Earnhardt, Jr considering moving JR Motorsports to Sprint Cup
Quote selected text Published May 17th, 2008 in NASCAR News
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday that his JR Motorsports team could move from the Nationwide Series up to the Sprint Cup level as soon as 2009. But the popular driver said such a move would occur only “if the right opportunity comes along with the right sponsorship and driver.”
However, former teammate and good friend Martin Truex Jr. wouldn’t be on his short list of potential drivers should his team make the switch. Truex is currently in the final year of his contract at Dale Earnhardt Inc.
“Why would he want to come drive for me?” Earnhardt Jr. asked. “He’s in good stuff now and he’s going to have great opportunities from other people. And I would never do that to him.
“For the first year coming out of the box, man we’ll struggle like hell. Come on, man. He’s going to have deals offered to him by these great companies around here and from DEI. I’ll be at the bottom of that list, right there with Haas [CNC Racing] and a couple of other people. I don’t know with Tony [Stewart] if he goes [to Haas CNC], he might be able to talk Martin into it. But I don’t know, man. I mean no way would I even do that to Martin, even if he wanted to.”
But it’s clear that moving his JR Motorsports outfit to Cup is something Earnhardt Jr. has considered.
“We’d love to do it,” he said.
While Earnhardt Jr. competes in Sprint Cup for Hendrick Motorsports, his JR Motorsports team fields one Nationwide Series car fulltime for driver Brad Keselowski and a second car on a fulltime basis with multiple drivers. JR Motorsports combined its Nationwide program with Hendrick Motorsports prior to the start of the 2008 season.
“I used to say ‘No way, no way,’” Earnhardt Jr. said. “But it’s almost as expensive to run in the Nationwide Series. And they’re going to bring a [car of tomorrow] in and we won’t be able to race in the Nationwide Series with [it] probably. That’ll just be too expensive to switch all that over.”
Earnhardt Jr. said the funding costs would be about the same.
“And the COT program is going to be too expensive for me to justify creating a whole new program with COT stuff, so I’d just as soon go into the Cup Series or get out of the Nationwide Series altogether,” he said.
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Just get rid of the ‘Nationwide Series’
its turning into an exact replica of the Cup series,
only with less money involved.
Congrats for screwing over the series that used to serve
as a stepping stone to Cup, but now serves
only as a warm up or test session for Sprint Cup drivers
The Nationwise series should swap to Mustangs , Camaro’s and Challengers (when those makes are all available and maybe a 2 door Camry also). Then it would be different cars than Cup , not necessarily COT winged cars , but different.
How about this, Get rid of the series that has been nothing for the past 10-15 years, and just show the Camping World East and West series live on TV in place of the Nationwide series.
Also at this point in time I think bringing a new team into Cup is a BIG mistake. I mean there is already 10 or so teams fighting to get into the race and good EQ is already going home, not to mention that it may cost almost the same to run, but that is because as an owner you make it costs the same amount to run.
I think what NASCAR needs to do is work on a Car of Tomorrow that works within the plans of the 2 Camping World series’ and the Nationwide series (and maybe ARCA Re/Max and USAR Hooter’s Cup as 2 additional alternatives) in a more unified role, a car suitable for short tracks that can also run on a Speedway. The cost-cutting measures NASCAR has put into place in both of those series is being commended and more and more teams are choosing to participate in them. It is, in my opinion, that NASCAR would do well to unify the 3 on a cost-cutting agenda and allow drivers from the East and West tours to spill over into select Nationwide Tour events to help bolster counts/support. I could even see NASCAR pushing both of these tours, as well as inking rules for NASCAR Canada and NASCAR Mexico on a similar level to where it’s all eventually on a unified plane with regards to rules.
Far as NASCAR killing the series… the reality is, at the rate the series’ has been going it was going there anyway. If NASCAR makes wholesale changes, it’ll either sink/swim by an influx of new teams or… from the same old teams setting up shop under whatever NASCAR lays out as the new tours rules. Whether those teams = current Nationwide teams (including the Cup invaders… and I don’t expect all of them to pack up and leave), orphaned Nationwide teams from the influx of the Cup entourage, or from Camping World E/W and/or USAR/ARCA teams… it doesn’t really matter as long as the series has potentials for greater health and growth. It’s obvious that for safety’s sake… the COT = way to go, but just how NASCAR implements it at this level is crucial IMHO to the series’ success. I think it firmly will also pave the way to what a number of other series (NASCAR or otherwise) does into the future.
The Cup teams have done well enough in raping and scavenging the tour with both their developmental drivers as well as their regular Cup drivers that the tours’ “official” regulars have all but become second and third tier citizens. There is little benefit to many of the teams to stick around when they struggle to get the sponsorships that the Cup-nee Nationwide teams are able to bring to the plate (and the more capable engineering and technical resources to be a step above the competition at this level; it’s almost like “cherry picking” for these teams based on resources alone, much less driving talent/experience), esp. with the potentials of said Nationwide sponsors also potentially inking a deal to be on a Cup car as well (i.e. look at Bowyer’s Nationwide sponsor getting a Cup win at Richmond; Roush has cross-shopped sponsors into Cup rides much as Ganassi has as well). Many have moved down to CTS where much of the same practice has been going with Cup drivers either developing their own CTS teams in affiliate to their Cup squads… or… fielding their own self-start teams entirely using their budgeting from Cup to help fund their program. In a nutshell… it is not nor has ever been an easy task to approach and NASCAR’s tendency to err on the side of caution has probably been the right decision despite the fact that many of the old guard Busch teams have all but dried up/left.
Either way, many of the Cup drivers who are entering CTS/Nationwide are buying tech and using knowledge/info. from a Cup team which helps them become quicker starters and helps them move up the ladder quicker. It’s little wonder many of your Cup drivers agenda is to eventually be Cup owners someday. Stewart has admitted to a desire for it now (despite in the past seeming like he wanted to serve his time, leave, and jump back into his short track endeavors where “the real racers are” as he’s put it before), Jr. appears poised to try it himself, and Mikey Waltrip is already there. I expect that Kevin Harvick will eventually try this later in his career as well.
The only way to save Nationwide is to concede to 1 of 2 things… 1) clean sheet it, start anew, and try to woo the Camping World E/W teams, ARCA Re/Max teams, CTS, and orphaned BGN teams of old to jump back in to a cost-effective formula (and still likely see Cup super teams investing in the series) or 2) concede that it’s nothing more than Sprint Cup “Lite” and hope and pray that your Cup teams continue to support the series well on into the future. In that vain, they might as well just use the same cars/chassis as Sprint Cup and just make the motors a scant bit more cost effective. Otherwise, I think working out deals with one of the other tours (Camping World E/W = simple, ARCA or USAR Hooter’s Cup = a bit more of a stretch but still possible) to help unify their formulas with the next gen Nationwide series’ COT long-term would likely be beneficial for all. Whatever NASCAR does is likely to affect ARCA eventually regardless as their formula tends to build off of Cup’s hand me downs. It would make more practical sense for ARCA to follow a more cost-effective rung on the NASCAR level next go-round vs. use super expensive Cup equipment and open motors for the lower purses their tour garners.
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Kyle blew his engine, see ya all, the good man upstairs has his way to pay people back!!! ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺
LET’S GO 88…………..
JAG wrote:
Let that happen in the 600…..Kyle Busch blows an engine and Jr wins the race and takes over the point lead. Who knows…it could happen.
Something I just realized about a quote that Jr made about the cost. If his team can not afford to switch over from the regular car to the Nationwide COT, how would the be able to afford the switch to the Cup COT?
Both COT’s use the same chassis, the only major difference is the Body, and even if he would go to Cup COT and get a few pre-built cars with body, chances are after a few races those cars will have most if not a completely new body.
I would guess that the sponsorship money on the cup level would be considerable more money, which would allow him to pay his employees and maybe make a little money as well.
Sheena wrote:
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It couldn’t happen to a “better boy”.
It looked like boy Kyle was about ready to cry when they told him he was done☺☺☺
JAG wrote:
this forum is not about Kyle its about Dale and the switch from Nationwide to Sprint, try staying on the subject and go some where else with your driver bashing. get a life
JAG wrote:
i think Kenneth should see if you are the Guest he got rid of
If Dale switched from Nationwide to Sprint he would have to devote to much time to JR Motorsports, and would not be able to focus on his Sprint Cup career. He does have good people in place but a Sprint Cup owner is always busy with his teams. it would not be good and i do not think Rick would be happy with it. You cant be worrying about your team qualifying when you have to worry about yourself and your ride. i think it would be too much.
Howie motorsports photography wrote:
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Like you never bashed a driver, I’ve seen before where you did, why don’t you go take some pictures and mind your own business shutterbug, there are NO cusswords in my comment!!!
Kyle deserves some bashing the way he drives!!!
JAG wrote:
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Oh why don’t you go get a life…
Howie motorsports photography wrote:
The guest Kenneth got rid of was bashing JR and saying things that did not belong on a public forum.
It is interesting how JR bashing is ok on any topic but JR haters don’t like it when JR fans say somthing about other drivers and those comments should not be allowed. KB wants this, it is the only way he can get fans.
JAG wrote:
no you need a life, you must be a child or something, no one on here is talking about Kyle and maybe you should try it. and no I have never said anything bad about any driver, and it is everyone’s business when you get on here and talk your crap. and there is nothing wrong with the way Kyle drives, I like to see you even drive a go cart. wait that might be to fast maybe a wheel barrow
Howie motorsports photography wrote:
I agree nobody wants Jr. to take on more than he can chew, his plate is full and he wouldnt really want to coach Brad every week. and as far as Martin he needs to be with the best, he would not be able to win races for at least a year and he does not have a year.
OH, and JAG there is a forum for bashing Kyle, its called All Star Toyota Team Race Quotes.
Try goin there, you can talk to yourself!!!
teresa88fan wrote:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, so I looked at that blog and no one has made a response! Why? Because shrub does not have real fans! Some are jumping on the bandwagon and will continue to do so as long as he wins. Once the other teams find out what Gibbs is doing, the playing field will level and shrub will be another talented driver trying to win a race. It happens over and over.
Sam wrote:
Yeah but a team with little more then a famous name as the owner will only get you so far in the sponsorship pool today. Look at Petty Enterprises and even DEI from the time Pennzoil left the 1 car.
The Navy is pretty much already spending all their government alloted advertising money (well I think its officially called ‘Recruiting money’), and I hate to be the one to say it but Brad really hasn’t shown any “superstar” driving, and I really don’t think he has any in him. And with the way everything is now, Sponsors want the most bang for their buck, and more then likely wouldn’t be willing to stay behind Brad as he runs 35th each week in a Cup race, and I don’t think it’d be good for Brad this young in his career to run 35th every week.
I cannot predict who will drive Jrs cars, nor can I predict who will sponsor such a car. What I do know is that JR is the most sponsored driver in nascar and he commands top dollar. He already has the infrastructure in place and He just said this week he has already been paid back from Jr motor sports for his original two million dollar investment and now is making a little money. His sister is obviously doing a good job managing his money and business. He probably has a plan in place to back up his words but we will have to wait and see.
it takes 20 million to sponsor a cup car and his shop is not big enough for handling a cup team. he would have to add on and he would have to get support from Hendrick and that might mean a conflict of interest in the engine dept.after all the engines that are leased from Hendrick do not have the same secrets in them that the Hendrick drivers get,
deifan8 wrote:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Conflict of interest?
Hms supplies engines to several teams! Why would it not be able to supply engines to JRMS? They already co-own cars, share drivers,etc…
Howie motorsports photography wrote:
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WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not Guest, maybe you are Guest trying to blame someone else!!!
Howie motorsports photography wrote:
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You probably couldn’t drive a Hot Wheel or a matchbox on a plastic track!!!
Sam wrote:
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You have that right Sam, it’s amazing isn’t it, I am a die-hard Earnhardt fan and Miss teresa88fan the way she talks is a Kyle fan, maybe she should change her name to teresa18fan….
JAG wrote:
I noticed that as well, which is surprising and completely different than some of her previous post. One has to wonder if it is someone pretending to be teresa88fan. Of course she might have jumped on the shrub bandwagon.
Sam wrote:
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I’m thinking she got her number wrong when she registered for this site, she is really teresa18fan.
JAG wrote:
THE MEANING OF JAG
JACKA_S GOOFBALL
Jerk against Girls
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Why don’t you come say that to my face so I can wipe your face on the pavement punk @ss sissy!!!
JAG wrote:
I think girls are suppose to be sissys, but i see what kind of man you are, someone who goes around hitting girls. your mother raised a winner. if you cant take it, dont dish it out.
motorsports photography Howie wrote:
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Girls like you only you know Ho’s………..
Girls like you only you know Ho’s………..