Dale Earnhardt, Jr to drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008-UPDATE
Quote selected text Published June 13th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Dale Earnhardt, Jr will drive for Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2008 as part of a multi-year contract with the highly successful NASCAR Nextel Cup team.
Earnhardt, Jr will replace 22 year-old Kyle Busch, who will be released from his contract at season’s end.
Earnhardt, Jr held a news conference at 11:00AM Eastern today to make the announcement and was carried live on SPEED Tv and ESPN2.
UPDATE:
NASCAR Press Release:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has ended the suspense and announced his new racing home for 2008 – Hendrick Motorsports.
Now, the only question is how long will tickets remain for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17 to see him with his new race team.
Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion, made the announcement Wednesday at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C., that he signed a five-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports, a team that has won six Daytona 500s.
“The 50th running of the Daytona 500 is going to be a historic moment in racing history,” Speedway President Robin Braig said. “In addition to celebrating NASCAR’s most prestigious race, we will also witness Dale Earnhardt Jr. begin a new era in his racing career with Hendrick Motorsports.”
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr to run No 5 in first Hendrick test
- Earnhardt, Jr, Busch to test with new teams
- Earnhardt, Jr to drive the No 88 in 2008
- JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports to combine Busch operations in 2008
- Earnhardt, Jr says he would like the #81 if he can’t get the #8
Wow! I’m more of a Hendrick team fan (with the exception of Kyle
Busch and Jeff Gordon) than I am a Dale Jr fan but if this is true,
welcome to the winningest team in NASCAR!
2008 Nascar Nextel Cup Champ…..DALE EARNHARDT JR!!!!!!
You do know that he isn’t making his announcement until 11 am, right?
ESPN might be full of s&&t.
…How can it be confirmed when he hasn’t announced it yet?
how can you confirm it when he hasnt had his confrence yet!!!!!
20 minutes until Jr.’s press conference! I can’t wait!! Come on over to the Hendrick’s family Jr.!!
Of course it’s confirmed. The news conference is just a formality. It’s a “news conference” to announce it. Wanna bet on it?
I actually find this pretty funny given that most of the Jeff
Gordon hater’s are JR FANS! It goes to show you that he is
I actually find this pretty funny. Only because so many of thebashers of Jeff gordon just happen to be JR FANS… most of them had jumped on the “JR BAND WAGON” when they didnt know how to pick a driver … andddddddd didn’t know crap about Jeff, can you all count to four? BI don’ think you can, because JR couldn’t get to 1 w/out the help of Hendrick… so when he gets a CHAMPIONSHIP… I hope you all remember this day and where he decided to go to… yep thats right , to HENDRICK…. Welcome aboard Dale Jr!!! Go Hendrick!
people hate hendrick more than they like Jr., thats a fact, and he just forever
tarnished whatever career he had.
Jumping off the band wagon Jayson?
Crap.
I was really hoping that Ginn would hold out.
On the other hand, Hendricks does seem to have the Crap of Tomorrow licked.
DEI will be gone by the time Jr. wins his first championship. Bittersweet.
I am burning ALL of my earnhardt shit……
Sr. and Jr.
To hell with nascar, i am no longer a fan.
Go Braves!!!
next year will be much more interesting
than the comments on this story!! lol
But I am still a Jr. fan!!! He’s still a superstar, as far as I am concerned, just
based on his attitude. Now maybe he will have the car for a championship. I haven’t
heard, is he still in the 8 car or what? Will he be in the 5 car, since he is
going to be “replacing” Kyle?
jr was always my #2, everyone that knows me knows i’m a 100% harvick fan, I still can’t
believe he went to a team that has proven proven cheaters like that, o well, he just
became a teammate to two of the biggest ***sy’s ever
You’re insane to burn your Sr. stuff, it’s not his fault his widow is a megabitch. Because, you
know, all of this is HER FAULT!!!
jr was always my #2, everyone that knows me knows i’m a 100% harvick fan, I still can’t
believe he went to a team that has proven proven cheaters like that, o well, he just
became a teammate to two of the biggest ***sy’s ever
jr was always my #2, everyone that knows me knows i’m a 100% harvick fan, I still can’t
believe he went to a team that has proven proven cheaters like that, o well, he just
became a teammate to two of the biggest ***sy’s ever
You’re insane to burn your Sr. stuff, it’s not his fault his widow is a megabitch. Because, you
know, all of this is HER FAULT!!! RIP DEI.
Adam…
Try selling it on EBAY before you burn it! haha, you might as well make a couple of bucks off the guy.
LETS GO METS!
Cheers!
RIP DEI. You’re crazy to burn your Sr. stuff. Its not his fault that his widow is a greedy megabitch. Because you
know that this is all her doing. And wouldn’t it just chap her ass for Jr. to win a championship in 2008.
GO Rangers (yeah, I know they suck, just jumping on the bandwagon, ha ha)
Here’s an idea… How about everyone reverting back to DIRT Racing? And showing NASCAR that you are all pissed? Support your local racers… thats where it all starts….
Eat that Nascarfan4life24! I told you he was going to hendricks and I was right! What about them apples? I can’t wait to see it happen! Hendricks and Dale Jr are going to ROCK NASCVAR!
When he starts winning races right and left it will be a very bitter pill for DEI and Teresa to swallow!
Welcome to the family Jr!!!
Well..now that it’s been announced..
JR, you have made the biggest mistake of your LIFE.
ALL of your dad’s fans will drop you like a hotcake. The Earnhardt name DOES NOT BELONG in the same sentence as GORDON. I think I understand now though why he picked HMS..
Sorry to JR fans, but he isn’t THAT great of a driver. He went to HMS because he knows he doesn’t have to have any real talent to win races. He just has to follow along and cheat. If he went to Gibbs, he would have to have natural talent to win races and be in the top constantly. If he went to Ginn he would have to have natural talent. But he said he wanted to win championships..this is how he will do it. By cheating.
Jr driving the #5.. f*^k that. I am a loyal Stewart fan and have been rooting for Jr as well ever since I started watching Nascar.. but now..i’ve lost ALL respect for Jr.
Jayson..
Relax! I don’t know you from Adam… sooooooooo uhhh, stick with the 29, you will make out better there for this year…. next year, hmmm… I don’t know… going to have to find a new #2 guy, like… BOBBY LABONTE! He is my man… and I have been with him since he was in the 22, driving for Bill Davis ( going back a ways )… but here is the thing, you don’t jump ship when your driver(s) move on… you FOLLOW them… Its not the same as being a die hard mets/giants/rangers ( see a NY connection here? haha) …. but anyway, you stick with your team, in NASCAR… you stick with the driver…. not the car… NASCAR is pretty neat on how the fans pull for that one guy…. when Bobby went to Petty, many of his fans jumped ship, do you know what I did? Went out and bought new 43 gear… say what you what about where he went, go ahead and tell me what a bad move it was for him to leave Gibbs… you wouldnt be the 1st to have me take my lumps on this… I don’t care what you say… Once a Bobby fan ALWAYS a BOBBY FAN. Where he goes, I go…
GO 43!
I think his dad would be proud of him. He is making his own path. No offense to anyone, but if he had
gone with Childress, there would have been more of the bulls__t that all the haters say, “He’s just riding
his daddy’s coat tails”, etc, blah blah blah. I am not crazy about either Johnson or Gordon, but it’s not
like anything has changed, really. They are going to still be racing each other, as Mr. Hendricks said. And
from what I have seen in the Hendricks team, just because you are teammates, doesn’t mean they will let you
pass. Gordon and Johnson race each other as hard as anyone else out there; they don’t give each other anything
when they are racing for a win. It’s not like he’s going over to be their butt buddy, he’s going over there to
win a championship. And anyone who faults him for that, was not a fan to start with.
I hope that Jr does well next year! I WILL NEVER BE A JEFF GORDON FAN OR JIMMIE JOHNSON FAN!
GOOD LUCK JR! YOUR LOYAL FANS WILL BE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY. Anyone who drops you now really wasnt a loyal fan to start with!
I agree with you Hoppy…
I want to see how many “follow” him there.. True fans follow the driver.
There ya go! One fan who follows his/her driver! Bravo to you,One Dale Jr Fan
I can’t believe his chose Hendrick. I would love to have seen him move to RCR and race with
my guy Harvick! Just remember who won the Daytona 500 & the All-Star Challenge.
I also can’t believe that the two biggest rivals in Nascar are now teammates
I like how you people talk about loyalty.Most of you that say are probably new to watching NASCAR.Half of you don’t know what you talking about.I’ve been a fan for over twenty years.Oh and Cathi write with some intelligence.
The Teresa Earnhardt DEI Museum and Storage Facilty is officially open for business! A little bitch like KyBu would be a perfect fit for her. Is Big E laughing at these turn of events or is he realizing what a cold hearted bitch he married? Either way, he’s proud of his son that had the balls to leave the family business. I think I liked Phil Leotardo more than I ever liked Teresa!
Adam-Good. We needed to get rid of the people that had jumped on the
bandwagon. And oh yes, it’s really Sr’s fault that Jr jumped to
Hendrick. Or not. Idiot.
Am I happy he’s at Hendrick’s? Nah, I’m not gonna lie. I was pi__ed
when he first said it. I don’t have a lot of trust for Rick Hendrick,
or any of the car owners really. But Jr is Jr, and I’ll remain his
fan no matter where he drives. Hopefully he and Gordon/Johnson don’t
wreck each other all the time.
Ben, get off this thread!!! Basically, everyone else has been at least supportive, regardless of how they
feel about Hendricks. That’s what loyalty is.
loy·al·ty /ˈlɔɪəlti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[loi-uhl-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ties. 1. the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.
2. faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, cause, etc.
3. an example or instance of faithfulness, adherence, or the like: a man with fierce loyalties.
—Synonyms 2. fealty, devotion, constancy. Loyalty, allegiance, fidelity all imply a sense of duty or of devoted attachment to something or someone. Loyalty connotes sentiment and the feeling of devotion that one holds for one’s country, creed, family, friends, etc. Allegiance applies particularly to a citizen’s duty to his or her country, or, by extension, one’s obligation to support a party, cause, leader, etc. Fidelity implies unwavering devotion and allegiance to a person, principle, etc.
—Antonyms 1, 2. faithlessness.
Hope that the actual definition helps. You don’t have to be a fan for 20 years to be loyal. You can’t claim to
be loyal only if Jr. drives for whatever team YOU want him to. That’s conditional and is not right, go be a Kurt
Bush fan, we don’t want you!!!
Ben..
What did you say? Why would you say that to me?
Knock off the name calling!
Hoppy Girl Nice definition! You can be a fan for a hundred years. But being Loyal to a driver means supporting him when he goes his own way and makes a path for himself. To prove to people that he is his own person and has plently of talent that people seem to keep questioning.
Ben…
Why would you say that to me?
Certainly he’ll have the best equipment, but how do you win a championship when two drivers who are better than you have the same equipment? That is going to be Jr.’s challenge as there are no excuses now.
As for Jr’s popularity, he’ll be just fine, thank you.
Jr. might win some more races but he will never have a championship BOTTOM LINE.
GO JR>. It will make things more interesting now with Jeff and Jimmie .Genny
all that matters is that jimmie johnson will show dale the way
he’ll be like hey pipsqueek here is how to drive.
and he’ll win the 2008 championship. along with the 2007.
GO JIMMIE
Its a conspiracy between Jeff Gordon and Hendrick to try and stop the booing each time Jeff wins a race.
i will ALWAYS be a Jr fan. also, talk is of Hendricks buying the 8 car. just because he races for hendricks, DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE OT ROOT FOR JJ OR GORDON!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant wait for next year Go Jimmie and welcome to Hendrcks Jr.
For the love of God! I can’t believe what some of you people are saying about this! I somewhat agree with Ben, some of you people need to write with some sort of intelligence. Simply have all the information before you start typing God knows whatever. Anyway, enought with that, I too do not really like Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson. I can only hope that now, with Jr. aboard, he and Mears can show everybody that Jeff and Jimmmie aren’t the greatest around. And about DEI, I just wish Teresa would just rename it with her name instead of Dale Sr.’s. I love the guy, but it was never really his company to begin with, Teresa started that. Everybody who knows NASCAR and knows the Earnhardt’s knows that Teresa was the business savvy one of the bunch. She just needs to take Dales name off of it and quit making money off of her dead husband, it’s sad, really sad. As far as Jr. goes, I think he made a decent choice in going to Hendrick. I wish he had gone to Gibbs or somebody like that, anywhere other thna Hendrick, buty he wants to win championships, and he knows he’s got the chance with Hendrick. And I want to make a prediction, I think Bud will be going with Jr. over to Hendrick, and if that’s the case, he’ll be driving the 25 and Mears will go to the 5. It just makes sense to me being that Bud sponsered the 25 with Hendrick some years ago with Schrader driving. Well, that’s my take on everything, I’m sure I’ll have more later, when I’m not at work. LOL. Later guys.
i’m relieved that he went to hendrick. maybe something in nascar will change a little. plus, he made a really smart choice. what does someone look for when they want to be a part of a team? EVERYTHING HMS has and is! I never thought it to be much of a debate and that the choice should be pretty clear. Kyle should be put back in Busch or trucks or something, hehe. (I am kinda surprised they dropped the talent of Busch, but eh!) Jr. doesn’t care if he races with Gordon. Those two don’t have a problem with each other so neither should anyone else. The early 90s are gone, folks.
I am glad of Dale’s decision. Teresa’s statement however is somewhat odd. It seems hurtful to Kyle and his talent, but perhaps wasn’t mean’t that way.
I think Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson, will do well and race great together. They are champions of the sport and I hope to see great things to come. HMS is the best and Dale Jr. added should make for a great season 2008.
Deborah
…What does the early 90s have to do with anything? That was Sr and
Gordon’s rivalry, not Jr and Gordon’s. And I don’t think they necessarily
get along. I think they can peacefully coexist because of mutual
respect, but I wouldn’t call it friendship either. Fans are always
going to have opinions, self-included, just like any person on the
planet and all are able to share them equally. It’s part of what makes
the sport what it is.
Friggin’ sellout…JR sucks and Hendrick can kiss my ass!
Every driver dosen’t win championships I don’t care who the drive for. Look at Mark Martin. NASCAR in general has become too commercial since the passing of Dale Sr. Everything is about sponsors and money. The guy with the most money wins the most races. Well I got news for you, take a look at the Yankees and ask them if spending all that money got them anything. Nothing. They couldn’t buy a championship and neither can anyone else in any other sport. Go wherever you want to, unless you have the skills to win a championship, you ain’t gonna win one. Period. Go to Hendrick Mtoorsports and see what happens. The only thing that is going to happen is there are going to be alot of upset people because now he is teammates with Jeff and Jimmy. Boo-hoo. He had to go there, they needed the whole set.
As a die hard Jr fan. I just want to say again, no matter what he drives or who he drives for, I will support him. He has to make the choices that are going to help him win. This of course is the most obvious choice right now. HMS is winning and doing very well this season so far. I find it funny that some of the HMS fans are just not liking this move at all. & to the HMS fans that support this move, as a Jr fan thanks for being open minded and kind. Like he said today, he will still be racing EVERYONE on the track, that’s not going to change. I look forward to seeing him win a few next year!!
Everyone has their way of expressing how they feel. Jr moving to Hendrick is a good thing. Let’s see what he has to offer.
jr is a good driver but him goin to hendrick jus made him lose ALOT of his credibility. now we will never really know how much talent he really has because he goes to a cheater team. if nascar straightens up (which wont happen under brian) an stops suckin up to hendrick then jr will get his credibility back and people will respect hendrick more.
Wow. It really amazes me that people cannot express their viewpoints without resorting to
profanity. Those who choose to talk this way do not represent the majority of NASCAR fans.
I am a racing fan period. I wish Dale Jr. the best of luck next season and beyond.
He is gonna be the driver to beat in 2008 now. Everyone has said that once you give him the right tools then he will be able to win races and then win championships, and he couldn’t be with a better team to do that
I got into racing because of one man’s love for a race car driver and that race car driver name was Dale Earnhardt Sr. My friend Pat Stevens got me interested in racing and I became a Dale Earnhardt Sr. fan back in 1993. I rooted for the man in black up until his death in 2001 and in my heart I still root for his spirit which lives on in my heart. His death took alot of heart out me. I was not family nor friend nor had I ever met Dale but Dale became my HERO. I took what little heart I had left and put that heart into rooting for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tho racing is not the same without Dale Sr. my heart healed with beening a Jr fan. But sadly today I WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT DALE EARNHARDT JR . As a TRUE Earnhardt fan i rooted AGAINST JEFF GORDON. To have Jeff Gordon win the cup in 2001 then in 2007 tie and surpast Dale on all day’s Dale Earnhardt Day in career wins really tore at my heart and made me hate Gordon even more but this..this is were I draw the line JR a team mate to Gordon and Jimmie Johnson ??? Thanks for the memorys Jr but sadly I root for you no more
Clint Roberts
You know, all of you calling Jr. a sellout, you forget that is his dad won the first championship that he earned with Hendrick. I think his dad would be proud, and just for all those that are saying that Jr. will lose all his fans, not this one. I stand by my teams no matter what. That includes baseball, football, and basketball. That is what a true fan is, and I don’t think that the fans that adopted Jr. after his dad was gone will feel that he needs to be dropped. Just every rule will have it’s exception.
GO JR!!!!
I feel your pain on Dale Sr’s death but if you’re gonna take that
viewpoint, good riddance.
What on earth are you talking about? Dale Sr didn’t win his first
championship with Hendrick, he won it with Rod Osterlund.
because that’s where the 24 & 8 “rivalry” comes from. 3 & 24 back in the day. there’s no real rivalry just _____ (insert what you will) fans. i do believe for a real/good rivalry each has to be a winning team each and every week and it seems there’s only one outta the two (24) that can win every week. so i think early 90s has A LOT to do with it. whether it’s people who’ve been fans since then, or people who jump on the bandwagon it stems from Sr.
All Jr’s fair weather fans can leave if they want to but I will still root for hih every race and I will still want him to beat Gordon, Johnson and all other drivers on the track who own’s his car doesn’t matter. But after he starts winning again and wins a championship don’t come running back saying you were behind him from the start or the racing god’s will strike you down.
Hey…NASCAR4LIFE24…so much for Hendrick not wanting Junior huh! LOL J/K (kinda) I’m just interested to see how they all do (Junior, Gordon and Johnson) when they have similar quality equipment. Can’t wait for next years Daytona 500 to see how they work as a team. Part of me was in a “believe the hype” mode and didn’t think that Junior and Gordon on the same team would be a good idea. But, there are a lot of sports stars that can be opponents on the field and friends or at least friendly off the field. Look at the last Super Bowl, even some of the teams that lost to the Colts were rooting for Peyton Manning simply because they respected him as a man. No matter what the fans want to believe, there is at least SOME measure of respect between Gordan and Junior, why else would Junior have been the first person in Victory Lane to congratulate Gordon when he tied his fathers winning record.
jr sucks..gordon owns..thats not gonna change next year..or anytime after that!
I am the biggest jr. fan on the face of the earth and i will support him through whatever desicion he makes. He needs to do what is best for him and make his own name and not just pick a team cuz his dad raced there. He probaly didnt pick gibbs becuz they wont take budweiser becuz i am sure he will continue to have them as a sponsor. if his fans cannot support him and get over the fact that he made this desicion then u never were a true fan. i hate jeff gordon but if this is wha jr feels he needs to do to help his career then i will have to deal with it. i am still not going to root for jeff gordon but i hope that maybe jeff gordon can help jr get to where he needs to be. jr will not be involved in any cheating and never will. tha is not his style and true fans know that. i just want to see him in the winners circle and get a championship and he is a great driver and can do it. i know his dad would be proud that he is takin a step and makin his own career. it is a shame this all did have to happen cuz if sr. were alive this would all be different but we have to stop living off the what ifs and move on. alll of the reasons why jr. picked hendrick are very understandable and what it comes down to is his well being and what makes him happy and we as fans should be concerned about that more than who his teammates are or who owns his car. im excited about next season. and you will see jr. in the winner circle. good luck and congrats to jr.
oh and also for all you gordon fans tha say jr sucks…ur just scared and we will see wha happens just wait.
Well I guess NASCARFAN24 WHATEVER WAS REALLY OFF!!! Hendrick wanted JR for over 15 years…Hmmmm.
How does that crow taste?
all this talk and worry over someone who is average on his best day and never will win a championship…….
What a sad day. Well i guess there is all ways RCR’s guys to go to. It would not of been so bad if Jeff Gordon was the one booted.
gordon has a LIFETIME contract with hendricks and dupont dumbass..althought i hate him he can drive a race car..and NO IM NOT DEFENDING THE GORDON HATERS…i to am a gordon hater and its not b/c of his racin talent its b/c of his off and on track demeanor..its NEVER his fault..ow well dont mean i have to cheer him on
A true Jr. fan would want him on a team that has the best chance of winning races and championships, so if thats not what you want than you were never a die hard Jr. fan in the first place and we will not miss you!
Im glad to see all the TRUE Dale Jr fans come out and speaking their minds. We see who supports Dale Jr because he is DALE JR not because of who his father is and what he left behind. DALE Jr is his own person and made a choice that was best for him and his team! Yes things would be different if Dale Sr were still here. But I truly believe that DALE SR is proud of the person DALE JR has become on and off the track. Just because DALE JR moved to HMS does not mean you have to root for Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. I know I will not be rooting for the two of them by any means. But as a TRUE LOYAL fan to DALE JR I want him to have the BEST equipment there is and the best chance do to what he loves…. RACING! For those of you who believe you need to leave DALE JR because of his choice well that is yours but just know JR NATION will still be JR NATION at HMS. We may or may not be a SEA OF RED but we will still be there supporting OUR NUMBER 1 DRIVER DALE JR!
~*~ ONE DALE JR FAN~*~
SUPPORTING HIM EVEN AT HMS!!!!!!!!!!
if u were replying to me..i was talking bout jeff gordon being a teammate not jr being a teammate..i am a true JR fan and i wish him the best..i just said i dont have to cheer on the rest of that team