All during this announcement, I had begun thinking about last months announcement that Dale Jr. that he would be leaving DEI at the end of this season and then hearing all of the rumors starting to fly on just where he would end up. I had even heard a rumor that night that he had already signed a contract with RCR to drive a fourth car. The rumors never really stopped in him going to Gibbs Racing, Ginn Racing and even starting his own team.
Now also during this announcement, Hendrick has said followed up with a press release by Kyle Busch that Busch would be leaving at seasons end to drive for another team. (Rumor has him at DEI.).
I do wonder if after 5 years, what he will do next, maybe there could be a part ownership in his car like Jeff Gordon has in his #24 team.
As Phase two has been signed in where Dale Jr’s future will be, now we wait for the final announcement in terms of just what his car number will be and his sponsor.
Personally for me, this Dale Jr. fan, I have already said in the past that I would support just whatever decision he had made and I am happy to say this is a good one. I had chosen RCR for the simple reason of that’s where his father had driven for in the past and earned six of his seven championships and I also understand why he choose Hendrick, it’s a great and winning organization and he has know Hendrick since before he was 15 years old. Next season will be one to watch for me starting in Daytona and one thing that did concern me once he made his announcement last month is that he would be in a completely new car either for an existing team or his own team is owner points. Well with Dale Jr. taking over one the Hendrick rides, thats no longer a problem.
So what now in terms of what this fan would like to see Dale Jr. driving in Daytona next season, well my dream list would be since we already know it’s a Hendrick, hopefully it’s either in the #8 (if DEI would let him have that number) or #5, as both numbers have a good history and in terms of sponsorship, a red Budweiser car would be my first choose, but Kellogg’s would open up a lot of doors too. If Kellogg’s is the sponsor, that would be great for his under 18 fans, now they will be able to buy his kid friendly collectibles and apparel. I remember as a teen, my favorite driver was (and still is) the retired Rusty Wallace (as well as Dale Earnhardt Sr.), buying his collectibles turned into a giant challenge and nightmare, under 18, you can’t buy Miller Lite stuff and that’s still true today, but I had to ask for it and I was limited on just what I could have.
Bottom Line here is this, this is a great place to land Dale Jr. and I am ready to watch Junior next season starting at Daytona in February, hopefully he will have either the #8 or the number 5 car number with Budweiser or Kellogg’s as his sponsor, one thing, please don’t give him the #25, I don’t even have to name the reasons. Well phase two is done and this is huge, I look forward to hearing the final announcement soon in terms of number and sponsor.
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From 8racingfan.com: I call on Teresa Earnhardt to make a deal with Junior or Hendrick to give Junior the number 8. The fans would appreciate and it’s good for the Earnhardt family. I call on all media outlets, including blogs, to continue this campaign.As a Dale Jr. fan, I love this idea, the #8 has alot of history with the Earnhardt's including it was the number Ralph Earnhardt raced under (Dale Jr's Grandfather) and Dale Jr. has done this number proud including winning the 2004 Daytona 500 and it should stay that way. So comtinue the campaign and spread the word, the fans would appreciate it. See Yeah!
