Dale Earnhardt, Jr will have new car number in 2008, will not keep the #8
Quote selected text Published August 15th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start completely anew in 2008 — new team, new sponsors and now, new car number. Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports officials confirmed Wednesday in separate e-mail statements to ESPN.com that they were unable to reach an agreement with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to bring the No. 8 to HMS with Earnhardt.
“We’ve been working hard to secure the No. 8 for Dale Jr.’s car number next season,” Hendrick GM Marshall Carlson said. “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.
“We appreciate the efforts of Max Siegel and his team [at Dale Earnhardt Inc.], and are excited about unveiling our plans for 2008 in the near future.”
Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Junior’s sister and business manager, echoed Carlson’s thoughts.
“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,” Elledge said.
“It was a difficult decision, but all of us agreed that it was best to move in another direction. 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.”
Elledge said there is no specific timetable on announcing Earnhardt’s new number. What number his car will carry has not yet been determined, but Earnhardt has told ESPN on multiple occasions his preference is 81. He has run 81 at times in the NASCAR Busch Series.
Bookmark to:
- Waltrip says Teresa Earnhardt wouldn’t let go of #15 either
- Dale Jr doesn’t know his car number yet, but he wouldn’t mind the number ‘8′
- Earnhardt, Jr says he would like the #81 if he can’t get the #8
- No Bud for Dale Jr: Hendrick confirms Earnhardt, Jr will have new sponsor in 2008
- Dale Jr merchandise for new team & number already on sale-UPDATE
This is the way it should be, JR choose to leave the number 8 team…..so leave already.
MAX EAT A BEAN BAG!
y cant his step mom stop being a B*tch and give him the number in my opinion he should have the team its his NAME!
oh well cant do nothin about it now!
It’s a fresh start.. I am Happy.. Go Jr!! I’ll support you nomatter what..
i agree anonymous you leave the team you leave the number it dont matter what number is on the car 8 ,81 what ever number he gets the fans will follow or the true fans will
HOPE HE GETS THE 81 THEN.
im not sure why that put my name as browski thats messed up
i cannot stand Teresa and this decision makes me sick…oh well, i’ll follow him no matter what…
all i gotta say is whoever does drive the number 8 is gonna end up having very few fans
and f*$k theresa
What a bitch!!!!!!!!!! She got the damn company taking it away from the REAL Earnhardts - Look out Hilary! Teresa Earnhardt may be after your job and the presidency next. Lord knows she seems to want every f**king thing else in the world she can’t get her greedy little hands on!!!!!!
Not the woman, at all, that I thought she was. But I’ve always been told that the more ya have the MORE YA WANT. Guess Teresa Earnhardt has proven that statement true!!!!
don’t know why that last message stated it was from 26fan but that’s not who I am……….I’m a #8fan………
I’m still following Earnhardt wherever he goes it doesn’t matter
I’m still bummed about it =/
Oh well, 81 sounds good, I hope they get it.
thrersa and Anonymous MUST BOTH BE ADOPTED no famliy value thts a shame for both GOJR>
im not saying that from a business standpoint what dei did was right or wrong because of the terms of the proposal are not known. but from a goodwill standpoint i would have liked to see the 8 stay with jr, I mean he ran that number because it was his grandfathers number so it had alot of significance to jr, but i think we all know he is a very resiliant person I mean to have 4 motor failures here pretty close together plus california you have to be resiliant and talented.
26fan…can you tell what happened to give you that error?
Absolutely Ludicriss! This woman has lost her mind! She would have NOTHING if it wasnt for His father! I hope she goes broke without JR! As far as JR goes, it doesnt matter what number he is, his racing will still RAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m really enjoying reading all this cr*p. He barely is a race car driver, who cares what number he runs?
How about ‘0′ for the number of championships he has?
Sucks that he won’t be in the 8. But as a Jr. fan, I don’t care what number he is driving. I just want to see him race!!
A few of you got it right and rest totally missed the boat.
If Junior wants to leave his DEI legacy behind and start fresh elsewhere, he does not need to drag that number with him. He’s got one foot in the boat and one on the dock. His departure to HMS should be a clean break.
The only reason Rick would even entertain that idea is because all of the sheep who live and breathe based on a single digit. The number means nothing.
If Junior wants to be a big man and leave his daddy’s company, then he shouldn’t expect to take company property with him (figuratively speaking since DEI only has control of the 8 but doesn’t actually own it - someone’s is going to try and corner me on that one). Deep down, I really think if Sr. were still around, he’d say the same thing.
Forget 8 and even 81. The commercial had it right a couple of years ago; he should go with 6.7. I can see at the sheep running around in a big panic just like the commercial, too.
it’s just a number.. it isn’t gonna make him run faster or slower..
Well that says enough. Now is that a good enough reason for Jr to want to leave DEI? I think so. I bet it was a real nightmare there.
The 5 would be aesthetically pleasing.
but… I am very curious about this all. NASCAR has the final say in who is assigned the numbers from every thing I have read.
““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,” Elledge said.”
DEI’s proposal? I think they’re just looking for a reason to drop the 8 covertly.
Two things wrong with that statement:
1) Jr’s legacy was started by his dad. If Jr wasn’t related to Sr., no one probably wouldn’t discern him from any other driver.
and
2) Dale Jr’s talent should be his legacy and not a legacy defined by a number.
Sorry, my statement at 5:10p was for Chad at 5:05p. My oh my, this thread moves fast…
I THINK JR SHOULD PICK #83.. 8 FOR HIS GRANDDAD AND 3 FOR HIS DAD ,PERFECT NUMBER FOR HIM!!
BUT I DO FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAS DALE JR #8 TATOO OR ANYTHING THAT THEY HAVE OF JR ON THEM THAT HE DONT HAVE ANYMORE SO WHAT DO THEY DO REMOVE IT?
At least he is still going to be in a CHEVROLET, not a rice burnner,
like a lot of these CHEVROLET “defectors” went to.
Go Max Siegal!
FREE THE 8!
The wicked step-mom got her way!!!!!!! She has no reason to keep the #8 from Jr. Wonder what Dale Sr. would think?
Teresa makes me SICK i can not stand her. why want she let him take the number.it is just a number
and she being a b**ch about it grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr i hate her
Does it matter what Jr’s number is?
He’s just gonna be the same driver
that he’s always been.
A new start is something that some dont like to see.
People don’t like change as it is.
This is just the closing of one racing chapter for Jr and
the start of a new one.
We just may see by next year at this time what a
difference a little change may make.
My best to the son of the man…………..
It’s in your blood, not your number!
A real Earnhardt fan wouldnt care if he runss 00, like previously posted hes driving a chevy, he has his team and HMS is up to bar and setting the bar higher and higher. I am a huge Earnhardt fan and JR and this will tell the whole story. He will have the best of the best not lets drive!!
Hey lets start over JR. lets have the 81 and blow the doors off the eight.
It should be a clean start and Jr. will have a cmplete new start.
I’ll root for him in any number.
Can I throw my hat at teresa in disgust ? BItch says it all. The company was started for the guy and she cannot even obligue him with his long time number. It is a power move to keep something at D E I money wise . I think with jr s popularity it will just backfire on her ten fold. Just think of the boos when it rolls out without him in it.. I dis like the situation so much I am vowing to never drink bud light again . And I really want to throw my hat at something. The marketing they are losing . Well life goes on .
Well, I am disappointed to see the 8 stay at DEI. I believe something should have been worked out or that NASCAR should just pull it from DEI. The number 8 has no meaning to Teresa, the only reason she’s holding onto it is for spite. That number has sentimental value to JR. The sponsor and number do not matter to me but it does to him. IMO Teresa called JR’s bluff not really thinking he’d leave, 4 blown engines, drop in point standings, not releasing the 8 (plot to ruin his last year at DEI?)…..She is a witch, where is a tornado carrying a house when you need one? TEI would be the perfect landing spot. Even with a strained relationship she could have and should have done more. She is only out for herself and my belief is that she’s holding onto the 8 hoping to eventually put Kerry’s son Jeffrey in it….being an Earnhardt would help someone driving the 8 but he’s not JR. I hope NASCAR pulls the number from TEI even if JR doesn’t get it, just to teach her a lesson about KARMA.
I just feel sorry for Jr. He really wanted that number and Teresa is just being a bitch (as usual) in making things impossible for him to have it. It is unbelievable what greed will do to a person. Doesn’t she care at ALL what her late husband, Dale Sr. would have wanted?
Amazing amount of hate in that woman.
dale jr should drive # 83
Oh man, that commercial is so true now. That’s hilarious.
Well, well, well, good old nonymous.. If it does not matter what # JR drives, then why do you keep responding…..
I really don’t care what # JR drives. I am glad he will have great equipment next year.
And for the first time sinse his dads death he will be working with a champion.
Sam Taylor
Proud Earnhardt… Not a TEI FAN.
i dont even know why dale sr left the company to theresa in his will(if their was one). she sucks
I just don’t get it, why the hell won’t teresa get it thru her head that
she has no use for the #8 if Jr is not racing at DEI next year. The
number obviously has no significant meaning to her whatsoever so why not
let Jr take it w/him. Why not reach an agreement that is reasonable? I met
Teresa Earnhardt when I was 13 years old at Talladega, she didn’t seem
like a money hungry bitch then. I supported her after Dale Sr.s death b/c
I knew that it had to be hard for her to carry a company that her late
husband had made. But damn lady, enough is enough. They cannot find another
driver to do what Jr did in the 8 car. No one else will look right driving
that car. And no one has definitely earned the right to drive the 8. Is it
so hard to understand that the number has meaning to Jr? It was after all
his grand fathers number when he raced. It just comes down to this, Teresa
is a bitch. It’s gonna be different seeing him in a different car next year
but oh well out w/the old in w/the new.
I guess Im more disappointed in NASCAR than with anyone.
Just all around disappointed in their decision making of numbers, tracks lost, qualifying rules, yellow flag rules, no racing any more, real RACING and most of ALL.
THAT NASCARS HAS GONE TO HELL IN AN OIL PAN…………
Things I’d like to see returned to the racing scene.
Racing !!!
Racing to the Green !!
Racing to the Yellow !!
Racing to the Checkers !!
Fights,
Fist Fights, Good ones, In the stands, Pits and on the track and Pitlane.
all while the Racing is taking Place.
Also, More Fans from the North States coming down to the Southern States to sit with the Real Racing Fans of OLD Racing Style of RACING.
Last, but not Least, Are Numbers. They belong at the time to the Driver to whom they belong………….. therefore, the #8, belongs to Dale Jr, seeing he has been racing under that number since he came on the racing scene from his Rookie start in 2000. This being his final year of his cup racing for six years running the Number 8 with Bud as his sponser, they will be no p;lace like home seeing him drive with another number.
But times change as seasons change. I can see as he jumped ship, he wasnt even given a paddle to take with him, but who cares. His Fans are the type that will follow him to Hell and Back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So as the Sun sets in the West, we sit cleaning our Guns for the next weekend of Fun and Racing !!!!!!!!!!
Go Jr !!!!!!!!!!!! You’re the Best of the Best……………..
first of i’ll say i’m not a huge jr. fan, but i do like the guy more than alot of others. and he can wheel a car. if it were not for his four blown engines he would be solidly in the chase. it seems that he is either overrated by his die hard fans or underrated by those who dislike him for his stardom, its gott be tough being june bug.
that said i had a thought the other night.
the next d500 will be cot
which team has the best cot program?
which team has been most dominant at plate tracks since dei fell off?
who is one of the best plate racers in the sport?
jr. will win the 2008 d500. you heard it here first.
good start to a new season with his new team, and with new engines that don’t go pop.
#83 Great minds think alike. The one thing about the biochi holding on to the #8 is definitely spite
spite but on another note it won’t be the red Budweiser #8 next year. If I were a driver I
sure wouldn’t want to drive that number.
Well if Teresa can keep the #8 , then Jr. ought to file a lawsuit against her for having his name on her company. It doesnt say senior in the name…it says Dale Earnhardt and he’s the only dale Earnhardt thats alive , so technically she is using his name without his permission. 2 can paly at this dirty rotten game. She should have to change the team to Teresa Earnhardt Racing or me and max racing…whatever. Since the company isnt Dale Earnhardt senior….then I think Jr. should be able to sue for his name rights. Maybe she needs Sterling Marlin in the #8 sponsered by hair Club for men.
Justin, you have absolutely got to kidding, right?????
Oh so long ago, a guy in Scotland named McDonald sued McDonald’s for that very same reason. Guess what it got him??? Here’s a hint…what have been the McDonald’s restaurants called ever since that lawsuit?
And even if you are serious, which I pray you aren’t, what a tremendous idea to clog up the courts over inane crap like that. Simply put: Jr left DEI. Let him make a mature move, leave the company and move on with his life and career. Later down the road after T gives up, fouls up or runs DEI into the ground, then let him come back and pick up the pieces.
Dale Earnhardt, Sr started DEI as his very own enterprise. When he died, his will left full and total control of Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) owned by D.E. Sr to his wife Teresa in his will. There is no case. No more playing ‘unfrozen caveman lawyer’.
Wow, now if people could get this riled up and passionate about something relevant to the world like political affairs, or caring for their children, or volunteering in the community, or Jesus/Allah/et al instead of a number painted on a car, what a different nation this would be!!
The 8 doesn’t belong to Dale, it belongs to NASCAR.
The 8 doesn’t belong to DEI, it belongs to BASCAR.
In fact the only thing that belongs to DEI is a driverless #8 car and a pile of junk engines that won’t make a full race
Not BASCAR I mean NASCAR
26fan
Aug 15th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
What a bitch!!!!!!!!!! She got the damn company taking it away from the REAL Earnhardts - Look out Hilary! Teresa Earnhardt may be after your job and the presidency next. Lord knows she seems to want every f**king thing else in the world she can’t get her greedy little hands on!!!!!!
Not the woman, at all, that I thought she was. But I’ve always been told that the more ya have the MORE YA WANT. Guess Teresa Earnhardt has proven that statement true!!!!
I’ll take an Earnhardt in the Whitehouse over a CLINTON 7 days a week
dale jr. has been given everything..he hasn’t earned anything..what has he done..won a few races..thats it.. his comments about his crew and team would have cost him his ride anywhere else but dei..he thinks he deserves the respect that was his dads..grow-up jr. you’re not a kid even though you act like a spoiled brat….give me the company or i’ll leave….dei is better off.. conflict within is never good….as to the #8..there jr. goes wanting something give to him thats not his…teresa should have fired him when dale sr. died..let find make it on his own..his head wouldn’t be so swollen..
I don’t think it was a simple as give me the company or I will leave, if so he would have
left along time ago. That’s really sad that you truely believe he should have fired him.
Have you ever lost your father? Well, if you ever do it’s crazy because even in
a family of no money you realize how much you got and get from him.
It’s just stupid because the number 8 means NOTHING to Teresa, you would think she
would want the number 3 but the number 8?? Bull. It does mean something to Jr, his family history,
It does because just like when there was talk of retiring the #3 Jr said NO because he knows there is
probably some kid out there who wants to be a race car driver when he grows up, he watches his dad race
a #3 at the local track right now, maybe that boy willmake it to NASCAR and
want the #3 in honor of his own father someday.
Crappy deal.
After this stunt by TEI I will boycott all product that sponser the 8 car as long as TEI has it.
It is crap that Jr. doesn’t get to keep the 8 but it’s not the end for him. Maybe a clean break from the number and the team is just what he needs. Besides like some others have been saying on here, DEI just gave him crappy engines and if it weren’t for engine failures he would be in the chase. What comes around goes around and DEI will see. It really should have been a no brainer, what’s the big deal with letting him keep the 8????? I guess to Theresa it was maybe out of spite. Oh well, Jr. will do better next year with a championship team. I’m a true Jr. fan so I’ll support him no matter what number or team he is on (except for a Ford or Toyota team). I was at this past weekends race at Watkins Glen and he would have finsished VERY well if it wasn’t for his crappy engine.
I agree also that Jr. should drive number 83. 8 for his grandfather and 3 for his dad.
Go Jr.
Oh well, Theresa is stupid, she knows absolutly nothing about Racing, and all she
is is money hungary, oh well, I’m a Jr. fan but i’ll still go for hime no matter
what number he drives
does anyone realize there is already a #83 running? A Red Bull toyota…
ALRIGHT! lets go #!!!! i think JR should use the “#” sign hahahahaha no number needed. maybe go real grassroots and use a 3 digit number. 888. if anyone’s watched 1/4 or 1/2 mile racing, its not uncommon to see a 3 digit number.
Yeah…6.7…..they already have the commercial…all he has to film is the last part by saying “and yes, THIS time, i’m serious!”
Well, people should have seen this one coming, she didn’t let him have control over the company so why would she give him #8? The number doesn’t matter to me, I will always be an Earnhardt fan.
I was thinking the same thing as Hendrick Fan.
83 ISNT AVAILABLE. It’d be the exact same problem as getting
the 8 from DEI.
I WANT 81 !!
Teresa is such a B**ch! I can’t believe her stingy no good A**! I usually don’t curse on this but this one deserves cursing. Cut the ties completely Jr…she isn’t worth it! She probably keeps Taylor away from her brothers and sister too!
So what difference does it make? Who needs to drama? Why does a number mean anything at all? He can’t go any faster then his capibilities will allow! If he has it he has it a number won’t change a ting. I would bet those that feel the strongest about it have the #*8 tattooed someplace.
I as a Major Dale Jr fan can say i have flags banners memrobillia ETC of Jrs but its just a number, a number that lately has brought very little success barely squeeking out a win just one for the last two years, but not yet this year, leave it behind, jr will always be 8 but the number backing it up is where he will be, the number one, 81 so much better, leave all the, motors blowing up, horrible setups, and a sponsor that isnt quite one age fits all, no offense to bud but times are changing, alcohol is a worse thing now in the publics eye, oh and leave that worthless Teresea Earnhardt (Menard) behind, lets show all those gordon, johnson, busch, harvick, and stewart fans, what Jr can do with a setup and backing as good as theirs, and stop letting people tell us Jr is riding on his dads coat tails, we will watch as he surpasses what we thought he could do, 81 the new image, the new man, the new team, the new desire, the new 2008 Sprint Cup Champion (yea and the sprint thing better not last two long, nextel sounds better)
Oh and maybe have 8.3 not 83, the chump who wrecked us at Talladega last year. Vickers you suck.
I like Andy B’s statement. Changes my perspective a bit.
I’m hoping for the 81..
I don’t even know anymore! I just want to hear who his new sponsor is
and what number it’s going to be now…..it’s taking to long =/ haha
I say WRANGLER will be on the side and 5 will be the #
Perhaps even a yellow and blue paint scheme just like the # 15 FORD from “Back in the Day”
I don’t think WRANGLER has the money to be a primary sponsor?
Maybe they should find it. After all, he allready is linked to them and all age groups buy jeans. If he does well (which he should) with HMS that will give them more eposure then they have had for years. Perhaps they need to look at thier budget(s) and dig it up.
I don’t see what is so wrong with him keeping the #5. It has a long-standing history at HMS and Jr. could add his legacy to that history, which is essentially what he’s doing by joining up with HMS anyhow, like it or not. It’s also far more aesthetically pleasing than #81 which… just isn’t one of them #’s that looks all that appealing from a design standpoint. I honestly think #08 or #80 would look better personally; or maybe an effort to secure the #33 from RCR if you’re going to stick with legacy inspired #’s. But if Jr. doesn’t want to have to drive in his dad’s shoes, his dad’s shadow with a constant reminder adhered to the door and roof… moving to a completely different # would be a blessing, not a curse, and an opportunity to create his own legacy that’s completely distinct and fresh.
Granted… the 5 has had past history at HMS with both Geoff Bodine and Terry Labonte (a champion in the car; who prior won the title in car #44) both winning a lot of races and having strong finishes for the team. There was a brief stint where Ricky Rudd drove the Tide car as #5 and won races and was reasonably successful in it. The 5 is already a successful car with a successful team with, love him or hate him (and I’m not a fan in the least), K