Car owner Rick Hendrick has let it be known to officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc. that he’d like to purchase the No. 8 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he begins driving for his organization in 2008.
“I’m not sure what their position is or what they want for it,” Hendrick said Saturday between practices at Infineon Raceway. Earnhardt said last week he would like to stay in the No. 8 if a deal can be reached with DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt, who has the rights to the number and his long-time sponsor, Budweiser. Max Siegel, the president of global operations at DEI, said he will not act until there is a formal proposal. Hendrick doesn’t expect any sort of announcement for at least a few weeks.
“Honestly, we’re leaving everything open,” he said. “It’s just so early. If you say you’re going to do something and you really think you are, six weeks from now we might change our mind again. “We’re working through our sponsors and everything.”
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yeah, Theresa will probably ask $100,000.00
for that too!!
LOL Mare, probably
$100k, thats it? i bet she will want at least a mil for it
although if he switches numbers that forces all the fans to buy new stuff because his number has changed. if he just switches sponsors, many will buy new things, but not all…. whatever he pays for the number he will immediately make up in dale jr swag though
So true about Theresa! She totally forgot who keeps her bread buttered for her!!! I wuld say a “smart” and ungreedy person would let him have his number for several reasons…but like I said a “smart” and “ungreedy” person!! I could say more but i will keep my mouth shut about Theresa! Love ya Jr and will support you no matter what number you are!!!
Hopefully if Hendrick does buy the 8, it ain’t gonna be yellow.
the #8 should be jrs period. the rich stepmother cant give jr a break?
I hope this can happen, no one but Dale Jr. belongs in that car or with that number.
LMAO. Guy brought up a good point, yellow would look like crap on a red (if Bud follows) car.
However, if I’m correct, Vickers had a white number [25] did he not?
So I guess it would be alright..
The Wicked witch step mom will ask for the ceiling in prices I’m sure because without Jr. she is losing her money maker. He did promotions and t.v. slots that brought in a lot of money boy did she cut off her nose to save her face.
I thought she was the brains in the DEI organizayion but she is a real idiot to let Jr. go. She’s gonna have a big problem making extra cash now.
As for the #8 even Dale has said he would’nt care .” I can start fresh w/ new sponsor and new # 6/16/07. Wicked step witch ??? idont think so. I seem to remember when sr. almost lost his ride..’86.With her help and brains he got to where he was, or cant you jr fans remember??? Sr would kick all ur azzes if he could see this from all his so called loyal fans about the way they call his most loved person in the world. What a pity ,I sure hope jr’s sis dosent make anything off this deal oor she might be chastised all the same..
A TRUE FAMILY FRIEND
i think i good black Bud scheme
with the yellow numbers and soem flare would actualyl look pretty good, maybe ven make him a little more “intimidating”
calm down he will get it.
I agree with you all about the number. Jr. deserves that number it is nothing without him. His step mom doesnt even deserve the company!!!!! I think Hendrick is a fool if he doesnt buy the number no matter what.
I don’t understand why Hendrick isn’t already talking to DEI about this… And yellow? Come on! They’ll make the font and color anything they want.
first the 8 should stay at dei sr wasnt always 3. Hendrick should keep it the 5. i mean come on its a # noone made a deal out of mark taking the 6. why give her any more money. and why complain about yellow it could be pink! lmao!
Well Ray it’s not about the number 8 it’s about a legacy that theresa was not a part of. Ralph used the #8 and then dale sr on the local short tracks and then purchased it for jr so he would have wanted him to have it. Lets all remember if Sr was still alive we would not be having this conversation since he would retired and running DEI. He would have never let his company fall so far behind everyone else period.
your right George. SR would never let the company get so far behind. if jr went to him and asked for a controlling stake n the company he probably wouldnt give it to him right away, not the way he has been driving (not all his fault). but then again he probably would be a championship contender because sr would be at every race. sr wasnt the cheering type but he would give pointers and advice. i think sr would want jr to prove he deserved it. but as it is now, he is not a contender and doesnt have many great race days (which i hope rick can change) because he doesnt have that leadership, so he has to go by his experience. then when he wants to change something he has to go to someone who knows about buisiness and not racing. that women is actually ruining a legacy and i think it would be different it jr was her real son. she has messed up so much so far the least she could do is give the #8 up. if not for her step-son then for her late husband.
It’s only a number, and a number shouldn’t define Jr. Jr doesn’t seemed as wrapped around it as his fans. If a number exchange did occur, it would only be to please them. Also, how many other drivers have kept the number of owned by their former team? Besides being a great merchandising move (it’s all about making money anyway), a new number would mean a fresh start for Jr and a way to further distance himself from Teresa. Giving in to any of her high-priced demands would mean she would still come out a winner. Now if she would be willing to “give” the #8 to HMS out of the goodness of her heart, then so be it. But Hendrick shouldn’t pay a dime to her. Move on, Jr and fans.
hey,editor…lets see if im close on this one,,the car numbers are owned by nascar and leased to the teams for marketing and license..correct,however if a team is not putting that number on the racetrack it goes back to nascar ,with the exception and even the3..correct ,then another team can request the number again correct.therefore nascar owns the number..so for the WITCH..to accept any funds from rick hendrick for the use of that number is absolutly GREEDY.even she knows that number has nothing to do with her family before marrige.that number was an original earnhardt number for years then the stavolia brothers racing ,number until dale sr.did the honarable thing and asked the stavolia brothers for the number..for jr.cmon teresa do the right thing and not put another driver with the 8 .if your not going to .let rick apply for the number FREE…
ok for all u fly by night jr fans, lets getsomething straight,i hope theresa asks for a 100 million dollars for the number 8. then takes that money and helps fund her race team. Jr is gone, HE left, she doesnt owe him anything. what some of you NEW NASCAR fans dont relize it is a business. Theresa and Jr made a busniess desion to part ways and as for the number 8 that will be a business descion as well.so get over it all u fans who are sticking with Jr at Hendricks.Wheater Jr get the number 8 or not one fact does not change. His new racing team mates are teh rainbow warrior and th gay factory worker from the south Jimmmie Johnson.
GEORGE THOMPSON AND BUD’N'BASS! I AM RIGHT BEHIND YOU TWO! tHERESA MAY HAVE HELPED OUT IN THE BEGINNING WITH SR BUT SOMEWHERE SHE FORGOT WHAT HER GOAL WAS AND BECAME STAR STRUCK WITH MONEY! IF SHE HAS A HEART LEFT AND LOVES SR STILL, SHE WILL AT LEAST “TRY” TO HONOR HIS WISHES! THE NUMBER 8 BELONGS TO THE FAMILY LONG BEFORE SHE WAS AROUND..IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, SR WAS MARRIED TO BRENDA WHEN THAT NUMBER WAS IN THE EARNHARDT LEGACY!
He’ll probably just steal it. Thats what cheaters do.
so shouldnt kerry or his son get a chance to drive the 8 for dei or is jr the only one that maters ? come on its a damn number. ya know gordon fans where narrow minded but this shows u jr fans are more narrow minded. i dont know may be its the bud?
I would prefer if Jr was in the 8 next year, but in all honesty if he isn’t it is not going to be the end of the world.
I will be cheering on Jr no matter what number,sponsor, or what have you.
didn’t everham buy the #9 for elliott because that was the number he started with
didn’t everham buy the #9 for elliott because that was the number he started with when he drove the coors car
no mellings let evernham have it cause dodge wanted elliott to have it and they inturn helped mellings
Well in my eyes for being a Earnhardt fan for along time, Jr. should have the #8. That has been his number way before Teresa step into the picture. And it is his sister and him that has the brains of the operation, not the money hungry witch. She should ask for money for that number. If she does then she is money hungry. Sorry to say, I don’t care for the step mother if you want to call her that.