June 12, 2007

Earnhardt Jr. to Hendrick, Kyle Busch out of #5 Kellogg's car? : Press conference at 11AM Eastern tomorrow.

read story | posted by mr_crash_davis to Auto Racing at 9:59 PM CDT (14 comments total)

Nascar Musical Chairs.

When the Hillbilly Stomp stops, those not in a car may leave through the rear exit.

posted by Drood at 10:37 PM CDT on June 12

All the Big Media sources, ESPN, SI, etc. all say he's going to Hendricks but they just say all info points to Hendrick. I have a real good source with a connection to Gibbs who told me Sat it's all but a done deal he's going to Gibbs and Visa will replace Bud as his sponsor. Knowing their connection and hearing their confidence, plus the timing of this announcement, just days after the news, I'm going with the longshot pick and say he goes to Gibbs. If he does, just remember, you heard it here first, heheh.

posted by Fungooli at 11:08 PM CDT on June 12

I don't know crap about racin' but I do no marketing. There's no way Bud lets Jr. escape their claws, whomever he races for.

posted by trox at 11:47 PM CDT on June 12

Dale Jr. has no interest in escaping Bud's claws......he's done very well by them, and vice versa. Budweiser will probably be a sponsor wherever he ends up, which will be Hendrick. I read Kyle Busch may have asked out of his contract, so it was a no-brainer. He'll now be able to challenge for race wins, which is what he wanted, and Hendrick has the COT sorted out better than the rest. Super team, lots of egos, it'll be interesting to see if it all works out.

posted by eccsport78 at 2:13 AM CDT on June 13

The scenerio that I heard makes alot of sense to me. Junior goes to Hendrick and Hendrick moves Casey Mears into the #5 Kelloggs car. Junior goes into the seat of the #25 car with Budweiser as the primary sponser (in the early to mid ninety's Budweiser had sponsership with Hendrick on the 25 car with Ken Schrader as the driver).... I heard this on Monday, and like I said it sounds logical to me, but reading the story and with Anheuser-Busch saying they have not been involved in Juniors negotiations and that they won't be involved in today's announcement make's me wonder if this scenerio will play-out.
I hope Fungooli is on the up-in-up in what he said, being a Joe Gibbs Racing / Tony Stewart fan, and NOT being a Rick Hendrick fan, I'd LOVE to see Junior become a teammate with Stewart, Hamlin, and Yeley. If it's true that Visa will be the primary sponser I'll steal the motto of another credit card company..... 2 new Dale Earnhardt Jr. T-shirt's- $56.00, 2 Nextel race tickets- $120.00 , seeing Junior in a Joe Gibbs car....... PRICELESS!!

posted by ImissDAVEYnAlan at 7:58 AM CDT on June 13

Heheh..Imiss...Ya gotta trust me on this one. My source isn't the kind of person who talks just to hear himself. And Smoke and Jr already race like their partners, why would he want to race with Gordo. When my source told me and me buds Sat at the ARCA race, we were sitting in his motorhome and his wife says "should I tell them" kinda like she was holding a huge secret. I know it sounds crazy with all the hype out there, but thinking the whole thing over, I'm still going with the longshot and my source. The timing of the rumor and JRs announcement just seems too close for me. The fact that Gibbs doesn't want any alcohol sponsors and the way the source brought out the Visa thing plays a part in my guess too. I'm a Gibbs guy too and so so with Jr. If he goes with Hendrick, he's gonna make a whole lot of new enemies, fan wise, that is. Well, we'll find out in a couple hours....Be Good

posted by Fungooli at 8:29 AM CDT on June 13

Fungooli, looks like your friend was misinformed. It's Hendrick.

posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:10 AM CDT on June 13

Boo-ya!

Although I did get the Casey Mears - Kyle Busch thing wrong. Que sera sera.

Interesting to see how Jr.'s fans respond to him being Gordon's teammate.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:21 AM CDT on June 13

He's making more fans then he's losing.How bout that Gordon haters.How's those corn flakes this morning?

posted by nafsfeihc1#oN at 12:52 PM CDT on June 13

I would have loved to see him go to Gibbs, because im a " Gordon Hater". The fact of the matter is, is that Jr will now win races. and win many. And that excites me. I still dislike Gordon and will be pissed when he beats Jr. But like Jr said " Now he dosent have any excuses when I beat him". Watching Jr today I havent seen him so refreshed in the last 6 years. I think he feels more at home with RHM. Get'em Junebug.

posted by hump9n at 3:00 PM CDT on June 13

Fungooli needs a better source it seems. That is a lot of typing to be wrong. Lets hope the source provides free tickets or something. As a so-called Gordon Hater (disliker), I cant wait to see an even playing field. We can still chear against Gordon. I am still eating Wheaties this morning, we will see who's cereal has extra toppings next season.
Jr has been as much the face of Budwieser as the (horses) pulling the wagon the last several years. (Clysedale, Clydesdale, cant spell it)

posted by Godzilla82 at 3:27 PM CDT on June 13

I am a big Gordon/Johnson fan and I think this announcement is great. Btw Hand I could have told you it would be Busch and not Mears since Mears and Ricky Hendrick were real close friends and Mears has said Rick Hendrick is like a father to him.

posted by livewire at 3:31 PM CDT on June 13

Jr has gone over to the dark side. next he'll have to change his race attire to all black and start calling himself darth

posted by shaggyhooch at 1:49 AM CDT on June 14

hey Fungooli, great source you got there Bud. Sometimes when you stick that neck , it gets cut right off

posted by texasred at 6:22 AM CDT on June 14

« older Justin Verlander pitches no-hi… America! Beware of young Haiti… newer »

This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments.