Hendrick has no room on team for Earnhardt Jr.
Quote selected text Published May 20th, 2007 in NASCAR News
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.”
Bookmark to:
- Mears to switch to the No 5, Earnhardt, Jr to the ‘No 25′
- Ginn and JR Motorsports frontrunners to land Dale Earnhardt, Jr
- Hendrick says they have picked Jr’s sponsor
- Hendrick ready to leave the No 25 behind
- Hendrick wants to buy the #8 from DEI
Hendrick may rethink that after seeing the move Busch pulled last night. I know it was an all-star race and you’re supposed to drive wide open, but what an idiot taking out your own brother. Kyle Busch’s talent far outweighs his maturity right now, and Jr could do a lot better in that equipment. Kyle isn’t as patient as JG and JJ, that’s why he doesn’t get their results. His equipment is what keeps him in the chase. Not to mention Kyle is becoming less and less marketable and attractive to sponsors. To me it would be a no-brainer to dump Kyle for Jr. Hendrick dumping Kyle might actually benefit him in the long run because it might put things into perspective for him and force him to mature somewhere else.
Story Credit: The Associated Press….
Brian; look at Kurt Busch. He was over aggresive when he started out in the cup series. (ask Jimmy Spencer) but through time he has matured into a class act. Give Kyle Busch time, as you stated he has the talent, but maturity will come. Especially with an owner like Rick Hendrick who has already brought him quite far.
unlike some owners Rick Hendrick gives his drivers a chance, so I don’t see him dumping anyone to make room for Jr.
Like Andrew said Rick has already brought him quite far and I think will continue to do so unless Kyle wants to leave.
I am still waiting for Mears to show something, he really hasn’t with any team so far, I was hoping it was bad equipment and bad luck but I’m not sure about that any more.
Um. Isn’t this kind of a “duh” story? He already said he wasn’t
interested back when all this business started. He’s just re-affirming
everything because people were saying he’d drop Kyle Busch to take
on Jr.
Hey Brian , go back and look at 1993 , Jeff Gordon must have wrecked 20 cars. he even crashed leading the Winston Open All-Star race with no cars within 100 feet of him. But , Hendrick had patience and he matured and became a real driver. If Hendrick dumped Bush and he went somewhere and won 3 or 4 championships in his mid to late 20’s everyone would say Hendrick messed up. You never know , he has alot of maturing to do and he needs to be more patient. Heck , Tony Stewart still hasnt got the patience thing down and noone wants him fired.
Rick won’t rethink anything. Hendrick is Jeff Gordon’s team. He is
the leader there and he helped build that team, I’m a huge
Gordon fan and you know as well as I do that there is to much
ego if you put Jr. JJ and Jeff Gordon under one roof. That would
be an awesome team. But you have to understand Jeff Gordon has a
lifetime contract with Rick Hendrick, he has equity in his 24 car,
and he is the co-owner of the 48 team. I don’t see it likely to
happen and I don’t see Jr getting behind a number three logo either
but I do see him going to childress but right now Kevin Harvick is
top dog there. He’s a better driver at the moment. I’m not talking
about pouplairty but I’m talking about wins and how good he is
right now.
Maybe JJ has no room for Hendrick.
I have to disagree about Harvick being a better driver. Jr and Harvick are equal at best. Harvick has the equipment that gives him the edge. Besides all that, I would really be disappointed to see Jr race for Hendrick. I think Childress will make a way for Jr, which makes the conversation moot anyway.
I AGREE WITH SLUGGER GORDAN HIT EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK FOR A FEW YRS AND PEOPLE SAID WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT KYLE RIGHT NOW ,, KYLE BUSH HAS GOT BALLS AND KNOWS HOW TO DRIVE HE JUST NEEDS TO RELIZE WHEN TO LET THOSE NUTS HANG OUT OR TUCK THEM IN .HE WILL BE A CHAMP IN CUP …
No way is Harvick a better driver then Jr, he’s just had a better car then Jr., has had. Personally I’m glad that Jr., isnt going to Hendricks team, although they have the best motors, I just don’t see Busch maturing fast enough to not cause Jr., headaches. As far as Gordan being top dog there, well Jr., and Gordan are friends, it’s the fans that can’t see the friendship. I hope that Jr., takes on himself and takes Hendricks up on the offer to furnish motors. That would be the idea thing but in no way is Harvick a better driver, and being top dog on a team doesn’t mean anything, when you become team mates you are to work together, no matter who THINKS or FEELS they are top dog. Jr., will do better where ever he goes, better then what he has been doing this year with DEI….
Yeah Slugger I realize that Gordon wrecked a lot of cars starting out, most young drivers do. That’s just something as a car owner you have to put up with no matter who you put in the car. But Gordon never had Kyle Busch’s attitude and that is hard to change. A lot of people point to the fact that Kurt Busch has matured, but he really was humbled into maturity. He didn’t have a friend in the garage area, and he finally listened to the older drivers that were telling him to straighten up. And I don’t think Kyle Busch will go anywhere and win 3-4 championships because those are going to be traded for the next few years between the Hendrick drivers, Tony Stewart, possibly Kenseth for 1 or 2, and maybe Denny Hamlin. It’s not a given anymore that anyone is going to win 3 or 4 championships with the level of competition that exists today.
BUSH BROTHERS SUCK I THINK THEY CHEATERS. IF THE KEEP ON BEING AGRESSIVE EVERYONE WILL BE AGAINST THEM.
No room for Dale Sr. Hendrick doesn’t hire puppies. If you can’t play with the big dogs, keep your puppy ass on the porch! We don’t want Jr. at Hendrick! Jr. will never ever come close to driving a car for the greatest team in Nascar. It takes talent to drive for Hendrick, and talent is something Jr. doesn’t have.
To the person who posted before me, what kind of talent does it take?
Being able to turn everybody around and get away with it? Gee, y’know…
I’m rather glad Jr doesn’t have that talent. I’d rather he have the
talent he does, which is driving ability.
Nascarfan4life24.
If it takes talent to drive for Hendrick then why is Kyle Busch driving for Hendrick. Kyle Busch doesn’t have talent, he just dumb and makes stupid moves.
anyways..
In the long run, Jr could still end up going to Hendrick. I don’t see that happening though.
Brenna good for you on the comment but don’t need to pay much attention to him because he started out with SR. Jr don’t need to be there with the Hendrick wimps anyway and can’t even see JR even considering that move. I think it is more the fact that there is no room for Hendrick.
Just a thought….If Jr. did it himself with the help of Hendrick…would that be against the rules? And secondly, would he just do that until Rick could squeeze his way out of one of his contracts with say Kyle Busch? That would keep him available for Hendrick to pick up later and I hate to say it but…I think that is something to thinks about. I know that usually if a driver starts his own team…rarely will he sign with someone else later…but this is an unusual situation. If Jr really wants to race for Hendrick and I am starting to believe he does…this could be an option. He WILL do good racing for Hendrick. I know it. He probably will for RCR and Joe Gibbs racing but I really don’t want him to go with anyone else.
I’d like to see Jr and Stewart hook up. Man what a team that would be. Gosh could you imagine them two working together!!!
He is not going to Hendrick. No one is going to fire a driver just to get Jr. So get over it
Stewart and Jr. Yea they would work good together. I mean I hear they share the sack quite often!!! HENDRICK Doesn’t want him!!!!
Hey Andrew…I
I didn’t say that Hendrick would fire anyone! I said he could work his way out of a contract…which means don’t resign! Firing just means a lawsuit for sure unless truly warranted. Kyle Busch may be an idiot but so far I don’t see a real reason to fire him. But wait around awhile…he’s just getting started!
Junior obviously has talent, Mears does not. Vickers is twice the driver Mears is, should have kept him.
It’s hard to argue with Rick Hendrick’s business savy but I think he has made a poor choice in this matter. I think he is possibly trying to save face because he knows Junior doesn’t want to be at Hendrick.
I AGREE 100% AXEL I couldn’t have said it better myself.
hendrick is messed up