure off of you. From time to time we're not racing for the championship from week one on. You're racing for 12th for the first 26 and from then on you worry about the championship, so it is a little more forgiving." Junior takes time to relax at Michigan Dale Earnhardt Jr. walked briskly through the garage Friday, heading directly toward a throng of fans waiting along the fence outside Michigan International Speedway. "Welcome to Hendrick Motorsports," one called out as he handed Earnhardt a picture to sign. Earnhardt offered a heartfelt smile, then quietly set about signing hundreds of autographs as the crowd surged toward NASCAR's most popular driver. He was drained, worn out from the frenzied five weeks he spent searching for a new home. It ended Wednesday, when he announced a five-year deal to drive for Rick Hendrick. He was giddy during the hour-long news conference, a stark contrast to the emotionally draining May 10 event where he announced he was leaving his late father's company at the end of this season. "I've been trying to get a couple hours off here and there where I can sit at home and take a breath," Earnhardt said after qualifying 23rd for Sunday's race. "I was so tired. Both of them press conferences, I couldn't believe how exhausted I was afterward. There's so much going on in your head. You get so mentally exhausted. But after both of them I passed out for four or five hours on the couch." There was a peace about Earnhardt on Friday when he returned to work for DEI, where he will finish the year in the No. 8 Chevrolet, as he focused on his car and tried to spend some times with his legion of fans. New team, plenty of questions await Earnhardt In the biggest free-agent signing in NASCAR history, Dale Earnhardt Jr. agreed to a five-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports. The move joins NASCAR's most popular driver with the most dominant team, putting Earnhardt a step closer to his goal of winning a championship. But there are plenty of questions to be answered before Earnhardt begins his new ride. Q: What car will Earnhardt drive? A: Nobody knows. He's replacing Kyle Busch in the Hendrick stable, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll get Busch's No. 5 Chevrolet. Hendrick has to play around with his alignments, and could wind up putting Junior in the No. 25 that Mears currently pilots. ``Rick kind of put it to me that he don't really know how the teams will be structured next year,'' Earnhardt said. ``He might squish it all together and split it back up again. I don't think it's nearly as simple as taking Casey out of one car and putting me in here or there.'' Q: What number does Earnhardt prefer? A: The No. 8, of course. That's the number he's had since 1999, and his grandfather, Ralph, raced with it during his career. NASCAR leases numbers to teams, and Dale Earnhardt Inc. holds the rights to the 8. Junior said Wednesday he'd love it if Rick Hendrick could work out some sort of swap with his stepmother, Teresa, to buy the 8 for him to use. That puts the issue in DEI's hands, and it's not clear if Teresa Earnhardt is willing to agree. Max Siegel, president of DEI's global operations, said Thursday he had not discussed the issue with his boss and all scenarios regarding the number are hypothetical at this point. Q: Will Budweiser be Junior's sponsor? A: It doesn't look like it. Hendrick has four primary sponsors locked onto his cars through 2008 and said he doesn't plan to tear up any existing contracts to make room for Budweiser. Junior is widely associated with the beer company, and Anheuser-Busch officials would like to stay with the driver. But it may not be up to them, and Bud could end up on the losing end of this deal. Q: Junior joining Hendrick makes the organization the New York Yankees of NASCAR. All that talent in one place could be bad news for the little teams. How does NASCAR feel about it? A: NASCAR apparently doesn't mind, as evidenced by chairman Brian France's statement shortly after Wednesday's announcement. ``It should be noted that high-profile partnerships have always been a part of NASCAR's competitive history. There have been so many great partnerships involving people of great character and ability. We're proud of what they have brought to our sport. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always said that first and foremost, he wants to win a Nextel Cup Series championship. We wish him the best of luck.'' Q: Where does DEI stand in all this? A: After five weeks, DEI is finally ready to start the post-Junior era. Martin Truex Jr. scored DEI's first win of the season two weeks ago in Delaware to boost spirits. Now that Earnhardt's deal is resolved, company officials can step up their search for his replacement. Busch is tops on their list of candidates, and at just 22 he's got a long and lucrative career ahead. DEI also could end up with Bud back on the car if the sponsor is shuffled out with Earnhardt. Q: What happens to Earnhardt's crew, particularly Tony Eury Jr., his cousin and crew chief? A: A lot of those guys are still under contract. Eury has one season left on his deal. Expect him to try to get out and go with Earnhardt, but it might be complicated: Hendrick already has four solid crew chiefs that came up through his organization. Q: How does Teresa feel about all this? A: Good question. The wife of the late Dale Earnhardt is reclusive when it comes to speaking publicly, and she's not said much since her infamous Dec. 14 interview with The Wall Street Journal that questioned Earnhardt's commitment and ignited the firestorm that led to his departure. Earnhardt said the parting is unfortunate, and he's been bothered by the beating Teresa has taken on message boards and in chat rooms. ``They've beaten Teresa up pretty bad ... and I don't think that's fair,'' he said. ``She's not evil. We just don't get along. We don't see eye to eye. She makes an effort and made an effort. All these things have been unfortunate and they bother me a bit, and I had to quit reading the Internet.'' Q: Earnhardt will be teammates with Jeff Gordon, the driver his fans despise. How will that sit with ``The Red Army?'' A: Remains to be seen. But unlike his earlier decisions, which stressed him to no end because he wasn't sure how the fans would react, Earnhardt isn't as worried. He knows some will have a hard time accepting the alliance, but hopes they'll get over it once he starts winning races in a Hendrick Chevrolet. ``I know it's going to be 50-50, hot and cold. That's just the way it is. You try to do things for you and hope that people can understand that,'' he said. Q: Because Gordon has an equity stake at Hendrick Motorsports, does that make him Junior's boss? A: Probably not. Gordon is listed as the car owner for Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet, but it has yet to mean anything in terms of power for the four-time champion. He defers to Hendrick on all management decisions and basically is just collecting cash as part of his ownership stake. Q: So does Junior have ownership equity? A: Nope. He's got only a contract, and it's not even signed yet. The sides have agreed in principle but still have licensing and other issues to iron out. When it's completed, Hendrick said Earnhardt won't even be the highest-paid driver in the stable. Q: So can he win a championship? A: He hopes so, as does Rick Hendrick, who said he's already feeling the pressure to get Earnhardt onto the stage for the end of the year awards ceremony. If anyone can do it, though, it's Hendrick. His drivers have won six championships and 10 of the last 14 races. Q&A: Junior, Hendrick The following is a transcript from Wednesday's news conference, in which Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his plans to drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. Earnhardt: I'd like to thank everybody for being here. It's a pretty packed crowd we've got. It's been a privilege to invite everyone back here to JR Motorsports for a very special announcement regarding my racing career. First, before I get started, I'd like to take a moment to thank the fans and the media for their patience and giving me the time I needed to make this important announcement and decision. I've taken this as seriously as anything I've ever done before. And I could say this process has opened my eyes to many great people in the sport. I want to thank each of the team owners who brought me in, gave me their time and answered my questions. I want each of them to know that I value their friendships and am extremely appreciative for their honesty. When we announced a month ago that we would seek a new team for 2008 we were immediately asked for a timetable. I had hoped to have a decision by midsummer but I had no idea how long this would take since I had never been in this position. I wanted to take as much time possible to find the right team, the team that was right for me as a person and where I could compete for championships. As I sit here [on Wednesday], I can say with complete honesty that I have found and accomplished that goal. We talked with many teams, but one stood out above the rest and it became apparent to me the man I wanted to drive for. I've known him since childhood. He competes with integrity and, most importantly, he wins races. I feel like this decision will give me that opportunity and hopefully I can give my fans what they expect and deserve and have a whole lot of fun along the way. And so [on Wednesday], it is with great honor that I introduce my new boss for 2008, Mr. Rick Hendrick. Q: Without understating or over stating anything, this is huge. Start off by talking a little about how this evolved and what this means to you personally and to Hendrick Motorsports? Hendrick: Well, it is a wow day. It is an awful special day for me, both from a personal standpoint and a professional standpoint. You know, in my whole racing career, this day is going to go down as one that I'm still having a hard time believing that we've got it done and it's happening. It's just good to see the rest of the family here, Mrs. Earnhardt, Brenda, good to see all you folks. It's a day that's an exciting time for us to be able to bring a talent like Junior into our camp and to be able to take a lot of pleasure in trying to win championships for different people. But this one has got a special place in my heart. Because Ricky told me about four years ago, this was going to happen one day and I said, I don't think it's ever going to happen. So we are kind of bringing that to life. I can't tell you how special this is to me, how thrilled I am and how much pressure I feel to make sure that ... that he's going to win races. And I think he said it, too. We're going to have some fun along the way, because I've known him since he was a puppy, he and Kelley both. It's just something that's really special to me. Q: I know there are a lot of people that are looking down smiling; Dale Sr., Ricky and Papa Joe all come to mind. Something we've heard told over the years, and this is a question for both of you, I've heard bits and pieces about a napkin story and a napkin contract perhaps. Can each one of you tell your version of the story? Earnhardt: I had been fortunate enough to be invited on a trip with Kenny Schrader around the Midwest to run some dirt tracks. And it was going to end up at Topeka, Kan., where Rick was racing and my dad was going to race with Schrader. I was running around with Schrader for the whole week and we get to Topeka and that's the first time I had ever met Rick, and he was introduced to me and he said, "Have you got a contract to drive for anybody?" I wasn't even racing, you know; I was not even close. But I thought it was a joke and he wrote down on a napkin, wrote a contract down on a napkin and I signed it. We were joking around. Obviously he's a pretty smart businessman, and I figured even if it was a joke . . I'd better sign it because it might come in handy one day. Q: And that was in 1991. Rick, if you still have that napkin, I've got a perfect home for it. What's your recollection of that and what took 17 years to get Dale Jr. to own up to the contract? Hendrick: The first thing I was concerned with was how Dale let him go to the Midwest with Schrader. I felt like I kind of needed to protect him a little bit. You know what was so funny about that ... how old were you then? Earnhardt: 15. Hendrick: So we did that. And it was later I think, I don't know what year it was, but Ricky ran his first Busch race at Myrtle Beach and I went to the drivers meeting and I ended up standing beside Junior and I said, "You remember you signed the contract with me?" He said he thought I forgot that. I said, "No, I didn't forget it. I was just scared of your daddy. I wasn't going to try to enforce it." So we laughed and he said, "Well, I've got to have a Corvette for all of my team members." I said, "That's no problem." He remembered it and I remember it and we joke about it. Those kind of things are special memories. Q: Did you get the Corvette thing written down in the contract? Earnhardt: Nah, that napkin was pretty small but it had the most important stuff on it. It was a fun time. Q: One of the obvious questions is you currently have a stable with four drivers and something has changed, can you talk about how this came together and what the situation is there at Hendrick Motorsports? Hendrick: Kyle Busch and I, we had been negotiating an extension on his contract for the last ... almost since the end of last year. And those conversations were moving along and it became pretty, you know, obvious to me that other people were talking to Kyle at the time and he was a guy in the garage area that at his age and his ability, which is an unbelievable talent, he had people picking on him just to make sure he was going to have an opening or an opportunity. In the last discussions, we started talking around the Charlotte race trying to get things finished up and in those conversations, it became pretty obvious to both of us that maybe a fresh start might be good for both of us. He had unbelievable opportunities. We decided it would be good for him to pursue those and for me to be able to pursue this opportunity with Junior. But [there's] a commitment from both of us that we're committed to that 5 car to win the championship if we can finish the race and concentrate on that to the end of the year and that's what we intend to do. Q: We see a Hendrick Motorsports backdrop. Have there been decisions made on car number, sponsor, team alignments? Hendrick: Well, you folks are so good, the media. If we move or make one phone call, you're on it. We've got so much to get squared away, we don't ... we haven't decided on any of that yet. We made the deal. We know that for the next five years that Dale's going to be with us and a lot of things can change before the end of the year. But the car number, the sponsor, the alignment, all of that, we're going to work on. But none of that's in place yet. Q: Dale Jr., a lot of people may not realize that the relationship with the Earnhardt family goes back a long way. Of course, your grandfather Robert Gee Sr., was a very big part of Hendrick Motorsports, Dale Sr. even drove a few times for Hendrick Motorsports. Talk about how much this means in that history and your recollections of that history growing up. Earnhardt: Well, my granddaddy worked with Rick and kind of helped Rick get into racing, or he was there along the way the entire time. Rick tells a story about him putting a hood scoop on his Chevelle when he was 16 or 17 and that's how they met. But he was one of the best body men in the business, if not the best. And he was really proud of his employment and his involvement at Hendrick's, and you know, that was always apparent to me as his grandson when I would go over to his shop, the pride that he took in where he worked and how his job was and everything. But my dad and Rick were friends throughout his career and his life. Daddy helped Rick when Rick got in the sport, tested his first Cup car, shook down Rick's first Cup car. I think he won Rick's first race in stock cars at Charlotte in the Busch Series in 1983, was it? Hendrick: Yeah. Earnhardt: So there are a lot of connections there. And me and Rick have been friends since I was little. He's always treated me with a lot of respect and been genuine about my well being and how I was doing and what he could do to help so that's always been really cool about Rick. Q: This is quite a snag and Dale Jr. has without a doubt the biggest brand recognition as a driver right now in NASCAR racing. So how does that blend with Hendrick Motorsports from your perspective and for him to be able to maintain his marketability and brand, and from Hendrick Motorsports' perspective which certainly has a huge brand recognition in its own right? Hendrick: Well, I think all of our drivers are a little different, and it's good that, you know, Jeff, Jimmie and Casey are friends of Dale's. You know, it's important to me and to Junior to protect his brand and grow it. I work for Kelley now and she's told me how important that is. You know, it's a situation where we want to give him the best equipment we can. I told him that our goal would be to go to Daytona and win the Busch race and the Cup race. I promised Mr. Earnhardt I would take her to New York if we won the championship. So I made a lot of commitments that I'm going to have to live up to. But along the way, again, when we first started talking, it was, you know, to try to help them and again, there were conversations with he and Ricky way back. It's just been neat to see what they have built, and what he's created. We want to add to that. We want to try to give him the best equipment that we can and there are a lot of other things that we plan on doing together. And I'm just going to enjoy the relationship. Again, it's not just professional; it's personal. But from the professional side, I feel the pressure. I felt it when I drove in here [on Wednesday], and I know I'm going to feel it when we show up in Daytona, and I'm committed to do everything I can to make the entire relationship the best it can be for he and his family. Q: You've won 10 of 14 races, and you've got the all. time active wins leader and the defending champion and now you're added NASCAR's most popular driver. You're starting to look like the New York Yankees of NASCAR. Is there any point that stockpiling all of this talent might be bad for the sport? Hendrick: I don't think so. They are going to race each other. I mean, we've seen it with our cars this year when you see Jeff and Jimmie at Martinsville and you hold your breath that they don't wreck each other. I think when you have multi. car teams, you try to get . . my job is to get the best talent out there. You know, I want to protect the brand. I want to protect Junior's image and who he is, but I want to give him the best stuff. And he's going to have to beat those guys, anyway. They are going to have to beat him, anyway, no matter if he's with our team or somewhere else. Once again, on the racetrack, it's kind of everybody for themselves. My job is to give them the best equipment to get that done. We have been very fortunate this year. I have to check the horseshoe to make sure it hasn't fallen completely out every morning, because we've had some races this year that we could just as easily be sitting here winning five races, and I know that. And you're going to be asking me probably 10 races from now, hey, what happened, and we're going to be doing the same thing. You can't control people running out of gas or flat fires or whatever. We are on a roll right now and I wish it was the last 10 instead of this 10 but I guess I should be honored that I would be compared to the Yankees, I don't know. We're just working hard. Everybody is working together to kind of let each driver earn his own way. Q: Dale, it's no secret that your relationship with Teresa was rough, or has been rough. Already [on Wednesday] we've heard Rick talk about this personal relationship issue. Obviously every team has similar equipment, similar cars -- so what kind of a role did the relationship with Rick have in this decision. making process, as opposed to picking another team? Earnhardt: For me personally, it had a huge impact on my decision. You know, a lot of people don't know . . a lot of people really don't know a lot of the inside relationships in the garage, a lot of the friendships that have been around for years. Obviously, we talked about me and Rick becoming friends and knowing each other for a while, but over that period of time, there's been a lot of decisions that I've had to make and a lot of things that I've went through where I sought advice from key people in the sport and he was one of those guys. He was just always really genuine to me. And even when I was thinking about my decision to leave DEI, his main concern was just my well being, and he had no other motives or any other intentions other than just trying to help me in any way he could, be as happy as I could at the end of the day. So that was one of the things that I never forgot and I probably will remember for a long time about Rick, is just that he . . you know, when it comes down to business, he's a smart businessman -- but he really and genuinely cares about the people that are his friends or the people that he employs -- he takes care of them. That was a big deciding factor for me. Q: Talk about going into a team that's so dominant right now, and what input, if any, did the senior Hendrick drivers have, specifically Jimmie and Jeff? Earnhardt: I don't feel a whole lot of pressure. I'm pretty excited about the opportunity to drive Rick's cars ... his equipment, track performance and track record speaks for itself so I'm pretty pumped up about getting in there and getting my feet wet. I feel some pressure. I hope it ain't that hard to get me to Victory Lane. So, we have had a lot of success at DEI and like Rick said, we've got a lot of goals still set for the rest of this season to pursue and give a great effort for and this is probably going to help continue to motivate me for the rest of the season to run well. But I'm excited just to get in the car. I don't feel really any pressure. I feel pretty comfortable. I think once I get into the testing mode and all of those things during the offseason, there won't really be any questions marks for me or any kind of pressure. I think I'll be anticipating it so much that I don't think that the pressure is going to get to me. Q: A lot of your fans would follow you to the end of the earth, but some of them have said they didn't know if they would sleep [Tuesday] night ... they formed their alliances based on ownership camps and that sort of thing. Can you also add whether Budweiser is in the picture at all? Are you still negotiating with them? Earnhardt: Well, I think that the fans will make up their own minds and somehow come to terms with whatever decision we would have made. I feel like once we get on the racetrack and have some success we'll be able to give them what they deserve. Like I said months ago, I feel like over the years I sort of haven't been able to give them what I feel they deserve. I want to get them on their feet more often than I do. I'm trying to make those decisions not only for me, but to make that happen. So I think that they will find a lot of things to get excited about in the future. But you know, as far as sponsorships, we haven't began to work around that and see what the options are and opportunities are for us and that's something we'll work on down the road. Q: You said your decision was going to encompass you, your life, your career, but also your team here at JR Motorsports. What influence will Hendrick Motorsports have on JR Motorsports and your Busch Series organization? Earnhardt: He has expressed to me that he wants to make a huge commitment to supporting our programs here, whether it be driver development or Busch races, for the full team we have here and also maybe some races for myself or whatever. Those are some things we can explore down the road. But he's shown great commitment to helping us here and giving us the best opportunity we can have here to win races as well. I feel like this is a great opportunity to develop drivers, develop crew members, future crew chiefs, things like that and I hope that we can be that kind of an asset to Rick. Q: Is there a number that you would prefer? Are you going to beating on him to give you one number? To some fans who have strong allegiances both ways, do you sort of get that, and this is sort of like two old warring camps coming together and signing a peace accord? Can you talk about that? Earnhardt: I feel like . . I'd like to be No. 8, but you know, we have to obviously talk to Teresa about that and see what her interest is there. I'll just go ahead and throw that out there. There are other numbers that I have interest in. We'll just have to sit down. I want to have my hands in the design of what the car looks like. Rick's said that I'll have some ability to have some influence on what the car looks like, the numbers, things like that. We'll just have to sit down and see what looks cool. I never really looked at Hendrick Motorsports as our arch rival or nemesis or whatever. We competed against them and they were one of the best competitors over the years, obviously. They set the mark for most, if not all the teams, at least the Chevrolet teams. But I always looked at the Fords and the Roushes and those guys as more of my competitors that I had more interest in outrunning and beating. But Jeff has always been a real good friend of mine. Him and dad were business partners on several things. Dad helped him a lot coming into the sport, so Jeff has always tried to . . over the last six years -- has always tried to express to me that he's sort of repaying that favor back to my father by helping me in a lot of ways. A lot of things behind the scenes people don't know about. I helped Jimmie get in the sport . . I know he won't give me that credit. When he came to St. Louis to drive the Kingsford car, I was the guy he came to ask how to get around the racetrack and when he wanted to buy his first motor home, he came to me because he never spent that kind of money before. We have all been pretty good friends. I'm looking forward to it. We didn't really get to answer that question about the teammates that I'll have in the future but those guys seemed really excited about it and we'll talk about it and we're pretty pumped up about us being teammates next year. Q: A lot of fans like to pretend that you and Jeff are rivals and you never were. Can you speak to those fans who are now upset that you guys are teammates? Earnhardt: Well, I think that . . I can't really speak for Jeff, but I think if I know him like I think I do that we'll still enjoy -- we do have a personal competition; if you want to call it a rivalry, fine. But I like to outrun Jeff. Jeff is one of the best that's ever been in our sport. He's fun to race with, and especially when you beat him, it's a good feeling. It's a good feeling when I outrun my father or anyone else of that magnitude, you know what I mean? So I think that will still be there. I think that I'll still have that in me, just as an Earnhardt, you know, to beat Jeff Gordon. It's always been there in the sport and I think that will continue to be there. You can have that kind of rivalry within Rick's program within his business and it would still be healthy. I think we always race each other with respect. I've never driven dirty with Jeff and never spun him out or anything like that. ... Hit him on accident a couple of times. But, you know, I think that's kind of healthy because I'll be in equal equipment, so he can't make any excuses. But we can each raise each other's game, you know what I'm saying? I think we can both challenge each other to be better racecar drivers and improve each other. I think that will be healthy and a lot of fun. Hendrick: I'm liking this already. This is good. Earnhardt: I thought about this a lot. Q: In the beginning you said it wasn't about money; it was only about winning championships, and after seeing you this morning and Kelley and your mom, have you finally found the peace of mind that you've been looking for? Earnhardt: Well, I have. I do feel like there's a big weight lifted off my shoulders. There's still a lot of things to figure out and discuss with a number of the sponsors. There are a lot of things I have going on that Rick has going on and we have to figure out a way to mesh it out together. That's still going to be a lot of work. There's a whole lot of work left to be done. I've still got to concentrate and focus on driving the red No. 8 car as hard as I can do throughout the rest of the year. You know, I owe that to my guys. So there's still a lot of pressure. Still typical life. But I do feel a big relief and a lot of excitement. I know that Rick is going to do everything he can do for me and that's a great feeling to have somebody that's going to support you like that. Q: Junior, you just mentioned your guys, is there any thought or discussion at this point about anybody from your team and from DEI and any of your crew members coming over to Hendrick for you? And Rick, is there any discussion with Teresa about bringing No. 8 over to Hendrick? Earnhardt: That's probably some of the discussion and things we'll be working on over the next couple of months, as far as the crew members and whatnot. That's basically all got to be worked out yet. Rick's got a lot of guys working there, great employees and great, talented guys. That's things we'll have to discuss down the road. Q: How close did it come to the rumors of signing with either Childress or Gibbs? Earnhardt: As I said, I wanted to thank all of the other owners that we had talked to and for everybody for giving me that opportunity to discuss things with them. But all of the reports that I saw or heard had come out of thin air, basically. Q: The pressure you're talking about that you feel, is it partially that he wants to win championships; but also knowing that it's not just Dale Jr. wants to win championships, it's that the most popular driver in the sport wants to win championships and if he does, it could take NASCAR to unprecedented levels? Jeff Gordon said that if he wins, it's game over for the rest. Do you feel it will be huge for NASCAR if you do well with him? Hendrick: I've been through this before where if Jimmie wins, Jeff's fans say I don't give him the good equipment. So I'm sure in this situation, if he's not winning, it's going to be my fault. If he's winning, it's going to be because of his talent. And if it's not, it's because of not giving him good stuff. That's the way a lot of the fans look at it. So that pressure is there. You know, again, he's such an icon in the sport and he made a decision to come with us, based on our performance and ability to give him what he needs to reach those goals. So that's the competitive side of me that adds pressure that I want to deliver what we said we could deliver and what he's expecting. This is because of the magnitude of his space and position in the sport with his fan base and so forth, it's been an appeal to everyone connected. You know, you just want to work hard to give him what you can. And as far as the competition inside the camp, there's already a little bit of a feud . . not a feud, but a competition between Jeff and Jimmie. They are running for the championship and they can be friends and they can be upset when they lose a race. But they get back and go again. So I feel like that's going to be the same situation here. You know, again, the pressure is because I want to deliver, and I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen because there's going to be a lot of people watching. Q: You mention that you thought it was obvious Kyle was talking to other teams. If the opportunity presented itself for him to make a move before the end of the season, is that something you would consider? Hendrick: No. And I don't think Kyle would consider that. We have a responsibility to the sponsors, and he's sitting in a position to be in the Chase. That's a very good team. You know, this decision was not an easy decision. And Kyle has got a tremendous amount of talent and I know in talking to him, he wants to see that car finish this year in first place. I think you're going to see him very focused and very committed to that effort. The same is true with Junior. It's hard in the sport to have to make these decisions mid-year and finish out the year but we have sponsors to cars both sitting in the Chase, and that's what it's all about. So we've got to focus each one of us on that goal. Q: Dale, can you talk a little specific about a championship? Do you think you will win a championship now at Hendrick Motorsports, and if you don't, despite 17 wins already and everything else you've done ultimately, do you think your career will be judged unkindly if you don't win a championship? Earnhardt: Some people obviously will . . everyone's a little different in how they view success. I've always said that I've done more in this sport than I've ever anticipated. I just wanted to be able to pay my bills and once I got past that, everything else was a bonus. It seems like to me, three years ago, I was three months behind on my phone bill and living in a trailer with Kerry and his kids would jump over the couch back and forth and I would have to lock myself in my room just to get some peace and quiet. Those days don't seem like that far or that long ago. But you know, I want to work really, really hard to give myself and Tony Jr. an opportunity to make the Chase and challenge for the championship this season. I think we are a good enough team to do that. If we can't accomplish that at DEI this year, my efforts will be obviously, you know, focused full. fledged on doing that with Rick, and I think that I'll have a good opportunity to succeed and win a lot of races. I think personally I will cherish a championship on my mantle when it's all said and done. I think I can live without it, obviously. I really do want it. Q: Would there be any consideration of trading the No. 5 to DEI for the 8 if Kyle were to look at that as an alternative, and was this in the back of your minds when he jumped in the car at Texas? Hendrick: As far as swapping the 5 for the 8 if they wanted to talk about that, sure, we'd be open to that. And what was the question about Texas? That sure started a lot of rumors. Earnhardt: I was trying to see what kind of horsepower they had, see where we measured up. The car was wrecked so it didn't really drive that good. Q: I assume the 24 and 48 are pretty locked up, those numbers. So when you say the team is not decided, it's basically between the 5 and the 25, correct? Hendrick: Right. Q: Sponsors, you're all locked up; are you looking for a new sponsor? Hendrick: We have several sponsors on our cars that are multi. year deals. And I guess my first responsibility is to those people, and we've got to look at how the teams are going to look at the end of the year going into next year and what spots on those cars are available and where they want to be. We do have some space but we have sponsors in place, so we've got ... we couldn't really talk to them because as soon as we started talking to them and the conversations got out you folks would have it the next day. So we had to wait until we got this deal done and then we'll look at what their commitments are and what our commitments are, and we'll make it all mesh and we hopefully will get that done here in the next few months. Q: For a while, you had made your name on the restrictor-plate tracks and the last couple of years, Hendrick has surpassed you guys in that. How good is it going to feel to know that you're going to have a real bullet at Daytona and Talladega? Earnhardt: You know, Rick's teams win a lot of races, but there wasn't ever really a competition issue or question with me at DEI. I've got all of the confidence in the world in those cars and my ability to drive them well. You know, again, Rick's cars win a lot of races, so I'm just looking forward ... I think there will be a lot of difference in the feel of the cars and how they drive. Just driving his car at Texas, you know, the front end, the geometry settings, a lot of the things that they are doing on their cars -- which I couldn't see and really know for sure what they were -- but I could tell a big difference in just how the car rolled down in the corner and how the car yawed in the center of the corner, but even though it had been wrecked they fixed it back pretty well. And so watching Casey and having talked to Casey just for a few minutes, he had spoken a little bit about how it took him a little bit of time to understand how to drive the car and how big a difference the car drove from what he was used to. You know, if you give five guys the same pieces to build a car and they build all five cars, even though they try to set them up the same, they will drive differently just because guys set the front ends up and things like that. I'm interested in just knowing the angles that Rick's guys take to approach getting the car to turn and things like that. So I'm interested in knowing all those things. Q: Know you're close to a lot of the guys at DEI. How much does it help to you see the resurgence of Martin Truex over the last couple of weeks that when you leave, there's still people in place there that can keep that team in good hands? Earnhardt: Yeah, that's been a really great thing for me. I'm happy for Martin because we're good friends and he appreciates everything that anybody has ever done for him to get him where he is today. He's thanked me and everybody on his team and everybody that ever helped him ever get to race a modified or whatever. He's just so good about that and it makes you feel good to see him have success and you want him to win more and do better. But as far as DEI is concerned, it is a good feeling. Those guys take a lot of pride in their ability to win races. I think that, you know, it hurts Bono's pride a little bit and those guys' pride when the remarks were made about DEI not being able to continue without me as a driver there. And for them to go out and make a statement like they have over the last couple of weeks, I think it helps them and gives them a lot of confidence and gives the rest of the employees that are not going to the racetrack a lot of confidence. Those are the people that are at home and on the weekends and they work the 9 to 5 throughout the week. So the guys that go to the racetrack know everything, know the whole story, know all the gossip. So that was really good for them and that makes me ... I'm just proud of them and it's good to see the team have success. Q: Do you already have designs for expanding your gift shop? And secondly, you now have three of the four or five superstars in the sport; if we're at Daytona and you have a lap to go with Junior first, Jeff second and Jimmie third, what's going to happen? Hendrick: I'm going to ask them to be nice and don't wreck each other . . no, that would be a good problem to have. I hope that works out that way. You know, I do plan to expand the gift shop. It's going to be an exciting time for our company and I think it's really no different than racing Tony or, you know, Denny or Matt Kenseth when they are all out there racing. Those guys driving those cars, they are so competitive, they want to beat each other. We have a good program going right now where they share information, and they help each other in driving styles and it's OK to beat on each other. Just don't wreck each other. They understand that and I watched Dale drive and he's not going to . . I think most of the guys in the garage area today have kind of adopted that philosophy that if you do that, you're going to get paid back and it's just going to make life difficult and NASCAR is going to watch and they are going to take action and all of the above. So hopefully we have that problem at Daytona that they are running like that. That would be great. That would be a good problem to have. Q: Dale, you made the announcement a month ago that you were leaving the company that your father built, and it seemed at the time to be a surreal experience, but now that you have a landing spot and you know where you're going next season, has the reality of leaving the company that your father built really kind of hit home and have you been kind of struggling with that since you made the announcement back in May? Earnhardt: I never struggled with that. I felt solid about that decision. Obviously, I made the decision and I felt pretty firm about it. I think if I struggled at all, that was before I made it. But once I had come to terms with it, wrapped my brain around it, I was pretty confident that I was making the right choice. I told Rick that the hard part for me was being in limbo, not having a home, not knowing what your future was. Being that I was a son of the guy that built the place, I had a job driving racecars and when dad was around and even after, I never had to worry about my job. I basically could act and do and say and go along as I pleased because of the family connection. And so it is really uncharted territory for me. I think it was a huge risk and it took a lot of nerve for me to make that first decision and to get out there into the real world and work for someone who I had to straighten up a little bit for, you know what I mean? Rick said he's not going to ask me to change too much. I may not be able to wear jeans and T-shirts quite as often. But it's going to be a great experience for me and I think my fans are going to still have the same Dale Jr. that they have always had and the one they like to cheer for. Rick's going to give me great equipment and I can't wait . . I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. I love driving racecars and as much as I would like to go ahead and get started to work toward our future with Rick, I love driving racecars enough and the team I'm working with now; I appreciate those guys enough that I look forward to the rest of this year and working hard for them. Q: You were saying that you were working . . trying to work through Kyle's situation at Charlotte, so it seems this came together pretty quickly. When did you decide that you were actually going to be a player in this thing and really go after it and to Junior, when did you make the decision that that's where you were going to go? Earnhardt: When I went around and looked at all of the other shops, basically I saw the same thing everywhere. Everyone has the ability to build the same cars. Everyone has the ability to hire good people. Everyone has the ability to have all of those secret things behind the door on the right, the door on the left. Rick's got a great building and a great operation that's available, and attainable by everyone in the sport owner. wise. I think Rick's and my relationship was what made the difference for me, and I notice obviously, he's committed to winning ... winning is what it's all about for him. I know that he'll commit whatever it takes for us to be successful, but the personal relationship was really important. But I had a lot of fun talking to everyone that we talked to; that was a real surreal experience, and some of the things that I heard and saw and was told were amazing and the relationships that I ... I'm sitting there, you know, Job Gibbs, coach of the Redskins, he's a hero of mine since I was a little kid. And to be actually in the same room with the man was kind of hard to get over. Some of the relationships that I even made over the last two months, or forged over the last two months are really important to me. I think a lot of people understood that there are a lot more good personalities in the sport than I gave the sport credit for. Q: Talk about that day when Ricky mentioned to you that some day this day would come and why you didn't think at that time it wouldn't happen. And Dale, Waltrip said all along he thought you would end up with Hendrick because Rick would treat you like a son Hendrick: Yeah, I don't remember. I guess it was Joel Suggs. Joel and Dale and Ricky were together. And Ricky, he called me one day, I don't know where they were, and he said, "I'm going to sign Dale Jr." I said, "OK, right, that's good. I believe that." And then I talked to Dale and it was just something that he had in the back of his mind, and I didn't think it would ever come to pass. But I think he always planned, because of their friendship, and the respect he had for Dale, that that was his goal in life. For me now, to see that really happen, is surely special to me. Earnhardt: Rick had his health issues several years ago, and he learned I guess through that experience the importance of confident and talented medical crews and that kind of service and how important it is that they are as good as they can be. I've heard half a dozen stories about him when someone is ill or whatever, whether it be Parsons or somebody at his business, or a family member of an employee or whatever, he's flying people all across the country trying to get the best crews and doctors to that person or however they can get the best kind of treatment they can get. He does those kind of things in that fashion all the time. He did it for my sister when she was sick. I find that kind of fascinating that he has the ability to take time out of what he has going on in his busy life to do those type of things for other people. You know, you want to be around people like that. You want to surround yourself with people like that; not to take advantage of that kind of behavior, but to try to improve yourself. They make you a better person. They teach you how to treat other people. So that's important to me that that's the kind of guy that Rick is. I feel like we've had a great relationship and we've had a lot of respect for each other over the years. And I think that we'll be able to grow that over the next several years as we work together and as I work for him, and hopefully I can do a good job. I think that I've got enough talent and if you're a race car driver, you have to think you're the best out there, and I don't have any problem doing that. So I feel like he's got great cars and I feel like we'll have success on the racetrack. I want to have success off the racetrack, as well. I want to do a good job for him as far as far as pleasing his sponsors, pleasing his employees, all of the people we'll be working with racing cars and everything we do. It's a new chapter for me and I couldn't be anticipating it any more. I don't think I could be working for a better guy when it comes to just as a person. I know my dad would trust Rick. They had a great amount of respect for each other and knew each other for a long time. And I know Dad would appreciate what Rick is trying to do and what he's done for me up to this point and what he will do for me in the future and his approach and respect for my sister and my family. I know Dad would appreciate that, and he'd probably be a little jealous, to be honest with you. Q: You said you only wanted to go through this one time as far as this process and your career. Are you happy with the length of the contract; is it kind of open. ended after that? Earnhardt: Yeah, we haven't really talked about that as far as, you know, after five. I've always liked doing three. year deals, but knowing what kind of guy Rick is and I know I'm going to be comfortable there and I know the employees and I will get along great. You know, I just really anticipate the deal . . I think that five years, it's a great amount of time. That seems like the right amount of time for me. But you know, we'll talk . . I don't even think that we've even talked about how we're going to leave the end of the deal open or whatever. But there are a lot of options for us to explore there and a lot of exciting options I'm sure. Junior is where he wanted, but didn't think it possible When Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in the midst of the process of making the difficult decision to leave the race organization founded by his late and very famous father, one of the people he sought advice from more than once was Rick Hendrick. At the time, Earnhardt didn't think he ultimately would be signing up to drive for Hendrick Motorsports -- the mega-team that eventually did lock Earnhardt up for five years, beginning in 2008. Earnhardt said Wednesday that he simply was seeking advice from Hendrick, and that he was sure the advice he did receive came from the heart. "Every time my contract came up, he came to me and never once was there a motive of trying to get me to drive for him," Earnhardt said of Hendrick. "He came to me and said, 'I know you and your sister [adviser Kelley Earnhardt Elledge] are the only two you have. If you need lawyers, if you need any kind of help or whatever to get the deal you want, let me know and I can send some people over and help you and look at your stuff." Shortly after Earnhardt announced May 10 that he definitely would be leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., at the end of the 2007 season, Hendrick was asked about his possible pursuit of Earnhardt and said "there's no room at the inn," implying that his four-car team was set for '08 and beyond. As it turns out, it wasn't. Hendrick said Wednesday that contract extension talks with Kyle Busch began to break down as Busch drew interest from several other teams. That and presumably other factors -- such as Busch's often immature behavior -- led Hendrick to eventually make room for Earnhardt. But at the time he first made the statement, neither Hendrick nor Earnhardt saw what ultimately transpired Wednesday as being much of a possibility. "When he made the quote that there wasn't no room over at his building, at around that time we were talking about a last resort would be to run a team out of here [at JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's Busch Series shop]. He said, 'Whatever deal you sign, I want to help you. I just want you to be happy. If you want a deal [at JR Motorsports], I'll help you do it if I have to come over here and do it myself," Earnhardt said of Hendrick. "He's always just had that sort of been that guy that would go out of his way to help other people. ... It's a huge heart he has. I want that to rub off on me a little bit. Before he agreed to come on board at Hendrick, though, Earnhardt said he entertained strong overtures from Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing. He said both of their operations -- and potential offers -- also were enticing. "I listened to Joe and Richard. It was really, really tough because there wasn't a wrong answer," Earnhardt said. "[It was] even harder to have to tell them after I made my decision because I had so much respect for them and it matters to me how they feel about me. I made the decision I wanted to make. I can live with that. This is exactly what I wanted to do." Like Hendrick, Childress told Earnhardt prior to his final decision that he would support him in whatever he decided to do. Dale Earnhardt won six of his seven driver championships while driving for Childress, whom the younger Earnhardt has described as a very close friend of the family, like an uncle. "Obviously he wanted me to come drive for him. That would have been a very exciting program to be a part of," Earnhardt said. But in the end, like in so many recent Nextel Cup events, Hendrick Motorsports was in the lead pretty much from start to finish in the race for Earnhardt's services. "For me, I've always daydreamed about driving for Rick since I started to drive racecars. You have daydreams. It was sort of like when I was a little kid wanting to be a [Washington] Redskin," Earnhardt said. "I guess if I had my choice in a perfect world, he was kind of always in the lead. I wanted to give those other guys an opportunity ... They really wanted to talk to me and I wanted to give them that opportunity to get across the table what they wanted to. I felt like my mind could be changed, or I wouldn't have sat down with them." At first, though, it didn't appear there was any way it would happen. Contract extension talks between Busch and Hendrick didn't begin to completely stall until about the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day, suddenly cracking the door at Hendrick Inn open ever so slightly for Earnhardt. It was all he needed to bust on through. "I didn't think he had a chance," Earnhardt said. "I felt I basically had to look elsewhere because of him having four teams. He told me probably the only thing he could do was help me with a team I had here, but I didn't think a satellite team would be that competitive even with help from Rick. So I told him that was a last resort. So we went and talked to the other guys and listened to what they had to say. Then what happened with Kyle opened the door for me." Junior joins star-studded team Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Wednesday he is joining Hendrick Motorsports, moving him one step closer toward the championship that has eluded him while driving for his late father's company. Rick Hendrick said Earnhardt will replace Kyle Busch on his star-studded roster of drivers. The decision ends five weeks of recruiting for NASCAR's most popular driver, who became a free agent May 10 when he said he would leave DEI at the end of this season. His criteria for a new team included finding a place he could win championships, and Hendrick is the perfect fit. Hendrick has won six championships, and has 10 wins through 14 points races this season. "It became apparent to me the man I wanted to drive for," Earnhardt said. "He competes with integrity and most importantly, he wins races." It was not immediately clear what number car Earnhardt will drive, and who will sponsor the car. Since starting in NASCAR, Earnhardt has driven the No. 8 Chevrolet, and he has long-standing ties to Budweiser. Hendrick also has longtime ties to Earnhardt's family. He fielded a car in 1983 for Dale Earnhardt Sr., who drove it to a Busch Series win at Lowe's Motor Speedway. That entry was co-owned by Robert Gee, who is Junior's maternal grandfather. Joining Hendrick's stable could anger Earnhardt's followers because it will team him with Jeff Gordon, a driver generally despised by his rabid fans. Following several of his recent wins, Earnhardt's fans have thrown beer cans at Gordon, most notably after career win No. 76 -- in April at Talladega Superspeedway. The win tied Gordon with the elder Earnhardt on NASCAR's victory list. Earnhardt Jr. reportedly headed to Hendrick Motorsports Dale Earnhardt Jr. apparently will join forces with NASCAR's most successful team. Earnhardt is set to announce his intention to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2008, according to a report on ESPN.com on Tuesday. NASCAR's most popular driver, Earnhardt has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday at 11 a.m. EDT, when he likely will officially announce his intentions for next season. Citing anonymous sources, the report stated that Earnhardt will drive the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet, which is currently piloted by Kyle Busch. Earnhardt to address driving future Dale Earnhardt Jr. has decided where he will drive next season, and all signs point to Hendrick Motorsports. NASCAR's most popular driver called a Wednesday news conference at his race shop, JR Motorsports, and spokesman Mike Davis said it was to announce his plans for 2008 and beyond. It's the same site where Junior announced May 10 he would leave DEI and enter the free-agent market. That move ignited a whirlwind of recruiting rarely scene in NASCAR, and there's been nonstop talk regarding where Earnhardt would end up. He's made shop visits and met with various car owners while he trying to make a decision. His sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, is handling his negotiations and has maintained their first choice was to keep Earnhardt in a Chevrolet. She has said the majority of her conversations have been with NASCAR's top Chevy teams. Hendrick is the best in NASCAR right now, with 10 wins through the first 15 points races this season. Speculation grew Monday night that Earnhardt was close to a deal with Hendrick, but officials declined comment Tuesday. Elledge did not respond to messages from The Associated Press. Rick Hendrick currently has four drivers under contract, and told the AP last month ``there was no room at the inn'' for Earnhardt. NASCAR rules permit a car owner to field four Nextel Cup teams. But multiple sources -- speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because Earnhardt's plans have not been announced -- said Hendrick officials have been working for nearly three weeks to figure out how to bring the star driver into the fold. One scenario could put Earnhardt into the No. 5 car that Kyle Busch currently drives. Busch is under contract through 2008, and Hendrick has said he wanted to sign the 22-year-old driver to an extension. But there are rumblings Busch has asked to be released from his contract. Asked if that was true, Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex said, ``We don't comment on contractual issues.'' Busch was testing in Milwaukee on Tuesday and not available to comment. It's still possible Earnhardt could end up at Richard Childress Racing, where his father won six of his seven championships, or Joe Gibbs Racing. But Childress is out of the country, and the assistant to Gibbs president J.D. Gibbs said Gibbs is away all week. Junior takes break from negotiations to attend France's funeral Martin Truex Jr.'s first win for DEI temporarily bumped Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s contract talks out of the spotlight. Bill France Jr.'s death put the negotiations on hold. Earnhardt said Friday there was no update about what teams NASCAR's biggest free agent visited this week. With the rain-postponed race held on Monday, then a trip to Florida to attend France's funeral on Thursday, the short week left little time for Earnhardt to get involved. ``We'll get back to work on that when we get back home I guess after the weekend,'' Earnhardt said after qualifying 13th for the Pocono 500. ``When things like that happen, you have to kind of stop everything you're doing.'' Earnhardt's sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, is handling contract talks and had set an end of June deadline to get a new deal done, if not sooner. Earnhardt said last week that he's visited some of the top teams in NASCAR, looking to find the right fit once he's done at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Any recruiting visits or contract talks were expected to resume after this weekend. ``We don't really get a whole lot going on during the weekend,'' Earnhardt said. ``I like to be around when we're talking and discussing.'' Elder Eury picked to lead dedicated test team for DEI Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Wednesday said it is forming a dedicated team for testing, which Tony Eury will lead. Eury had been the crew chief for rookie Paul Menard, but is giving up that position to focus on the test team. Dave Charpentier, an engineer on Menard's crew, will take over for Eury beginning with this weekend's race at Pocono Raceway. The top teams in NASCAR have dedicated test teams, which travel to non-Nextel Cup tracks during the week to collect data. Hendrick Motorsports is believed to lead the industry in testing, and rival competitors have complained that Hendrick has spent about 100 days testing this season; Hendrick officials say the number is closer to 30. But it led Dale Earnhardt Jr. to complain last month that DEI wasn't putting forth a similar effort. DEI's test team will use Menard, Kerry Earnhardt and developmental drivers for the test team, which is hoping to hit the track June 19-20 at Kentucky Speedway. "We have to do this," DEI general manager John Story said. "If you want to keep up, or be the best, this is just one element of the things you have to do." Although Menard has struggled to make races this season -- he's missed five of the 13 Cup events -- Eury is not being moved because of it. Eury spent several years as Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief, then moved into research and development when his son, Tony Eury Jr., took over Earnhardt's crew. Eury went back to the pit box this season with Menard. "We needed some veteran leadership to run that program, and instead of looking to the outside to hire someone, Tony accepted the position," Story said. DEI has made several behind-the-scenes upgrades in the month since Earnhardt said he was leaving the company at the end of the season. The team formed an engine partnership with Richard Childress Racing, and is working on buying a seven-post shaker -- an expensive machine that simulates racing conditions. And DEI scored its first victory in more a year Monday when Martin Truex Jr. won at Dover International Speedway. Life goes on at DEI beyond Junior The checkered flag was flying again outside Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Tuesday, the first time in more than a year the organization held its traditional victory celebration. Less than a month ago, few thought that flag would fly anytime soon. Then Martin Truex Jr. earned his first career victory Monday, and there's no hurry to shove the flag back inside its box. ``It's been awhile since that's been up, so it's a welcome sight,'' Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. ``And it makes everyone want to see it raised a few more times this year.'' After Earnhardt announced May 10 that he would leave his late father's company at season's end, many predicted DEI's days as a competitive team were numbered. Instead, the team is thriving on the track for the first time in quite awhile. Junior is running up front again and challenged for the win two weeks ago at Charlotte. He also had back-to-back season-best qualifying efforts and narrowly missed winning his first pole in five years. And Truex is turning into quite the contender. He raced his way into the annual All-Star event by winning a make-or-break sprint right before the $1 million show. He followed it with his points victory in Monday's rain-delayed race at Dover International Speedway. Suddenly, DEI doesn't seem to be in such bad shape, after all. ``I still don't understand where everyone was coming from when they thought that DEI was going to go away just because Dale Junior went away,'' Truex said. ``It started before he started driving. He's a great asset. He's been a great teammate for me. He's been a great mentor for me. ``But we can go on. We can win races.'' That's not an opinion Junior shares. He has said he can't win a championship at DEI and is searching for a bigger and better team to help him do that. That pursuit has taken him inside some of the sport's top shops -- a NASCAR-style recruiting visit. Once Junior got a look around, he discovered DEI isn't so inferior. ``I have never had the opportunity to see any shops outside DEI in my driving career; that was a big surprise for me,'' he said. ``I was surprised at how on par in some places DEI really is.'' If that's true, than perhaps Earnhardt's real reason for leaving is personal -- stepmother, Teresa. That's the best news for DEI, because it means the company can find success when Junior has moved on. And so changes are being made to ensure the racing improves. DEI merged forces with Richard Childress Racing on an engine partnership that shows commitment to competition. And team officials, who hope sponsor Budweiser will stay, are actively pursuing Earnhardt's replacement. ``The main thing we are doing is solidifying and crystalizing the entire organization,'' said Max Siegel, president of DEI's global operations. ``We've made minor shifts, set goals and are opening up communication. It's all about tweaking things and making long-term capital improvements.'' It all came after Junior's decision, a defection that ultimately might have been the wake-up call Teresa Earnhardt needed to realize it was time to put DEI back among NASCAR's heavyweights. Before this year, DEI lacked the expensive new resources that have become standard in the top shops. Junior didn't skimp on those areas when he built JR Motorsports, and DEI officials often found themselves borrowing his stuff. Now, Siegel said, DEI has access to luxuries, and the team is planning to buy a seven-post shaker, the new must-have technology. Hendrick Motorsports has used the machine, which simulates a car's reactions over a 500-mile race, en route to nine wins this season. Now, every car owner wants one. The elder Earnhardt kept DEI on the cutting edge of the sport and had the team contending at the time of his 2001 death. Although Teresa Earnhardt temporarily kept things rolling, DEI has slowly fallen behind. Now, it's too late to play catch up with Junior, despite quiet rumblings that he could end up right back in the No. 8. That's not likely after recent statements that his decision to leave was in large part personal. Since making the break, Junior seems happier than he's been in quite some time. Still, he doesn't want DEI to fail; his name, after all, is on the masthead. If it took him leaving to make the team successful, so be it. Reaction to the death of Bill France Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- driver, No. 8 Chevrolet: "It's a profound loss for the sport. His dad really started NASCAR, but he's the one probably most responsible for the state of our sport today. He's one of those giants -- very intimidating to me. I didn't know him well, but my dad was close with him and I know that made my dad very very proud to get close to someone that not a lot of others did." JGR ponders future with Chevrolet, Earnhardt Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing is negotiating to bring Chevrolet back next season and might be talking with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to come along for the ride. No doubt, there's been plenty going on behind the scenes at Joe Gibbs Racing during the past week, and team officials have stayed tightlipped on all the swirling speculation. From the possible signing of Earnhardt, NASCAR's hottest free agent, to overtures made by Toyota, racing team president J.D. Gibbs has plenty to consider in the next few weeks. If Gibbs is serious about bringing Junior into the fold, well, he's not saying. JGR Racing is believed to be in the thick of the hunt to sign Earnhardt, though Gibbs said on Sunday he had not yet talked to NASCAR's most popular driver. Earnhardt's sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, is handling contract talks and had set an end of June deadline to get a new deal done, if not sooner. "For Kelley and Dale, we're just going to give them time to look at their program, and we're going to focus on our program right now to make sure we're on top of our game week in and week out," Gibbs said. Without naming teams, Earnhardt said on Friday that he's visited some of the top teams in NASCAR. Gibbs declined to comment if JGR is one of the teams that Earnhardt visited. But Earnhardt also said he wants to keep driving Chevys, so that certainly would give JGR every reason to stay with the manufacturer. So if Chevy stays, does that make JGR a clear frontrunner? "To be honest, we're not far along into going into that," Gibbs said. "He's made it clear that's part of what he's looking for." Gibbs also refused to say if he's even talked with Toyota. JGR's contract with GM is up at the end of the year, and Gibbs said they've just started the re-negotiation process. "I can't really say much," Gibbs said. "We're in the process of just sitting down with GM last week and we have their proposal. We're going to go over that. Really, that's where we are right now, just reviewing it." They had a few extra hours to review the proposal on Sunday if they wanted after heavy rain forced NASCAR to push back a Nextel Cup race for the third time in the past four points races. The Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway will start at noon ET Monday (FOX). Ryan Newman and Earnhardt will start on the front row at the Monster Mile. Points leader Jeff Gordon starts sixth. Hendrick Motorsports has won five consecutive races and nine in the past 10 Nextel Cup races. The Car of Tomorrow will make its sixth appearance Monday in a Nextel Cup race, and it could get perhaps its toughest test yet on the concrete mile oval, high-banked track. "I think that this car is kind of an unknown to a lot of us," Gordon said. Almost as uncertain as where Junior will land. "I have to tell everybody I am in discussions with to give me like three days to decipher things," he said. "I wish I could be more proactive and prompt, but I really want to think about it and make sure I'm not going to leave a base uncovered." Should JGR sign with Toyota, that could be a deal breaker for Junior. Then again, Earnhardt also wants to keep Budweiser as his sponsor, and Gibbs was adamant again that Bud is not for them. "Just a lot of personal reasons, a lot of issues my dad [Joe Gibbs] has, it would be hard to do it," Gibbs said. "It wouldn't work. Again, they're a great part of our sport, a great partner for us. Personally, that'd be hard to do." Joe Gibbs Racing already has a sponsorship deal with Starter, which is owned by Nike. JGR already fields cars for Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, and the team is not ready to become a four-car operation in 2008. That could be dicey for Yeley, who scored a career-best second-place finish last week in the Coca-Cola 600. Gibbs and the JGR officials like Yeley and have invested a lot in him, and they'd desperately like for him to find success at their organization. But his contract is up at the end of the season and he could be running out of time to show results. While Stewart and Hamlin are both in top 10 of the Chase, Yeley is 15th. Perhaps Yeley could find a spot with Hall of Fame Racing, owned by former Dallas Cowboys greats Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. JGR has a loose affiliation with the Cowboys crew and it could send Yeley there to make room for Earnhardt. Toyota, which has struggled this year in its rookie season in Nextel Cup racing, wants to become a major player in the stock-car scene and would love to form an association with one of the heavyweights like JGR. "The more healthy competitors you have in the sport, the better it is," Gibbs said. "The more healthy manufacturers that you bring to the sport, I think it's good for our sport. Period. I think they're an important part of the sport." An important part, for sure, but now all JGR might have to decide is if it's more important than signing Earnhardt. Junior: Appeal loss could have been worse Dale Earnhardt Jr. says they dropped their appeal of the Car of Tomorrow penalty because they were worried the outcome would be even worse. "We were worried that if we went to appeal and it didn't go, you know, somebody said a cross word and upset somebody, or something didn't go right, it could become a worse penalty, and decided to drop it and just take our lickings," Earnhardt explained on 'Unrestricted', his weekly XM Satellite Radio show. Junior added that there was talk of stripping the team of its guaranteed starting grid spot which teams in the top-35 in owner's points enjoy at every race. "There were some discussions about forcing the (No. 8) car to have to qualify for every event." Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was suspended six weeks for illegal wing brackets which were found on the No. 8 Car of Tomorrow at Darlington. He was also fined $100,000 while Earnhardt Jr. and DEI were each docked 100 points. Dover fan pays tribute to Junior with '8' tree stump Warm, sunny weather, "Welcome Race Fans" banners and an oversized, hand-carved number "8" are all signs that race weekend at Dover International Speedway is right around the corner. The monster awakens officially this weekend and NASCAR's brightest stars will soon take to the 1-mile concrete oval. Everyone is excited, but perhaps none more than Dover resident Allen McIlvain. McIlvain recently completed a project that truly shows his dedication to his favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Four months, four burned out chainsaws and countless man-hours later, his backyard masterpiece is complete. The dedicated "Junior" fan now has a 12-foot high shrine carved out of a tree stump to honor NASCAR's most popular driver. He originally planned to cut the tree stump down and replace it with a birdfeeder for his wife, but he couldn't resist the opportunity to show his support. With his wife's blessing (she actually told him to "Do whatever.") McIlvain started sawing away at the tree. He kept his project a secret during the four months it took him to complete the "8" design, keeping his wife and neighbors in suspense. Both of them were truly amazed when they finally saw his finished product, a one-of-a-kind addition to his well-manicured backyard. McIlvain, 47, has attended more than 45 Nextel Cup races at the Monster Mile. 2007 will be no different as he's geared up to come to this year's June and September events. McIlvain will be perched in the top row of the Petty grandstands on the frontstretch at Dover, along with the same group of friends he's been coming to the track with for more than 23 years. Originally a Dale Earnhardt fan, McIlvain has been a loyal Earnhardt Jr. fan since his father's untimely death in 2001. Regardless of what the final race result may turn out to be, McIlvain's loyalty to the No. 8 is firmly represented -- by the shape of his unique backyard monument. Earnhardt sales going strong despite DEI defection On the day he announced he was leaving his late father's company, Dale Earnhardt Jr. fretted over fan reaction. He worried the "Red Army" wouldn't understand his decision, and the loyalists would resent him _ maybe even boo him _ for walking away from Dale Earnhardt Inc. But based on souvenir sales in the three weeks since he made his decision, NASCAR's most popular driver had nothing to be concerned about. Sales of Earnhardt merchandise at race tracks is up 17 percent since his May 10 announcement, industry analysts said. At NASCAR.com, where his figures spiked 107 percent the first week, sales have now leveled off but are still slightly above last season's pace. "I knew people were going to collect. I knew they were going to want a piece of his legacy," said Chris Williams, director of trackside sales for Motorsports Authentic, the company that manages 60 of the souvenir trailers that are stationed at every race track. "His Daddy wanted Dale Jr. to win a championship at DEI, and people want a memento from that part of his career. Now, if he should start winning races and get into championship contention this season, his sales are going to be like nothing we've ever seen before." Hats, shirts, beer holders, pins, and the diecast cars _ a collector's staple _ are flying off the shelves at a frantic pace. It's a stark contrast to say, Greg Biffle, who is in flux right now at Roush Fenway Racing. Because Biffle's sponsor wants to leave at the end of the season, and he's in the middle of contract negotiations that could end with him leaving Roush, his souvenir sales have dipped. Earnhardt is for certain leaving his team at the end of the season, and nobody has any idea if he'll be with sponsor Budweiser in 2008. But it doesn't stop the fans from shopping at a dizzying pace. "I think it all has sentimental value now," said Lee Madison, of Asheville. "He's part of history. The red Budweiser 8, get it while you can." Earnhardt had a series-high five trailers surrounding Lowe's Motor Speedway last weekend, and a sixth truck sold merchandise for both Junior and the elder Earnhardt. Rob and Suzanne Carpenter crowded around one of them early Saturday with their three sons looking for new gear. They had plenty already _ Suzanne wore her Budweiser bikini, with a gold `3' charm on her bellybutton as a nod to Earnhardt Sr. _ but needed to pick up the latest fashions. "We spend about $500 a year, usually on hats, a (beer) cozy or two, maybe a T-shirt. Anything I need to replace," Rob Carpenter said as he picked up a limited edition camouflage `8' hat for his son to wear. The family didn't flinch after dropping $53.38, and Carpenter was certain he'd spend more at trailers closer to the track. Because he makes up 30 percent of the market, Earnhardt has the most trailers and gets the best locations every week. Laying out the sales is a surprising science and Motorsports Authentic has to carefully plan the grid each week. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart rank second and third in sales, owning about 15 percent of the market each, and Williams said he can never put an Earnhardt trailer across from one of them because the shoppers would clog the lane. Although he spaces Junior's trailers around the facility, there's no mistaking that each one is in an upfront location. "As consumers, we shop at the same stores and usually the ones closest to your house," Williams said. "The fans who go to races are the same way. They park in the same locations, walk into the track through the same entrances, follow the same routine. Since the market shows a high percentage want to buy Junior's merchandise, you hit all the high-profile areas with his trailers. "The places that draw the most volume, interest and sales is where you put two or three of his trailers. Whatever it will bear, which right now is quite a lot." Tony and Cindy Smith of Roanoke, Va., snapped up a pair of new T-shirts, fully aware Earnhardt's merchandise will look different next season. Unless his stepmother stops leasing the No. 8 from NASCAR, he most certainly will have a different car number _ at minimum. "That just means I'll have to buy a whole new wardrobe," Tony Smith said. "I'm hoping it will be a 3 for Richard Childress, but it doesn't matter. We'll follow him anywhere." Kelley Earnhardt Elledge wants to sign a new deal for her brother by the end of June, a deadline partially set by Motorsports Authentic. Because souvenir sales make up such a huge part of his annual income _ he's estimated to earn $20.1 million a year, and about $10 million of that is believed to come from merchandise _ Earnhardt must have licensing approvals in hand by late summer to ensure he'll have stocked trailers at next year's season-opening Daytona 500. There's a fan push for him to sign at RCR, where the elder Earnhardt won six of his seven championships in the famed No. 3. Bill Miles from Montana said he'll abandon Junior if he moves to Hendrick Motorsports, and the Carpenters don't want to see him a Ford. Williams is convinced Earnhardt's numbers won't suffer either way. "Everyone is waiting for him to win that championship, and if he goes to RCR to do it, everyone will be extremely happy," Williams said. "But if he goes somewhere else, he'll still be fine. He's got it all, everything going for him _ the name, the fans, the legacy that his Daddy left behind. "He's sitting pretty no matter where he goes." Red Army loyal to Junior On the day he announced he was leaving his late father's company, Dale Earnhardt Jr. fretted over fan reaction. He worried the "Red Army" wouldn't understand his decision, and the loyalists would resent him -- maybe even boo him -- for walking away from Dale Earnhardt Inc. But based on souvenir sales in the three weeks since he made his decision, NASCAR's most popular driver had nothing to be concerned about. Sales of Earnhardt merchandise at racetracks are up 17 per cent since his May 10 announcement, industry analysts said. At NASCAR.com, where his figures spiked 107 per cent the first week, sales have now levelled off but are still slightly above last season's pace. "I knew people were going to collect. I knew they were going to want a piece of his legacy," said Chris Williams, director of trackside sales for Motorsports Authentic, the company that manages 60 of the souvenir trailers that are stationed at every racetrack. "His Daddy wanted Dale Jr. to win a championship at DEI, and people want a memento from that part of his career. Now, if he should start winning races and get into championship contention this season, his sales are going to be like nothing we've ever seen before." Hats, shirts, beer holders, pins, and the diecast cars -- a collector's staple -- are flying off the shelves at a frantic pace. It's a stark contrast to say, Greg Biffle, who is in flux right now at Roush Fenway Racing. Because Biffle's sponsor wants to leave at the end of the season, and he's in the middle of contract negotiations that could end with him leaving Roush, his souvenir sales have dipped. Earnhardt is for certain leaving his team at the end of the season, and nobody has any idea if he'll be with sponsor Budweiser in 2008. But it doesn't stop the fans from shopping at a dizzying pace. "I think it all has sentimental value now," said Lee Madison of Asheville, N.C. "He's part of history. The red Budweiser 8, get it while you can." Earnhardt had a series-high five trailers surrounding Lowe's Motor Speedway last weekend, and a sixth truck sold merchandise for both Junior and the elder Earnhardt. Rob and Suzanne Carpenter crowded around one of them early Saturday with their three sons looking for new gear. They had plenty already -- Suzanne wore her Budweiser bikini, with a gold `3' charm on her belly button as a nod to Earnhardt Sr. -- but needed to pick up the latest fashions. "We spend about (US)$500 a year, usually on hats, a (beer) cozy or two, maybe a T-shirt. Anything I need to replace," Rob Carpenter said as he picked up a limited edition camouflage `8' hat for his son to wear. The family didn't flinch after dropping $53.38, and Carpenter was certain he'd spend more at trailers closer to the track. Because he makes up 30 per cent of the market, Earnhardt has the most trailers and gets the best locations every week. Laying out the sales is a surprising science and Motorsports Authentic has to carefully plan the grid each week. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart rank second and third in sales, owning about 15 per cent of the market each, and Williams said he can never put an Earnhardt trailer across from one of them because the shoppers would clog the lane. Although he spaces Junior's trailers around the facility, there's no mistaking that each one is in an upfront location. "As consumers, we shop at the same stores and usually the ones closest to your house," Williams said. "The fans who go to races are the same way. They park in the same locations, walk into the track through the same entrances, follow the same routine. Since the market shows a high percentage want to buy Junior's merchandise, you hit all the high-profile areas with his trailers. "The places that draw the most volume, interest and sales is where you put two or three of his trailers. Whatever it will bear, which right now is quite a lot." Tony and Cindy Smith of Roanoke, Va., snapped up a pair of new T-shirts, fully aware Earnhardt's merchandise will look different next season. Unless his stepmother stops leasing the No. 8 from NASCAR, he most certainly will have a different car number -- at minimum. "That just means I'll have to buy a whole new wardrobe," Tony Smith said. "I'm hoping it will be a three for Richard Childress, but it doesn't matter. We'll follow him anywhere." Kelley Earnhardt Elledge wants to sign a new deal for her brother by the end of June, a deadline partially set by Motorsports Authentic. Because souvenir sales make up such a huge part of his annual income -- he's estimated to earn $20.1 million a year, and about $10 million of that is believed to come from merchandise -- Earnhardt must have licensing approvals in hand by late summer to ensure he'll have stocked trailers at next year's season-opening Daytona 500. There's a fan push for him to sign at RCR, where the elder Earnhardt won six of his seven championships in the famed No. 3. Bill Miles from Montana said he'll abandon Junior if he moves to Hendrick Motorsports, and the Carpenters don't want to see him a Ford. Williams is convinced Earnhardt's numbers won't suffer either way. "Everyone is waiting for him to win that championship, and if he goes to RCR to do it, everyone will be extremely happy," Williams said. "But if he goes somewhere else, he'll still be fine. He's got it all, everything going for him -- the name, the fans, the legacy that his Daddy left behind. "He's sitting pretty no matter where he goes." Ginn emerging as a player in Junior sweepstakes If Dale Earnhardt Jr. ends up at Joe Gibbs Racing, team officials are adamant it won't be with sponsor Budweiser. Bobby Ginn, however, has no problem with a beer sponsorship and is still hotly pursuing NASCAR's most coveted free agent. And Richard Childress? He had nothing to say on the subject Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With Hendrick Motorsports apparently out of the Earnhardt sweepstakes -- Hendrick has four drivers under contract and claims he isn't looking to drop any of them -- three other Chevrolet teams have emerged as the front-runners to sign NASCAR's most popular driver. JGR could be the leading candidate, but owner Joe Gibbs insisted Saturday night he won't accept a beer sponsorship at his family business. Earnhardt is closely associated with Budweiser, his longtime sponsor, and the company can leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. with him at the end of the season. "For me personally, and my background and everything that has happened to me, it wouldn't fit me," Gibbs said. "It doesn't mean it's not fine for everybody else." Gibbs officials also said they won't be expanding to four teams in 2008. That means they'd have to dump a driver to sign Earnhardt, and J.J. Yeley could be on the hot seat. JGR fields cars for two-time series champion Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, who finished third in the standings during last year's rookie season. Yeley has yet to find the same success as his teammates, and is in the final year of his contract with Gibbs. He heads into Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 ranked 20th in the standings, but team president J.D. Gibbs said Yeley controls his own destiny with the team. "We have invested in J.J. for years, and for him to be successful would be awesome," J.D. Gibbs said. "Nobody wants to see J.J. succeed more than we do. We went to J.J. and said, `No matter what happens, if we go out there and we run well together, you're here forever.' " Ginn, meanwhile, has room for Earnhardt and has planned to expand to four teams since taking over majority ownership of the team known as MB2 Motorsports last season. The Florida-based land developer said several weeks ago he would pursue Earnhardt, and Ginn Racing has emerged as a viable option through on-track performance by Mark Martin and Ginn's desire to field a winner. Ginn said Saturday he's had "exploratory conversations" with Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, but has yet to speak to Earnhardt himself. He said he never would have taken it this far if he didn't think his organization was a perfect fit. "If I had no ability to do it, I wouldn't have embarrassed myself or wasted his time," Ginn said. "I believe we can support it and I believe he wants to win and I want to win. You put two people together that are damned determined to get there, that's a combination that has generally led to successes. "I don't want to bring him here, if I had any opportunity to do it, and make him believe he can't win a championship." Jay Frye, general manager at Ginn, is a St. Louis native who once worked for Anheuser-Busch, the parent company for Budweiser. Ginn believes Frye's past relationship with A-B, and Ginn's entertainment ties to the resorts he owns and golf tournaments he hosts makes it a perfect fit. But he firmly believes Earnhardt is the most important part of the puzzle. "You can build great cars and have great teams, but you've got to have that spark plug that is going to put you in the winning," Ginn said. "To go after a winner, even if we had no chance to get him, it's like asking a pretty girl for a date. You have nothing to lose, you might as well ask. But I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think I could support him." Childress, who said Friday he had yet to speak to the Earnhardts, wouldn't give an update Saturday on any discussions. With three cars under the RCR roof, he said he'll be at four in 2008 with or without Earnhardt behind the wheel. "Our plan was to always be at four next season, that's something we had in the works way before Junior became available," Childress said. "Who knows who will drive it? I might just have to dust off my helmet." Jr. must drop Budweiser to join Gibbs If Dale Earnhardt Jr. ends up at Joe Gibbs Racing, team officials are adamant it won't be with sponsor Budweiser. Bobby Ginn, however, has no problem with a beer sponsorship and is still hotly pursuing NASCAR's most coveted free agent. And Richard Childress? He had nothing to say on the subject Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With Hendrick Motorsports apparently out of the Earnhardt sweepstakes, Hendrick has four drivers under contract and claims he isn't looking to drop any of them, three other Chevrolet teams have emerged as the front-runners to sign NASCAR's most popular driver. JGR could be the leading candidate, but owner Joe Gibbs insisted Saturday night he won't accept a beer sponsorship at his family business. Earnhardt is closely associated with Budweiser, his longtime sponsor, and the company can leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. with him at the end of the season. ''For me personally, and my background and everything that has happened to me, it wouldn't fit me,'' Gibbs said. ''It doesn't mean it's not fine for everybody else.'' Gibbs officials also said they won't be expanding to four teams in 2008. That means they'd have to dump a driver to sign Earnhardt, and J.J. Yeley could be on the hot seat. JGR fields cars for two-time series champion Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, who finished third in the standings during last year's rookie season. Yeley has yet to find the same success as his teammates, and is in the final year of his contract with Gibbs. He heads into Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 ranked 20th in the standings, but team president J.D. Gibbs said Yeley controls his own destiny with the team. ''We have invested in J.J. for years, and for him to be successful would be awesome,'' J.D. Gibbs said. ''Nobody wants to see J.J. succeed more than we do. We went to J.J. and said, `No matter what happens, if we go out there and we run well together, you're here forever.''' Ginn, meanwhile, has room for Earnhardt and has planned to expand to four teams since taking over majority ownership of the team known as MB2 Motorsports last season. The Florida-based land developer said several weeks ago he would pursue Earnhardt, and Ginn Racing has emerged as a viable option through on-track performance by Mark Martin and Ginn's desire to field a winner. Ginn said Saturday he's had ''exploratory conversations'' with Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, but has yet to speak to Earnhardt himself. He said he never would have taken it this far if he didn't think his organization was a perfect fit. ''If I had no ability to do it, I wouldn't have embarrassed myself or wasted his time,'' Ginn said. ''I believe we can support it and I believe he wants to win and I want to win. You put two people together that are damned determined to get there, that's a combination that has generally led to successes. Jay Frye, general manager at Ginn, is a St. Louis native who once worked for Anheuser-Busch, the parent company for Budweiser. Ginn believes Frye's past relationship with A-B, and Ginn's entertainment ties to the resorts he owns and golf tournaments he hosts makes it a perfect fit. But he firmly believes Earnhardt is the most important part of the puzzle. ''You can build great cars and have great teams, but you've got to have that spark plug that going to put you in the winning,'' Ginn said. ''To go after a winner, even if we had no chance to get him, it's like asking a pretty girl for a date. You have nothing to lose, you might as well ask. But I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think I could support him.'' Childress, who said Friday he had yet to speak to the Earnhardts, wouldn't give an update Saturday on any discussions. With three cars under the RCR roof, he said he'll be at four in 2008 with or without Earnhardt behind the wheel. ''Our plan was to always be at four next season, that's something we had in the works way before Junior became available,'' Childress said. ''Who knows who will drive it? I might just have to dust off my helmet.'' Junior tries to focus on racing With his sister handling all his suitors, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was able to focus on racing for the first time since he became a free agent. The result was his best qualifying effort of the season. Earnhardt will start fourth in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 as he tries to snap a 37-race winless streak. He'll do it with an interim crew chief -- regular Tony Eury Jr. is serving a six-race NASCAR suspension -- but plenty of confidence that he can drive to his first points victory at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Earnhardt made his first Cup start at Lowe's in 1999, and won his first career pole in this event the next season. But he's never finished higher than third in NASCAR's longest race. "We can win any race we enter, we're a competitive team," he said. "One of these days we're going to make the whole thing happen, but 600 miles is a long ways. There were times I came in here and felt like I've had winning cars, only to see something happen. You'll age 30 years running a race here, with all the things that happen. "It's a long, long race and hopefully I can be patient and put myself in position to win." The 600 is typically a race of attrition, as many cars struggle to make it to the finish because of the changing track conditions. The race begins in the daytime and ends at night, and not all teams can make the numerous technical adjustments. It's also a strain on the drivers, who must concentrate for the entire four-plus hours they are strapped into the steaming hot cockpit of a race car. Earnhardt has struggled with the mental aspect of completing 600 miles before. But since announcing May 10 that he's leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of this season, Junior says he has reached a level of clarity and calmness he's lacked the past few seasons. "I've taken a lot of pressure off myself personally, that's why I am enjoying it more," he said. "I've cleared a lot of issues that I had personally, cleared a lot of personal problems that I had out of the way. "I'm real happy." Real busy, too. Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, his sister and business manager, told The Associated Press that she wants to complete Junior's new deal by the end of June and has spent the past two weeks sorting through all his options. She said the priority is still to stay with a Chevrolet team. But the top three candidates all have slight issues that could slow the process. Rick Hendrick told the AP he presently doesn't have any room in his four-car Hendrick Motorsports stable for Earnhardt, and Joe Gibbs Racing officials are hesitant to strike a deal with Budweiser, Junior's longtime sponsor. Then there's Richard Childress Racing, where Earnhardt's late father won six of his seven championships. Although RCR seems like a perfect fit, the sides have yet to speak. "Right now, Junior and Kelley have a lot of things to consider and a really big decision to make, and I'm just giving them their space as they deal with it all," Childress told the AP. "I want them to make the best decision, and they know I'm always here to talk and give advice." When asked if it was peculiar that he had yet to speak to NASCAR's most coveted free agent -- at a time when the Earnhardts actively are taking meetings with other owners -- Childress said not to read anything into their lack of contact. "They know how I operate," he said. Elledge said Friday she plans to formally speak with Childress, and the two have traded phone calls. Elledge's heavy involvement has allowed Earnhardt to focus on his race team at a time when it needs his full attention. Eury, busted for a technical infraction two weeks ago at Darlington, started his six-race suspension this week. The penalty cost Junior 100 points and dropped him to 14th in the standings, and the team will have to tread water during Eury's absence to remain in contention for the Chase for the championship. The top 12 drivers make the Chase, NASCAR's 10-race championship-deciding series, and Earnhardt wants to give his DEI crew one last shot at a title before he bolts. Tony Gibson, a former crew chief at DEI who is now Junior's car chief, will call the shots for the next six weeks, and Earnhardt said he has faith in his leadership. "I feel very, very confident that he knows me well," Earnhardt said. "We've worked together and get along great. He came over last week and we talked a little about it and we pumped ourselves up some. That helps a lot. "We shouldn't have any issues at all. I feel confident we'll run as good as we should and Tony Jr. will be very proud of what we've been able to do once he gets back." DEI drops appeal of COT penalties Dale Earnhardt Inc. dropped its appeal of penalties levied against Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his crew chief for illegal modifications made to the Car of Tomorrow. The appeal was scheduled to be heard Wednesday, but the team informed NASCAR on Tuesday it will not fight the penalties. Earnhardt was docked 100 points and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was fined $100,000 and suspended six races after NASCAR discovered illegal brackets on the rear wing of the No. 8 Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway. Eury has maintained the brackets were old and inadvertently landed on the car. NASCAR officials said that explanation is not plausible. While admitting the car was not in compliance, DEI planned to argue that the penalties were too severe. But NASCAR officials countered with a March 21 rule amendment that outlined the penalties that would be levied for infractions on the COT. Because DEI initially filed an appeal, Eury was allowed to work last Saturday night's All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Suspensions do not begin until the appeals process is complete. Earnhardt will work the next six races with car chief Tony Gibson calling the shots. ``It's going to be tough without Tony Jr., but we're going to be alright as a team,'' Earnhardt said Monday. ``We've been through a lot of things together, so this isn't the end of the world, or the season. ``Tony Gibson will be great as crew chief and I'm glad we have someone like him able to step in. Tony Jr. will still be the man in charge at the shop, preparing the cars before we roll 'em off the truck each weekend and I'm confident I'll have a fast car when practice starts, just like I have almost every weekend so far this year.'' Earnhardt is leaving DEI at the end of the season. Eury Jr. is under contract through 2008 and his future is unclear. Souvenir makers hopeful Junior's decision comes in summer Dale Earnhardt Jr. hasn't set a timetable for his eventual move to another Nextel Cup organization. But the people tasked with preparing merchandise, collectables and apparel in his new team colors -- if those colors change at all -- would love to see NASCAR's most popular driver make a decision by mid-summer. That would give Motorsports Authentics enough time to finalize its design concepts and have Earnhardt's 2008 collection ready to sell when fans and competitors descend on Daytona International Speedway for next year's opening race. Earnhardt will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. when his contract expires after this season, an impending transition that leaves his car number and primary sponsor -- two things that have become as closely tied with the driver as his last name -- subject to change. Those are no small details to Motorsports Authentics, the company created in 2005 through a joint venture between racetrack empires International Speedway Corp and Speedway Motorsports Inc., which manufactures die-cast cars, T-shirts, and everything else bearing the likenesses of NASCAR drivers. Earnhardt Jr. is the top seller in the sport, owning more than a quarter of the souvenir and merchandising market. That means there will be plenty of people looking for Earnhardt merchandise after the move to his new team -- right now, most likely either Richard Childress Racing or Joe Gibbs Racing -- is complete. Ideally, an announcement in the next few months would give Motorsports Authentics the lead time it needs to supply it. "I'd love to have it done by mid-summer," said Ruth Crowley, president of Motorsports Authentics. "Every year at this time, there are changes, so it's up to us to be flexible with the business and with the teams."Even Earnhardt is aware of the retail ramifications of his decision. The driver's merchandise sales brought in a reported $20 million annually to DEI, the team founded by his late father and now run by his stepmother Teresa. "Motorsports Authentics, or whoever we're working with, I guess the die-casts and hats and shirts people, and my sister [manager Kelley Earnhardt Elledge], and the owner of the team are going to want to do it in X amount of days," Earnhardt told reporters at Lowe's Motor Speedway last week prior to the Nextel All-Star Challenge. "So we've got this much time to get this much done. But to me, it's about making sure it's the right decision. And no matter when that happens, I'll be very, very happy." And so likely will be merchandisers selling Earnhardt's new gear, especially given how the current apparel has been flying off the shelves since the announcement of his split from DEI. Crowley's people are ready to move, already preparing graphics and concepts that can be used regardless of where the driver winds up, and working on "about 17 different solutions" to try and stay ahead of where he'll eventually land. For marketers, that's the key. Motorsports Authentics can make tweaks to next year's collection as late as October, something that's common in NASCAR given how often associate sponsors are added and the degree of authenticity demanded by fans. But for a collection that promises to be as popular and wide-ranging as Earnhardt's, plans are in the works months ahead of time. Crowley compares it to her time at Harley-Davidson, where she served as vice president of general merchandise before taking over at Motorsports Authentics on March 1. If she were still with the motorcycle manufacturer, she'd be putting the finishing touches on the collection for fall 2008. Next month, she'd begin work on spring 2009. "We'd always have a last-minute dance with some of the numbers as teams add secondary sponsors," she said. "But that's part of the assortment. It's not the whole assortment. Anybody who has been around the retail market before who's not working on '08 right now is crazy out of their minds." Crowley insists there's no "drop-dead date" by which time Earnhardt will have to make a decision to get his 2008 apparel and memorabilia collection completed in time for next season. Like everyone else at Motorsports Authentics, she'll wait -- and then go to work. "Sometimes life isn't always comfortable," she said. "The only time I'll drop dead is when I deliver what everybody wants in Daytona. There's always time to make things work. That's not the ideal, but that's our job. The ideal would be I'd have everything finished by mid-summer." Hendrick: 'no room at the inn' for Junior Cross Hendrick Motorsports off the list of teams interested in signing Dale Earnhardt Jr. Although he's spoken to Earnhardt, car owner Rick Hendrick said Saturday "there's no room at the inn" for NASCAR's most popular driver. Earnhardt is leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., his late father's company, at the end of the season. He wants to stay with one of the top Chevrolet teams so he can contend for championships, and Hendrick is the best in NASCAR right now with eight wins in the past nine Nextel Cup races. Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing are the next best Chevy teams, and both owners have indicated they are interested in speaking with Earnhardt. Only Hendrick had been silent on the issue, but as he walked toward pit road before Saturday night's Nextel All-Star Challenge, he said he was maxed out with four drivers right now and couldn't fit Earnhardt in his stable. "We're good friends and I've talked to him, because I really want him to make the best decision and do the best thing for himself," Hendrick told The Associated Press. "But right now, I'm full." Hendrick fields Cup cars for four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Casey Mears. All are under contract through at least 2008, and Hendrick is currently trying to extend Busch's deal. Hendrick said he's offered to help Earnhardt if he elects to field his own Cup team. "I've talked to him about doing motors and cars if he wants to do this himself," Hendrick said. "But that's really all we've discussed." Earnhardt owns JR Motorsports, which fields a Busch Series team and several late model cars. He hasn't ruled out running his own team, but Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, his sister and business manager, said Friday that expanding JRM to the Cup Series was their last option. In his seventh season with DEI, Earnhardt is frustrated by his inability to win a championship and his difficult relationship with his stepmother, Teresa. He asked for 51 per cent ownership during contentious contract negotiations, and walked away from the table last week because the two sides "were never in the same ballpark." It made him the most coveted free agent in NASCAR history, but getting a deal done might not be so simple, after all. JGR president J.D. Gibbs said his family would have a hard time signing Budweiser, Earnhardt's longtime sponsor, because of its family values focus. And now Hendrick appears to be out of the race, as well. DEI merges engine program with Childress Dale Earnhardt Inc. has merged its engine program with Richard Childress Racing, an alliance that likely will help DEI return to prominence. DEI has been in a slow decline since Dale Earnhardt's 2001 death. Star driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leaving at the end of the season because he doesn't think he can win championships at DEI. Stepmother Teresa Earnhardt disagreed, and the hope is that merging engine programs with RCR will strengthen the organization. ''This backs up what Teresa said last week - her commitment is solid, and her No. 1 priority is to win championships,'' John Story, general manager of DEI, said Friday. ''This is the first of a few big things we are going to do to continue moving toward that goal of winning championships.'' The first collaborative engine is scheduled to be used at Daytona International Speedway in July. The merger's similar to an agreement the elder Earnhardt once had with Childress and Andy Petree. The ''RAD'' partnership pooled resources from all three teams to build a program for restrictor plate races. The partnership was successful, as the three teams spent several seasons with the most competitive cars at Daytona and Talladega. With the new DEI-RCR agreement, the engine program will be housed in a separate facility from both race shops, and managers from both teams will oversee it. The engines will be used for the six combined Cup teams that DEI and RCR have, the Busch programs for both organizations and Kevin Harvick's Busch team, too. RCR currently has lease agreements with several teams, and all will use the motors produced from this venture. Story said the merger was Teresa Earnhardt's idea and had been in the works since last season. Childress fielded cars for six of the elder Earnhardt's seven championships and has remained close with the family. Childress said last week that he's interested in signing Earnhardt Jr., and it's not clear how this merger will affect that. Listening to offers While Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the week off to relax, his sister was busy sorting out offers of employment for NASCAR's most popular driver. Kelley Earnhardt Elledge said Friday she has spoken to several teams and is prioritizing the options based on the best fit for Earnhardt. He announced last week that he is leaving DEI, his late father's company, at the end of the season. "We have all along said we would talk to everyone, specifically Chevrolet teams," Elledge said. "We have not eliminated any options at this point." Elledge, who is Junior's business manager, said the focus is currently on top Chevrolet teams, followed by everyone else. Elledge said that fielding his own Nextel Cup team out of JR Motorsports, the team Earnhardt owns, is "a last resort." Earnhardt is the most prolific free agent in NASCAR history, and most of the top car owners have said they'd like a chance to talk to him. Three of the top four Chevrolet teams -- RCR, Joe Gibbs Racing and Ginn Racing -- have indicated a desire to speak to Earnhardt. Only Hendrick Motorsports, winner of eight of the past nine races this season, has been silent on the issue. Elledge would not reveal what teams already have been in contact, but said she's met with a few already and has scheduled meetings with others. Richard Childress, who fielded cars for six of the elder Earnhardt's seven championships, has indicated he will talk to Junior. And Bobby Ginn, who took over a midlevel team last summer, said he plans to aggressively pursue the driver. J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, said last week that he'd like to talk to Earnhardt but indicated it might not be a good fit. JGR promotes a family values image, and Gibbs said the organization would have a hard time accepting Budweiser, Earnhardt's longtime sponsor. Dodge owners Ray Evernham, Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske all have said they'd like an opportunity to sign Earnhardt, but acknowledge they are longshots because of Junior's loyalty to Chevrolet. Even so, they all are in line waiting to see if Elledge gets that far down the list. "It's like trying to get a date with Jennifer Aniston -- if you see her, you've got to at least ask," Evernham said. Earnhardt has stayed out of the spotlight this week, asking for a little time to decompress following his decision to leave DEI. He's cited a desire to win championships -- something he doesn't think he can do at DEI -- as his reason for leaving. But contract talks with his stepmother, Teresa, were contentious and he demanded majority ownership in the company during negotiations. Earnhardt's team, meanwhile, is in trouble with NASCAR over an illegal modification to the Car of Tomorrow last week at Darlington Raceway. Earnhardt was docked 100 points, and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was fined US$100,000 and suspended for six races. He's appealing the severity of the fine, and will be allowed to work Saturday night's all-star race. Earnhardt merchandise up despite DEI defection Sales of Dale Earnhardt Jr. merchandise has skyrocketed 107 percent in the week since NASCAR's most popular driver said he was leaving his late father's company at the end of the season. The surge surprised industry experts, who believed sales of Earnhardt's red No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet merchandise would dip while he searches for a new team, number and maybe even a new sponsor. ``I was a little concerned about his sales after the announcement, what the reaction would be, but it looks like it's terrific,'' Mark Dyer, NASCAR's vice president of licensing, said Wednesday night. ``It looks like there's an affinity for that No. 8 car. There's been a lot of great moments, the fact that its a DEI car, and the whole Dale Jr. thing. I think its indicative of the fact that people aren't ready just this moment, they want at least one last souvenir before they move on to the next chapter with him.'' Earnhardt's selling power is tops in NASCAR, which does about $2 billion in annual retail sales. Dyer said Earnhardt owns between 25 and 30 percent of the market. Jeff Gordon, the No. 2 driver in sales, is ``in the mid-to-high teens,'' Dyer said. Sales of Junior merchandise has likely brought in at least $30 million a year in revenue for DEI, the company formed by his late father and now run by his stepmother, Teresa. Drivers work out individual deals, so its not clear what percentage of the licensing revenue Earnhardt himself pockets. The money is typically divided between the driver, car owner and sponsor. In addition to Budweiser's sponsorship of his car, Earnhardt has a personal services deal with the beer company. Budweiser is expected to follow Earnhardt wherever he goes, but is not guaranteed to be the primary sponsor of his next ride. Budweiser officials have been silent on the issue all season, and said in a statement following Earnhardt announcement last week that it planned to discuss its future opportunities with both Junior and DEI. Earnhardt is taking a week or two to decompress before diving into the free agent process, but he's not expected to have a shortage of suitors. But he will need to get a deal done fairly quickly to get the ball rolling on his 2008 merchandise sales. ``It's a very long process to get these things done,'' Dyer said. ``The car number and sponsor has to be decided, the paint scheme has to be designed and approved by Dale Jr.'s people, the team, the sponsor and then NASCAR's competition committee. ``Then it all has to get made. The very latest production can start to guarantee die casts for the Daytona 500 is early-to-late fall.'' Dyer did not rule out Earnhardt merchandise being ready for Christmas, assuming a deal is completed rather quickly. Sadler still can't believe DEI let Earnhardt Jr. get away It's been a tough week if you're Dale Earnhardt Jr., but if I'm walking in his shoes, the most interesting part is just beginning. I've known Earnhardt for a long time. He and I have been friends, probably longer than any other competitor in the garage area. We go back to the days racing Late Model stock cars in Virginia and the Carolinas together, back before we started racing Busch cars. We consider ourselves to be good, good friends on and off the track and I know what kind of person he is and I know how much DEI means to him -- and how much it meant to him to race for them from the very start of his career. So I'm still just blown away that he's leaving. How do you let the biggest name in our sport just walk out the door? I don't understand that. How does it happen? It reminds me of Babe Ruth leaving the Boston Red Sox to go to the Yankees. I can't believe some of the quotes I read, talking about people not believing he could leave the family business. Well, I'll tell you this: He is family. If he's that much family, which we all know he is, why wasn't he given a share of the 'family business?' It's just hard to understand. And being a fan of Mr. Earnhardt's growing up, I can't imagine that when he sat down and drew his first plans out to build DEI, that Dale Jr. was not a part of it. I don't have any kids but I do have a father and I see him work through his blood, sweat and tears all the time to build up his companies and his businesses and he always reminds us and lets us know, that he's doing that for us -- to leave to his kids: My brother, my sister and myself. I don't think he would ever ask us to buy half of it from him, because we're all part of the family and we've all just grown in this deal together. We're all part of it and we're going to share in the family business together. It's kind of what you do as a family. It's tough to see it any other way than when Mr. Earnhardt was laying the first brick at DEI, that he wasn't envisioning it as part of Dale Jr.'s career; and that he was building it up for him to have one day, to race and probably to own. So it's a tough situation over there, and I know, being friends with Junior, what he thought of his dad -- as a racer and as a father -- and how much he appreciated what his dad was doing for him through his Busch career and getting him his Cup ride, to get his feet wet in Cup racing. I know it was a tough day on Junior when he announced he was leaving. I think a lot of people forget how emotional that was for him to have to come out and do this. It was a tough day and I can't imagine telling my father I was leaving to go and do something else, because when you're not given an opportunity to be a part of the company -- part of the family business -- and to have the ownership part with some decisions to make and focus on that, that's tough. You've got to give him a shot because the kid wants it. He's lived it and jumped through every hoop and done everything that company has ever asked him to do. And so in return he just wanted a piece of the pie, just some controlling rights to make sure this team stays competitive and stays on top of its game and I just think that's his competitive nature. In that respect he's just like his dad, because his dad wanted to be competitive and whatever it took to do that, to run up front, is what he wanted to do. Junior was in the same boat and this was a company he had worked for his whole life, had given 100 percent to and won races and a couple Busch championships for. He wanted to make sure the company was staying on the right track, and when he was not given the opportunity to do that, then it's time to do something else. I can tell you this: It has nothing to do with money, and it never has with Junior. I knew this kid before he raced in the Busch Series and he's the same guy now as he was then. He's the most popular driver we have in NASCAR right now and he doesn't act a bit different than he did when we raced Late Models together at South Boston or Myrtle Beach. It has nothing to do with money or having the power to just say, I can do this or do that. It has to do with being competitive and feeling like you have a chance to win when you get to the track every week. And feeling like you can win the championship each and every year. And I feel like that's just the opportunity he wants. He's 32 years old and probably in his prime as a racecar driver and he can't sit around and wait four or five more years hoping the company he's driving for will make things better or to give him in the future what he needs to be competitive. It's my opinion that he wants to make this change now while he's in his prime, so he can go somewhere and be real competitive. It's weird how it all came down. I'm happy for him and I think that he's making the decision based on having a great chance to win championships and to win races and that's why he made this decision to leave DEI and move on. He wanted to make it happen at DEI, but he just could never get to where he needed to be. He wanted to have some say-so in where the company was going, because that's just the person he is. I think his dad was like that. Even though his dad didn't own a part of Richard Childress Racing, I think his dad had a lot of say-so in the way things went over there -- and I think Junior wanted to have the same thing at DEI. And that power, or that clout, was never given to him. And so he wanted to go somewhere that he not only has some say-so, but also a great chance of winning the championship and winning races. What's the future going to bring, not only for the No. 8 team, but also in the ripple effect, if you will, throughout the garage area as DEI tries to fill that seat? I think a lot of his guys are going to go with him. If you hang around that 8 car, on any given weekend, those guys love Junior. He treats them all like family and they're all good friends away from the racetrack. You never know what contract stipulations any driver has, or any crewmember has, but I bet if some of the guys had that opportunity; they're probably going to go with him. And why not? He's a great guy to be around, he's definitely focused and enthusiastic about trying to win championships and trying to win races -- and you want to work for a guy like that. As far as getting into that car, and who might go to DEI? I don't know, and that's a tough question. DEI just let the best-known driver and the biggest face our sport has ever had just walk out the door. So as a driver you have to ask, 'what kind of commitment do they really have?' And that's what I would ask if I was a driver looking to go over there. I'm not saying they're not committed, but it's just a weird deal and personally -- I wouldn't want to drive the 8 car. If I took a job tomorrow to go over there and drive at DEI -- and I'm not because I'm pretty happy here at Evernham Motorsports -- I would love for them to change the number because I would not drive the 8 car. And that's because Dale has built so much of a brand with him and that number, I don't think it would be right for anyone else to drive it. I don't think anybody would feel comfortable driving that number, to be honest with you. I'd ask them to change it, one way or the other, or to do something to it -- like, put a 1 to one side of it, or the other. I don't think Teresa Earnhardt is going to let Dale have that number, wherever he ends up going -- and I don't think money is the object on that score, either. I just think Teresa will not let him have it, and that's my opinion. I think that's a DEI number and I don't know whether she'll let him have it or not. I think she should let him have it, but that's just my opinion. But I don't think she will. I mean, that's a DEI number and she has some brand built with that number, for her company -- and you've got to understand that. It's probably worth a lot of money to her company, also. But again, my opinion as a driver -- and I don't care who you put over there, and how big their name is in this sport -- they will always be overshadowed by that number 8 because that was Earnhardt Jr.'s first number in Cup racing. They could probably go on to win a lot of races with that car, with whatever kind of sponsor, but if it's still that No. 8 with that same font and that same look to it, it's still going to be Earnhardt Jr.'s number. I don't know that we'll see two Budweiser cars next season in Nextel Cup. That's a lot of money, because it takes a lot of money nowadays to sponsor a car and I think that would be hard for a company to sponsor both. But you never know what those guys have got planned. That's one thing -- Anheuser-Busch has always done an amazing job on marketing in the areas they've been in, and with the commercials they make, which are always eye-catching. And they're not sponsoring the Busch Series any more, so I'm not going to make a prediction because I'm not sure what's going on as far as that side is concerned. But I do know they've built such a great brand around Dale Jr. and his personality and his face that it seems like that would be the right thing for them to do -- to go wherever he goes. Bottom line, he wants to be competitive and win races, and he's going to go wherever he feels like he can do that. For right now, I think his team will be able to compete, and they showed that at Darlington with a top-10. But a couple months down the road, if they don't have a person to go in the 8 car yet, for next year, then when do those guys start leaving DEI and looking for other jobs? They have to make sure they have security. I think that's the biggest issue they're going to have, if they're not competing for the championship. If they do have a driver coming in, that's great. If they know they're going to have a two- or three-car team and they know they'll have security, they'll be fine. But if they have a hard time filling that car, some crew guys are going to want to make sure they're in a secure position because guys have wives and kids they have to take care of. But I think as far as the 8 car and their performance, I think they're going to be fine because they're a pretty tight-knit group -- no matter what happens with Tony Jr. in the aftermath of his penalty from Darlington. Tony Jr. is going to give it his all, no matter if he's at the track or not, and where they're going to be next season. They've grown up together and I don't think he'll turn his back on him. They're racers, and that's what they're going to do -- keep contending for that Chase like we're all doing. Illegal part costs Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 100 points Tuesday, and his crew chief was fined US$100,000 and suspended for six races for an illegal part at Darlington Raceway. The penalty, for illegal modifications to the rear wing on Earnhardt's Car of Tomorrow, is a significant setback in his team's bid to win a Cup title before racing's most popular driver leaves after the season. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will appeal, team president Max Siegel said. Crew chief Tony Eury Jr., who is also Earnhardt's cousin, is expected to work Saturday night's all-star race because suspensions do not begin until the appeals process is heard. "We are not disputing the ruling," Siegel said. "But we are appealing the severity of the penalty because the penalty itself is not spelled out in the rule book." NASCAR, however, sent a March 21 memo outlining penalties for specific infractions on the Car of Tomorrow and specifically listed fines of $100,000, points deductions and suspension. The penalty knocked Earnhardt from 12th in the standings -- the final qualifying position for the Chase for the championship -- to 14th. He's now 721 points behind Nextel Cup leader Jeff Gordon, and 54 points out of Chase contention. "The team is like a family and they are pretty resilient," Siegel said. "I met with them all this morning and I didn't get any sense at all that anybody was freaking out. Everyone went into a 'What do we do now?' mode. It is what it is -- it was a mistake, and it's unfortunate. But we'll move on." Earnhardt announced last week he will leave DEI, his late father's company, after the season. He was not available for comment Tuesday, but Siegel said he met with the crew earlier in the day and the driver was present. Although the team has been in turmoil since Earnhardt's announcement, the driver and crew have promised to race hard for the rest of the year. NASCAR inspectors said Earnhardt's rear wing was improperly mounted when it was checked Saturday at Darlington. The brackets used to mount the piece were confiscated. Eury, who has never had a major infraction during his seven years as a Cup crew chief, said the problem with the wing was not intentional. He said the brackets were an old set that had been used during a test session. "It was kind of just a bad deal, a part that got on there that shouldn't have," he said. "There was a lot of off-season testing for NASCAR. There's been like three different kinds of brackets on there and it just happened to be one of the old-style brackets." "It really wasn't that big of a deal," he added. "It really didn't change anything." But NASCAR competition director Robin Pemberton said the infraction was blatant. The car initially passed a pre-qualifying inspection, and when the wing did not pass the next day, it was removed for further examination. Once off the car, NASCAR discovered the brackets had been intentionally modified, Pemberton said. "There is no doubt whatsoever," it was intentional, Pemberton said. "We are very surprised and disappointed in Tony.". Pemberton said the pieces will be on display in the NASCAR trailer all weekend for teams to examine. The infraction was the first on the NASCAR-designed Car of Tomorrow, which has strict templates that leave little wiggle room for a crew chief. The severity of the penalty was NASCAR's way of informing teams it will not permit any alterations to the COT. "We communicated to the teams earlier in the year that any modifications to these parts that had already been certified would be dealt with severely," Pemberton said. It also follows a season-long crackdown on cheating that began at the Daytona 500, when NASCAR caught five teams breaking the rules. Six crew members were suspended and Michael Waltrip's crew chief was fined $100,000 -- the largest monetary fine in series history. Now Eury has matched it, and Earnhardt said after his eighth-place finish Sunday he would cover any fine his cousin received. "Whatever he needs me to do," Earnhardt said. This is the most significant penalty Earnhardt and his team have received. He was docked 25 points and fined $10,000 for cursing during a TV interview after a win at Talladega in 2004. That deduction knocked him out of the points lead. It was the last time Earnhardt has seriously challenged for the championship. NASCAR to penalize Eury Jr., DEI NASCAR is expected to hand down penalties against Dale Earnhardt Jr. and DEI after confiscating the rear wing mounts from his Car of Tomorrow over the weekend in Darlington. NASCAR officials say the brackets did not conform to their specifications. Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. called NASCAR's version of the events an "interpretation", admitting that the brackets were the same ones that weren't discovered during pre- or post-qualifying inspections. Eury adds he was not trying to deliberately circumvent the rules and he's prepared to accept whatever penalties are handed down by NASCAR. Earnhardt Jr. has offered to pay any fine levied by NASCAR on behalf of Eury. The speculation is that NASCAR will come down hard on Eury and DEI, seeing as this is the first infraction discovered using the Car of Tomorrow. NASCAR consumed with Earnhardt watch Dale Earnhardt Jr. needs some time to decompress. It's been all Earnhardt all the time since he announced he was defecting from his late father's company. Rumors swirled through the garage, false reports showed up on television and the Internet buzzed after Earnhardt said he was leaving DEI at the end of the year. ``It's going to last until he signs a contract with somebody, which is really good,'' said two-time champion Tony Stewart, who joked he could have punched somebody at Darlington Raceway last weekend and no one would have noticed. Stewart, no stranger to the spotlight, wasn't exaggerating. Earnhardt seemed to be the only story at Darlington. Pay no attention to that feud between Kasey Kahne and David Stremme or the intentional bumping and banging between Stewart and Ryan Newman during the Busch race. Save a brief interruption by Hendrick Motorsports' fourth consecutive victory, the spotlight never left Earnhardt, who finished eighth Sunday. That's why Earnhardt asked for a break -- just a week or two to unwind. Now, the wait begins. Even though he'll likely have his pick of teams, figuring out his future might not be so simple. Earnhardt wants to stay in a Chevrolet, which puts Dodge owners Ray Evernham, Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske at the bottom of the list. Earnhardt fans everywhere would revolt if he went to one of the new Toyota teams, and none are competitive enough to entice him. Jack Roush, the best of the Ford owners, is already over the limit with five drivers. He must figure out how to meet NASCAR's 2009 four-car mandate before even considering adding Earnhardt. That leaves three Chevrolet teams -- Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing -- as the front-runners. Upstart Ginn Racing also plans to pursue Earnhardt but is a longshot at best. ``There are a lot of safer routes he could take,'' first-year owner Bobby Ginn said. ``But I hope that he would see that we try harder.'' So where does that leave Earnhardt? He wants to win championships, and Hendrick Motorsports seems to be the place to do it. Winners of eight of the last nine races, the organization is the best in NASCAR right now. But all four of its drivers are under contract, and Hendrick isn't looking to dump any of them. Casey Mears, struggling through his first season, is the most expendable driver if Hendrick wanted to make room for Earnhardt. But Mears is like a son to Hendrick, is best friends with Jimmie Johnson and deserves a chance to make it in the organization. It's also not the most natural fit for Earnhardt. Hendrick drivers are taught to be polished, politically correct and arrive at events in starched shirts and slacks. That could be tough for Earnhardt, whose wardrobe seems to consist of only wrinkled white T-shirts. Gibbs has won three championships since 1990, and Earnhardt is friends with Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. He and Stewart have been unofficial teammates for years at restrictor-plate races, and Stewart pushed Earnhardt to his 2004 Daytona 500 victory. But the Gibbs team has a strict family values message that makes it leery of bringing Budweiser on as a sponsor. The beer company is expected to follow Earnhardt wherever he goes. ``For us it would be hard,'' said team president J.D. Gibbs. ``I'm not sure if that would fit for us. Even though we really appreciate what they're doing and they're a great group, it'd be hard for us to do.'' That leaves RCR, where the elder Earnhardt won six of his seven championships. It's the one team Earnhardt fans would embrace, and Junior really does care what his fans think. Childress plans to make a run at Junior, as soon as he's ready to listen. RCR can offer him the No. 3, his daddy's old car number, though Earnhardt isn't even sure he'd even want it. In the hours after his announcement last Thursday, two different TV reports had Earnhardt signed and sealed at RCR. One report had him in the No. 3, another had him in the No. 33. Both troubled Earnhardt, who was upset about the crush of attention it brought to Childress when he arrived in the garage last Friday morning. ``I was sort of hurt or upset or disappointed that Richard was put in the position,'' Earnhardt said. ``Speculation that wouldn't make it to TV a couple years ago, these days it seems to make it there pretty easily. And I thought that TV jumped the gun, because he's got drivers and crew members over there trying to win races and trying to do the best they can this year. ``The last thing I want to do is get in the middle and confuse their minds and start rumors over at his shop. You know how rumors move around.'' Sure do, and until Earnhardt is signed, there's bound to be plenty of them. Under microscope, Junior avoids distractions Coming off the news of his free agent status, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was served a super-sized order of drama and then a side dish when NASCAR discovered an infraction for a rear-wing violation during pre-race inspection this weekend at Darlington. Did it phase the No. 8? Not at all, as he finished eighth in the Dodge Avenger 500. Despite being the focal point of media frenzy at the track, Earnhardt said the distraction dissipated like the rain clouds that tried to wreck the race for a second time on Sunday afternoon. "They disappeared when I got here. My guys said 'We're behind you' and that took it all away. We worked on the car, we drove the car and we had a good time this weekend and I had no pressure, nothing really on my mind other than what we were supposed to be doing," he said. "I was surprised, I thought it'd be a little more of a distraction but it wasn't. Fortunately when things go good all your problems are gone but as long as we can keep running good, keep focusing ... I'm pretty proud of the effort my team gave me [Sunday] and I try to repay 'em with the same effort." As for the improperly mounted rear wing found during pre-race inspection for Saturday's rain-delayed event, Earnhardt said he doesn't know much about it, but he would pay crew chief Tony Eury Jr.'s fine if one follows. "Tony Jr. tried to explain it to me but I really didn't know what he was talking about," Earnhardt said. "Apparently there's something that they did with the mounting brackets, I don't really know much about it. You'll have to ask Tony Jr. I got his back." Upstart Ginn enters Earnhardt race New NASCAR owner Bobby Ginn plans to pursue Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- with every intent of landing him -- as soon as Junior is ready to hear offers. ``We would stretch as hard as we could stretch to do it,'' Ginn said by telephone Friday night. ``You want the best, the absolute best, and I love the idea that Dale wants to win championships. He could accomplish that here with us. ``We're in play.'' Earnhardt is leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season, and heads into Saturday night's race at Darlington Raceway as perhaps the hottest free agent in sport history. He said Friday that he wants to take a few weeks before opening the negotiating process, and NASCAR's most popular driver should have his pick of teams. Three owners -- Rick Hendrick, Joe Gibbs and Richard Childress -- were quickly identified as the front-runners, and Childress indicated Friday he'll be in the race. ``We will sit and talk, I'm sure,'' said Childress, who fielded cars for six of Dale Earnhardt's seven championships. ``I'm hoping he's considering us.'' So is Ginn, who finds himself jockeying for position among NASCAR's heavyweights less than a year after buying into the sport. The Florida land developer bought a midlevel team last July and markedly improved it in just a few short months. Following an aggressive long-range plan, Ginn snagged Mark Martin and expanded the operation to three cars. Then Martin nearly won the Daytona 500, while opening the season with the best start of his career. He briefly led the points standings before bowing out on top. He's running a partial schedule this season and is currently ranked 14th despite sitting out three of 10 races. Existing drivers Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek have been considerably stronger this season, with Marlin as the only driver not ensured a spot in the field to qualify for the first five races of the year. Ginn also beefed up his driver development package, where he's tucked away 15-time motocross champion Ricky Carmichael. ``We have a five-year plan in mind and the conclusion is winning a championship,'' Ginn said. ``We took a risk on Mark Martin, and that's paid off in spades for us. We aren't afraid to be aggressive.'' The team leases its motors from Hendrick and is perceived to be a satellite of that powerful operation. It's gotten Ginn mentioned as an outside equation in the Earnhardt race, but the team clearly wants to be a viable option. ``He is the man in NASCAR,'' Martin said. ``We would certainly like to talk to him.'' Ginn thinks his team suits Earnhardt because he runs it like a family operation and would fit much of what Junior is looking for. Earnhardt ideally would like to complement JR Motorsports, the Busch Series operation he owns, with his next employer. Dale Earnhardt followed that model by driving for Childress while developing DEI, and Ginn thinks Junior can do it with him. ``Listening to what Dale has outlined, his Busch operation would dovetail beautifully with us,'' Ginn said. ``We believe he'd be a good fit. Our DNA's match, our cultures are alike.'' Earnhardt reiterated Friday that he's looking for a winner. ``I could live without winning a championship, but I would have to,'' he said. ``But I don't want to. I want to win a championship and I want to win more races. I want to win on a regular basis.'' It's why he'll take some time away to decompress before he makes the next biggest decision in his life. He wants his next employer to be his last after six-plus seasons at his late father's company. Junior has won 17 races at DEI, but the program has been on a slow decline since Earnhardt's 2001 death. Junior wanted 51 percent ownership to stay with the company, but stepmother Teresa wouldn't turn over control. So he's parting ways and should have no shortage of suitors. ``I would like to take a week or two to clear my mind a little bit, drink some beers and have some fun,'' he said. ``I have felt about as un-normal as I possibly could the past few days. Lost a lot of sleep. So I want to relax and just clear my head and get in a good football stance to go after this new deal that we're seeking.'' The suspense will consume the garage, which was abuzz all day Friday as he and his team did their best to get on with their final year together. It wasn't easy, though, as thick crowds gathered around his garage stall and team hauler to watch his every move. ``It's sort of hard to get to the car -- I'm parked too close to the 8,'' RCR driver Clint Bowyer joked. ``Man, it would be hard to focus on what you are doing with all the hoopla around him.'' Despite the chaos, Junior was able to find some peace inside his red No. 8 Chevrolet. ``I am glad to be back in a race car today, absolutely. That's where I hide from a lot of things,'' he said. ``I love race-car driving and that's all I want to do. After the last couple of days, this is the best medicine.'' Childress will give Junior time before talking deal At some point, Richard Childress will sit down and talk with Dale Earnhardt Jr. But the car owner wants to give the driver some space first. When NASCAR's most popular driver announced Thursday that he will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. when his contract expires at the end of this season, the focus immediately turned his late father's former team. The elder Earnhardt drove for Childress for 16 seasons, winning six championships and becoming an icon in his black No. 3 car before he was killed on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. On Friday, in brief comments to assembled media before the start of practice for Saturday night's Nextel Cup event at Darlington Raceway, Childress' interest in pursuing Earnhardt Jr. was clear. But he added that he had yet to speak to the driver on his future, and that contrary to some broadcast reports, no deal had been done. "We will sit and talk, I'm sure," he said. "I'm hoping he's considering us. But I think right now, we'll just give him some time and space to do his own due diligence on the race teams he's looking at." Childress, a longtime friend of the Earnhardt family, seemed more intent Friday of giving Earnhardt Jr. space. "Let me kind of tell you where I'm at," he said. "Dale Jr. just made a major decision in his career and in his life yesterday. Out of respect for Teresa and Dale Jr. in this situation, let's all give him some time to make the decisions he needs to make, and be fair. He's got a lot of tough decisions coming up in the direction he's going, and I just think it's fair that we all let him have some space and some time to kind of think about what he wants to do in the future." That future may or may not include Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt Jr.'s cousin and the crew chief on his No. 8 car. Eury, whose contract expires at the end of the 2008 season, said he would discuss his situation with Max Siegel, DEI's president of global operations. "I would like to stay with Dale Jr., but I'm going to do whatever is best for Tony Jr., just like Dale Jr., and leave all my options open," he said. "Me and Max are going to talk and go with it like that." Those comments might have been influenced by Siegel himself, looming over Eury's shoulder as the crew chief spoke to the media. Steve Hmiel, DEI's technical director and Earnhardt's spotter, said he hasn't heard any crewman talk of leaving. But he also understands that the ties between Earnhardt and Eury are close. "I've been around there a good long while, and there are pictures of Tony Jr. and Kelly Earnhardt and Dale on the refrigerator when they were all 6, 8, 10 years old," he said. Kelly Earnhardt is Dale Jr.'s sister and business manager. "There are obviously family ties there. Now, does that mean that Tony Jr. is going to do something? I have no idea. He would be one of those people, along with his dad, who would have different options and be more torn than a guy that just works there." Junior no fan of Darlington, COT ... COT at Darlington The NASCAR world is all abuzz about Dale Earnhardt Jr. after he announced on Thursday he was leaving his father's company at the end of the year. The first of what will be the final 26 races in the No. 8 DEI Chevrolet begins Saturday night at Darlington Raceway, a track for which he has voiced his distaste in the past. "This is about as bad of a week as I could imagine: two days testing at Charlotte, then going to Darlington for a weekend and then two more days testing at Dover," Earnhardt said of his itinerary that includes the Dodge Avenger 500 (7 p.m. ET, FOX) at the Lady in Black. "Darlington is just tough, period. It's a tough track because of the shape and the ancient pavement, but it's really tough on the entire team mentally and physically. It's a track that is so punishing to all of us and we're always relieved when we put the car back on the trailer in one piece." Despite his disdain for the track, Earnhardt has only one DNF in 12 starts at Darlington -- a crash in his Cup debut there in 2000 -- and has not finished off the lead lap since the Labor Day race in 2003. Earnhardt has two consecutive top-10s at Darlington, and in the past four races his worst finish is 11th. Junior didn't please track officials one year when he criticized the pavement at Darlington, and he won't make anyone in NASCAR's offices happy with his remarks on the Car of Tomorrow that will be run Saturday night. "In this day and age with all of the knowledge and technology we have, it's ridiculous that these cars are so bad," Junior said. "I mean, look at all the camber we have to run in the front end to make them turn - it's just ridiculous and there's no reason why they should be that way. It's still a new car so maybe they'll listen and make some changes to make it better. "I'm not looking forward to driving the Car of Tomorrow at Darlington." After posting top-10s in his first two COT races that included a race-high 137 laps led at Martinsville, Earnhardt has finishes of 19th and 13th, respectively, in the past two COT events. "People say the cars are ugly -- well, I don't care what they look like but they don't drive as good as they should," Earnhardt said. "That's my opinion, which may not mean much, but I hope NASCAR listens to the drivers and teams when we say these cars don't drive worth a damn." Such is the week for Dale Earnhardt Jr.: two days of tests at Lowe's, a life-changing decision, a COT race at Darlington and more testing at Dover. "Nobody tests at Dover -- everyone tries to avoid that as much as they can," he said. "But, after that maybe we'll have some clean sailing and give everyone a day off or something." After his announcement Thursday, that's highly unlikely. Earnhardt Jr. could usher in new financial era for NASCAR Everyone knows Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's poster boy, a cultural icon who wields incredible influence over the sport. Everyone, that is, except Earnhardt himself. Earnhardt rocked the NASCAR world Thursday, announcing he will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of this season to join - or possibly start - a new team. On the surface, Earnhardt's decision to part with DEI is a career-changing moment, a move that undoubtedly will shape the latter stages of his career while dooming the future of the team founded by his late father. But Earnhardt, 32, does not seem to grasp the broad ramifications that his impending free agency will have on NASCAR as a whole. "I've never been in this position before, so I don't know what to expect," Earnhardt said. "We'll just have to deal with each bridge as we cross it." What Earnhardt should expect is a ground-breaking contract from a premier team, a deal that could alter the sport's approach to free agency. "It's a big deal," said Kasey Kahne, whose contract at Evernham Motorsports expires in 2010. "I thought it was pretty wild when I heard that. What happens to his future is something that I'm wondering." Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage compared Earnhardt to former pitcher Andy Messersmith, who helped bring about the historic 1975 Seitz decision - a ruling which nullified reserve clauses in Major League Baseball and allowed players to file for free agency. "A new paradigm has just been established in American motorsports," Gossage said in a statement. "Just as Andy Messersmith ushered in the era of modern-day free agency in Major League Baseball, Dale Jr. is establishing modern-day free agency in NASCAR. "Dale Jr. will now determine his full value on the open market and have the opportunity to make his own choices to put himself in a position to win races and championships." With his rock-star persona, magnetic marketability and rabid fan base, Earnhardt undoubtedly will ignite a bidding war among several of NASCAR's top teams, a process which should yield the richest contract in the sport's history. Gossage likened the situation to that of Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees superstar third baseman who cashed in on an unprecedented level when he hit the open market in 2000. The Texas Rangers paid a steep price to ultimately win over Rodriguez's services, signing him to a 10-year, $252 million deal - the most lucrative contract in the history of North American team sports. "Dale Jr.'s announcement is every bit as significant as A-Rod's huge contract a few years back or Roger Clemens' extraordinary contract signing last week with the New York Yankees," Gossage said. "You can expect him to make as much - if not more - than Clemens' $28 million contract with the Yankees when you factor in his salary, sponsorships, personal services agreements and merchandising." Although Earnhardt's popularity and sponsorship value is unparalleled, his on-track resume is not so impressive when stacked against the likes of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson or Tony Stewart. Gossage predicted that Earnhardt's new deal will open vast financial doors for other drivers. "This will impact future decisions by big-name drivers like Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and others down the road," Gossage said. "You can expect all of them to dip their toes in the free-agency waters when their current contracts expire." Regardless of the future of NASCAR's other heavyweights, Earnhardt is on the pole for this unique race. He admitted he will need some help to eventually reach the finish line. "I've always had a real hard time knowing what kind of weight I carry in the sport," he said. "And through other drivers and my sister and other employees of mine, I've been able to sort of come to an understanding of what that is and what that means." Drivers offer thoughts on Junior's DEI departure Dale Earnhardt Jr. is always a presence at Darlington Raceway, even when he's not at the track. His image, clad in Budweiser red, smiles down from billboards along the highway running by NASCAR's oldest major speedway. But for how much longer? The sport's most popular driver announced Thursday that he would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team his father created and the only Nextel Cup home he's ever known, when his contract expires after this season. Now the biggest free agent in NASCAR history is on the market, with everyone wondering where he's going to wind up in 2008. "We'd like to see him over here, obviously," Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin said after Busch practice Thursday at the 1.366-mile track, which hosts the Dodge Avenger 500 on Saturday night. "He'd bring a lot to Gibbs. As a team, myself and Tony [Stewart] have a pretty good relationship with him. So it would be a great fit." With only three Nextel Cup entries, the Gibbs organization has room for Earnhardt to fit under the four-car limit established by NASCAR. So does Richard Childress Racing, the team Earnhardt's late father made famous driving a black No. 3 car many fans would love to see Junior in next year. "When a driver says he's going to leave, it's only natural to start wondering where he's going to go. I don't think there's anything unusual about that," RCR driver Jeff Burton said. "But certainly Junior's comments about one day wanting to drive for Richard certainly add fuel to that fire. I honestly have no idea what will happen there, I honestly don't. If we're going to do a fourth team, if that's what Richard decides he wants to do, then Junior would be one of the drivers we'd like to talk to, without a doubt. But I have no way of knowing what would happen right now." Earnhardt said he'd prefer to continue to drive Chevrolets, leaving RCR, Gibbs and Hendrick Motorsports as the most obvious top contenders. Childress, who is scheduled to speak to the media Friday morning, wasn't available for comment Thursday. Neither was Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs. A spokesman for Rick Hendrick, whose team has won seven of 10 races this year, offered no comment. But surely, behind the scenes, the telephone lines were buzzing. A 17-time race winner who has finished fifth or better in final championship points three times in his seven-year career, Earnhardt will bring a massive fan base and a big-money sponsor with him wherever he goes. "I don't know that car owners are going to throw drivers out to get Junior, but certainly car owners are going to be enticed to make things work," Burton said. "He doesn't necessarily have to have the crystal ball to see, 'I'm going to have a good ride.' He can probably rest pretty well at night knowing that he will have good equipment. He may not understand what it's going to be just yet, but he can probably sleep at night knowing he's going to have an opportunity to drive good cars. Whenever I make any business decision, I always make it based on, what is the effect of this decision? The thing that he has that a lot of people don't have is -- you can pretty much guarantee he won't be driving junk." Where will Earnhardt land? There are no guarantees. Hendrick is the sport's best organization, but has a full stable of four Nextel Cup cars. The Gibbs organization has won three championships since 2000, but car owner Joe Gibbs is a man of strong Christian faith who may be reticent to accept an alcohol sponsor. And despite the clamor among fans to see him drive his father's old car at RCR, Earnhardt said Thursday he'd have to do "a little soul-searching" before taking that leap. "He's probably one of the biggest guys in the last ... well, forever that is now looking for a ride, and he can probably go wherever he wants just based off what he can bring to the organization money-wise," Hamlin said. "I think in the end, there's probably two teams that will end up fighting for him." But Hamlin wouldn't speculate which two teams they would be. "I haven't talked to J.D. or anything like that. I don't know if they've even talked to [Earnhardt]," he said. "Just from talking to his people a few times, there are a couple of teams that are going to be way ahead of the others." At Gibbs, the personalities would fit -- Earnhardt helped Hamlin find his career break, and is also a friend and frequent restrictor-plate drafting partner to Stewart. "We're really more off-the-track friends than anything," Hamlin said of his relationship with Earnhardt. "He was a big part of me getting to where I'm at. Anything he ever needs, I'll be there to help him out. He doesn't need me to tell him how good Gibbs is as an organization. They've won three of the last seven championships, they've won races. He'll figure it out. He knows what he needs to win championships, and when he sees what he needs to see on a team, he's going to go with them." Meanwhile, life went on at DEI. Earnhardt's crew pushed the No. 8 car through technical inspection Thursday, although crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was nowhere to be found. Paul Menard, one of Earnhardt's two Nextel Cup teammates, was at Darlington practicing in his Busch car. "It's something we didn't know about, but kind of had to plan for. The doors are still going to be open on Monday, and we're still going to try and win races like Dale Earnhardt would have wanted," Menard said. "I don't think DEI is going to be any less ambitious than they were before as far as trying to expand. They want to go to four cars eventually, and I think that's still in the long-term plans, to go to four cars and make it as good as we can." But they'll do it without Earnhardt, whose disagreement with his stepmother Teresa over the organization's direction has led him to seek a new home. "There can only be one captain of a ship. I know some people will be upset at Junior and some people will be upset at Teresa, but at the end of the day, somebody's got to be the boss. Somebody's got to be running it. If Junior felt like he couldn't be successful with Teresa at the helm, then he needed to go somewhere else. If she felt like she needed to be at the helm for it to be successful, then she needed to stand firm and do what she did," Burton said. "Only time will tell, but there can only be one boss, and it appeared just from the outside looking in that it would be difficult to get through Teresa not being the boss. I'm not saying that's wrong. It would be hard for her just to say, 'OK, here's the company.'" Uncertainty faces licensing industry with Jr.'s move Millions of fans toting red Budweiser coolers this weekend in Darlington and wearing No. 8 hats will soon be in the market for new gear as their favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leaving his late father's company, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. At a press conference inside JR Motorsports on Wednesday, NASCAR's most popular driver announced he will be looking for a new ride for the 2008 season and is doubtful the No. 8 will go with him, but hopes his long-time sponsor Budweiser will. Experts in the licensed product industry are somewhat bracing for the impact this announcement will have on product sales, the demand or perhaps lack there of. "We have to wait and see where he goes and then NASCAR will spring into action," said Mark Dyer, vice president of NASCAR's multi-billion dollar licensing division in Charlotte. "We'll support our licensees and get involved in a big way." Some speculate the demand for Dale Jr.-licensed products will come to a screeching halt until the driver signs with a new team next season leaving manufacturers with warehouses full of unwanted No. 8 Budweiser-emblazoned product. Or the opposite may happen, said Joe Mattes, vice president of E-commerce of Turner Sports and head of the NASCAR.COM Superstore. Fans may flock to the merchandise haulers to buy up every stitch of Dale Jr. product possible starting with the Cup race this weekend in Darlington. "We are going to pay close attention to all channels of retail and distribution. We've never seen a driver of this magnitude announce a team switch this early in the season. It's going to be a great test case for us to learn from," Mattes said. One thing is certain, Mattes added, licensees such as Motorsports Authentics and Checkered Flag Sports will be measuring twice and cutting once. "Until there is enough data to go on, everyone is going to be super careful and work closely with their distributors," he said. "It's just way too early to tell. We need at least two weeks to see what the market will do." Mattes, who at the end of June will become the vice president of licensing for JR Motorsports, said those who believe in the driver will continue to support him no matter the number on his car or colors that come with it. "He has the most loyal fan base and fans will continue to buy whatever car he's driving," Mattes said. "He truly does care about his fan base. It is not taken lightly and that's something he learned from his dad." Long after Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, the Intimidator's No. 3 is still a top-10 seller today, Mattes said. So it should come to no surprise that rumors of Earnhardt Jr. driving for his father's former team, Richard Childress Racing, and bringing back the famous No. 3 are swirling. "I have a great relationship with Richard [Childress], I feel like he has really stepped up his program but I've got to do some soul searching on how I feel about driving the No. 3 car," Earnhardt Jr. said. "With respect to my father, I don't feel very comfortable with that, he built that number ... but I never say never." Mattes said Dale Jr. will continue to be the industry leader in product sales as long as he continues to be a good racecar driver on the track. Precisely Earnhardt Jr.'s motivation for leaving his father's company, a company his father intended to leave for his children. However, the driver said he needs to put himself in a position to win championships and continue to put on a good show for his fans. "DEI will always be a special place for me and my family ... ," Earnhardt Jr. said. "However I am 32 years old, the same age as my father when he made his final and most important career decision, and the time for me to compete on a consistent basis and contend for championships is now. Since that is what I plan to do, I feel strongly that I would have my father's blessing." With Junior gone, DEI's focus now shifts to future When Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrapped up the news conference announcing his split from the company bearing his father's name Thursday and exited stage right, an unlikely companion smiled and patted him on the back. Junior kept right on going, leaving Max Siegel well behind to catch up. It seemed fitting and symbolic. As Earnhardt Jr. moves on to a racing future without Dale Earnhardt Inc., Siegel, as president of global operations for DEI, faces a legacy that will include failing to close likely the biggest domestic deal of the decade, or more, with racing's favorite son. Retired driver Darrell Waltrip, now a television analyst, said that Junior's departure from DEI does not bode well for the company founded by the late Dale Earnhardt and his wife, Teresa, who is Junior's stepmother. The elder Earnhardt passed away during a wreck in the 2001 Daytona 500. "They're going to have to almost rebuild. It's almost as if they're starting from scratch -- and in a lot of ways," Waltrip said. Teresa Earnhardt is CEO of DEI and hired Siegel to handle, among many other things, the lead in the contract negotiations with her stepson. She contended that the demise of DEI, predicted by so many in this immediate aftermath of Junior's departure, is definitely premature. "While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company's future," Teresa Earnhardt said in a statement. "Our aggressive expansion and diversification plans have not changed. "This company has continued to thrive since Dale left us in 2001, and it will thrive following [Thursday's] announcement. Dale and I built this company to be a championship contender, and those principles still apply. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will win, and we have other extremely talented drivers and hundreds of employees that are dedicated to the programs we founded. This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity and commitment." Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, the sister of Dale Jr. and president of his JR Motorsports who handled the lead in his end of the failed negotiations with DEI, said that she and her brother wish nothing but the best for DEI. "That hasn't changed for us. We're still Earnhardts," she said. "Dale and I both want to be very supportive of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and their efforts, because it is our family name as well. We will do everything we can to support the rebuilding of that team and the efforts that their putting forth to make that team successful. From a timing standpoint, it's just the time for us to prepare for 2008. And this decision had to be made because of that, for both sides, because DEI has to move forward with what their plans are for 2008, and so do we." Siegel said that while it is a blow to lose a driver of the magnitude of Earnhardt Jr., he is confident that DEI can not only survive but thrive. He said that while Earnhardt Jr. will finish out this season in his familiar red No. 8 car for DEI, he likes the promise shown by its other two drivers as well -- Martin Truex Jr. and Paul Menard. "Our No. 1 priority was keeping Dale Jr. and obviously we are disappointed," Siegel said. "He is part of the family; he will always be a part of the family. We totally respect his decision. I think there was always a real possibility that he could go somewhere and there were other options. He said it was a unique situation, which it was. We laid everything on the table. We tried to address all the issues. We both felt it important to our commercial partners and our respective companies to start to move forward in a positive direction." Among the options in that direction: merging DEI with Robert Yates Racing. The two sides already have held preliminary discussions about the possibility. When asked about a possible DEI-Yates merger again Thursday, Siegel replied: "We're exploring all the opportunities to enhance the company, grow to four cars and be strong in competition and diversify the company as well." Siegel said that a contingency plan of sorts already was in place, in case what became official Thursday was to actually happen. So he insisted that a plan is set to address many of the concerns that Earnhardt Jr. had with DEI -- mainly the fact that their race teams have not been competitive enough in the last two years. "We've taken a comprehensive review of the entire company," Siegel said. "We've laid out a number of different routes we could go, one which we hoped would include Dale Jr. In the event he wasn't there, we have an aggressive expansion plan in place. We're paying attention to competition. We do a have long-term vision and a plan to continue strong with DEI." While all that sounds good on the surface, Waltrip insisted that it won't be easy for DEI to thrive in the immediate aftermath of losing Junior. But he also said that he thinks the company ultimately will survive. "They've got their work cut out for them. I think if you talk to Dale Jr. and you talk to some of those folks over there -- they got behind," Waltrip said. "You can ask [team owner] Ray Evernham. You get behind a little bit and you see what happens. You get behind a lot and then you're really going to have your work cut out for you." Waltrip said that the facility out of which DEI operates -- once dubbed "The Garage Mahal" and considered the finest in NASCAR -- may be in need of an overhaul for starters. Or at least some serious updating. "They got to do a lot of work. I haven't been in there in quite some time, but just listening to Dale Jr. and some others, there is some equipment that they don't have. The facility is maybe not as big and as adequate as it even needs to be today," Waltrip said. "Don't forget, that place is 10 years old. Dale built that in '97 and it opened up in 1998. A lot can change in racing in 10 years." No kidding. Tell Teresa Earnhardt something she doesn't already know, as well as Earnhardt Jr. and all of his and his father's fans. Waltrip also said he doesn't blame Junior for leaving DEI, and added that he doesn't believe, under the circumstances, that Junior's father would, either. "I think Dale was a racer, just like Junior is," Waltrip said. "I think Dale would have said, `Look, son, if we're not giving you what you need, go find a job somewhere else.' I don't think there's any question about it." DEI, Budweiser reactions "While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company's future. Our aggressive expansion and diversification plans have not changed. This company has continued to thrive since Dale left us in 2001, and it will thrive following today's announcement. Dale and I built this company to be a championship-contender, and those principles still apply. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will win, and we have other extremely talented drivers and hundreds of employees that are dedicated to the programs we founded. This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity, and commitment."--Teresa Earnhardt, CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. "Budweiser, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. have enjoyed a great relationship since 1999. Dale Jr., and his father before him, have been excellent and loyal ambassadors for our company and the sport of NASCAR. Budweiser and JR Motorsports have an agreement in place to ensure Dale Jr. will continue to personally represent Budweiser through 2008, and we look forward to discussing our future with Dale Jr. and DEI in the weeks ahead."--Tony Ponturo, vice president, global media and sports marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. We aren't family Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR's most popular driver. He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires. "We worked really hard, but we were never close," Earnhardt said of negotiations with DEI. "I am a little sad, but I am trying to remind myself to be excited about what's ahead." Earnhardt had asked for 51 per cent ownership of the team now run by his stepmother, Teresa. Negotiations on a contract extension began before the season and have been tense all along. Earnhardt's sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, had set a deadline to get the deal done by the end of the month. Earnhardt has made it clear he wants to be in a Chevrolet, but that loyalty could limit his options next season. It's also possible that Earnhardt will field his own Nextel Cup team from JR Motorsports, where he runs a Busch Series program and several late model cars out of a brand new shop in Mooresville. Earnhardt scheduled his news conference at that facility. Although he said at last month's grand opening that he'd like to eventually expand JRM into the Cup series, his sister was taken aback by the remarks. Elledge, who runs JRM and has handled his contract negotiations, later said the duo had no immediate plans for expansion. At a sponsor appearance Wednesday night, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Earnhardt told fans his priority as a team owner is promoting young drivers and mechanics. "I don't want the company to get too big," he said. "I've got about 70 employees now, and I don't want to get too many more." There are three Chevrolet teams better than DEI, but Hendrick Motorsports has no room in its stable for Earnhardt. Hendrick, winner of seven of the past eight Cup races, is already maxed out with four teams but could assist Earnhardt by leasing him engines. Hendrick already leases motors to Ginn Racing and Haas-CNC Racing, and Earnhardt recently got to feel their horsepower when he jumped into Kyle Busch's car during a race last month. Richard Childress Racing, where the elder Earnhardt won six of his seven championships, always has been considered the most logical place for Junior to go. Childress and Dale Earnhardt were extremely close, and Junior has maintained a relationship with the car owner. RCR, which owns the No. 3 should Junior ever want to drive it, can add him as the fourth and final team NASCAR permits each owner. It would team him with Kevin Harvick, who replaced the elder Earnhardt following his 2001 death, and has openly invited Junior to join the organization. It's also possible that RCR would lease JR Motorsports its engines should Earnhardt field his own team. RCR already gives JRM its motors. The wildcard could be Joe Gibbs Racing, another powerful three-car Chevy team that would pair him with buddies Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Earnhardt and Stewart have worked wonderfully together on restrictor plate tracks, and Earnhardt befriended Hamlin early in his career. Gibbs is coach of the Washington Redskins, and Earnhardt is die-hard fan. He wore a Redskins cap backward Monday during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where he expressed frustration over the NASCAR-mandated Car of Tomorrow and admitted DEI can't keep up with Hendrick's COT program. Earnhardt and Elledge have been adamant their only goal is to help Junior win Cup championships, something he's been unable to do at DEI. He hasn't been a legitimate title contender since 2004. In 2005, he had a horrendous season when Teresa Earnhardt split up his crew, and he failed to make the Chase for the championship. He rebounded last year by making the Chase, but was never a threat for the title. Report: Junior to drive for JR Motorsports in 2008 What subject does Dale Earnhardt Jr. want to talk about? Members of the media have been invited to a Thursday morning news conference at the JR Motorsports race shop in Mooresville, N.C. However, details of the conference were not provided, lending speculation that it may involve his contract negotiations with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Dave Moody reported Wednesday afternoon on Sirius Speedway that speculation is Junior and Martin Truex Jr. will drive Nextel Cup cars under the JR Motorsports banner in 2008 with Hendrick Motorsports providing engines. SPEED will interrupt regularly scheduled programming to go live from the JR Motorsports race shop at 11 a.m. ET for the news conference. Junior's contract with DEI is scheduled to run out at the end of the season, and he and sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge have been involved in talks with team officials. Both parties have stated in the past that they want to have the issue resolved by May. During Media Day at Daytona International Speedway in February, Junior first mentioned his desire to obtain a majority ownership in the company founded by his father, a demand which was repeated by Elledge two months later. "Fifty-one [percent] is the right number because that gives us control," Elledge said. "We'll take 75 or 95 or whatever we work out. At the end of the day, 51 gives you control. And we want control." According to the Associated Press, DEI president Max Siegel said DEI has "worked hard to address everything" that Junior sought, without discussing specific percentages. Earnhardt leaving dad's company? Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s future has been the topic of discussion this season, with seemingly everyone in NASCAR consumed with where the sport's biggest star will drive next year. Tongues were really wagging Wednesday when Earnhardt, who's in the final year of his DEI contract, called a news conference for Thursday morning at his Mooresville race shop without releasing any details. Reached at a sponsor appearance at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Wednesday night, Earnhardt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he planned to talk about "some ideas I've got for the future" but would not elaborate. Rampant speculation Wednesday night had Junior set to announce he was leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company founded by his late father and the only team he's ever driven for, to field his own Nextel Cup team. Mike Davis, a representative for Earnhardt, refused to discuss Junior's announcement. Earnhardt owns JR Motorsports, which fields a Busch team for Shane Huffman and several late-model teams. At the recent grand opening for JRM, he said he could see the organization fielding Cup cars. Earnhardt's sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, who runs JRM's business side, appeared taken aback by the remark and later said the duo had no plans to expand into NASCAR's top series. The AJC reported that during Wednesday night's sponsor event, Earnhardt told fans that his plans for JR Motorsports might not include adding Nextel Cup cars and that his priority as a team owner is promoting young drivers and mechanics. "I don't want the company to get too big," he said. "I've got about 70 employees now, and I don't want to get too many more." If expansion is in the cards, Earnhardt would need help with engines and equipment. Although Hendrick Motorsports officials said they have no knowledge of Junior's announcement, a person in the organization told The Associated Press that Rick Hendrick recently offered Earnhardt engines if he decided to field his own team. That person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it. Hendrick, winners of seven of the past eight races this season, already leases engines to Ginn Racing and Haas-CNC Racing. Calls to Earnhardt's sponsor Budweiser and race team DEI were not immediately returned Wednesday night. An e-mail to Elledge was not immediately answered. Just two days ago, during testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Earnhardt complained DEI could not compete with Hendrick -- particularly in the Car of Tomorrow. Hendrick drivers have won all four COT races this season, which Earnhardt chalked up to the resources that team has devoted to the program. "They've got a lot of resources. They've got a great company, two, three really good cars every week, great crew chiefs. They've really got the package right now," Earnhardt said Monday. "Their cars, they handle pretty good. They're getting through the centre of the corner better with the COT, and that's just because they test the hell out of it. "I hear rumours they got Max Papis and road race guys at Sonoma testing and testing and testing and testing." Asked if DEI could keep up, Earnhardt didn't pause. "No. Not many teams can do that," he said. "There are a few that can do that, but not many. They put a lot back into their race teams, you know what I mean?" Earnhardt also might get help from Richard Childress, who fielded championship-winning cars for Dale Earnhardt, and currently leases engines to JRM. Calls to RCR officials were not immediately returned. Elledge has set a deadline for negotiations with DEI, saying a deal must be completed by the end of this month. And Earnhardt's sponsor Budweiser, which has an option on its DEI deal, is free to leave and follow Junior wherever he goes. That has given Earnhardt the power in this latest round of contract negotiations with his stepmother, Teresa, and Junior and his sister have exerted it more than once. They've demanded at least 51 per cent of the company in a bid to gain control of what they believe their father wanted them to have. Both sides have stopped commenting publicly on the issue since Earnhardt was caught off guard last month by DEI president Max Siegel's remarks that the driver had been offered 51 per cent of the company. People familiar with the negotiations have told the AP that Teresa Earnhardt is willing to sell the shares to Junior for between US$55 and $75 million. Those persons requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deal. Earnhardt and his sister, however, aren't convinced they should pay anything for the shares. The two have been adamant that their only goal is to help Junior win Cup championships, something he's been unable to do at DEI. He has not been a legitimate title contender since 2004. In 2005, he had a horrendous season when Teresa Earnhardt split up his crew, and he failed to make the Chase for the championship. He rebounded last year by making the Chase but was never a threat for the title. The contentious contract talks started before the season even began, when Teresa Earnhardt questioned her stepson's commitment in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. "Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality," she said in the Dec. 14, 2006 story. He was silent on the issue until pre-season testing, when he admitted the comments bothered him and said his relationship with his stepmother "ain't a bed of roses." "The relationship that we have today is the same relationship we had when I was six years old when I moved into that house with Dad and her," he said. "It's always been the same. It hasn't gotten worse over the last couple years or last couple months. "The way I felt about her then is the way I feel about her now." Junior calls COT 'frustrating' Dale Earnhardt Jr. has used his clout to get things changed in NASCAR before. His next target is the Car of Tomorrow. A day after struggling with the new-look car at Richmond International Raceway, Earnhardt Jr. called on NASCAR to make it easier to turn and handle. "It's going to take some time to figure it out, but right now it's about the most frustrating thing I've had to deal with in this sport, and I've had to deal with some pretty frustrating things," Earnhardt said Monday. Junior was running in the top 10 for much of Sunday's race until Jeff Green spun him. He finished 13th, but claims he knew he didn't have a car that would win. Jimmie Johnson's victory gave Hendrick Motorsports four wins in four races with the new car, which is being phased in this season and could be used in every race by 2008. Earnhardt finished seventh, fifth and 19th in the previous COT races, and while that's not bad, Junior hasn't enjoyed any of them. "Everyone is struggling with getting the cars to turn. Even when you're running in second or third position, you're just the best of the worst cars out there," Earnhardt said. "Nobody's cars were that fun to drive. You're just trying to be the guy with the least amount of problems when it comes to handling and that seems to get you toward the front." When Junior has spoken up in the past, people have listened. When he complained about a dip last year at Texas Motor Speedway, it was fixed before he returned last month. The driver he's endorsed to get the final spot into the annual all-star race always seems to get voted in by the fans. Speaking before testing began Monday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Earnhardt also chastised RIR for not sealing the track before Sunday's race. But Junior, the sport's most popular driver, is most concerned with using his clout to get NASCAR to take a serious look at how to improve the COT. The COT was the culmination of a seven-year project to find a safer car that would produce more side-by-side racing and make it easier to pass. With a detachable wing on the back and an adjustable splitter on the front, it was also designed to allow teams to use the same car at all tracks, saving teams money. "They were open to suggestions on the wing versus the spoiler and all the other things when they were building the car and they implemented those," Earnhardt said. "Hopefully, they'll be open to some criticism and more suggestions on how to improve it." Junior isn't alone. Numerous drivers have complained about the way the car handles, but not as forcefully. "Well, certainly Dale Jr. has a little bit more star power, and Tony Stewart, than I do," Greg Biffle said. "So I have to be careful what I say because I get a little bit more ripped or branded than they probably would. "But it is a difficult car, to get to what do you want it to do. It's hard to influence the car to do stuff." But just what needs to be done is uncertain, and not everyone even thinks the car should be tinkered with. Car owner Ray Evernham believes much of the griping stems from Hendrick's dominance. "What changes would he make? You can't just sit there and (complain) at NASCAR. I say don't make changes -- let us figure it out," Evernham said. "I think that Dale Jr. and those guys are probably in the same boat that we are: spread too thin and what used to work doesn't work anymore." The COT will be used again next weekend at Darlington, a track known to tear up tires. Junior hopes he doesn't tear up the car. "I'll be just trying to keep it off the fence. I think it'll be hard not to hit the wall," Earnhardt said. "The way these things get tight, it'll be hard and slow, real slow. Very, very frustrating. Really, really, really frustrating." Ford admits interest in DEI Ford has confirmed it is in talks with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. about switching to its brand of race car for the 2008 NASCAR season. "We definitely have been talking with DEI," said Kevin Kennedy in a statement released by Ford. "Truthfully, we've been having informal talks with them for several years. We have not yet made a formal offer to them, but we know that their GM contract is up at the end of the year. We had some discussions with them, and we've made it clear that we'd love to have them in our program." DEI has confirmed that it is in talks with General Motors and two other manufacturers about a new deal but that Chevrolet is the only one to have made a formal offer. The team is still in contract talks with Dale Earnhardt Jr. about a possible return. Junior has maintained he wants majority ownership of the team his father built as part of any new deal. DEI is also said to be in talks with Robert Yates Racing about a possible partnership. Team officials have indicated they would like to start a fourth team by the 2009 season. Yates is already a Ford-based team. Earnhardt declines to discuss contract publicly Dale Earnhardt Jr. received a new contract Tuesday -- just not the one he wants. Lowe's Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler presented Earnhardt with a ``Big Contract,'' poking fun at Junior's ongoing contract negotiations, during an appearance to reminisce about his 2000 all-star race win. The contract offered Earnhardt Jr. .51 percent of LMS if Junior agreed to drive the tram, teach Victory Lane etiquette, be the pre-race musical act and serve as the track owner's personal chauffeur. Junior, who is asking for 51 percent of Dale Earnhardt Inc., his late father's company, took the gag in stride. Then he politely declined to discuss his contract situation. ``We're just trying to work on it without any press, which is kind of difficult,'' Earnhardt Jr. said. ``Maybe typically it ain't fair to you or the public, but we like to do this on our own terms here.'' Earnhardt's sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge has set a deadline of the end of May to resolve the situation. ESPN reported last week that DEI has offered Earnhardt Jr. majority ownership, which the driver and Elledge denied. Several people familiar with the contract negotiations have told The Associated Press that stepmother Teresa Earnhardt is willing to sell the 51-percent ownership share for between $55 million and $75 million. Those familiar with the dealings requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak. Despite all the wrangling, Earnhardt Jr. said he's confident he'll remain at DEI. ``I'm pretty excited that things are going to be fine, things are going to work out with our negotiations,'' he said. But he acknowledged negotiations would be different if his father were still alive. The seven-time series champion was killed on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, and Teresa Earnhardt has run the company ever since. ``If my dad was alive, a lot of things would be different, a whole lot,'' Earnhardt Jr. said. ``I don't like to get hypothetical. I think he would be pretty proud of what I've been able to accomplish.'' Earnhardt views Gordon tribute as class move Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't understand the backlash over Jeff Gordon's decision to fly a No. 3 flag after tying the late Dale Earnhardt on NASCAR's career victories list. Gordon took the flag on his victory lap following win No. 76 on Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway. His car was pelted with beer cans during the tribute, and fans have been critical of the display in the days since. But Junior, who congratulated Gordon in Victory Lane, called the tribute to his father a classy move. ``I don't know how in the world you could take that the wrong way,'' Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday during an appearance at Lowe's Motor Speedway. ``That's what's bothering me so bad. Jeff can't win for losing. ``He was trying to make a good gesture. That's all that was. I don't think anybody in the world could find anything wrong with what he did. That's a shame he didn't get all the credit he deserved for it.'' Gordon's crew decided on the tribute last summer when the driver reached win No. 75. The team had carried the No. 3 flag in its truck ever since. Aaron Kuehn, a crewman on Gordon's team, approached Junior and his sister at a party last year to get their approval. Earnhardt had forgotten the request until reminded Tuesday. Earnhardt said he thought his father would have appreciated the moment, and the time the team had to carry the flag before using it. ``That flag rode around in that truck for several months -- which my dad would get a real kick about that,'' he said. ``I don't understand the disrespect -- what's the angle there? When you win a race, it's all about you at that moment. You won, you're happy, you're excited, you're the best of the best. ``And (Gordon) decided to split that down the middle, 50/50, and give my father some respect and take half of his moment and give it to my dad. I thought that was really classy.'' Earnhardt took particular issue with fans who threw beers cans onto the track. It's grown increasingly common. And a few years ago it created a dangerous situation at Talladega Superspeedway, where fans showered the track with cans after Gordon beat Earnhardt under caution. As the Nextel Cup Series heads to Talladega this weekend, Earnhardt acknowledged Gordon could see more animosity -- and beer cans -- if Gordon wins to break a tie with Dale Earnhardt. ``I'd consider it nasty,'' he said. ``I don't feel comfortable with beer cans flying on the racetrack at any point in time. You see a lot of them are full, half full, hitting people 'cause they're not making it over the fence, knocking people in the back of the head. ``I've seen that happen on occasion. It's a dangerous business. I don't think it's cool. It ain't cool at all.'' Earnhardt said it's a misconception that his father and Gordon were bitter rivals, saying the two were friends who partnered together in several business ventures. And when Gordon was breaking into the sport, it was the elder Earnhardt who helped him understand the etiquette of big-time racing. ``I never remember a rivalry. ... I actually never remember any problems,'' Rick Hendrick, Gordon's car owner, said. ``I think there was a lot of respect there. I think when you've got two popular drivers, different fan base, I think a lot of times the fans create the rivalry. ``I think in that case it was just the Earnhardt fans didn't want to see Jeff win. And Jeff fans against Earnhardt.'' Wheeler wants Earnhardt to 'get back to winning' Leave it to a master promoter to bring a new angle to the stale story of the Dale Earnhardt Jr. contract negotiations with Dale Earnhardt Inc., the racing organization his father Dale and stepmother Teresa founded. When Earnhardt showed up at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday ostensibly to promote next month's Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge, colorful LMS track president Humpy Wheeler pulled out a poster labeled "Big Contract" and said he was willing to give Junior .51-percent ownership of the track for just a few "services rendered." Among the services Wheeler suggested: tram driver, Victory Lane "etiquette coach," pre-race musician and personal chauffeur for track owner Bruton Smith. Earnhardt laughed and said he might perform the last two, but would not have anything to do with the first two. "I guess our negotiations have begun," Wheeler joked. The negotiations between Earnhardt and DEI, meanwhile, continue to drag on with little or no visible progress, at least to the public eye. Earnhardt reiterated again Tuesday that there is nothing new to report, even though reports had been circulating that for Earnhardt to fulfill his publicly stated desire of 51-percent ownership in DEI Teresa Earnhardt might very well require him to write a check in the neighborhood of $55 million for control in a company that is estimated to be worth about $110 million. Asked about those reports, Earnhardt said: "There's really nothing new going on with the contract. When there's something new, I'll tell you. I know you hate to hear it as much as I hate to say it, but there's just nothing new to report." Wheeler later said he knows what the Earnhardt negotiations are really all about. He said that whether Earnhardt stays with DEI or goes somewhere new, it's all about the popular driver making certain he ends up wherever he will have the best chance to win the most races. And Wheeler, ever the track promoter, is all for it. It has been 33 races since Earnhardt last won -- almost one full calendar year since he won at Richmond last fall. Wheeler said that is too long. "What I want to see is him get back to winning. That's what drives ticket sales. He right now tips the cash register better and faster than any driver we've got -- when he wins. And even sometimes when he does really good and he doesn't win," Wheeler said. "The sport is driven by the personalities in it. He outsells everybody else today -- in souvenirs, ticket response and everything else. So I just want him to get in the right place where he can win." That might wind up being DEI and might end up being another racing organization, Wheeler said. He said that he believes Earnhardt wants it to be DEI, but isn't sure yet if it will be in the end. "Well, I think just from what I'm looking at, he's trying to restructure DEI and make it what he wants it to be. And he wants to win," Wheeler said. "A superstar driver can go through a lean year or two, but that's it. You've got to start winning again. And he knows all that. He knows that the heat is on." From 2000 through 2004 -- his first five full seasons competing in what is now the Nextel Cup level -- Earnhardt won 15 races. That put him on a similar pace to what his father averaged in wins over a career that eventually spanned 26 full seasons and netted the elder Earnhardt 76 victories. But since then, Junior has struggled to get to Victory Lane -- winning only once in each of the last two seasons and going winless over the first eight events of this season. Wheeler said that if the younger Earnhardt and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, need to come up with $55 million to gain a controlling interest in DEI, it shouldn't be all that difficult to do. "Fifty-five million is a lot of money, but it's not that much in the larger scheme of things -- when you've got a long-term deal. In this business, as strong as it is right now and as strong as contracts are and are going to be, it's not that much," Wheeler said. Wheeler also said that he believes Earnhardt and his sister, who is handling the driver's end of the negotiations with DEI, are being careful not to offend anyone else in the family. "He's very loyal, and that is a big family that has got far-reaching tentacles. And I think that's why this thing is taking so long. I think he's giving everybody an opportunity to say no, but hopes they say yes," Wheeler said. Despite his death as the result of an accident in the 2001 Daytona 500, the elder Earnhardt's spirit seems to loom all over these negotiations between the son he loved and the organization he built from the ground up along with his wife. The younger Earnhardt was asked Tuesday what he thought his late father would think of the current negotiations -- and he wasn't talking about the playful ones between him and Wheeler. He also was asked if he thought his father ever intended for him to possibly one day leave DEI's employment. "If my dad was alive, a lot of things would be different -- a whole lot. I really don't like to deal with the hypothetical," Earnhardt said. "But I think he would be pretty proud of what I've accomplished. I think he'd be pretty proud of my sister, too, and I think he'd be proud of all the employees at DEI. I think he would be happy with the caliber of race teams that we have and the caliber of people that we have." But would he be happy with the number of race wins they currently are generating? Wheeler thinks not. "We've had a lot of father-son deals in this sport," Wheeler said. "But that was one of the strongest bonds we've ever had, and it continues today. ... It's still there. And it is Dale Earnhardt [Incorporated]. I just think [Earnhardt Jr.] wants to see it where it puts him in a position where he can continue to drive and win races. That's what this is all about -- winning races." "I don't know that the [points] championship is that important [to him], frankly. Winning races is. He wants to win a lot of races. If he wins a championship as the result of that, that's fine. But winning races is his focus." Speaking shortly after his news conference at Wheeler's track with national media via a teleconference call, Earnhardt said that he expects to end up staying with DEI. "I'm pretty excited that ... things are going to work out with out negotiations," he said. "The good Lord's going to take me wherever I go in life. I'll be fine. ... I'm going to win races." An offer Junior can refuse? Taking control of DEI, his late father's company, might come at too high a price for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Last week, ESPN reported DEI offered Dale Earnhardt Jr. 51-percent ownership, which NASCAR's most popular driver quickly denied. That's not to say there weren't informal discussions, rather it could be Junior simply stopped listening once he heard the asking price. Several people familiar with the contract negotiations told The Associated Press that DEI has not made a formal offer and that any discussions centered around the 51-percent ownership share came with a steep asking price -- $55 million or more -- that the Earnhardt Jr. camp didn't take seriously. That number would be in line with the going rate for a stake in a NASCAR team. Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is believed to have spent about $60 million in February for a minority stake in Roush Fenway Racing. Those familiar with the negotiations requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak. When reached Monday, Junior's sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge declined comment, citing the reporting of inaccurate information over the weekend in her desire to refrain from commenting until a formal announcement. Junior has been steadfast in his demand for majority ownership throughout the three-month negotiations. But who knows if he can even afford to meet the asking price? And should he even be expected to pay for a stake in the team? He and Elledge have said they believe Dale Earnhardt started DEI as something to leave behind for his four children. ``The idea is that the company would be left to the children, and we want to make sure that there is a formidable business left there we can take on for our generation and then our children and then on and on,'' Elledge said earlier this month. ``It's very important to us.'' If Dale Earnhardt were still alive, would he have sold shares to his son or simply handed over control when Junior was ready to run an empire? Stepmother Teresa Earnhardt might know the answer, but she's not saying. Instead, she has appointed Max Siegel, president of global operations for DEI, to speak on her behalf. Silent through most of the negotiations, Siegel has said he didn't want to publicize the ongoing contract talks. He broke that rule last Thursday, telling ESPN that DEI has ``worked hard to address everything'' that Junior sought, without discussing specific percentages. Since the report came out, Siegel has gone silent again. Neither Siegel nor other DEI representatives responded to multiple interview requests from the AP. There has been talk that to get a majority-ownership stake Junior would have to agree to a DEI board of directors that would make all major decisions, according to those familiar with the negotiations. But it makes little sense for Junior to accept that. Being forced to run decisions through a board -- which likely would include Teresa Earnhardt -- circumvents what he's trying to accomplish. He doesn't want control to get rich. He wants it to win championships. And his desire to run the company is what he and Elledge believe it will take to get DEI to NASCAR's upper echelon. Although the team is competitive, it has yet to consistently challenge for a Nextel Cup title, and Earnhardt hasn't been a legitimate championship contender since 2004. Elledge recently issued a 45-day deadline to settle the contract issue, putting pressure on DEI to get moving. But ESPN's report of a majority ownership stake offer caught Elledge and Junior off guard -- something Junior was less than pleased about. That might backfire on DEI. With only six weeks left in Elledge's timeframe to come to a formal agreement, it seems the two sides have never been farther apart. Earnhardt in the spotlight at Subway Fresh Fit 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr. certainly knows how to keep himself in the spotlight. From his ongoing contract dispute with stepmother Theresa at Dale Earnhardt Inc. to jumping into the same car of a driver that wrecked his Chevrolet in last Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway, Earnhardt is the driver that attracts the attention. And once again he is the focus of attention entering Saturday night's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. A rumor started Thursday that Earnhardt had been offered 51 percent of DEI on the condition that both Dale and his sister and chief negotiator, Kelley Earnhardt-Elledge, be named to the board of directors. Earnhardt disputed that rumor after he made his qualification attempt on Thursday night. "If that was the case, I'd know about it," Earnhardt told a group of reporters. "Things are where they were yesterday - the day before - the last couple of weeks. We're just moving along with the negotiations." Max Siegel, the president of global operations of DEI, told USA Today that no agreement is in place. Back in Mooresville, North Carolina, Earnhardt's sister told David Poole of The Charlotte Observer, "All conversations have been between Max and myself in the past few weeks discussing various ideas and alternatives, understanding that Teresa is not willing to give up 51 percent of DEI for nothing. Earnhardt has contended that unless he gains majority control of DEI, he would drive for another team when his contract expires at the end of this season. "I don't want to get hypothetical," Earnhardt said. "That's a long ways down the road. We still have a lot we need to work out. We were honest where we were from the beginning and I feel like it's hard to keep anything these days." Earnhardt qualified 15th for Saturday night's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway after running a lap at 131.028 miles per hour in a Chevrolet Impala SS. Jeff Gordon won the pole with a lap at 133.136 mph in a Chevrolet. If Earnhardt is unable to reach an agreement with DEI, one team that would love to add him is Richard Childress Racing. That's the team where his late father, Dale Earnhardt, gained most of his fame and won six of his seven Cup titles. "Let's just say adding a fourth car is something that is in our plans someday," team owner Richard Childress said. "We can paint a car red, too." Childress' response is in reference to Earnhardt's sponsor, Budweiser, and the familiar red Chevrolet. Childress also can offer young Earnhardt something no other team can and that's the famed No. 3 that his father made famous. Childress retains all rights to the No. 3 and had not used it since Earnhardt's father was killed in a crash on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. If that was not enough, there are still questions concerning jumping into Kyle Busch's Chevrolet for the last 10 laps of last Sunday's race. Busch was the driver that crashed into Earnhardt putting both drivers out of the race last week. Busch had left the track before his crew had repaired the car. Without their regular driver, Earnhardt was more than happy to jump behind the wheel of a competitor's car. "I'd never think it was a problem or an issue," Earnhardt said. "I never got a memo on it. I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I drive race cars. I like driving all kinds of race cars. I was asked to do it before and I did it then." Relief drivers are not new to the sport. In fact, in April 1965, A.J. Foyt - no ordinary sub to be sure - brought home an Atlanta Motor Speedway win for Marvin Panch. In 1973, Nextel Cup champion Benny Parsons had one victory, at Bristol Motor Speedway in July. That win was aided by John A. Utsman, who drove 170 laps before turning the car back over to Parsons for the final 80 laps. In August 1977, Alabama Gang member Donnie Allison got a coveted win at Talladega Superspeedway with future three-time series champion Darrell Waltrip wrapping things up after Allison became ill. Since the Waltrip-Allison combination win, there have been no victories by relief drivers. "If it was Sterling (Marlin) or one of those guys I think everyone would have saw it for what it is," Earnhardt said. "This (sport) is so corporate, so sponsor, so funding and money-driven that people have forgotten some of the real core values of what it's like to be in the garage and what it's like to know the other guys on the other teams and be friends with them." Even Earnhardt admits he was surprised by the reaction that came by driving Busch's Chevy. "When you're faced with that - a guy comes up and says get into the car - and you look around and there's no other driver standing around and you're the only one. That was a decision I made on the spur of the moment," Earnhardt said. "I got a really good friend who asked me to do it. I asked (crew chief Tony Eury, Jr.) and he said he didn't have a problem with me doing that. "I wouldn't hesitate. I'd do it again no problem." Reports of DEI-Earnhardt deal premature Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday an online report that he has been offered ownership in Dale Earnhardt Inc. is ``news to me.'' After qualifying for Saturday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway, Earnhardt was asked about the report that he has been offered 51 percent ownership of the company started by his late father. ``I don't know anything about that,'' Junior said, raising his eyebrows. ``As far as I know, there's been nothing new in the last week or more.'' Earnhardt, in the final year of his current contract with DEI, said he isn't worried about the negotiations. ``I just want to get some wins and some good finishes and concentrate of what we're doing on the track,'' he said. A story on ESPN.com Thursday said Max Siegel, president of global operations at DEI, said Earnhardt has been offered ownership in the company. Siegel could not be reach Thursday for comment. The story also said a source close to the negotiations said the offer is 51 percent. ``I'm not going to discuss percentages,'' Siegel, the chief negotiator for DEI, told ESPN.com. But Siegel told the Web site he has worked hard to address everything that Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, have asked for to re-sign NASCAR's most popular driver. Siegel also was quoted as saying, ``It would not be fair to say we have an agreement, but it would be fair to say we've come a long way. We all have the common goal, which is long-term success for this company.'' Junior puts focus on racing While everyone else worries about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s future with his late father's team, he insists the present is the biggest concern. "The Bud team has really been great this year, but people who haven't been paying much attention may not have recognized it because we've had a lot of bad luck and haven't had the finishes this entire team deserves," Earnhardt said. Entering Saturday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, Earnhardt is 18th in the points, with two top 10 finishes in seven starts. His contract negotiations with DEI, controlled by stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, have gotten a lot of attention this season. Right now, the most important thing is on-track performance and, hopefully, racing for his first championship. But last Sunday's race at Texas is a good example of what this season has been like for the fan favourite. Earnhardt had one of the strongest cars, led 96 laps and was a likely top-five finisher before slowing to avoid a spinning Tony Stewart. Earnhardt was hit hard in the rear by Kyle Busch and wound up 36th. "It wasn't anything we had control over," Earnhardt said. "But the things we do control, like car preparation, pit stops and me driving my butt off, we had all of those things going our way. And it's been the same story all season. We know if we keep doing what we've been doing, we'll be celebrating sooner rather than later." Earnhardt loves the one-mile Phoenix oval, where he won races in 2003 and 2004. But this week's wild card is the Car of Tomorrow, making its third Nextel Cup start and first on a track longer than a half mile. "I was really encouraged by how well we've done in the first two races with the Car of Tomorrow," said Earnhardt, who finished seventh at Bristol and fifth at Martinsville. "I think everyone in the garage is anxious to see how this new car reacts on a track that's longer than the two short tracks we've raced on so far," he added. "We've been able to find some things in the setup that the COT seems to respond to, so I'm anxious to climb in and get out there." Junior finishes race in 5 car after Busch wrecks, leaves Let the rumors begin. At perhaps the most crucial crossroads of his driving career in which he's negotiating partial ownership of the team his father created, Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a taste of what it's like to drive for the competition on Sunday when he finished the final nine laps in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Earnhardt had the dominant car midway through the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, getting around Jeff Gordon on Lap 153 for the lead, a position he held three different times for 96 laps. When Kurt Busch moved by Earnhardt to take the point on Lap 249, it was the first time anyone passed the 8 car for the lead while on the racetrack. And Kyle Busch had a front-row seat for it all, less than a second behind the front two cars battling it out. "How's that Miller Lite taste? Tastes great," Kyle Busch yelled as his brother moved around Earnhardt to take the lead in a front-row battle of the beer sponsors. It was the highest the younger Busch had gotten as he babied his car, picked off positions and made minimal changes to the machine that was brand new to him. He'd wrecked his backup in practice on Saturday and was forced to start from the rear of the field. Third place for the hard-charging Busch, however, was as high as he would get. Four laps after celebrating his brother's move to take the point, Busch's radio went wild again when his spotter tried to lead the driver through a blur of smoke that Tony Stewart produced while slipping around on the frontstretch -- his second spin of the race -- just after being lapped. "Trying to wreck in front of you. Watch it, watch it!" Busch's spotter said on Lap 253. But it was no good. Earnhardt slowed his No. 8 Chevrolet because of the smoke from Stewart's wreck, but Busch didn't get his bow tie slowed before he plowed into Earnhardt, sending the 8 car spinning across the start/finish line. The damage to Busch's car appeared much worse than that of Earnhardt's as he pulled directly to the garage. "Don't even worry about it, load it up," Busch radioed to his team. But nobody listened. Busch took his car to the garage, got out and disappeared while the crew went to work immediately on what looked to be an unfixable car. Meanwhile, Earnhardt's crew worked on his machine during the caution and kept their driver on the lead lap before finally retiring to the garage on Lap 301. "We struggled a little bit after the wreck," Earnhardt said once he climbed from his car. "We thought we could get the car back out there and run good, but there were some issues with the handling and finally the motor broke. "Normally when you tear a car up and spin around, you can throw the motor backward and do some damage there but that's not what happened. We just haven't had any luck and one of these days it'll be our day and we'll be able to celebrate." Eight laps later, the No. 5 crew had put all the pieces together to get the car back on track. All but one. "We ain't got no driver," a crewman said over the radio. Team members from the No. 5 searched for Busch but never found him. That's when jackman Rick Pigeon approached his buddy Earnhardt and asked if he would finish the race in the 5 car. Earnhardt asked crew chief Tony Eury Jr. about the situation. Eury gave the go-ahead, and Earnhardt got in the car to finish the final nine laps of the race. "Pig [Pigeon] is my buddy, and I have a couple other friends on this team," Earnhardt said. "They asked me to do it so I wasn't going to say no." When Earnhardt crossed the finish line, he thanked his newly adopted crew. "I could tell that it was a real nice car before we had the accident," Earnhardt said. "I really appreciate them asking me. I was honored. It means a lot to me." By finishing the race in Busch's car, Earnhardt was able to pass Jimmie Johnson in the finishing order as the 5 car completed two more laps than the 48. The 37th-place finish gave Busch three more points in the race's final tally, although Busch fell two positions to seventh in the standings. The upside for Earnhardt is that he wound up one spot ahead of Busch in the finishing order. The downside: he dropped seven spots in the standings from 11th to 18th, the farthest-falling driver. "It was a miscommunication between the team and Kyle," said Busch's crew chief, Alan Gustafson. "He thought they weren't going to go back out so he left. There were a few laps left, they knew they could gain a position and gain three valuable points. "So they asked Dale Jr. to fill in. Junior didn't hesitate and agreed and it was a very sportsmanlike gesture and it says a lot about Dale Jr. and the kind of person he is." But finishes and points weren't on Earnhardt's mind when he decided to help out a team that had worked hard to get their car in running condition. By the time he pulled into the garage after the race, an audience had gathered at the 5 car's garage waiting on its newly christened part-time driver at Texas. "It don't matter, I was glad to do it," Earnhardt said to eager onlookers, noting that he didn't hesitate to help out the Hendrick team. But he ended any thought that this may be a precursor for future changes. "Are you crazy?" Earnhardt intrigued by repair of rough spot on Texas track The namesake for ``Dale's Dip'' was intrigued by efforts to fix the rough spot at Texas Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. complained about a slight depression between Turns 1 and 2 after the fall race, prompting a $50,000 repair job designed to ``pump up'' the surface of a 200-foot section of the track. Earnhardt said Friday he'd never heard of the process he read about in a newspaper. ``Sort of like, implants for a track,'' he mused to reporters. Surely Earnhardt considered it more than cosmetic surgery, because he said the bump would ``hold this place back for years to come'' if not repaired. Track officials listened to perhaps their most successful driver, whose seven top-10 finishes in 12 Texas races lead everyone else. There was a more technical explanation for the process. After the drilling of 15-20 half-inch holes into the concrete, copper tubes were inserted through the asphalt into the soil, followed by the injection of special structure urethane. Not everyone was convinced there would be much of a difference. Jeff Gordon said he didn't even know about the change until a couple of days ago. Defending Samsung 500 champion Kasey Kahne said the rough spot was better, but he wasn't sure it mattered. ``I thought the bumps were fine the way they were,'' Kahne said. ``It's still the exact same track that it's been.'' Some drivers said the change was more dramatic on the high side of the 24-degree banking in Turns 1 and 2. In practice and qualifying, most drivers stay on the low side of the track through that stretch. ``I think that's really going to show up in the race,'' said Carl Edwards, who won the fall 2005 Texas race. ``I personally don't care if there's a three-foot tall jump on the straightaway. It's the same race track for everybody.'' Drivers' personal rides featured at LMS car show Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be in Texas, but his ride will be in Concord, N.C. So will Jeff Gordon's. And Jeff Green's And Ken Schrader's, too. But we're not just talking about your everyday sedan. We're talking about Earnhardt's 1967 Camaro, Gordon's Paul Yaffe original motorcycle, Green's 1,000-horsepower 1941 Willys and even Schrader's 1955 tow truck. That's just a sample. And of course everyone's heard of Tony Stewart's refurbished Cadillac hearse. Sure, the drivers will be just outside of Fort Worth getting ready for this weekend's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, but just a few miles from their respective shops in Concord, N.C., their personal souped-up rides will be sitting on display at Lowe's Motor Speedway during its annual Food Lion AutoFair. "Outside of our Cup weekends, the Food Lion AutoFair has become the most profitable event we host at the speedway," said Jerry Gappens, senior vice president of events at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Even with so many NASCAR fans in Texas, we draw a tremendous amount of car enthusiasts and race fans from up and down the East Coast, as well as a lot of the NASCAR team members who work at the area shops and don't travel week-to-week." More than 150,000 people are expected to converge on the LMS infield and surrounding area during the auto show, widely considered the world's largest automotive extravaganza which runs Thursday through Sunday. Gappens said the AutoFair will encompass more than 300 acres of property this weekend, with the majority being filled by 10,000 vendor spaces. Just 300 vendor spaces were filled at the first car show. Aside from the three weekends that the sport's three premier series hold events at the track, few top Lowe's Motor Speedway in terms of finding a way to utilize a 2,000-acre plot of land -- even on the same weekend a sister International Speedway Corp. track hosts the Nextel Cup and Busch series. While many tracks on the NASCAR schedule are fighting to fill seats yet spending to build more, Lowe's Motor Speedway officials refuse to be conservative when it comes to getting people inside. The facility is booked for no less than 19 weekends the rest of this year, from four-day events like the AutoFair to a weekly short-track summer series. "We've been trying to feed this 'Beast of the Southeast' for decades and had the opportunity to try a lot of different events -- some successful and some not," Gappens said. "But the key is that you've got to always keep pushing. If you can get someone to walk through those gates for anything -- from a car show to a Legends car race to a dirt-track event, you just might get them to come back one day for the Coca-Cola 600. "Our other SMI tracks have begun to have some success with other events as well -- Texas with the IRL race; Atlanta started street drags last year; and Bristol does an unbelievable job with their Christmas lights show. Just goes to show you that tracks can truly be multi-purpose facilities." Traditionally the AutoFair is geared toward car enthusiasts. Fifty-eight car clubs are expected, as well as 10,000 vendors during the four-day show. Buyers, sellers and traders will be in attendance, while a collector car auction and several displays fill the weekend, including one display touting the evolution of the stock car. Headlining the weekend will be Will Castro, the star of SPEED's TV show Unique Whips, where high-dollar cars from high-profile clients are customized to the extreme. His resume will be on display, including the tricked-out Hummer that LeBron James received as a present from his mother just before the NBA superstar was drafted. The Hummer project was featured on the February season premiere of the show and is decked out with a high-powered entertainment system. But even James' Hummer might not be the star of that show, considering Stewart's hearse will be on display along with his V-12 Lamborghini Murcielago. "With NASCAR's broad fan base and our location in the heart of NASCAR country, it's a natural fit for us to cross promote to each audience, car enthusiasts and race fans alike," Gappens said. "For both, there's a passion about cars and that's what makes the Food Lion AutoFair such an appealing event. Folks will enjoy seeing many of the vehicles that Junior, Gordon and Stewart drive when they are off the track." Gappens estimates the 39-vehicle feature exhibits in the Pavilion are collectively valued at more than $4.7 million. The total price tag hanging over Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend, however, is unpredictable considering the Friday night auction that will take place. Conversely, the final tally might be fit for a King. "I couldn't begin to put a price tag on the other 4,000-plus show cars that will be here this weekend," Gappens said, "but I am curious to see what the 1988 Richard Petty No. 43 racecar brings at the auction Friday night." Petty's Pontiac is the actual backup car that was sitting in Petty's hauler during the 1988 Daytona 500, when Petty wrecked his primary car in a barrel roll against the frontstretch fence. It's one of nearly 90 cars that will be on the auction block. And its one of the reasons the Lowe's Motor Speedway infield will be packed with drooling spectators, more than 1,800 show cars, high-dollar bidders who seek to take home a new collector's item, and a one gigantic publicity weekend for a racetrack. "Every track is always looking for something to make more money," Gappens said, "and we're fortunate that AutoFair has caught on as a way to do that and raise the national profile of this place at the same time." Earnhardt Jr. unveils new 66,000 square-foot facility A variety of new news came from Tuesday's open house at JR Motorsports -- including a partnership between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and motocross maven Jeremy McGrath -- but as for Junior's pending contract with DEI, there is nothing new to report. "Still working ... Kelley is still recovering. I don't want to place any more stress on her than she needs to have," Earnhardt said in reference of Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, his sister and de facto business manager. "... The decisions we make over the next six months are going to impact us over the next several years and I need for her mind to be clear as well as mine." Earnhardt wants control of licensing and at least 51 percent ownership of Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company his late father started with his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt. Elledge, who also serves as president of JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's Busch Series operation, is recovering from recent pancreas surgery. "We need to have a decision no later than June," Elledge said. "The biggest reason we want ownership in the Cup program is so that we can direct it to where we feel like it needs to go. "The idea is that the company would be left to the children, and we want to make sure that there is a formidable business left there and we can take on for our generation and then our children and then on and on. "The business is not where it could be over the last several years. It's going to take something to get that back and we're in a position of time. We want Dale to drive 10 or 12 more years. We've got to get on the racetrack and win and get competitive and win championships. We have to have a situation that provides that for him." Both Junior and Elledge said negotiations are going well and that talks are "positive." For now the focus is on Earnhardt's new 66,000 square-foot shop, decorated by former NASCAR driver Shawna Robinson and open to the public. Fans can watch shop happenings through a large glass window, shop for exclusive items at Jr. Nation and get their photo taken with the driver's wax figure, an exact replica of Madame Tussauds. Other figures, in By the Numbers form, are as follows: 7.7- Acres on which the new JR Motorsports race shop sits. 17- Pieces of gym equipment, plus free weights, located in the shop. 19- Total number of cars owned by JR Motorsports: Busch Series (13); Pro Cup (3); Late Models (3). 26- Number of offices inside JR Motorsports. 60- Number of full-time employees at JR Motorsports. 500- Different products available in Jr. Nation retail store, located inside the race shop. 66,000- Size, in square feet, of JR Motorsports' new race shop. JR Motorsports signs motocross legend McGrath Just weeks after Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael's stock-car debut, longtime rival Jeremy McGrath has now entered the arena with JR Motorsports. A seven-time Supercross champion and touted as the most popular motorcycle racer of all time, McGrath inked a deal with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to run 10 late-model races. Earnhardt and McGrath have known each other for several years and the announcement was made Tuesday during the unveiling of Earnhardt's new 66,000 square-foot race shop. "He called us up and we had a car," said Earnhardt, who houses the No. 88 Chevrolet Busch Series car along with three late-model teams under the JR Motorsports banner. Earnhardt called McGrath for a test about six weeks ago at Tri-County Racetrack, located north of Mooresville in Brasstown, N.C. "We competed for lap times. He was right down there with us at the end. ... I hadn't drove a late model in 10 years," Earnhardt laughed. "We are happy [McGrath] called us ... it will be a great opportunity." Team manager for McGrath's No. 72 Chevrolet late model, Jamey Caudill, said McGrath had a slow start but was up to speed by day's end. "The biggest thing was his car control," Caudill said. "He has good car control and was smooth with the wheel." McGrath recognizes the steep learning curve ahead. His first race is April 21 at Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, N.C. "I'm used to dirt and obviously this is asphalt ... but there will be some similarities. You follow a line like in NASCAR only it's a 6-inch line in Supercross," McGrath said. At 35, McGrath is getting a late start to his stock-car career but to his credit, he was pretty busy dominating Supercross from 1993 to 2001 and later winning medals at the X-Games. "I'm not too old. I don't think so," McGrath said. "Once a racer always a racer, you can't breed a racer, you have it or you don't." As for the possibility of facing Carmichael on the track again, McGrath said: "I'm hoping we get together, a friendly rivalry." Junior still wants majority ownership in DEI Dale Earnhardt Jr. has not backed down from his demand for majority ownership in his late father's company, his sister said Tuesday. ``Fifty-one (percent) is the right number because that gives us control,'' said Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Junior's sister and business manager. ``We'll take 75 or 95 or whatever we work out. At the end of the day, 51 gives you control. ``And we want control.'' Earnhardt is in the final year of his contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and has made owning a share of the company a major issue of his negotiations. He raised the stakes even higher in February when he said he actually wanted 51 percent of DEI -- not just a piece of the team. Contract talks were briefly halted after Earnhardt Elledge had surgery last month to remove a tumor near her pancreas. Although still recovering, she said she recently resumed talks with DEI president Max Siegel, and the brother-sister tandem is still asking for majority ownership. The company has been run by Earnhardt's widow, Teresa, since his death in the 2001 Daytona 500. ``The idea is that the company would be left to the children, and we want to make sure that there is a formidable business left there and we can take on for our generation and then our children and then on and on,'' Earnhardt Elledge said. ``It's very important to us. It's just a matter of us getting on the same playing field.'' Earnhardt Elledge said her brother wants control of DEI so he can turn it into a championship contender. Although he's won races for DEI, the organization has not won a title since his consecutive Busch Series championships in 1998 and 1999. He made the Chase for the championship in 2004 and 2006, but had an abysmal 2005 when he failed to qualify for the Chase after a career-worst season that saw two crew swaps. ``The business is not where it could be over the last several years,'' Earnhardt Elledge said. ``It's going to take something to get that back and we're in a position of time. We want Dale to drive 10 or 12 more years. We've got to get on the race track and win and get competitive and win championships. We have to have a situation that provides that for him.'' Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR's most popular driver and has leverage on his side. If he should leave DEI, every team in the Nextel Cup garage would fight to sign him and Budweiser, his longtime sponsor. Budweiser is closely associated with Junior and its contract with DEI expires at the end of this season. Earnhardt Elledge said the ownership stake was not the breaking point of negotiations, but that time could run out for a new agreement to be reached. Siegel has said he believes a decision can be made by May, and Earnhardt Elledge said the next two months are crucial. ``There is no breaking point except a day, a timeline,'' she said. ``We've said it to each other. Max and I are very honest with each other. It's like at some point, we've got to get to 2008. They do with sponsors and teams and drivers and we do. So at some point, the breaking point will be time. I'd say 30-45 days.'' Q&A: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Q: As defending champion of the upcoming race here at Richmond, let's just revisit that race quickly last year. Most everyone was chasing the 29 car [Kevin Harvick] but the end of the race turned out to be a pretty good finish between you and the local guy here Denny Hamlin. Can you just take us back to that race? Earnhardt: Yeah, it was fun. We had a good car. The 29 was fast all night, and they had some troubles, some bad pit strategy or whatever, made some mistakes, not pitting when they should have. That seems to be what the short track race is all about. All the cars are so easily matched that are running toward the front, it's more about pit strategy and who can get out first on that last stop and try and maintain position, and that's what we were able to do. Q: It seemed like you had a lot of fun with the burnout at the end, even turned it into a TV commercial for you. Can you rate on a scale from 1 to 10 that burnout that you did last year at the end of the race? Earnhardt: I don't know, my daddy never liked them too much so I'm not a big fan of them, but people have come to expect them so you don't want to disappoint anybody. It's a lot of fun. When you win, you're pretty excited and it's a great feeling. It's one I'd like to experience a whole lot more often, but we're working really hard to get there. Q: Could you talk about the mandated changes for the COT and the foam -- what kind of affect you think that will have and your concerns about safety inside the car? Earnhardt: Well, they had the fire this past weekend in the 29 and they made some changes and cut the foam out around the exhaust pipe or put in some kind of a fabricated piece, a square, to keep the foam if it did get hot not to move down or change its form, and get down near the pipe. I think that the COT, we'll learn a lot of little nuances and things like that within the car and make changes as we go with NASCAR. They've done a great job up to this point. They're being real lenient in a lot of areas with the car. As we start to understand it, they'll start to tighten the grip a little bit on the technical inspection and whatnot. I'm pretty pleased so far, but we've only run some short tracks with it. I'm sure it'll be a new ballgame when we go to the bigger racetracks and it'll be a whole other puzzle to figure out. Q: Can you talk about the tests so far, how much have you learned and at this point and how do you see the COT racing here at Richmond? Earnhardt: I think the racing will be good. A lot of guys are running in the middle, moving the grooves up, so that's a good sign. It's a great racetrack. I think the type of racing you get is more conducive to what style of track you're on more so than the car. I don't think you can build the car to improve the racing. It's really more about the style of track and what the track characteristics are. I think that the testing has gone pretty good. We're not really that fast right now but I'm not too worried about it. We were really poor at the Bristol tests and we turned out okay there. I don't know why we can't really run fast laps in testing, but the car is reacting and we're learning. Q: Are you experiencing problems in getting the car to turn like we hear from a lot of the other drivers? Earnhardt: The car is no more difficult to figure out than any car we've driven in the past. The other cars, the older cars, you struggled trying to get the car to work in the middle of the corner. It's no worse with the COT. I've found with the COT it's a little bit easier to get the forward bite and bump the corner. I'm not sure if that's just a fluke with this, but the car seems to be easier to get the forward bite better. I thought the corner of the car, either the width of the car or something to that effect that helps the car come off the corner a little better, a little straighter. The struggle at the center, that's always kind of been there, it's always been what you concentrate on. If you can get your car to roll at the center better, you're going to have a pretty good night. Q: Dale, you've had a lot of success out at the Phoenix track. You know all the nuances of the track. How do you adapt the Car of Tomorrow to a track, this mile track, for the first time? Earnhardt: I think that what we're learning here in Richmond is going to help us a lot when we go to Phoenix. The tracks are similar in certain aspects, and the setups that we ran over years past have been pretty close. You drive Phoenix a lot like a short track. Even though it's a little bit larger, you drive it like a short track, and the car handling and the way you charge the corners and work the center of the corners is a lot like a short track. I think we'll try to apply a lot of things that work here when we show up in Phoenix and see how it goes. Q: Dale, after your second DNF in California a lot of people started fretting about your season, the Chase and so forth, and you told everybody to chill out, that you thought everything would be all right. And sure enough, that's what happened, and you've moved up in the points. Can you talk a little bit about the confidence you had that early in the season that things would be okay? Earnhardt: Well, the season is really, really long, and a lot of the guys are going to find themselves having the same misfortune that we did at the beginning of the year. It sort of evens out, and if you try -- if you show up with good racecars every weekend, you've kind of cut the battle in half. I was just so happy how our cars were running at the time even though we weren't finishing races and we weren't getting good runs. Our cars were so good and so fast, I knew it was just a matter of time before we started racking up the finishes we needed and we'd be climbing up in the points. Realistically Hendrick and those guys, they're at the top of the charts right now, winning every week and running up front every week, and they'll be hard to challenge going into the Chase at this point. But if we can just continue to finish good and take good cars to the racetrack, we should be able to make that Top 12. Q: Would you be willing to give us just a general update on your sister Kelly? There were reports early that she's going to be fine, but the recuperation process will be slow. Can you give us kind of a general picture of that, and also does that keep everything, as you said at Bristol, kind of on hold for a while, or is there room for her to work toward the contract now? Earnhardt: She's doing a whole lot better. She's going to be sore and she can't lift anything for several weeks. But she's doing really, really good. She's out of the woods, so to speak, and we're all really, really happy about that. She'll start carrying out her typical duties, and she's starting to phase back into what's been going on over the last six to eight months and get back to work. Q: As you mentioned, the Hendrick team is very hot right now with the COT. Do you think it's fair that this year's champion very easily could be decided by whoever gets the handle on the COT first? Earnhardt: I think it's fair. I mean, everybody is in the same boat. We all have to learn it together. We've ran better than I anticipated we would at the first two races already. We didn't test as early and as often, and going into those races without that much data and knowledge about the car, I was really pleased with how we did. I was really worried that it was going to be trouble for us because I didn't think we would pick up on it, and we still may run into some roadblocks when we go to the bigger tracks. But with the way my team has been working, with their confidence level, I feel like we're getting that chance, we can make a challenge. We've had some great opportunities and near misses at points in the last couple of Chases that we've been in. We saw where we've had some opportunities to win a championship, and we just have to put ourselves in that position again and try not to make those same mistakes. Q: I wanted to ask about coming to Texas. Texas Motor Speedway said they repaired the dip. Are you eager to see if they have? I noticed that you are going to be involved in a roundtable discussion before the movie Dale is shown at the track. Can you talk about that and why it was important for you to be a part of that as they show this on the big screen for the first time in the Dallas area? Earnhardt: Yeah, I'm excited that they've repaired the dip. What happens is at every racetrack where they put a tunnel in, over the year's water and rain and whatnot settles the ground over the top of the tunnel and creates a dip in the track and a bump in the track. I used the media, but I told Gossage and those guys at Texas how the track was coming into its own and creating a second and third groove, but the dip was so bad at the top of the corner on [Turn] 1 and 2 that it was hard for us to run through there. We were running on cold bound springs and stuff like that. And when you go over a big old bump like that with a cold bound spring it throws the car in the air, so I told them if they could fix that they'd have a better racetrack. He was upset that I used the media to tell him, but sometimes you guys have the loudest microphone. As far as the Dale movie, I was really thrilled with how that turned out, very proud of the whole project and just want to give it the best opportunity to be seen by as many people as possible. I'm just trying to help that. Q: There have been some people complaining that Doug Johnson and Jeff Burton didn't dump Kyle Busch at Bristol. They all cited the way your dad raced, how he didn't care who it was or what it was, he was going to win a race no matter what. Talk about the evolution of racing etiquette and who has it changed? Earnhardt: I think different guys race differently. You have to understand that Jeff and Jimmie are teammates and they're friends and they know each other really well, and believe it or not, in that situation, it's easier for Jeff to go in there and give Jimmie the bumper. If it were another competitor like Tony Stewart or Jeff Burton, maybe that wouldn't have happened, Jeff would have drove totally different. But being close friends as long as they have, they can lean on each other harder. It's like me and Tony [Eury] Jr., being able to cuss at each other in the garage area and being able to walk it off, and other crew chiefs and drivers don't have that style of relationship. I think that the circumstances come down to which two drivers are involved and how they've raced each other in the past. Every situation is going to have a different outcome. I thought it was good to see. I didn't think any driver really had anything to complain about. If anybody had anything to complain about -- if anybody who was having a bad day it was the guys that missed the race who were sitting home watching it on TV. I was very happy to be running up front with a first shot at the win, and I think that's the way those guys probably felt, too. Q: Your team really came together through the challenges. There was a sense of panic about you getting to the front where you wouldn't make the races or something like that, and I think Eury, Jr. said that he even went to see the preacher man or he was going to church more often or something, but your team didn't fall apart. What does that say about the fact that you guys did not panic through that time, and now you're 11th in points? Earnhardt: You can be in this sport or any form of sport, anything you do, and you're going to have a lot of things thrown at you. You just kind of -- you see it through the other side, and normally things work themselves out. Like I said, it was way early in the season and there was no point to really get too concerned with how things were going, and I've always been the kind of person that you give your best effort and the result is the result and that's what you've got to live with, and like it or not that's what you have. If I wasn't running as hard as I could we would probably be panicking. But we were giving everything we had, things just weren't working out. We just had to wait until it would. COT moves to Richmond for two-day test session Competition and preparation crossed paths this past Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway, as Nextel Cup Series teams shuffled their backup cars out of the crossover gate and sent them on their way to Richmond, Va. The parade was necessitated by this week's Nextel Cup test at Richmond International Raceway. Many teams plan to use what was their Martinsville backup car as one of the two they'll test at Richmond. "It was interesting to see so many teams take out their backup cars after Happy Hour [at Martinsville] to get ready for the Richmond test," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "We're ahead of the game. We've got two cars ready to go and it shows how hard everyone has worked at DEI to get the new cars built." This week's test -- the fourth of seven NASCAR-scheduled series tests in 2007 -- begins Tuesday and ends Wednesday. It's the first series-wide Car of Tomorrow test at Richmond. The culmination of a seven-year project by NASCAR's Research & Development Center, the Car of Tomorrow underwent its first on-track test at Richmond, in the summer of 2004. The track's May 5 event (Crown Royal Presents the Jim Stewart 400) will be the first Richmond event for the Car of Tomorrow and the fourth overall. Teams will use the Car of Tomorrow in 16 of 36 series events in 2007. Earnhardt -- a three-time Richmond winner and defending champion of the May event -- is looking forward to it. "Richmond is one of those places where we seem to always be fast -- from the Busch Series days to the Cup Series," Earnhardt said. "So let's see if that confidence and momentum carries over. If we have a good test, look out." Fifty series teams are schedule to attend this week's test. Both sessions run from 1-9 p.m. ET, weather permitting. Sunoco Pit Move: M'ville Before rain stopped the Goody's Cool Orange 500 on Lap 358, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the rest of the field seeing red. But when the gray went away over Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Junior was the one left singing the blues. With bad weather approaching and Junior holding a comfortable lead over Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer, none of the frontrunners were willing to trade track position for fresh rubber and fuel, despite cautions with 165 and 147 laps remaining. So when the skies opened up, forcing NASCAR officials to throw a red flag to halt the race, it appeared the No. 8 crew had made the right decision. However, the shower passed fairly quickly, allowing the track to dry within minutes. As the cars were fired, No. 48 crew chief Chad Knaus made the decision to have Johnson come in for service. Johnson and Denny Hamlin both pitted on Lap 360, dropping out of the top 10. "I didn't really feel like I had a chance to run with the No. 8 car or win the race right before the rain red flag," Johnson said. "Once again, Chad had amazing pit strategy to get us track position and get us up front." When Tony Raines hit the wall 15 laps later, Junior and the other cars in the top 10 dashed for the pit entrance for what would be their last stops of the day, leaving Kyle Busch -- who was out of sequence with the rest of the lead-lap cars -- Johnson and Hamlin in the first three positions on the track. Six laps after the green waved on Lap 382, Johnson got around Busch and then was able to maintain track position at a place where passing is difficult. "Once we were up front, I picked up a lot of time," Johnson said. "And then the guys that were leading like Junior had to come through traffic, just didn't have the speed and one reason is, it is really tough to pass here. "It does seem like you do lose a little bit of front grip in traffic as you are racing people. Clean air does help these cars a lot." Earnhardt, who led a race-high 137 laps, had to settle for fifth instead of celebrating what would have been his first Martinsville victory. "If it wouldn't have rained, we would have been hard for the rest of the field to handle," Junior said. "It's disappointing to come to this place and run so well year after year and lead so many laps and still not have a win. "But I've got to give [crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and] the Budweiser guys all the credit for this car. We unloaded fast and stayed fast. They made it better during the race so the credit goes to my team. They set the car up to get better as the day went on, but we were never the same after the rain." Jeff Gordon also pitted on Lap 376, getting by the No. 8 shortly after green-flag racing commenced. Gordon's tires were 15 laps fresher than Johnson's -- and his car was obviously quicker as he closed the gap on the leader -- but he couldn't find a way around without wrecking his teammate, not that he didn't try. "We had a much faster racecar but the best car doesn't always win," Gordon said. "They played a good pit strategy but I couldn't be more proud of all the guys. "That was a heck of a race and Jimmie did exactly what he needed to do. He made his car really, really wide. It was a great race and I basically had to wreck him to win it, and I'm not going to wreck my teammate for a win." Hamlin appeared to have the car to beat early on, but fell from first to 11th on Lap 218 when he had to back up to replace a lug nut on his left-front tire. The decision to come in with Johnson gave him much-needed track position, but Hamlin got caught behind a lapped car on the final restart and wasn't able to keep up with Johnson and Gordon to make it a three-car battle at the front. "We just had to do some strategy there that we really didn't want to do," Hamlin said. "We got caught back there in the pits and took all day pretty much to get back." Earnhardt update Dale Earnhardt Jr. toyed with the idea of flying home to Mooresville, N.C., on Friday to check on the status of his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, who underwent surgery to have a benign cyst removed from her pancreas. But Earnhardt was told that surgery went so well that he elected to stay at the track in Bristol. One day earlier, Earnhardt told reporters that his contract negotiations with Dale Earnhardt Inc. are on hold until his sister is sufficiently recovered. Earnhardt is in the final year of his contract with DEI and has said he is seeking a majority ownership stake in the company his late father founded. Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, a senior officer for the driver's Busch Series team, has been handling his end of negotiations with DEI, a company now headed by his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt. Earnhardt talks on hold Talks between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and representatives of DEI Inc. are on hold for the time being following news that Earnhardt's sister has been hospitalized. Earnhardt Jr. revealed on Thursday that his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, is set to undergo surgery on Friday. No specifics of the surgery have been released. "She's going to be in the hospital for a couple of days," Earnhardt said. "We'll be watching that pretty closely. Everything in life is on hold until that gets better." Elledge's medical situation has forced the postponement of several negotiating sessions with DEI Inc. over the past two weeks. Prior to that talks with the NASCAR team had reportedly gone well. Earnhardt Jr. is in the final year of his contract with DEI. While he has maintained all along that he would like to return with the team he has stated that a key to any new deal would be "majority ownership" of the team his father built. Sharpie introduces No. 8 Marker, NBS sponsorship Dale Earnhardt Jr. is making a bold statement on and off the track as he prepares for the Sharpie Mini 300 Busch Series race this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. The new Sharpie/Dale Earnhardt Inc. relationship will officially kick off Saturday when Junior gets behind the wheel of the new DEI No. 8 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, co-sponsored by Sharpie and Budweiser. "We've had some success at Bristol," Earnhardt said, "so we're really looking forward to adding the Sharpie race to our program and taking Sharpie and Budweiser to Victory Lane. Sharpie has such a great presence and history at Bristol, and I hope we can add to that." Race fans will get a glimpse of the race when Sharpie introduces the first Dale Jr. No. 8 Sharpie marker, rolling out in stores now. Junior will unveil the marker and new paint scheme at 5 p.m. ET Thursday at BMS's Tower 8, where he will sign Sharpie's giant autograph wall. Dozens of children representing Speedway Children's Charities will join him, lending their signatures and support to the Sharpie "Autographs for Action" campaign to benefit Speedway Children's Charities with $10,000 in funds and supplies. "Dale Jr. runs a limited number of Busch Series races each year, and we feel very fortunate it will be with DEI and Sharpie in the Sharpie Mini 300," said Howard Heckes, president of Sanford, L.P., the maker of Sharpie products. The Sharpie Mini 300 is Junior's second Busch race this season. Earnhardt is a former winner at Bristol, going to Victory Lane in the 2004 Sharpie 500 Cup Series race. DEI and Junior's new Sharpie partnership also includes a bold new addition to the Bristol Motor Speedway landscape -- a giant three-story billboard covering Tower 8 and featuring Junior's larger-than-life likeness. The banner, which also includes an image of the Sharpie No. 8 paint scheme and the new No. 8 marker, will be unveiled Thursday along with the No. 8 marker. It will become a permanent fixture at BMS throughout the 2007 race season. Sharpie Autographs for Action Autographs for Action annually seeks one million autographs as part of its program to give away $1 million in funds and supplies for community groups, charitable organizations and schools nationwide (go to www.sharpie.com). Sharpie will donate $10,000 in funds and supplies to Speedway Children's Charities as part of the Bristol autograph drive. Speedway Children's Charities Speedway Children's Charities (SCC) provides funds to organizations that meet the direct needs of children. From mentoring programs to camps for special needs children, SCC best affects children's lives by supporting organizations that work tirelessly to see that children's needs are met and that no child is left behind regardless of illness, social environment, or disability. Dale Jr. not too happy with Eury Jr., crew Dale Earnhardt Jr. got as high as third and was running sixth when he lost eight track positions in the final 25 laps and finished 14th. "There at the end, I don't know what the hell [crew chief] Tony [Eury] Jr. and those guys did to the car, but it was terrible," Earnhardt said. "We ran pretty good all day until the end." Any chance Earnhardt had of a top-10 finish ended during the final pit stop. "It [was] just a poor pit stop," Earnhardt said. "We shot ourselves in the foot just not getting the car handling right there at the end and I'm frustrated as heck about it." Junior moved up two spots in the points to 26th. "This team, we're better than what we ran [Sunday]," Junior said. "I think everybody knows what we've gotta do." JUNIOR AGGRAVATED Dale Earnhardt, Jr. ran strongly for much of the race, but he lost the handle on his car and finished 14th and very miffed. “We ran pretty good all day until the end. There at the end, I don't know what the hell Tony, Jr. (crew chief Eury) and those guys did to the car, but it was terrible,” Earnhardt said. “My tires were fine, they didn't blow out and I had enough grip. I am not complaining but pretty frustrated that we didn't do a better job of getting our car handling. With a hundred (laps) to go we got bad ... but up until then I was pretty happy. “This team, we're better than that what we run today,” Earnhardt continued. “It's very frustrating we can't make that happen but I really thought we was going to be strong every weekend. We had the car pretty good at one point today but it was frustrating, really, to end up like we did.” JUNIOR, HAMLIN FACING TOMORROW After a year of speculation and consternation, NASCAR’s much-hyped Car of Tomorrow is finally ready for prime time, making its competition debut one week from Sunday in Bristol. And while no one truly knows yet how the car will race, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. said he’s ready for the changeover. “It (the COT) actually drives better than our other cars do here (at Bristol),” said Earnhardt. “The car is an inch wider. It has a little more grip. I am really pleasantly surprised really. It has exceeded my expectations at this point and how the car is driving. ... I enjoy the way my car drives. I think we will get it even better. A lot of guys are running really good, which gives me promise that it will be OK.” Denny Hamlin, who like Earnhardt will be running one of the new Chevrolet Impala SS COT entries at Bristol, agreed. “Our team has done a whole lot of homework on this program the last couple of years,” said Hamlin. “I am pretty happy about where we are standing because not only are we fast but we are really good on the long runs and that really matters here. I am definitely excited to come back.” Slow start, 40th in points doesn't concern Junior You know the No. 8 car is coming because of the roar, which builds to a crescendo as the red Chevrolet crosses the start-finish line to begin its qualifying run. The sound follows it from the racetrack onto pit road, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. slides out of the cockpit to shouts of support from assembled fans. Nobody seems too concerned that he's 40th in Nextel Cup points -- not even the driver. "I can only do what I can do, you know?" Earnhardt said. "I don't worry about those things. I don't have the time of day to do it. We're trying to do the best we can here. We'll try to come back the best we can and get the finishes we can to get out of that hole. I think we'll be able to do that. I'm not really worried about it. I'm upset that we've finished like we've had, but there's nothing we can do about it." A crash at Daytona and an engine failure at California have left NASCAR's most popular driver facing a 225-point deficit as the series visits Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. The third race of the season may be too soon to start worrying about championship contention, but it's not too early to fret over being in the top 35 when 2007 owner points go into effect in three weeks. "There are some top teams right now that have had two bad races, and are in a bad position getting started right now," said two-time defending Las Vegas winner Jimmie Johnson, 15th in points after a poor Daytona 500. "We had a bad first race, and rebounded at California and got back up in the points. So there's definitely some concern, and guys need to be worried about it." The top 35 cars in owner points are guaranteed starting spots in that week's event. For the first five weeks of this season, NASCAR is operating off 2006 owner points, in which the No. 8 car placed fifth. That all changes after the March 25 race at Bristol Motor Speedway, a red-letter event for slow-starting teams like Earnhardt's, which don't want to be left on the outside looking in. Just ask second-year Nextel Cup driver J.J. Yeley, who got buried after a poor start to last season, and found that risky catch-up maneuvers only made the situation worse. "Right now, you look at Dale Jr. and the guys 35th on back in points, they're already 100-plus points behind. They're going to have to do something really, really big to try and make that up," he said. "Last year I was 40th after Daytona, and it was one of those holes you get into, that sometimes you'd try things you normally wouldn't try to get out of that hole. Those are chances you're taking that can either benefit you or be disastrous. I'd rather be in a position where you can be more conservative and lose smaller amounts rather than going for that Hail Mary pass that might lose you the game and not win you the game." For Earnhardt, in the final year of his current deal with DEI, the situation is complicated by contract negotiations that seem to have stagnated. Asked Friday if any progress had been made on that front, he offered a simple response: "Nah. Not yet." The entire episode shapes up as a possible distraction -- even if it isn't. "There's no question that off-track distractions can bleed into performance. There's no question. When everybody on the team is not 100 percent committed to the task at hand, and there's something gnawing in the background, it is and can be a distraction," said Jeff Burton, who drives for the Richard Childress Racing team that once fielded cars for Earnhardt's late father. "Now, some people can do that better than others. Some people can have all kinds of things going on, and a lot of other people can't. As seen by me, nothing has happened at DEI in the first two races that have anything to do with Dale Jr. saying, 'Things have got to change, or I'm leaving.' He broke an engine and he got into a wreck that wasn't his fault. What could he have done differently in those two races? The way I look at it, I don't see where that had anything to do with the first two races." But that doesn't mean Burton wouldn't be concerned about staying in the top 35 if he were in Earnhardt's position. "I'm second [in points] and worried about top 35," he said. "I mean, it's a reality of our sport. If you look at what's going on in our sport right now and you don't have an appreciation of how hard it is to get into races if you're not in the top 35, you're oblivious to the facts. Anyone that is involved in our sport right now is looking at that and saying, 'I've got to be in the top 35.' If you are outside of it, it's nagging you. If you're in it, it's nagging you. If you're 25th, it's nagging you. If you're second, it's nagging you. It's the most difficult it's ever been to make these races." For Earnhardt, the first few weeks of this season bear an inauspicious resemblance to the start of his 2005 campaign, where poor finishes in four of his first five starts doomed him to a 19th-place result in final points. But that came on the heels of an ill-fated crew chief swap with former teammate Michael Waltrip. Now, Earnhardt is with the same group that helped him make the Chase last year. And Friday, he stressed patience. "If I was 40th in points and the Chase was two races away, I'd be really upset. Pretty upset. Very upset," he said. "But it's early in the season. We've got time to remedy it. I think getting worried and getting panicky won't improve the situation. It only spreads through your team like a virus. Panic is very contagious, more contagious than anything else. You've got to have a positive outlook and try to impose on the team that they work hard to try and come out of it." Earnhardt Jr. Confident Engine Woes Resolved Dale Earnhardt Jr. says his team has figured out the source of its engine woes and is optimistic heading into Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Both Earnhardt Jr. and his Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammate Martin Truex Jr. suffered engine failures at California Speedway Feb. 25. Since then, the DEI engineers have worked to discover exactly what the source of the problem was. "We found out what caused the engine failure at California, and our guys have been busting their [butts] to make sure we don't have that problem again," Earnhardt Jr. said. Unleaded fuel debut garners mixed reviews Unleaded gasoline made its NASCAR Nextel Cup debut Sunday to mixed reviews. There were several blown engines during the race, including those belonging to Dale Earnhardt Inc., Chevrolets driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr., as well as the motor in the Evernham Motorsports Dodge of Kasey Kahne. Asked if he thought the unleaded fuel had anything to do with his engine letting go, Kahne said, "I don't know. It's definitely different the way it runs, the way it takes off on restarts and how it shifts. "We've got some things to work on and figure out, but I think the unleaded fuel is fine. We've just got to learn how to make it work." Earnhardt also said he didn't know if unleaded fuel had anything to do with his team's troubles. "I know the guys will figure it out," he said. "This unleaded fuel has sprung a little bit of a surprise on us -- a little bit of a curveball. But I have all the faith that DEI will get it figured out." Teammate Truex said he had no warning before his engine went up in smoke. "We had a restart there and I was running behind [Stewart] and the car was really good," Truex said. "Then, just out of the blue, the motor let go." NASCAR has been using the unleaded fuel in its Busch and Craftsman Truck Series since last season, but the engines used in Cup make more power and have to last longer because the races are longer. "The biggest challenge is the reliability and durability of the valves and valve seats," explained Jim Covey, engine technical director for General Motors Racing. "Leaded fuel has lubricity; unleaded fuel does not. Therefore, with the unleaded fuel, they have experienced wear issues with the valves or valve seats." Covey said the Cup engines turns as much as 9,500 rpm, which means the valves are opening and closing more than 75 times per second. "Leaded fuel provides a cushion, whereas unleaded fuel does not," he said. "The other thing that effects the wear is that the valve motion controlled by the camshaft is different from engine to engine and from team to team. Therefore, it might react differently from one team to another." • The engine in Dave Blaney's Toyota also seized up, but his team said it happened after a belt came off the oil pump. DEI takes hit at Calif. with blown engines Everyone in the Nextel Cup garage welcomes the open weekend before Las Vegas, but no one is happier to see it arrive than the engine builders. Especially the ones at Dale Earnhardt Inc. DEI experienced a pair of engine problems in the first 70 laps in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway, eerily mirroring the difficulties the team experienced last month at the open test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. California Speedway's 500-mile race has always been a red-letter date for Nextel Cup's engine builders, but the implementation of unleaded fuel has turned up the difficulty meter a notch. DEI's Martin Truex Jr. blew an engine on Lap 16 and finished 42nd, and teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. had problems 50 laps later. Earnhardt spent 20 minutes in the garage before he headed back onto the track to make laps, but the engine blew for good on Lap 120 when he went spinning into the turn, finishing his day. Earnhardt has started the year with back-to-back DNFs after crashing with seven laps to go last week at Daytona. Kasey Kahne, a heavy favorite to win here, lost a cylinder just one lap after Earnhardt began to have problems. "Really disappointing, I know the guys at the shop that build the motors are really upset right now I just want them to keep their heads up, and we will figure it out," said Earnhardt, who ended up 40th. "The unleaded fuels just threw us a curveball. We haven't gotten the situation like we needed, but we will go over the two motors we lost this weekend." Earnhardt began to lose oil pressure on Lap 66, and Richie Gilmore -- a former engine builder who now runs DEI's competition department -- told him to park it. "Richie Gilmore wanted to save the motor to try to dissect it a little easier," Earnhardt said. "We have got something we can bring back to show them. Maybe we can figure out what the issue is. We have a long season so everyone needs to keep their heads up." SPEED, JR Motorsports take fans inside car SPEED has teamed with JR Motorsports to develop SPEED 1, a fleet of race-ready demonstration cars to give viewers an unprecedented inside look at how cars will actually behave at each Nextel Cup Series event in 2007. "We wanted to do more than cruise around the track in an old show car," said Hunter Nickell, SPEED executive VP and general manager. "We want to take viewers and fans as inside as we can get them with real equipment. If we do our job right, SPEED is not just telling viewers what's going on, we're showing them. By creating the SPEED 1 program, we will give the viewers an opportunity to watch a race like they've never watched it before. The SPEED 1 fleet, including superspeedway cars, intermediate track cars and the Car of Tomorrow, will be driven by Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Wallace, for features on SPEED's Nextel Cup Series pre-race show NASCAR RaceDay: Built by The Home Depot. The entire fleet will be on display at JR Motorsports and moved around the country by JKS Motorsports. "It's an honor to have SPEED select us as the team to work with on this project," said Steve Crisp, director of motorsports at JR Motorsports. "We're really excited to be involved, along with Richard Childress Racing, JKS, Chevrolet and Goodyear. They're all great partners in this effort." "We will have multiple cars on the track with multiple camera angles, demonstrating not only what the preferred line is around a particular venue, but what it's like to pass, what it's like to get in and out of the pits and what it takes to win a Nextel Cup Series race," Nickell added. "We will certainly give a lot of attention to the Car of Tomorrow, giving viewers a true understanding of NASCAR's much-talked-about project aimed at making racing safer and more competitive." The SPEED 1 superspeedway car, complete with an RCR engine, arrived in Daytona for the big race weekend, with Wallace breaking in the fleet. "I was surprised to get behind the wheel of Speed 1 at Daytona and find it so fast ... it handled so well," Wallace said after reaching speeds in excess of 190 mph testing the superspeedway car. "This is a real racecar with Richard Childress horsepower and I'm looking forward to running it this year. "The SPEED 1 superspeedway car is the one that Jeff Burton ran at Talladega last year. In fact, I've asked SPEED if I can put my sponsor Furniture Row on it and race it there in April." Broadcast Sports Technology (BST) will provide the on-board cameras and Sportvision will provide telemetry. JR Motorsports, AAMCO agree to sponsor deal JR Motorsports announced Tuesday that AAMCO Transmissions has partnered with the organization for the 2007 season. The world's largest chain of transmission specialists will serve as an associate sponsor on the team's Busch Series No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Shane Huffman. JR Motorsports will also field the No. 83 AAMCO Chevrolet in the June 2 and Sept. 1 Busch Series events at Dover International Speedway and California Speedway, respectively. The driver for the No. 83 AAMCO Chevy will be announced at a later date. Additionally, as part of an extended deal, AAMCO will be the primary sponsor on the No. 40 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Key Motorsports. Huffman will drive the No. 40 AAMCO Silverado in the Truck Series events at Lowe's Motor Speedway, O'Reilly Raceway Park and New Hampshire International Speedway. "Everyone at JR Motorsports is pleased to have such a well-respected company partner with us for the 2007 season," said JR Motorsports general manager Kelley Earnhardt Elledge. "We look forward to building a strong relationship with AAMCO." "We are very excited to be partnering with JR Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr.," said Todd Leff, president and CEO of AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. "AAMCO and Earnhardt Jr. are two of the best-known names in the automotive world and we look forward to having Dale Jr. represent our brand." Junior disappointed with car, self, wreck The race strategy for Dale Earnhardt Jr. during most of Sunday's Daytona 500 was simple, and surprisingly safe. "It's a 500-mile race," Earnhardt said. "The first 400 are really an afterthought; you are really just kind of cruising around making laps and trying not to wreck." But he knew he couldn't play it safe all the way to the end if he wanted to have a shot at winning. "When it's 30 or 40 [laps] to go, you know you're good on gas and you don't have to pit anymore," he said. "So everybody lets it all hang out and you see a lot of smoke and bumping and tire-rubbing and carrying on -- and it's really, really nerve-wracking. I like being in front of it. I don't like being in the middle of it." Problem was, he was right in the middle of it when, on Lap 195 of the race that had been scheduled for 200 laps but ended up running 202, a promising night was ruined in a multi-car accident. "I was behind the No. 88 [Ricky Rudd] and couldn't see what caused the wreck, but I had nowhere to go," Earnhardt said. "The No. 88 slowed down and I ran into him and got ran into. I don't know. We just wrecked. "I couldn't see what was happening in front of me. We were coming off Turn 2 and I just saw smoke and sparks on the wall. I couldn't see what was happening in front of me because I was tucked in behind the No. 88." Earnhardt started the race fifth and ran among the top-10 for most of the first 85 laps. But following a pit stop , he began having serious problems with his car. It became so loose that the No. 8 Chevrolet's rear-end began sliding in every corner of Daytona International Speedway. It was about this time that Earnhardt came on his radio and told crew chief Tony Eury Jr.: "I hate to be Captain Obvious here, but we're not very good." After the race, Earnhardt admitted that his car wasn't very good overall -- even though by the time of his wreck he had worked his way back into the top-10 after Eury's decision to take only two tires during a pit stop on Lap 175. "We were trying everything we could try, but we didn't bring enough bullets to the fight," Earnhardt said. "We didn't have everything we needed to have. We're normally a lot better than this, and it's very frustrating to try to get out there and make things happen when the car just wouldn't cooperate. "I made some [questionable] moves, too. It wasn't just the racecar. Everybody was three-wide and you didn't know which lane to be in. It just seemed like everywhere you went, it was the wrong lane. It's just frustrating." The wreck that took him out relegated Earnhardt to a disappointing 32nd-place finish. He said that his race team simply must get better. "We're not where we used to be and I think that's pretty obvious," he said. "The motors make good numbers. It's not a problem with the engine builders. It's how the car gets runs in the draft and how the car holds the run for several laps. ... "We've had really, really good stuff down here. We need to look back. We used to be really good. I think if we looked back and tried to get our motors back in that power range we used to run ... we'd do better." The setup the team came up with for the 500 just wasn't good enough for Earnhardt to get out front and stay out of the packs of cars that spelled trouble. "It just didn't work for me," he said. "We were just trying to finish the best that we could. You know, I couldn't get my car to do what I wanted it to do. I don't want to put it all on the equipment. The car was functional and working and had good power, and I made some decisions I shouldn't have made. "But when I had a car that was a little more willing, it was easier to make decisions -- and I was way too indecisive [Sunday], especially when it came to crunch time and we found ourselves back in the three-wide action. We missed several opportunities to tear it up. We didn't miss the last one. "I was really hoping Mark [Martin] was going to win the race. I was sitting there thinking a top-five or top-10 would really be good for us, and just don't tear it up. These guys work really hard and I know I'm really good, so it makes it even rougher when I do tear it up." Dale Jr. deals with "The Magnitude of Me" When it comes to star quality, no one can top Dale Earnhardt Jr. He has rock-star status in NASCAR with widespread appeal ranging from the Generation X crowd to the old-timers who rooted for his late father. But deep down, Earnhardt still does not understand the reasons behind his popularity. "When we go do stuff like the Jay-Z deal, and I'm sitting there in awe like, 'How did I get here?' and 'Why am I here?'" Earnhardt said. "People around me all the time have to remind me of the magnitude of me. When they want you to come to the ESPYs to present, I'm freaked out and scared to death to go do it, or go be on Jay Leno." Earnhardt already won the Daytona 500 in 2004, the centerpiece of his 17 career Nextel Cup victories. The king of the restrictor-plate tracks, he has captured seven checkered flags at Daytona and Talladega. But Earnhardt still has much to achieve. He has never won the Nextel Cup title, and his critics believe until he does that, his star status exceeds his ability. "In a lot of people's eyes, it would help validate my career," Earnhardt said. "But me personally, I won't carry any burden with me if I don't." Easily NASCAR's most popular driver, Earnhardt is a cultural icon who has widespread magnetism, reaching far beyond the die-hard fans. That is why many believe he is in a powerful position regarding his dispute with his stepmother over control of Dale Earnhardt Inc. Without Earnhardt as a driver, DEI would lose most of its importance in the NASCAR community. "It's a big deal because it's DEI - something Dale Earnhardt created - and you want to see that continue on," four-time series champion Jeff Gordon said. "But you've got Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is a big part of that. He really is the heartbeat of that. He's the driving force, and that needs to be recognized. "He's the guy the sponsors want. He's the guy the fans want." Gordon believes Earnhardt is in a unique situation because of the dynamics his father's team run by his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt. That could become explosive. "If that thing is not going to blow up in a big way, they better figure a way to come to terms with it because Dale could write his own ticket," Gordon said. "He could go anywhere he wants, and his sponsors are going to go with him and his fans will go with him. "He's in the best seat you can possibly be in in this sport, and I don't know if Teresa realizes that." Gordon admits to being a huge fan of Earnhardt and a big admirer of his father, as well. "The only way for DEI to stay alive is for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to stay there," Gordon said. Clearly grasping the situation, Earnhardt wants 51 percent ownership of DEI, which would make him the team's controlling partner. But Earnhardt credits his sister, Kelly Earnhardt-Elledge, with helping him realize just how important and powerful he can be in sport. "They say 'You've got to get more confidence because you're that dude - you deserve to be on that stage,'" he said. "I don't see it that way." Sometimes it is hard to believe that Earnhardt remains so humble with so many fans and so much influence in the sport. Perhaps that's a big reason for his appeal. "I just hope because I'm personable and I'm thoughtful, and just a good character," he said. "My all-around character is really solid; I hope that that's the impression people have and I'm much easier to relate to than the other drivers." His humility is one reason he was stung by his stepmother's comments that he needed to decide if he wanted to be a driver or a celebrity. "I don't make the statement and make it a habit of seeking out attention all the time," Earnhardt said. "She portrayed it as I was out there waving a flag, 'Hey, look at me, I can dance, I can sing and check me out.' That was a little like a low blow there." A fitting comeback for Earnhardt would be to make 2007 his championship season while becoming the most sought-after driver in the sport. But none of that really matters to the man who never thought he'd be here in the first place. "I didn't ever think that I'd be good enough to race full time," Earnhardt said. "I didn't ever think I'd be able to hold down a job as a driver or win at the Cup level. I never thought I was going to make it. ... I've already accomplished more than I ever thought I would; I've shook hands and met people and done things that I've never thought I'd see or do." Earnhardt realizes he still has plenty of time to win his elusive first title "I have quite a lot of fond memories of my career up to this point already and I don't even think I'm halfway yet," he said." "I got a lot of years left to focus on winning the championship and hopefully that does happen." Driver ads to debut during Daytona 500 The Daytona 500, known as "The Great American Race," has become a great American marketing event. A full field of NASCAR sponsors is expected to break new campaigns during the broadcast of the Daytona 500 (2 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, FOX). In 2006, the Daytona 500 broadcast attracted 37 million viewers, making it the highest-rated and most-viewed NASCAR race in history. The 2007 race boasts a record purse of more than $18 million with the winner set to receive at least $1.44 million. For NASCAR drivers, the Daytona 500 is the venue to showcase their "off-road" skills to promote their sponsors in new commercials. More than a dozen NASCAR drivers are expected to star in new ads for the big brands involved in stock car racing. From Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, to the sport's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., the stars of NASCAR trading paint on the track will also keep fans tuned in during commercial breaks. Other NASCAR drivers scheduled to appear in commercials during the Daytona 500 include: Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler, Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip. The spots will all be available for NASCAR fans to view on a special ad showcase on NASCAR.COM beginning Feb. 18. Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite spot. "NASCAR drivers have a very strong public image, and they literally drive their sponsors' business," said Steve Phelps, NASCAR's chief marketing officer. "Drivers resonate with fans, allowing sponsors to tap into the NASCAR fans' legendary brand loyalty. And with drivers in so many spots, it makes for continuous viewing; fans see their favorites making moves on and off the race track." New campaigns scheduled to air during the Daytona 500 include: • Allstate breaks a new spot continuing heartthrob Kasey Kahne's popular "Girls Day Out" campaign. The Allstate Girls -- a trio of gasping, 30-something women quite fond of Kahne -- have become very popular and a hot topic on NASCAR bulletin boards. • Budweiser, the Official Beer of NASCAR, will debut a new commercial with Dale Earnhardt Jr. racing across the desert in a chase reminiscent of the film, Mad Max. • Chevrolet will use NASCAR to re-ignite the passions of Americans for its cars with spots featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart. The Daytona 500 serves as the manufacturer's third pillar of its new campaign celebrating passion, fun and freedom. Following spots on the Super Bowl and the Grammy Awards, the Daytona 500 ads use NASCAR's superstars joining other celebrities and "regular folks" in a memorable "mashing" of cultures and song. The scene is an intriguing infield celebration where fans evoke their passions for Chevy cars...most notably the Impala, which will complement the Monte Carlo racing in NASCAR in 2007. • Coca-Cola has a new NASCAR-themed animated ad humorously touting MyCokeRewards and the motorsports items available to fans. The spot uses stop-motion animation to depict the members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family, such as Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett and Jeff Burton. The animated drivers surprise fans with new NASCAR-themed prizes and experiences, including race helmets, firesuits and steering wheels from their racecars. Some of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences available to MyCokeRewards members include ride-alongs with Coke drivers, a fishing trip with Greg Biffle and a chance to attend the Coca-Cola 600 and spend an afternoon with Michael Waltrip at his race shop enjoying a Domino's Pizza lunch. • DirecTV is launching NASCAR HOTPASS at the Daytona 500 with five fully-produced channels showing the entire race through the vantage point of a single race team. The spot features Dale Earnhardt Jr. "taking a break" from a race to tell fans about NASCAR on DirecTV. Dale Jr. will be one of five drivers featured on HOTPASS at the Daytona 500. • Oreos, the Official Cookie of NASCAR, is baking the car numbers right into its cookies while airing its first NASCAR commercials. Oreo Double Stuf has teamed up with driver Greg Biffle on a new ad campaign and promotion giving fans an opportunity to twist, lick and dunk their way to Homestead-Miami Speedway in November to compete for a $10,000 prize. The Oreo Double Stuf Race sweepstakes launches at Daytona with Biffle driving a custom No. 26 Oreo Double Stuf car in the NASCAR Busch Series Orbitz 300 race. In the ad, Biffle gets "creamed" in an Oreo Race by one of his oldest fans, who leaves him watching as she celebrates with victory laps in his custom racecar. • Toyota's Camry begins racing in NASCAR at the Daytona 500, with an accompanying campaign showing how the trials, tribulations and eventual success of Toyota's Craftsman Truck Series teams have led to this historic moment. One spot highlights Toyota's determination to leave no stone unturned in the quest to be as competitive as possible. Toyota will air a one-hour documentary prior to the Daytona 500 on FOX that shows an intense race against the clock as all three of Toyota's new teams prepare -- over the course of many months -- for their historic entrance to the series and the biggest race of the year. Print, radio, outdoor and interactive ads will further surround the story of Toyota's history-making debut. • Sunoco has two new spots starring Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart. NASCAR's official fuel reminds fans they "may not be able to take Kasey to dinner, but you can take his fuel." In the commercial Kahne is at a quiet romantic dinner where he becomes the center of attention, and winds up spraying a bottle of champagne. In the Stewart spot, fans are told, "you may not be able to go grocery shopping with Tony Stewart, but you can take his fuel." The driver known for climbing fences after race wins scales a supermarket shelf to reach a can of soup for a customer. • Sprint Nextel's Daytona 500 primary spot features Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and Elliott Sadler giving racing advice to one another. Nextel's walkie talkie feature helps to settle the discussion -- with the arrival of the Nextel Cup. A second humorous spot features a Nextel phone, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray and a white bunny pulled out of a race helmet. • UPS's 2007 campaign features Dale Jarrett in pursuit of the ultimate pit crew for his long-awaited running of the big brown UPS truck. The former NASCAR champion and a host of celebrity helpers, including a hilarious sooth sayer, team owner Michael Waltrip and his father, Ned, comb the country looking for the perfect pit crew. The challenge of servicing the UPS truck's nitrous-injected, 800-hp engine with a racing enforced chassis makes for some interesting scenes. • Gillette's new commercial is so highly-anticipated and closely-guarded, the Official Shaving Products of NASCAR prefers to keep it a secret, asking fans to tune to the Daytona 500. Earnhardt focused on winning He's NASCAR's most popular driver, with a devoted fan base known as The Red Army. He's mobbed at tracks, stars in commercials with Jay-Z and routinely is invited everywhere from the MTV Music Awards to parties with the Playboy playmates. Yet for a long time, Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't seem to realize his worth. "You don't like public opinion or media opinion to sway your decisions, but in this case, I have a real bad habit of being way too modest about my position in this sport," Earnhardt said. "A lot of people, including the media, have sort of helped me understand what I'm actually worth -- what the situation really is." The deal is Earnhardt's contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. is up at the end of the year. Apparently, he finally received the memo that he holds all the cards. He opened Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway by announcing he wants majority stake in DEI, the company formed by his late father and now run by his stepmother, Teresa. "I think in any set of business negotiations, you've got to ask for it (all)," said Max Siegel, new president of global operations at DEI. "When people don't want the most and the best for themselves, and they're not pushing me to be the best I can possibly be, you've got to wonder why you're in business with them." But it took the past six weeks for Earnhardt to recognize he had the power to ask for the moon. Last December, he was offended when Teresa Earnhardt seemingly questioned his commitment in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He went public with his frustration during pre-season testing here, opening his heart and describing an icy relationship with his stepmother that "ain't no bed of roses." Sympathy and support for Junior came pouring in from fans and even rival drivers Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick, who referred to Teresa as "a deadbeat owner." Now, Junior finally has made it clear he wants to stay at DEI, provided he gets what he wants. If he doesn't, he just might walk and take sponsor Budweiser with him. The beer company has closely tied itself to Earnhardt as a pitchman and its DEI deal also is up at the end of this season. It adds up to what promises to be the most closely watched contract negotiations in NASCAR history. It's also a major distraction that could derail his entire season. Some predict this is the year he'll finally win his first Nextel Cup championship. For that to happen, Junior will have to make sure the contract issue isn't carried into the race track every weekend and that his personal situation doesn't derail the entire DEI organization, which includes Martin Truex Jr. and rookie Paul Menard. Truex said he doesn't believe it will be an issue. "Everybody knows what their job is," he said. "We go to the race track or to the shop every day. And none of that changes as far as what everybody is doing and what they're working on and what they're trying to accomplish. I don't think it distracts anybody.". DEI will do its part to prevent it from happening, Siegel said. Even though Teresa Earnhardt has removed herself from negotiations, the team president said her top priority is getting a deal completed and winning a championship. Junior's been on an upswing since a disastrous 2005 season that saw him miss the Chase for the championship and finish a career-worst 19th in the standings. It all went awry when the higher-ups at DEI mistakenly decided it would be a good idea to swap Earnhardt's crew with teammate Michael Waltrip's. It put Junior in a huge hole early in the season, and he had his old crew back for the final 10 races of the year. Recovering was hard. The No. 8 team made terrific inroads last season -- he finished fifth in the points but was mathematically eligible to win the title down the stretch. Although the late Earnhardt won seven championships, none of them were with DEI, whose only titles were the four Busch crowns won by Earnhardt Jr. and Truex. It's reasonable to believe Junior's team will be even better this year. "Teresa wants to win a championship as bad as anybody in this sport," Siegel said. "She's focused, and she's putting things in place, focusing all the resources so we can support ... motorsports and all the drivers to do that very thing." Junior's tap triggers multi-car crash The only incident in Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway came within a few hundred yards of the finish line. Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped Elliott Sadler from behind, turning Sadler sideways into Denny Hamlin. Kasey Kahne was caught up in the aftermath when he was unable to avoid Hamlin's spinning car. "It's self-explanatory if you watch the tape," Junior said. "I got into the back of Elliott trying to bump draft and he wasn't up on the straightaway yet. I got into him too early and wrecked him and wrecked both racecars. I'm sorry about that. "We were back there, trying to do what we could do and I was trying to help a friend of mine and just got over-zealous and overdid it." Sadler said he spoke with Earnhardt after the crash, and understood that the accident was unintentional. "It's just good, hard racing and caught me right where I was a little loose anyway," Sadler said. "It's a shame to make it that far -- almost all the way to the end -- then have problems." Earnhardt was credited with 14th, Kahne 15th, Sadler 16th and Hamlin 17th. 'Majority ownership' bottom line for Junior Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the kind of guy who apparently likes to leave his audience hanging. During Thursday's media day at Daytona International Speedway, when asked about his ongoing contract negotiations with Dale Earnhardt Inc., Junior suddenly blurted out that he wants majority ownership of the team founded by his father, promptly got up from his seat and walked away without further comment. "The main factor is the ownership part," Junior said. "It has nothing to do with money and nothing else really. I would really like my team, I like how things are going. ... The motors are improving, everything is on an upswing. My father has been gone for almost six years now, I want majority ownership." The race team has been under the control of Teresa Earnhardt, Junior's step-mother, since Earnhardt died in 2001. Contract negotiations between Junior -- represented by his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge -- and DEI have been contentious, especially after Teresa Earnhardt was quoted in the Wall Street Journal in December as saying Junior has to "decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality." During preseason testing here last month, Junior claimed "I want to be very involved in the company. Aside from [DEI], I have no interest in ownership." Teresa Earnhardt has said that she wants Junior to stay with the company as a driver, and was willing to discuss a larger role. Whether that includes any portion of ownership is unknown. Elledge has stressed that talks are ongoing and an agreement could be in place, possibly as early as the middle of 2007. However, it's unclear what Junior's newest pronouncement will do to the negotiations, which reportedly included a meeting as recently as Wednesday, with representatives from both sides, including new DEI president Max Siegel, sitting down for an update. When asked if he would start his own Cup team, Junior said that wouldn't be his first choice. "I really don't want the headaches of being a Cup owner," Junior said. "I would just as soon drive, save as much money as I can and retire. I want to race a long, long, long time. "The older I get, the better I feel about my ability to compete longer and not run into the burnout of just wanting to get out of it. Once I am done driving, I really don't want to do anything else as far as ownership." Offseason capsule: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2006 season statistics Wins: One (Richmond) Best Finish: First Top-fives, top-10s, DNFs: 10, 17, 3 2006 Recap Earnhardt rebounded from a disappointing 2005 campaign to finish fifth last season. While he made the Chase for the Nextel Cup, he collected just one win for the second consecutive year – somewhat disappointing considering he likely could have won several more races if breaks had gone his way. 2007 Outlook - What's next Second verse, same as the first? The last time Earnhardt finished fifth in a season (2004), he went on to have his most miserable campaign the following year (2005). Will history repeat itself in 2007, or will he be a championship contender? His ongoing contract negotiations could be a distraction, and if he is slow in adapting to the Car of Tomorrow, he may have even more struggles. Best-case scenario: If he can race like he did last season and throw in a few more victories, Earnhardt has a solid chance of winning his first career Cup championship. Competition will be tough, particularly from the likes of Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick, but the driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet has no excuse. He has the equipment, the team and the resources to make it happen. And if he doesn’t do it this season, he may never do it. Likely scenario: Earnhardt will make the Chase and may have a few moments where it looks like he could challenge for the championship, but odds are he'll once again finish mid-pack – probably fifth or sixth – at best. Beware: If Earnhardt struggles to adapt to the Car of Tomorrow or goes through any prolonged periods of inconsistency, he could suffer through another season like 2005. And with the new points emphasis on wins in 2007, Junior has to get into victory lane more often this season to have a legitimate chance at the title. Another one-win campaign just isn't going to cut it. Earnhardt Jr., DEI meet to discuss new deal Dale Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to meet with representatives of DEI Inc. on Wednesday to discuss a contract extension with the NASCAR team. According to ESPN.com, Earnhardt Jr. and his sister/business manager will sit down with DEI competition director Richie Gilmore and team president Max Siegel to go over a number of items, including an increased ownership stake in the team which his late father started. Noticeably absent from the meeting will be Teresa Earnhardt, owner of DEI Inc. and Earnhardt Jr.'s stepmother. The pair have had a rocky relationship and the move to keep her away was deliberate as both sides seek to keep emotions to a minimum. Earnhardt Jr. has said previously he would like to return to the team his father started but his insistence on a greater stake in the operation is said to be one of the stumbling blocks to a new deal. Shootout holds promise for 20 hopeful drivers After a series of tests at Daytona and Las Vegas, a select group of Nextel Cup Series drivers are returning to Daytona a bit early to compete against much more formidable foes: Each other. They're coming for the Budweiser Shootout (8:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX), an annual non-points race that is a high-end preview of what's to come during the 2007 season. The 70-lap race features 21 drivers, 15 of which won a Budweiser Pole during the 2006 season. (The remainder of the field consists of past Shootout winners.) The Shootout is one of the more unpredictable races on the NASCAR calendar. But a look at the past gives a glimpse of greatness that can evolve after a shootout victory. The list of drivers who won the Shootout in their first attempt is both illustrious and intriguing: Buddy Baker, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett and last year's winner, Denny Hamlin, who went on to win the rookie of the year title. Beyond that, 10 drivers who have won the Shootout also have won Cup championships. In other words, this is an exhibition in theory only. The main question coming into this weekend: Who will add their name to the distinguished list of winners? A look at last year's Shootout Loop Data -- real-time statistics gleaned form electronic scoring loops imbedded around the race track -- could well supply some answers: Hamlin had a Driver Rating (125.0) that was almost six points higher than anyone else. Tony Stewart, a two-time Shootout winner and also a two-time series titlist, had the best Average Running Position (3.417) last year. Jimmie Johnson, the reigning series champion, saved the best for last in the 2006 version of the Shootout, averaging a speed of 186.348 mph during the last 25 percent of the race, boosting him to a fifth-place finish. Scott Riggs was one of the best Closers last year, gaining five positions (jumping from ninth to fourth) over the last seven laps. Considering that all 21 cars will likely be bunched together most of the night, Brian Vickers could have a solid shot. He had the best Speed In Traffic last year, averaging 188.409 mph. Of course, that effort came in a Chevrolet; this year, Vickers is the lead driver for Toyota's debut in the Cup Series. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has an average finish of 3.3 in his six Shootout appearances, the best of any active driver. Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon and Stewart have all earned more than one Shootout victory, with Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Earnhardt Jr., Johnson and Hamlin looking to join them as multiple winners. Hamlin, though, looks to join an exclusive group of drivers who have won two consecutive Shootouts (Neil Bonnett, Ken Schrader and Stewart have also done it). The qualifying order drawing will take place at 8 p.m. ET Thursday on FOX -- and a glance at history says it doesn't matter how you start, it's how you finish. While Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Schrader won from the pole position, Earnhardt Jr. started 19th and won in 2003. It was the lowest starting position of any driver who has won the Shootout. Budweiser Shootout Eligible Drivers - 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX Driver Starts Best Finish Avg. Finish Greg Biffle 1 5 5.00 Jeff Burton 2 5 9.50 Kurt Busch 3 6 10.33 Kyle Busch 1 15 15.00 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6 1 3.33 Bill Elliott 21 1 8.14 Jeff Gordon 13 1 6.85 Denny Hamlin 1 1 1.00 Kevin Harvick 3 3 10.67 Dale Jarrett 11 1 7.45 Jimmie Johnson 4 1 5.50 Kasey Kahne 2 9 13.50 Mark Martin 19 1 7.58 Ryan Newman 5 2 10.80 Scott Riggs 1 4 4.00 Elliott Sadler 2 10 11.50 Boris Said 1 12 12.00 Ken Schrader 16 1 7.38 Tony Stewart 7 1 5.00 Brian Vickers 2 19 20.00 Jarrett (3), Gordon (2) and Stewart (2) have multiple victories. Preseason Thunder at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Tuesday (PM) Pos. No. Driver Make Time Speed 1. 19B Elliott Sadler Dodge 28.606 188.772 2. 10B Scott Riggs Dodge 28.828 187.318 3. 38A David Gilliland Ford 28.850 187.175 4. 40A David Stremme Dodge 28.854 187.149 5. 70H Johnny Sauter Chevrolet 28.867 187.065 6. 66G Jeff Green Chevrolet 28.907 186.806 7. 07A Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 28.943 186.574 8. 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 28.990 186.271 9. 55B Michael Waltrip Toyota 29.007 186.162 10. 80 Aric Almirola Chevrolet 29.022 186.066 11. 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 29.059 185.829 12. 36A Jeremy Mayfield Toyota 29.098 185.580 13. 13A Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 29.104 185.542 14. 48A Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 29.125 185.408 15. 01A Mark Martin Chevrolet 29.134 185.350 16. 21B Jon Wood Ford 29.143 185.293 17. 88B Ricky Rudd Ford 29.145 185.280 18. 14X Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 29.155 185.217 19. 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 29.179 185.065 20. 8B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 29.180 185.058 21. 96B Tony Raines Chevrolet 29.180 185.058 22. 2A Kurt Busch Dodge 29.188 185.008 23. 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 29.218 184.818 24. 99A Carl Edwards Ford 29.229 184.748 25. 7B Robby Gordon Ford 29.271 184.483 26. 47B Ken Schrader Ford 29.272 184.477 27. 18 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 29.276 184.451 28. 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 29.281 184.420 29. 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 29.303 184.281 30. 16B Greg Biffle Ford 29.339 184.055 31. 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 29.349 183.993 32. 00B David Reutimann Toyota 29.350 183.986 33. 2B Kurt Busch Dodge 29.351 183.980 34. 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 29.355 183.955 35. 40B David Stremme Dodge 29.357 183.943 36. 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 29.366 183.886 37. 01B Mark Martin Chevrolet 29.388 183.748 38. 10A Scott Riggs Dodge 29.390 183.736 39. 17B Matt Kenseth Ford 29.396 183.698 40. 24A Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 29.399 183.680 41. 23A Mike Skinner Toyota 29.428 183.499 42. 6A David Ragan Ford 29.435 183.455 43. 78A Kenny Wallace Chevrolet 29.438 183.436 44. 45B Kyle Petty Dodge 29.446 183.387 45. 4B Ward Burton Chevrolet 29.453 183.343 46. 37A Bill Elliott Dodge 29.472 183.225 47. 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 29.488 183.125 48. 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 29.493 183.094 49. 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 29.506 183.014 50. 42 Juan Montoya Dodge 29.514 182.964 51. 17A Matt Kenseth Ford 29.520 182.927 52. 11B Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 29.523 182.908 53. 1A Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 29.527 182.883 54. 6B David Ragan Ford 29.539 182.809 55. 34B Kevin Lepage Dodge 29.547 182.760 56. 07B Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 29.550 182.741 57. 5B Kyle Busch Chevrolet 29.553 182.723 58. 24B Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 29.556 182.704 59. 18B J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 29.585 182.525 60. 00A David Reutimann Toyota 29.594 182.469 61. 31X Jeff Burton Chevrolet 29.613 182.352 62. 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 29.630 182.248 63. 45A Kyle Petty Dodge 29.657 182.082 64. 66H Jeff Green Chevrolet 29.695 181.849 65. 72A Brandon Whitt Chevrolet 29.698 181.830 66. 38B David Gilliland Ford 29.707 181.775 67. 25A Casey Mears Chevrolet 29.711 181.751 68. 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 29.742 181.561 69. 70G Johnny Sauter Chevrolet 29.804 181.184 70. 88A Ricky Rudd Ford 29.840 180.965 71. 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 29.854 180.880 72. 41X Reed Sorenson Dodge 29.879 180.729 73. 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 29.893 180.644 74. 25B Casey Mears Chevrolet 29.959 180.246 75. 49 Mike Bliss Dodge 29.996 180.024 76. 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 30.092 179.450 77. 5A Kyle Busch Chevrolet 30.359 177.871 78. 4A Ward Burton Chevrolet 30.623 176.338 Preseason Thunder at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Tuesday (AM) Pos. No. Driver Make Time Speed 1. 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 28.667 188.370 2. 19A Elliott Sadler Dodge 28.848 187.188 3. 38B David Gilliland Ford 28.893 186.896 4. 88B Ricky Rudd Ford 29.009 186.149 5. 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 29.047 185.906 6. 99A Carl Edwards Ford 29.153 185.230 7. 24A Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 29.168 185.134 8. 70H Johnny Sauter Chevrolet 29.181 185.052 9. 23A Mike Skinner Toyota 29.184 185.033 10. 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 29.193 184.976 11. 18 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 29.201 184.925 12. 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 29.209 184.875 13. 31X Jeff Burton Chevrolet 29.219 184.811 14. 8A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 29.267 184.508 15. 19B Elliott Sadler Dodge 29.276 184.451 16. 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 29.285 184.395 17. 20B Tony Stewart Chevrolet 29.312 184.225 18. 11B Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 29.343 184.030 19. 6A David Ragan Ford 29.345 184.018 20. 25A Casey Mears Chevrolet 29.353 183.968 21. 99B Carl Edwards Ford 29.359 183.930 22. 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 29.362 183.911 23. 10A Scott Riggs Dodge 29.362 183.911 24. 40A David Stremme Dodge 29.363 183.905 25. 43A Bobby Labonte Dodge 29.392 183.723 26. 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 29.395 183.705 27. 45A Kyle Petty Dodge 29.401 183.667 28. 2B Kurt Busch Dodge 29.406 183.636 29. 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 29.409 183.617 30. 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 29.429 183.492 31. 88A Ricky Rudd Ford 29.435 183.455 32. 17B Matt Kenseth Ford 29.441 183.418 33. 2A Kurt Busch Dodge 29.445 183.393 34. 07A Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 29.450 183.362 35. 48A Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 29.462 183.287 36. 24B Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 29.466 183.262 37. 66H Jeff Green Chevrolet 29.480 183.175 38. 70G Johnny Sauter Chevrolet 29.484 183.150 39. 42 Juan Montoya Dodge 29.485 183.144 40. 16B Greg Biffle Ford 29.497 183.069 41. 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 29.498 183.063 42. 13B Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 29.501 183.045 43. 5B Kyle Busch Chevrolet 29.505 183.020 44. 01B Mark Martin Chevrolet 29.514 182.964 45. 36A Jeremy Mayfield Toyota 29.514 182.964 46. 14X Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 29.534 182.840 47. 39A Regan Smith Chevrolet 29.539 182.809 48. 13A Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 29.552 182.729 49. 00B David Reutimann Toyota 29.554 182.716 50. 18B J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 29.563 182.661 51. 80 Aric Almirola Chevrolet 29.563 182.661 52. 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 29.568 182.630 53. 07B Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 29.579 182.562 54. 7B Robby Gordon Ford 29.580 182.556 55. 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 29.585 182.525 56. 96B Tony Raines Chevrolet 29.585 182.525 57. 1A Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 29.585 182.525 58. 01A Mark Martin Chevrolet 29.594 182.469 59. 48B Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 29.602 182.420 60. 78A Kenny Wallace Chevrolet 29.609 182.377 61. 47B Ken Schrader Ford 29.613 182.352 62. 55B Michael Waltrip Toyota 29.624 182.285 63. 66G Jeff Green Chevrolet 29.631 182.242 64. 6B David Ragan Ford 29.638 182.199 65. 40B David Stremme Dodge 29.640 182.186 66. 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 29.649 182.131 67. 4A Ward Burton Chevrolet 29.654 182.100 68. 17A Matt Kenseth Ford 29.678 181.953 69. 12B Ryan Newman Dodge 29.698 181.830 70. 42H Juan Montoya Dodge 29.705 181.788 71. 72A Brandon Whitt Chevrolet 29.708 181.769 72. 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 29.725 181.665 73. 25B Casey Mears Chevrolet 29.738 181.586 74. 00A David Reutimann Toyota 29.763 181.433 75. 5A Kyle Busch Chevrolet 29.778 181.342 76. 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 29.783 181.311 77. 49 Mike Bliss Dodge 29.789 181.275 78. 41X Reed Sorenson Dodge 29.792 181.257 79. 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 29.800 181.208 80. 10B Scott Riggs Dodge 29.804 181.184 81. 21B Jon Wood Ford 29.805 181.178 82. 34B Kevin Lepage Dodge 29.848 180.917 83. 37A Bill Elliott Dodge 29.880 180.723 84. 14A Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 29.891 180.656 85. 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 29.958 180.252 86. 4B Ward Burton Chevrolet 29.974 180.156 87. 84A A.J. Allmendinger Toyota 30.115 179.313 88. 02A Brandon Ash Dodge 30.271 178.389 Preseason Thunder at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas testing - Monday (AM) Pos. No. Name Make Time Speed 1. 10A Scott Riggs Dodge 29.426 183.511 2. 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 29.429 183.492 3. 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 29.485 183.144 4. 29B Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 29.526 182.890 5. 22B Dave Blaney Toyota 29.547 182.760 6. 31X Jeff Burton Chevrolet 29.555 182.710 7. 16B Greg Biffle Ford 29.571 182.611 8. 48A Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 29.575 182.587 9. 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 29.582 182.543 10. 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 29.593 182.476 11. 19B Elliott Sadler Chevrolet 29.599 182.439 12. 16A Greg Biffle Ford 29.606 182.395 13. 99A Carl Edwards Ford 29.631 182.242 14. 17A Matt Kenseth Ford 29.650 182.125 15. 01B Mark Martin Chevrolet 29.656 182.088 16. 6A David Ragan Ford 29.661 182.057 17. 38B David Gilliland Ford 29.671 181.996 18. 48B Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 29.683 181.922 19. 25A Casey Mears Chevrolet 29.691 181.873 20. 23A Mike Skinner Toyota 29.691 181.873 21. 42 Juan Montoya Dodge 29.693 181.861 22. 2A Kurt Busch Dodge 29.706 181.781 23. 11B Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 29.710 181.757 24. 88B Ricky Rudd Ford 29.727 181.653 25. 41B Reed Sorenson Dodge 29.733 181.616 26. 40A David Stremme Dodge 29.736 181.598 27. 13B Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 29.741 181.568 28. 31A Jeff Burton Chevrolet 29.747 181.531 29. 5B Kyle Busch Chevrolet 29.750 181.513 30. 14A Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 29.756 181.476 31. 01A Mark Martin Chevrolet 29.758 181.464 32. 10B Scott Riggs Dodge 29.761 181.446 33. 99B Carl Edwards Ford 29.763 181.433 34. 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 29.779 181.336 35. 6B David Ragan Ford 29.785 181.299 36. 45A Kyle Petty Dodge 29.796 181.232 37. 18 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 29.804 181.184 38. 66G Jeff Green Chevrolet 29.811 181.148 39. 00A David Reutimann Toyota 29.821 181.080 40. 25B Casey Mears Chevrolet 29.833 181.008 41. 36A Jeremy Mayfield Toyota 29.847 180.923 42. 07B Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 29.856 180.868 43. 14X Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 29.858 180.856 44. 00B David Reutimann Toyota 29.859 180.850 45. 15A Paul Menard Chevrolet 29.866 180.808 46. 1A Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 29.867 180.802 47. 8A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 29.870 180.783 48. 2B Kurt Busch Dodge 29.879 180.729 49. 13A Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 29.893 180.644 50. 70G Johnny Sauter Chevrolet 29.899 180.608 51. 4A Ward Burton Chevrolet 29.901 180.596 52. 41X Reed Sorenson Dodge 29.902 180.590 53. 70H Johnny Sauter Chevrolet 29.909 180.548 54. 12A Ryan Newman Dodge 29.916 180.505 55. 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 29.936 180.385 56. 18B J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 29.939 180.367 57. 88A Ricky Rudd Ford 29.959 180.246 58. 47B Ken Schrader Ford 29.981 180.114 59. 49 Mike Bliss Dodge 30.009 179.946 60. 47A Ken Schrader Ford 30.009 179.946 61. 39A Regan Smith Chevrolet 30.022 179.868 62. 42H Juan Montoya Dodge 30.025 179.850 63. 55B Michael Waltrip Toyota 30.053 179.683 64. 7B Robby Gordon Ford 30.061 179.635 65. 78A Kenny Wallace Chevrolet 30.063 179.623 66. 45B Kyle Petty Dodge 30.074 179.557 67. 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 30.077 179.539 68. 15B Paul Menard Chevrolet 30.111 179.336 69. 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 30.115 179.313 70. 21B Jon Wood Ford 30.133 179.206 71. 24A Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 30.145 179.134 72. 24B Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 30.149 179.110 73. 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 30.155 179.075 74. 7A Robby Gordon Ford 30.158 179.057 75. 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 30.165 179.015 76. 84B A.J. Allmendinger Toyota 30.170 178.986 77. 72A Brandon Witt Chevrolet 30.198 178.820 78. 5A Kyle Busch Chevrolet 30.241 178,566 79. 20B Tony Stewart Chevrolet 30.266 178.418 80. 66H Jeff Green Chevrolet 30.270 178.394 81. 21A Jon Wood Ford 30.294 178.253 82. 1B Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 30.329 178.047 83. 96B Tony Raines Chevrolet 30.344 177.959 84. 22A Dave Blaney Toyota 30.367 177.825 85. 40B David Stremme Dodge 30.370 177.807 86. 80 Aric Almirola Chevrolet 30.370 177.807 87. 96A Tony Raines Chevrolet 30.418 177.526 88. 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 30.496 177.072 89. 19A Elliott Sadler Dodge 30.714 175.816 90. 34 Kevin Lepage Dodge 30.733 175.707 91. 37A Bill Elliott Dodge 30.785 175.410 92. 80B Aric Almirola Chevrolet 30.978 174.317 93. 78B Kenny Wallace Chevrolet 31.468 171.603 94. 07A Clint Bowyer Chevrolet No Time No Speed Texas fixes dip in turns after Junior's comments Texas Motor Speedway concluded a special track renovation process Thursday that is expected to help alleviate a dip that has formed between Turns 1 and 2 on the 1.5-mile superspeedway, Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage announced. The delicate process, known as "concrete lifting by structure urethane," will in essence "pump" up the surface below the track and ultimately raise targeted areas in the affected 200-foot stretch over the South Tunnel that is situated in the middle of the two turns. The depth of the dip varies throughout, but it is at a maximum of 2 inches at any given point. The track work is being addressed in response to the comments made by Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. during the Dickies 500 race weekend in November and the previous week at the race in Atlanta. Earnhardt said that the dip was an issue for drivers and the speedway further investigated his claim. Speedway officials, known for being proactive to drivers' suggestions over the years, spent the time since his comments consulting with a variety of surveyors and going as far as having structural X-rays taken of the area. "While Junior's comments at the time surprised me since he never mentioned it before, it was a concern and we thought it would only be appropriate to investigate the issue further and determine if it warranted any action," Gossage said. "We spoke with several drivers, team owners and NASCAR officials in carrying out our due diligence. After further consultation, we decided it would be beneficial to alleviate the dip as much as possible through this process. We've been proactive since Day 1 to the suggestions of the drivers and fans of this facility and we will continue to do so in the future." Earnhardt spoke in positive tones in November about Texas Motor Speedway being a fun track to race at, but also discussed the need to address the dip to enhance the racing. "Texas is a fun racetrack," Earnhardt said in November. "We've had a lot of success here and it is a fun track so I'm glad it is in it [the Chase for the Nextel Cup]. It [the track surface] is starting to age a little bit and it is starting to move the grooves up a little bit so you can race side by side through the corners a bit. It's really starting to come into its own. The asphalt or the dirt underneath the asphalt has settled over the tunnel, which it does at every racetrack they build, but it seems to be a little more pronounced here. And that will hold this place back for a few years to come until they repair that. As far as being able to run two- and three-wide through that corner, it will hold it back a little bit." The two-day process was done by Uretek ICR of Arlington, Texas. The method employed high-density special polymers to lift, realign, underseal and fill voids under the concrete slabs, which are resting directly on base soils. As the resin mixture expands, voids are filled and a controlled mold pressure is exerted on a limited area of the slab. Uretek uses multiple-pattern drilled injection locations to resupport and accurately realign the slab. The composite material quickly cures into a strong, stable and long-lasting replacement base material. This process involves drilling roughly 15 to 20 half-inch holes in the area, inserting a three-eighths-inch copper tube through the asphalt and into the soil below in each hole, and then injecting a special structure urethane through the tubing. The urethane is expected to raise the different surfaces that exist between the track and the soil -- an 8-inch thick drainage mat, a 12-inch thick concrete slab and 4 inches of asphalt -- and help alleviate the dip. Gordon thinks Junior will leave DEI Jeff Gordon believes it will be hard for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to stay with his late father's company because of the public battle between the driver and his stepmother. Junior is in the final year of his contract at Dale Earnhardt Inc., and negotiations on a new deal recently exposed the difficult relationship he shares with Teresa Earnhardt. She recently questioned his commitment in a Wall Street Journal article, which angered NASCAR's most popular driver. As the sides now try to pull their contract talks in-house, Gordon said Wednesday that it may be too late. ``I think that if he's smart, he'll do what's best for him and I hope that's at DEI, I really do,'' Gordon said during a press event for Hendrick Motorsports. ``Is that reality? I think it's gone too far. When it gets ugly in the media, it's usually very, very difficult to rebound from that.'' Gordon has enjoyed a long and stable relationship with car owner Rick Hendrick, who signed Gordon in 1992 and eventually rewarded him with a lifetime contract. So he's never had the public contract squabbles that several drivers have had in the past few years. But no negotiations have been watched as closely as Junior's. He has said he wants some control at DEI, the company founded by his late father, and Teresa said last week that she's willing to discuss it with him. Whether that's enough remains to be seen, Gordon said. ``I think that you've got a little stubbornness going on there,'' Gordon said. ``Junior is in the seat to be able to write his own ticket, he can do whatever he wants. He can go to any team, he can start his own team, he's got the sponsors who are going to back him, the fans that are going to back him. ``He's really in the power position, and if Teresa is not recognizing that, then shame on her ... if she doesn't recognize that DEI will have a tough time surviving without Junior, I think she's making a big mistake.'' On Tuesday, rival driver Kevin Harvick called Teresa ``a deadbeat owner,'' because she very rarely is seen at the race track. Harvick's comments put Junior in the awkward position of having to defend her, and Teresa received more support Wednesday from Hendrick, who said she shouldn't be judged by the amount of time spent at the track. ``I think people manage different ways, and I think if she's got good people at the racetrack ... it's really her business if she wants to be there or not,'' Hendrick said. ``I know Joe Gibbs, he didn't come much this year, but (son) J.D. (Gibbs) stepped up and did the job. So I sure don't think she deserves any criticism.'' Earnhardt Jr. defends stepmother After a rival driver called Teresa Earnhardt a ''deadbeat owner,'' Dale Earnhardt Jr. was put in the uncomfortable position of sticking up for the stepmother he's often at odds with. At a Tuesday night media session designed to outline Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s 2007 season goals, Junior was pointedly asked to respond to comments Kevin Harvick made earlier in the day about the perception that Teresa Earnhardt is an absentee team owner. ''It's hard when you have what I call a deadbeat owner that doesn't come to the racetrack,'' Harvick told reporters during a stop at Richard Childress Racing. ''You always see Richard Childress. You always see Chip Ganassi. All these owners, they all come to the racetrack. It's not just a money pit that somebody says, 'Well, I can make money off of Dale Jr. I can make money off of Dale Earnhardt.' '' Earnhardt, who is in the final year of his contract at DEI and currently participating in tense negotiations for a new deal, squirmed on the podium as he was asked to respond. ''You're killing me,'' Junior grumbled. ''That's ridiculous. I don't think there is a comment for that remark.'' But instead of letting the moment pass, Earnhardt - often too open and honest for his own good - attempted to defend Teresa, who took over Dale Earnhardt's company after his 2001 fatal accident on the last lap of the Daytona 500. ''Like I said in the past, with everything that's happened, not just to the company but to the family over the past five years, she's had a full plate,'' he said. ''The things that she's responsible for, willingly and unwillingly, are very important. For a long time, the battle with (Earnhardt's) autopsy photos, all those things, that's just the tip of the iceberg of things that she's been responsible for. ''That's probably been one reason why she hasn't been as visible at the racetrack and whatnot. But she's taking care of things that are much (more) important.'' Earnhardt and his stepmother have had an up-and-down relationship for most of his life, and the frostiness between the two was revealed publicly last month when Teresa questioned his commitment in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. ''Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality,'' she said in the Dec. 14 story. Junior finally responded two weeks ago, when he said their relationship ''ain't a bed of roses,'' that the two had not spoken since she made her remark, and that Teresa would factor heavily in whether or not he re-signs with his father's company. The two have since spoken, although Junior characterized the conversation as a brief one. And he said contract negotiations are ongoing, and he hoped to ''have something in the next couple of months.'' Although Teresa Earnhardt was at the news conference, she made only a 49-second opening remark to introduce Max Siegel, DEI's new head of global operations. As Siegel stepped to the microphone, Teresa quietly slipped off the stage and disappeared behind a black curtain. Siegel then asked the large media contingent to keep the questions focused on the upcoming season and away from the contract controversy. ''With respect to contract negotiations with Dale Jr., I wanted to make it very clear that DEI has every intention of re-signing Dale to a long-term deal,'' Siegel said. ''We're in good ongoing discussions and hope to announce something soon.'' Huffman: Having Junior as a boss is 'awesome' Sometimes Shane Huffman opens his cell phone and flicks through his address book to the entry for "Dale Earnhardt Jr." -- just to convince himself he's not dreaming, and saying, "Is that really him?" "It's awesome, really," Huffman said Friday afternoon at Daytona during Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder. "As a young driver, you couldn't ask for a better mentor [because] he's there [when you need him]. "He's not able to be in our pits or garage stall when we're practicing, and when we have a question, because of his popularity. "But through the week [I can reach him] and even after practice I can go to his motorhome and talk to him -- and I'll go up to his house and talk to him and he'll answer a lot of questions." Huffman, 33, drove nine races for Earnhardt's JR Motorsports team at the end of last season and is on the verge of opening his first full Busch Series campaign. Needless to say, he's relishing the opportunity. "It's pretty cool, driving for the most popular driver in NASCAR," Huffman said with a grin. "It's got its good points and its bad points. Sometimes when you need him, you can't get to him because he's gone or he's got other obligations. "But for the most part it's really good because he's got a lot of experience at these [racetracks]. I was able to go to his house the other day before we came down here. "We watched some tapes of this place and he gave me a couple to take home and he went over some stuff with me. So it definitely helps having someone like him as your car owner because he's a racer, too -- and he understands the ups and downs of racing." In his first trip to Daytona since an ARCA outing in 2000, Huffman took his time getting re-acclimated. By 4 p.m. ET on the first of three available days of testing, his No. 88 Chevrolet was atop the list of 24 teams that had taken laps. He finished the day in fourth. It was a satisfying exclamation point to JR Motorsports' move from a 16,000-square-foot facility into a shop about four times the size, 66,000 square feet, in Mooresville, N.C., that began within the last month. Huffman, who began racing in the Mini Stock class at Hickory Motor Speedway, has progressed through Late Model Stock Cars and Hooters Pro Cup, with a "cup of coffee" in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, before he got his shot from Earnhardt last season. Huffman said Friday that, even though he isn't involved in the business side of the team, he's been impressed with Earnhardt the owner as well as Earnhardt the man -- and mentor. "I think he's pretty good [on the business end]," Huffman said. "He's very intelligent on the business side and he comes up with a lot of stuff on his own, and having Kelley [Elledge, his sister] right there every day helps and is a big plus, also. "She is phenomenal on the business side of it also, and she keeps a pretty tight ship. It's a lot of fun having them both there because what one doesn't know, the other one does -- and if neither one of them knows, they learn together. "So it's cool. Junior thinks down the road a lot. From what little I've been around him, in the last year or so, it certainly seems like he has a vision that can see past tomorrow, or even next month [about where he wants his operation to go], and I think that's one of his best qualities, probably." Just like taking a double-take at the face of his cell phone, Huffman sometimes has to shake his head to clarify where he is. The phone number only quantifies how close at hand his owner always is for "his boys." "He's real good at telling you stuff beforehand -- questions you might not even think of," Huffman said. "He's very thoughtful, and I made a couple mistakes early on on the downforce tracks [in 2006] and he didn't get mad at me. He told me 'I might could have helped you with that a little bit more.' "At the same time, I can't do it every week, either." DEI, Sharpie agree on 2007 Busch sponsorship Sharpie, a Newell Rubbermaid brand, announced it has inked an agreement with Dale Earnhardt Inc. to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2007. The first time Earnhardt will drive the No. 8 Sharpie car is in the Sharpie MINI 300, the NASCAR Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway in March. In celebration of the partnership, a line of "No. 8" Sharpie markers will debut in stores nationwide in April. "Sharpie is bold and Dale Jr.'s confidence, bold personality and drive to win embody the Sharpie brand," said Jill Rahman, vice president of marketing, Total U.S. Writing for Sanford, makers of Sharpie. "The new relationship joins the leading permanent marker brand, NASCAR's most popular driver and the passion of millions of fans. Together, we will make a bold mark." As Earnhardt enters his eighth full season in the Nextel Cup Series, he has quickly taken the lead as one of the most successful drivers netting 17 trips to victory lane. His success on and off the track has fueled him to the Most Popular Driver Award the last four years and top five of "most-liked athletes in America," according to a 2006 Harris Interactive poll. Well-known as the autograph marker of choice, Sharpie has been a NASCAR team sponsor since 2001 and is title sponsor of two races at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Sharpie MINI 300 Busch Series race March 24, and the Sharpie 500 Nextel Cup race August 25. "I have used my share of Sharpie markers to sign autographs and in the shop, so bringing Sharpie on as a sponsor was a natural," said Dale Earnhardt Jr. "Sharpie has been part of racing for years and they continue to be committed to the fans and the sport. I can't think of a better fit, not to mention I can get all the Sharpie markers I need now." Sharpie is planning a series of on and off track activities throughout the year, including brand advertising and in-store merchandising support for its new line of No. 8 Sharpie markers. Earnhardt will also lend a hand to Sharpie's Autographs for Action program, a national campaign benefiting community organizations, charities and schools with both funds and supplies. Junior's role could expand at DEI Teresa Earnhardt is willing to discuss a larger role at Dale Earnhardt Inc. with stepson Dale Earnhardt Jr. as part of the ongoing contract negotiations to keep him at his late father's company. "We are moving full speed ahead with negotiations, moving ahead as we normally would," Teresa Earnhardt said Thursday night in a telephone interview from Los Angeles, where she was promoting the documentary "Dale." Asked if she was committed to keeping Junior behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet, she didn't waver. "Absolutely." Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s contract expires at the end of this season, and his status with the company has been in question since Teresa Earnhardt seemingly questioned his commitment in a December article in The Wall Street Journal. "Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality," she said in the Dec. 14 story. The remark angered Dale Earnhardt Jr., who said at pre-season testing last week that the two had not spoken since the quote was published because "I figured if anything needed to be said, she'd call me up and say it." Teresa Earnhardt indicated the two have since spoken but seemed fuzzy on when the conversation occurred. "I don't know, it has just been a short while ago," she said. "We talk." Dale Earnhardt Jr. said last week his relationship with his stepmother would factor into his decision to re-sign with DEI, and he also hoped to get an ownership stake in the company. But he said Teresa had skipped the most recent round of negotiations, sending representatives to the bargaining table to meet with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge. Teresa Earnhardt said Thursday there's been nothing unusual about these extension talks. "It's all been very typical," she said. "We're moving forward, discussing everything and trying to get this done." Q&A: Earnhardt Jr. Q: You've won the Daytona 500 before; what's the outlook to win it again this year? Earnhardt: We're pretty excited already. Really, just the first few hours we've been here have been real productive, and so I'm pretty excited. We've got a great track record here, and it's a great racetrack for me. I really enjoy running here, and I feel like if you've got a good car, you've got a great shot at winning. Q: Do you think they have gone far enough in fire safety and safety overall in the Car of Tomorrow? Earnhardt: Yeah, I really think the car is very safe, safer than what we drive now and what we drive now is really nice. As a driver, I feel very comfortable. I'm real happy with the way my car is now. The Car of Tomorrow gives you a larger window opening, and the larger cockpit as well, so you'll have plenty of room, plenty of ability to get in and out of the car. As long as we're burning, you know, gasoline in the tank, you're going to have the threat of fire. I think that all of the increase in thickness and stuff in the fuel cell area and stuff like that is going to be a big help. I think the cars are very safe and I'm real proud of what I've seen over the last several years. I really had no concern before, but NASCAR showed us a lot of things and opened the driver's eyes to a lot of different issues and stuff that we could be doing better. It's been a great gain in the last couple years. Q: You're heading into this season with some stability with Tony Eury again, basically the same team. Talk about your frame of mind going into 2007 as opposed to the two previous seasons. Earnhardt: I was real worried going into both those seasons, '05 and '06. I was wondering how we were going to run. I know nothing about the cars. I knew nothing much about the team as far as their experience and talent and the crew chief was the big question mark; I was a big question mark, everything about it. I think going into last year, I was worried whether me and Tony Jr. could be successful again as we were in '05. I was worried whether we could match the pressure of trying to make the Chase, we didn't have any excuses. All of these things were going through my mind last year. I feel like we're very capable of winning the championship. I feel like I know more each year in and out about what to do to win the championship and how to better position myself to make the Chase and do those type of things. Each year you learn more about that. I have to minimize my mistakes. It's really hard as a human being to do that, but you've just got to really, really try, just to be perfect as a driver, not to make mistakes on the racetrack. Q: At what point does [your contract status] become a distraction from the goal which is winning a championship? Earnhardt: I don't really have a percentage for you. You know I like driving the red Bud car with the No. 8 on it, and to drive that car ... basically I don't really know what to tell you other than that. We're working to get through the contract and finish up a new deal. Whereas individuals, as a team, me and my sister are pursuing that, you know, the right way. We are doing, we are asking and trying to get ... things, like the way we feel they need to be. We've hit a few roadblocks and whatnot with things that they are willing to do and not willing to do. It's just tough. To get a new deal done it's going to be very difficult but I feel like we can get it done. There's just some things involved that I want out of the future involving the company, and it's very difficult for everybody to see eye to eye there. I want to be very involved in the company, but you know, I've got to do what I've got to do, and I want to win championships. Aside from that, I have no interest from ownership. That's not in my chemistry to be that type of guy to run a three-car team in the Cup series. I don't think I want to put up with that. Just give me a good racecar and make it run fast and give me guys I can enjoy working with, and I'll go to the racetrack and I'll do whatever you need me to do with the sponsors and everything else. Just don't make everything a hassle and don't make everything a pain and you'll have my dedication and everything else you need as far as a driver goes. Q: Is there one thing that's really foremost on your mind right now that is bothering you that you would kind of like to get the answer to? Earnhardt: Well, I think the thing that's bothering me the most is probably the contract. I think, you know, you guys -- there's really nothing being hidden or pushed under the rug here. I don't have the answers no more than I can give them to y'all. That's probably bothering me the most. Me and my sister, we learned over the last couple of years, the last couple of contracts that we have to do a better job on our end to make a contract as favorable as possible. That had nothing to do with money. It just has a lot to do with the future. Money's fine. I don't need any more money. I make good money. It's just about trying to make life as simple as you can make it and trying to make everything as successful as you can make it. I don't want to come here if I can't compete well and run well and I just get by. I want the best, I want the best cars, I want the best people. As individuals, me, Richie, everybody at the company, we want that and we see other companies doing it and you see other teams doing what it takes and making the right moves, and I just want it to be -- I want to be in the same situation as I see other drivers in. I know I'm a good enough racecar driver and I deserve it. We're just trying to, you know, get it all settled and make it right. Q: Can you give us your reaction to Teresa's comments about TV personality or racecar driver? Earnhardt: Well, my sister said that in this sport they go hand-in-hand, and I sort of agree with that. I think that everybody is smart enough to understand the position the drivers are in. I think that it's probably an advantage to have a decent personality as a racecar driver, one that can garner to several sponsors that you might have on any given race team. I think is important to be well-liked and be marketable. I think it's any owner's dream to have a driver that's succeeded. I don't know, she might have just been having a bad day or something when she said that. I really don't know where that was coming from. I tried, and tried not to comment on it. I didn't want to comment to the press on it. Even if I don't and she don't want to be in a pitching war back and forth, you guys can make one out of it if you want. I was trying not to get involved in it. I really didn't appreciate it, whether she was taken out of context or not. I just didn't really appreciate it. But a lot of people went to bat for me, especially a lot of people in the press. It was nice to read those comments and stuff as far as what everybody's opinion on it was. Q: Have you talked with Teresa about her comments directly, and what's your relationship factor in your decision to stay in DEI? Earnhardt: Any relationship -- my relationship with the car owner is definitely going to factor into my decision to drive. I haven't talked to Teresa about what she said in the paper. I figured if anything needed to be said, she'd call me up and say it. But you know, my and her relationship definitely factor into my decision to drive there. Q: There's a perception out there that this relationship between you two is not good. Can you just clarify for us what the relationship is? Earnhardt: Well, I don't want to really get too personal, but Teresa is my stepmother, and I have a mother at home that I have a very good relationship with. Mine and Teresa's relationship has always been very black and white, very strict and in your face. The relationship that we have today is the same relationship we had when I was 6 years old when I moved into that house with Dad and her. It's always been the same. It hasn't gotten worse over the last couple years or last couple months. It's always been the same, the way I felt about her then is the way I feel about her now. Q: Have you thought about how long you want to drive and what else you might want to do in life besides race cars? Earnhardt: I would like to drive as long as I can; I really enjoy it. When I'm out of the car in the offseason, I miss it. I'm ready to go back to the track the day after Christmas. I love racing, I love racing against people in this sport. The drivers that we have, the drivers that have been an inspiration to people like me to keep going, and I would like to do it for a very long time. I know that there's been a lot of articles in the past several months about the way the sport is now ... kind of cutting careers short and there is a prediction of careers being shorter. When you have the kind of leverage that I've got, you can basically dictate your schedule. I've been careful about making sure it doesn't get to where it isn't any fun anymore. So I feel like I can do it for a long time. Speeds pick up during drafting test at Daytona Speeds improved during the afternoon session of Jackson Hewitt Preseason Thunder on Tuesday, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. bettered the morning best by more than 2 mph. Earnhardt raced around Daytona at 186.606 mph, completing the 2.5-mile track in 48.230 seconds. Chevrolets held the top-three spots during the session, which was designed as a drafting practice. Ricky Rudd was the only driver to post a pair of top-10 times in the afternoon session, although Greg Biffle came in at ninth and 11th. Jamie McMurray, the only driver to top 184 mph in the morning session, was the last of eight cars to reach the 186 mph mark. He led the morning session. Mike McLaughlin, who is substituting for Tony Stewart, posted a pair of top-10 times in the morning session, including the second-fastest. His afternoon time dropped him to 17th. Fords and Chevrolets packed the top 10 all day, although Dodges picked up speed significantly in the afternoon session, posting three of its drivers in the top 10. The fastest Toyota of the day was Dale Jarrett, who was 14th in the morning session and 15th in the afternoon. Test Speeds - Day 2 (AM) Pos. No. Driver Make Time Speed 1. 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 48.889 184.090 2. 20 Mike McLaughlin Chevrolet 48.918 183.981 3. 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 48.933 183.925 4. 88 Ricky Rudd Ford 48.947 183.872 5. 96 Tony Raines Chevrolet 48.965 183.805 6. 8B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.966 183.801 7. 13 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 49.044 183.509 8. 25 Casey Mears Chevrolet 49.049 183.490 9. 20 Mike McLaughlin Chevrolet 49.062 183.441 10. 60 Boris Said Ford 49.071 183.408 11. 16 Greg Biffle Ford 49.077 183.385 12. 16 Greg Biffle Ford 49.082 183.367 13. 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 49.095 183.318 14. 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota 49.101 183.296 15. 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet 49.112 183.255 16. 37 Bill Elliott Dodge 49.112 183.255 17. 8A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 49.143 183.139 18. 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.144 183.135 19. 1A Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 49.180 183.001 20. 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.195 182.945 21. 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 49.215 182.871 22. 10 Scott Riggs Dodge 49.232 182.808 23. 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 49.237 182.789 24. 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.242 182.771 25. 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.242 182.771 26. 13 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 49.255 182.723 27. 96 Tony Raines Chevrolet 49.297 182.567 28. 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet 49.305 182.537 29. 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 49.310 182.519 30. 10 Scott Riggs Dodge 49.313 182.508 31. 33 Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 49.340 182.408 32. 1B Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 49.407 182.160 33. 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.432 182.068 34. 43 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 49.450 182.002 35. 7 P.J. Jones Ford 49.478 181.899 36. 7A P.J. Jones Ford 49.542 181.664 37. 83 Brian Vickers Toyota 49.551 181.631 38. 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota 49.595 181.470 39. 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Chevrolet 49.605 181.433 40. 25 Casey Mears Chevrolet 49.653 181.258 41. 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 49.741 180.937 42. 04 Eric McClure Chevrolet 49.751 180.901 43. 33 Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 49.752 180.897 44. 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 49.925 180.270 45. 04 Eric McClure Chevrolet 49.931 180.249 46. 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.932 180.245 47. 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 50.162 179.419 Day 2 (PM) Pos. No. Driver Make Time Speed 1. 8A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.230 186.606 2. 25B Casey Mears Chevrolet 48.273 186.440 3. 96A Tony Raines Chevrolet 48.276 186.428 4. 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 48.279 186.416 5. 37 Bill Elliott Dodge 48.284 186.397 6. 88B Ricky Rudd Ford 48.306 186.312 7. 10B Scott Riggs Dodge 48.315 186.278 8. 26B Jamie McMurray Ford 48.327 186.231 9. 16A Greg Biffle Ford 48.401 185.947 10. 88A Ricky Rudd Ford 48.410 185.912 11. 16B Greg Biffle Ford 48.411 185.908 12. 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 48.463 185.709 13. 26A Jamie McMurray Ford 48.486 185.621 14. 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 48.606 185.162 15. 44A Dale Jarrett Toyota 48.698 184.813 16. 43 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 48.712 184.759 17. 20B Mike McLaughlin Chevrolet 48.741 184.649 18. 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 48.762 184.570 19. 96 Tony Raines Chevrolet 48.810 184.388 20. 25A Casey Mears Chevrolet 48.810 184.388 21. 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet 48.823 184.339 22. 13A Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 48.828 184.320 23. 13B Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 48.829 184.317 24. 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 48.832 184.305 25. 20 Mike McLaughlin Chevrolet 48.884 184.109 26. 8B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 48.890 184.087 27. 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet 48.903 184.038 28. 60B Boris Said Ford 48.920 183.974 29. 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 48.939 183.902 30. 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 48.941 183.895 31. 43B Bobby Labonte Dodge 48.955 183.842 32. 1A Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 49.004 183.658 33. 44B Dale Jarrett Toyota 49.005 183.655 34. 22A Dave Blaney Toyota 49.131 183.184 35. 83B Brian Vickers Toyota 49.182 182.994 36. 04A Eric McClure Chevrolet 49.207 182.901 37. 33B Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 49.258 182.711 38. 7 P.J. Jones Ford 49.261 182.700 39. 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Chevrolet 49.270 182.667 40. 7A P.J. Jones Ford 49.417 182.124 41. 33A Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 49.437 182.050 42. 1B Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 49.480 181.892 43. 29A Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.560 181.598 44. 83A Brian Vickers Toyota 49.568 181.569 45. 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 49.571 181.558 46. 48A Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 49.684 181.145 47. 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.734 180.963 Dale Jr.'s stepmom battle hinders future Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s battle with his stepmother heated up Monday when NASCAR's most popular driver said his future with the family company could hinge on their rocky relationship. The latest issue centres around comments Teresa Earnhardt made almost a month ago when she publicly questioned Junior's commitment to winning. "Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality," she said in the Dec. 14 edition of The Wall Street Journal. Earnhardt had initially refused to respond to the remark, which stirred up a frenzy in a NASCAR community all too aware that his contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. expires at the end of this season. But as the first session of pre-season testing opened Monday at Daytona International Speedway, the driver made it clear that the comments stung. "I was trying not to get involved in it, (but) I really didn't appreciate it," he said. "Whether she was taken out of context or not, I just didn't really appreciate it." So just how are things between the two since the comments? Strained, at best. Earnhardt has not spoken to his stepmother since the article came out because "I figured if anything needed to be said, she'd call me up and say it." But in reality, the phone lines haven't exactly been burning up for several months -- if not years. There's long been a perception that the relationship between Teresa and Junior is frosty -- at best -- and Junior did nothing to dispel that on Monday. "Teresa is my stepmother, and I have a mother at home that I have a very good relationship with," he said. "Mine and Teresa's relationship has always been very black and white, very strict and in your face ... it ain't a bed of roses. "The relationship that we have today is the same relationship we had when I was six years old when I moved into that house with Dad and her. It's always been the same. It hasn't gotten worse over the last couple years or last couple months. "The way I felt about her then is the way I feel about her now." Teresa Earnhardt is widely considered an owner in absentia, making very few appearances at the race track and granting even fewer interviews. Richie Gilmore, director of motorsports at DEI, handles most of the at-track issues, and Teresa Earnhardt recently hired Max Siegel, formerly head of Sony BMG/Zomba Label Group, as president of DEI's global operations. And as Earnhardt and Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, his sister/business manager, continue to move ahead in contract negotiations to keep Junior behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet, company representatives have replaced Teresa Earnhardt at the most recent bargaining table. Gilmore called her absence from the negotiations an effort on Teresa Earnhardt's part to keep the sessions businesslike. "It's something she's kind of removed herself from," Gilmore said. "She thinks it'll happen faster, maybe if she takes the personal side out of it. Junior lets Kelley handle it, and Teresa has people on the outside handle it, and she thinks it will go a lot faster that way." Maybe, but it doesn't seem as though this latest contract extension is shaping up to be a slam dunk. The last three-year deal Earnhardt signed didn't come easy, with Junior holding firm in his desire to reduce the number of required personal appearances worked into the deal. The negotiations dragged on for months before the two sides finally came up with a number he was willing to agree to. Now there's a much larger issue at his hand: Junior's desire to take over at least partial ownership of the company his late father founded in 1996. Many believe Dale Earnhardt started the team as something his children would someday run, but Teresa inherited the business when the elder Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. She's controlled everything since then, including the rights to Earnhardt Jr.'s name, which she only relinquished to him last summer. But Junior wants more than that, and sounded Monday as if he's prepared to walk if he doesn't get it. "I want to be very involved in the company, but I've got to do what I've got to do," he said. "I want to win championships. Particularly, I would love to own DEI. Aside from that I have no interest in ownership." And if he can't get a stake in DEI? Well, Junior just might take his firesuit elsewhere. "I just want to drive races and win championships and hang it up one day and not have to worry about whether I have enough money in my retirement fund," he said. "Just give me a good race car and make it run fast and give me guys I can enjoy working with, and I'll go to the racetrack and I'll do whatever you need me to do with the sponsors and everything else. "Just don't make everything a hassle and don't make everything a pain and you'll have my dedication and everything else you need as far as a driver goes." Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway Test Speeds - Day 1 (AM) Pos. No. Driver Make Time Speed 1. 96 Tony Raines Chevrolet 48.920 183.974 2. 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 48.948 183.869 3. 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 48.978 183.756 4. 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 48.992 183.703 5. 20 Mike McLaughlin Chevrolet 48.993 183.700 6. 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet 48.993 183.700 7. 88 Ricky Rudd Ford 49.057 183.460 8. 20 Mike McLaughlin Chevrolet 49.060 183.449 9. 16 Greg Biffle Ford 49.116 183.240 10. 8A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 49.128 183.195 11. 22 Dave Blaney Toyota 49.239 182.782 12. 25 Casey Mears Chevrolet 49.262 182.697 13. 60 Boris Said Ford 49.276 182.645 14. 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota 49.284 182.615 15. 88 Ricky Rudd Ford 49.336 182.423 16. 60 Boris Said Ford 49.340 182.408 17. 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.342 182.400 18. 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 49.392 182.216 19. 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 49.397 182.197 20. 7A PJ Jones Ford 49.398 182.194 21. 96 Tony Raines Chevrolet 49.405 182.168 22. 16 Greg Biffle Ford 49.409 182.153 23. 8B Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 49.410 182.149 24. 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet 49.419 182.116 25. 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 49.420 182.113 26. 10 Scott Riggs Dodge 49.483 181.881 27. 13 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 49.514 181.767 28. 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge 49.535 181.690 29. 26 Jamie McMurray Ford 49.536 181.686 30. 13 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 49.544 181.657 31. 10 Scott Riggs Dodge 49.599 181.455 32. 1A Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 49.612 181.408 33. 1B Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 49.642 181.298 34. 83 Brian Vickers Toyota 49.688 181.130 35. 9A Kasey Kahne Dodge 49.701 181.083 36. 37 Bill Elliott Dodge 49.704 181.072 37. 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge 49.750 180.905 38. 33 Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 49.755 180.886 39. 7 PJ Jones Ford 49.789 180.763 40. 43 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 49.790 180.759 41. 83 Brian Vickers Toyota 49.808 180.694 42. 04 Eric McClure Chevrolet 49.846 180.556 43. 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 49.864 180.491 44. 25 Casey Mears Chevrolet 49.882 180.426 45. 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota 49.887 180.408 46. 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 50.033 179.881 47. 9B Kasey Kahne Dodge 50.253 179.094 Earnhardt, DEI hoping to reach deal by mid-2007 Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s sister on Thursday said that she hopes to have her brother re-signed with Dale Earnhardt Inc. by mid-season. In an interview on Sirius' Morning Drive, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge said that "it is our hope and intent that we can remain a driver there for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated." Elledge handles Earnhardt's business affairs and said that Junior and DEI have been discussing a contract extension for about four months. "It's our hope that we have something about mid-year that we can announce our direction and maybe even sooner, if we can get things worked out," Elledge said. "It's just a very lengthy process. There are a lot of variables for all of us to contemplate. "We've been negotiating for about four months, I would say, and there's just a lot to think about on both sides of the plate. So, to date we haven't come to terms on any kind of agreement but we're working diligently at it and we hope to be able to announce something in probably mid-year of 2007." This is the third consecutive year that DEI will have to go to the negotiating table and re-sign driver talent. The team declined to extend Michael Waltrip's contract in 2005 but re-signed Martin Truex Jr. last year. Both occurrences happened around the Pepsi 400, which is the Nextel Cup Series' mid-season point. Even though Earnhardt's contract expires at the end of the year, Elledge said that rival owners have not been quick to inquire about his services. By contrast, both Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray announced new moves in 2005 despite a year left on their contract. Both drivers eventually moved to their new teams a year early. "It's actually pretty interesting. We haven't had a lot of calls [from other owners] in that regard," Elledge said. "I think most everyone in the sport believes and would like to see Dale continue at DEI. "It's obviously the perfect fit in terms of family, in terms of the fans, in terms of the sport and what all that means to the sport. So I think the reason that people haven't called is because of that, because they automatically think, 'Hey, that's the best place for him.' " Click here to vist the Dale Earnhardt Jr New Archive Part 3