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#88/25 Team Past News and Rumors

NOTE:

Past 2008 News

#88 UNOFFICIAL scheduled 2008 sponsor schedule - on the hood
Feb 9 Bud Shootout/Daytona, National Guard
Feb 17 Daytona - AMP Energy Drink
Feb 24 California - AMP Energy Drink
Mar 2 Las Vegas, National Guard
Mar 9 Atlanta - AMP Energy Drink
Mar 16 Bristol, National Guard
Mar 30 Martinsville - AMP Energy Drink
Apr 6 Texas, National Guard
Apr 12 Phoenix, National Guard
Apr 27 Talladega - AMP Energy Drink
May 3 Richmond, National Guard
May 10 Darlington - Mountain Dew Retro
May 17 All-Star Challenge, LMS - National Guard Citizen Soldier
May 25 Charlotte, National Guard
Jun 1 Dover - AMP Energy Drink
Jun 8 Pocono, National Guard
Jun 15 Michigan - AMP Energy Drink
Jun 22 Infineon - AMP Energy Drink
Jun 29 New Hampshire, National Guard
Jul 5 Daytona, National Guard Freedom
Jul 12 Chicagoland - AMP Energy Drink
Jul 27 Indianapolis, National Guard
Aug 3 Pocono - AMP Energy Drink
Aug 10 Watkins Glen, National Guard
Aug 17 Michigan, National Guard
Aug 23 Bristol - AMP Energy Drink
Aug 31 California - AMP Energy Drink
Sep 6 Richmond - AMP Energy Drink
Sep 14 New Hampshire - AMP Energy Drink
Sep 21 Dover, National Guard
Sep 28 Kansas, National Guard
Oct 5 Talladega - AMP Energy Drink/Ride with Junior
Oct 11 Charlotte - AMP Energy Drink
Oct 19 Martinsville - AMP Energy Drink
Oct 26 Atlanta, National Guard
Nov 2 Texas - AMP Energy Drink
Nov 9 Phoenix - AMP Energy Drink
Nov 16 Homestead, National Guard

HMS Holdings suing DEI over engines UPDATE 2:: HMS Holdings, which operates the Hendrick Motorsports engine shop, is suing Dale Earnhardt Inc. for $1.5 million for the payment of a termination fee stemming from a contract to supply Hendrick engines to Ginn Racing. Ginn Racing, which also is a defendant in the suit filed Friday in North Carolina Superior Court, merged with DEI in July 2007. As part of the merger, DEI and Ginn Racing signed a termination agreement to a contract that was originally signed by Ginn in 2006. The termination agreement required payments to HMS of $1.754 million by July 31, 2007, and $1.5 million by Nov. 15, 2008, according to the suit. The first payment was made on time. The second payment has not been made, according to the suit. The original engine contract and termination agreement are not included in the suit, so it is unclear how much Ginn was paying to use Hendrick engines. HMS is asking for the $1.5 million, 12% interest and an additional $225,000. Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex said the company is looking forward to a swift resolution of the lawsuit. Dale Earnhardt Inc. Vice President John Story said the company has no comment.(SceneDaily)(11-25-2008)
UPDATE - engines cost $12.8M base: If you’re looking to lease engines from Hendrick Motorsports for a NASCAR operation, you’d better be prepared to open up your wallet. A legal battle being played out in North Carolina courts is offering rare insight into the usually secretive world of the sport’s finances as the Hendrick operation seeks compensation from the Ginn Racing team that wound up as part of Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2007. According to a contract filed as part of the case, the Hendrick engine lease agreement with Ginn Racing called for Ginn to pay a base rent of $12.8 million in 2007 and $13.7 million in 2008 to lease engines for its three Sprint Cup teams and one team in what is now the Nationwide Series. The fee covered Cup engines for 36 race events and up to nine tests or special events and Nationwide engines for 35 events, according to the contract filed as part of a lawsuit by HMS Holdings against Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. over the termination fees resulting from the Ginn-DEI merger in July 2007.(Scene Daily)(12-20-2008)
UPDATE 2: DEI claims that former NASCAR team owner Bobby Ginn is responsible for paying off any termination fees of Ginn Racing’s engine leasing contract with Hendrick Motorsports. Both DEI and Ginn have been sued by Hendrick in North Carolina Superior Court over $1.5 million in fees that Hendrick claims is owed under the termination agreement signed when DEI bought Ginn Racing in July 2007. In its response to the suit filed Dec. 22, DEI claims that DEI and Ginn have a signed agreement that DEI would not be responsible for any claims or payments under the engine lease termination agreement. DEI asks the court to rule that Ginn is responsible for any payments. Ginn has not yet responded to the suit.(SceneDaily)(12-30-2008) Comment here

Earnhardt laps field in consumer index: #99-Carl Edwards and #48-Jimmie Johnson made gains, but #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. remained the runaway leader in the Davie Brown Index, which quantifies an athlete's relevance to consumer behavior. In polling of avid NASCAR fans conducted after the 2008 season by the Charlotte-based Millsport sports marketing agency, Earnhardt ranked first in awareness and nine "attribute" categories: appeal, notice, trend-setter, influence, trust, endorsement, aspiration, exposure and passion. The DBI also is used to quantify Hollywood celebrities, and Millsport vice president Ken Cohn says Earnhardt is creating a separation from other drivers unlike any celebrity the agency has seen. "Avid fans are at least 20% more passionate about Junior," Cohn says. Rounding out the top five in overall scores were #8-Mark Martin, #20-Tony Stewart, #31-Jeff Burton and Johnson, who advanced two spots from a NASCAR DBI survey in the spring that also was led by Earnhardt. Edwards, who finished second in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series, jumped 14 spots to sixth overall, ahead of #24-Jeff Gordon, #43-Bobby Labonte, #9-Kasey Kahne and #45-Kyle Petty.(USA Today)(12-18-2008)

Wrangler continues relationship with Dale Jr.: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will stay comfortable and stylish during 2009 with a continued relationship with the Wrangler brand. Today, the denim giant proudly announced it will once again be the official jean of Dale Earnhardt Jr. for a sixth consecutive year. Earnhardt Jr. will continue to be featured across a range of high-profile consumer promotions and Wrangler marketing initiatives.(Wrangler PR)(12-11-2008)

Most Popular Driver = Dale Jr.: NASCAR fans across the nation have once again made a statement about their favorite driver. After tallying over one million votes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the recipient of the 2008 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award. Throughout the race season, fans voted daily for over 40 of their favorite drivers online at chexmostpopulardriver.com. Earnhardt Jr. was presented with the award at the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Media Luncheon in New York City on Dec 4th. The award is Earnhardt Jr.'s sixth consecutive win since 2003. Only Bill Elliott (1991-2000) has more consecutive wins. The NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award has been given annually since 1956 and today is the only award for NASCAR's top drivers given by the fans. The six wins by Earnhardt Jr. moved him past Bobby Allison and now only behind Richard Petty (9) and Bill Elliott (16) for most total awards. "I've been fortunate enough to win this award now for the sixth time, and I can tell you it never gets old." said Earnhardt Jr. "I've said it many times before that this award is special because it's the voice of the fans. I think back to over a year ago when I made the decision to go to Hendrick Motorsports, and my biggest concern was whether the fans would support my decision." continued Earnhardt Jr. "They did, and I will always be grateful for that. I appreciate everyone who voted, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for all they do for the sport."
"The fans have spoken, and it's obvious that Dale Earnhardt Jr. truly is amongst the elite of fans' support," said Tom Jensen, President of the National Motorsports Press Association. "He deserves this award, and we're thankful for all the fans who continue to vote and make this award a rich part of our sports history." The NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award is recognized as one of the sport's pioneering awards.
Drivers first voted amongst themselves for a winner before fans later voted on the winner. The top 10 drivers receiving the most votes in alphabetical order were Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip.(DalrJr.com)(12-6-2008) Comment here

Trouble at Dale Jr's Charlotte nightclub: Police have charged a bouncer at an uptown Charlotte bar with selling drugs to undercover officers. Anthony Ortega Rodriguez, 28, was arrested on Tuesday after police received complaints about drugs being sold at Whiskey River. The bar – located at the new EpiCentre -- is owned by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Police say that when they arrested Rodriguez he was carrying 12 bags with 15 grams of cocaine.(News 14)(12-5-2008)

Dale Jr. talks about DEI/Ganassi merger: DALE EARNHARDT, JR., #88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY IMPALA SS, met with members of the media at Homestead-Miami Speedway and discussed DEI-Ganassi merger among other topics:
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE DEI/GANASSI MERGER? “I think it is good for both teams to try to do that. It gives those guys a good opportunity to try to get through the season financially. Chip Ganassi is a racer. They really need somebody like that. I just hope that they move forward and make some things happen. It is tough this year, tough next year, especially for all the guys trying to find money. That is this biggest problem. There are some great personnel at Ganassi. Steve Hmiel will be reunited with a bunch of old employees at DEI and buddies. The need a racer around there over the top of things and really making hard decisions. It will be interesting to see how all of that works. I think it should be seamless and it should be productive for everybody”
IS THERE SOME IRONY THERE THAT THIS HAPPENED GIVEN WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO LAST YEAR? “I don’t know. I think it is good for the teams though. I am happy for Martin (Truex, Jr.) and Aric (Almirola). I think it will be good for Juan (Pablo Montoya) to work with them guys. Juan is really going to enjoy working with Martin. It should be good. I think it is great for Ganassi to give his company a boost. It is really good for both. I think Juan will enjoy working with Martin and Aric and those teams. They will be able to work off each other. It will be exciting to see new data come in from the DEI guys and the DEI guys will be excited to see what Ganassi has been doing over the last several years as far as setups and what direction they have went. When you accumulate that information together and the bits and pieces that are good from each side and mold it together, you might really improve all of it as won.”
ARE YOU UPSET ABOUT THE LAYOFFS AT DEI? “That was going to happen regardless of whether they merged or not I am pretty sure. They weren’t going to run four teams, or three or whatever. You know what I mean. You can’t blame a single individual for the layoffs. The sport is going to have a lot of those hopefully only for the short term. But it is not because of the merger.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DAD WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS HAPPENING? “I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine. Sorry, I really don’t know. He would had better luck at securing the sponsorships than they currently do with the state that they are in. When my Daddy died, all of that changed. Everything about everything changed. If he was here, he would be sad, but he is not and everybody has to go do their own thing and make their own way. Everybody has got to take care of themselves. He ain’t here to take care of everybody, so you have to do your own thing, take care of yourself. Gotta do what they gotta do and that said and I ain’t got nothin’ to do with it and I don’t really have an opinion about it. I want them to succeed, I want them to be happy. I want it to work. But I can’t exhaust any of my emotion over it because of what I got going on myself. I have to get my own thing going, I got to do better. I got things I could do better. See full transcript at GM Racing.(11-15-2008)

Earnhardt, Jr. says season is too long: In a year that the sanctioning body was supposed to get back to its roots, it may be time for NASCAR to take an even longer, harder look at itself, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr said. Foremost in his mind: the length of the season. "We have saturated the market with race after race after race," Earnhardt said. "The NFL, they do such a great job. I hate to keep comparing to them and using them as examples, but they do the best job. They give you just enough to keep you wanting more. The season ends before you want it to. You get just enough to get excited and then it's all over and there's such a long wait. The model works." But perhaps Earnhardt's most pointed comment was a swipe at what could be construed as greed and excess, not only by the sanctioning body, but drivers, team owners and practically everyone associated with the sport. "We're driven by the ability to go make another dollar and make more money and there's no way we would ever trim it down," Earnhardt said with a shrug. "When we were a 28-race schedule, the sport was giving you just enough to get really get excited about the next season. When we were racing at 12 o'clock, people were racing home from church to get to see the start of the race. We've just made it too easy and too much. We sort of lost a lot of the substance that we really had before and the character of the sport I think has waned a little bit, but its part of the times, too." Even though it would mean a significant drop in revenue, Earnhardt would love to see NASCAR scale back. But he isn't holding his breath it'll happen any time soon. "No way we would ever trim the schedule back," he said. "There's no way we would change what we really already have here."(Yahoo Sports)(11-1-2008) Comment here

JR Motorsports scaling back? UPDATE: hearing there were 15-18 people laid off at JR Motorsports, who field the #88 US Navy Chevy and #5 Chevy in the Nationwide Series. JR Motorsports is a joint venture between Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. [#88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy] and Hendrick Motorsports. Also been told that the #5 team may not run in 2009 and that the 10-race Unilever sponsorship announced at Lowe's Motor Speedway may end up going to the #88 team and driver Brad Keselowski, a team without a sponsor for 2009 as the Navy is leaving. Mark Martin, Earnhardt and Hendrick development driver Landon Cassill are scheduled to drive the #5 NNS ride in those 10 races. No word how this effects Cassill's 2009 plans with the team.
UPDATE: Statement by Kelley Earnhardt, general manager of JR Motorsports: "We've been working aggressively to secure funding to continue with two teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The economic climate is difficult, as everyone is aware, and that is affecting every company's ability to spend. The 2008 season will be ending in less than three weeks, and preparations for next season are already underway. We do not anticipate getting the funding required to field two teams after the end of this season, and we need to make adjustments now to prepare JR Motorsports accordingly. We are reducing our workforce and budgets to comply with a new plan for 2009, which at the present time is to field the #88 team full-time with driver Brad Keselowski, and the #5 team on a limited basis with a select group of drivers."(10-29-2008)

Ride Along With Jr. scheme: During the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will have 70,000 fans riding along as part of the “Ride Along With Jr.” promotion from AMP Energy Drink. The first 70,000 fans that bought an AMP Energy Drink and entered the code on the bottom of can at www.AMPenergy.com will have their names featured on the car. The remaining fans that entered will have their names on Earnhardt, Jr.’s pit wall, car cover or other areas around the track.(TSS PR), see an image of the scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page.(10-2-2008)

Earnhardt Jr. visits his recruits: Hundreds of young recruits have arrived at Naval Station Great Lakes in the last few days, and 88 of them belong to a special "Dale Jr. Division," which was named after #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Navy's first celebrity-sponsored recruiting effort. The Navy and Earnhardt have a one-year, $800,000 speaking-appearance contract, started as a way to attract a few of NASCAR's millions of fans to the Navy. In a separate deal, the Navy also sponsored a car on Earnhardt's [#88 Nationwide] team this year. On Wednesday, recruits who joined the Navy under Earnhardt's name got to meet him. As the new arrivals received shots, dental exams, and heard the first of many barked orders, Earnhardt flew in a Learjet from his North Carolina home to Milwaukee, hopped on a helicopter to Waukegan, and arrived at the North Chicago base in a Navy minivan. Earnhardt began his three-hour visit in the dining hall, walking over to a table with seven recruits from his division, a team of photographers and a television camera following him. Recruits at other tables stared in silence, unable to ask what was going on because talking is forbidden during meals at boot camp. "You're going to see lots of cool things, a lot of scary stuff," Earnhardt told the recruits, five women and two men. He polled them one by one, asking why they joined the military, and almost every recruit said they wanted to pursue more education but didn't have the money for college. Earnhardt, who has not served in the military, said his days at Oak Ridge Military Academy near Greensboro, N.C., made him consider enlisting, but the pull of the racetrack was stronger. He walked up and down the aisles of the nervous young men and women, sitting perfectly still, and handed them patches with the "Dale Jr." division logo. The recruits won't be allowed to put the patches on their uniforms, but they'll be carrying a Dale Jr. Division flag whenever they march across the base.(Chicago Tribune)(8-29-2008)

Dale Jr. to visit set of The Office: It's going to be just another day at "the Office" for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who hopes to gain his third berth in the Chase Sunday at the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. Before reaching Fontana, Earnhardt will be at Universal Studios today to watch cast members tape a scene for his favorite sitcom, "The Office." The scene will involve actors Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski. "I'm really excited about getting to go see them film," he said. "It's a great opportunity for me because I'm such a big fan. I just think it's great. It's kind of like `Cheers' and `Seinfeld' were in their heyday. To me that's what it's like for this generation or for this decade."(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)(8-28-2008)

Special fans scheme for Earnhardt Jr. at 'Dega: For the first time, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is taking his fans on-board his #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy in the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in October. This fall his special “Ride with Junior” paint scheme will bring nearly 70,000 members of the Junior Nation together as each individual fan’s name will appear on his car. The 70,000 Names will not be legible on the diecast car, but ALL be listed in alphabetical order on an card that will be included with each diecast car. So, If your name is is part of the 70,000 race fan names that actually appear on the real car that Jr is racing at Talladega Superspeedway on October 5th, then it will be included on the enclosed card with each and every diecast car. See an image of the scheme [without the names] on my #88 Team Schemes page.(8-21-2008)

Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears available on DVD this fall: Hammerhead Entertainment and Team Marketing have partnered to bring Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears, the five-episode ESPN sports documentary featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his unprecedented move to Hendrick Motorsports,to DVD this fall. Pre-sale orders are being taken now at NASCAR.com and DaleJr.com. The DVD will feature all five episodes, plus never-before-seen bonus footage of commercial shoots, video outtakes and bloopers.(JR Motorsports PR)(8-15-2008)

Dale Jr. plans to race in Australia UPDATE 2 No: Dale Earnhardt Jr. plans to make his Australian racing debut in a V8 Supercar at Sydney’s Oran Park this December [2008]. Earnhardt will race a Holden Commodore in V8’s junior feeder category, the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, at Oran Park’s curtain-closing Grand Finale before it is torn down to make way for redevelopment. Fujitsu V8 series team boss Scott Loadsman confirmed on Monday he will expand his current one-car team to two cars. He has purchased a Commodore from Paul Morris Motorsport, nicknamed ‘Gidget’. With Loadsman’s existing driver, series leader Steve Owen, more likely to use this newer chassis, Earnhardt is set to drive Owen’s current car. Coincidentally, its nickname is ‘Earnhardt’. Earnhardt first visited Australia at the 2007 V8 Grand Finale at Phillip Island during his end-of-season holiday as a guest of former V8 champ Marcos Ambrose. Morris gave Earnhardt a test in a V8 Supercar ride car at his facility on the Gold Coast, and Earnhardt has since remained in contact with the V8 driver. With the final NASCAR Sprint Cup race being held on November 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Earnhardt will be able to fly to Australia in time for Oran Park on December 4-7.(Wheelsmag.com)(6-29-2008)
UPDATE Many a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan has written Marty Smith of late to get the lowdown on his reported offseason jaunt to Australia to compete in the V8 Supercar Series. They want to know how and where they can see it and what time it airs stateside and what number he'll be and what his car will look like and, above all else, just how excited he is about it. Well, there may not be a lowdown. At this point, it's just in the discussion stage. A recent column posted on wheelsmag.com.au cited Earnhardt's plans to make his Australian racing debut at Sydney's Oran Park in early December, racing a Holden Commodore owned by Scott Loadsman in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. But when Smith casually told Earnhardt how cool the deal sounded, his response was anything but giddy. Junior told Smith and Morris have indeed had candid discussions about Earnhardt racing in Australia, but that's where the story ends. There are no specific plans at this time for him to run the season finale. He may ultimately race in Australia. He'd like to. But there's still many variables that must be finalized before that will happen.(ESPN.com)(7-3-2008)
UPDATE 2: TALK ABOUT GOING BACK TO MICHIGAN NEXT WEEK AND GOING BACK TO AUSTRAILIA AND WHAT THE TRIP ENTAILS. “Actually, I have changed my mind. I am going to Aspen now. Yes. I never really planned on going to Australia the second time around. A buddy of mine started that rumor over there that has got a couple of race cars. He wants me to come drive them real bad, so he has been lying to everybody. He thinks he can media-wise lock me in to the situation and I will have to come do it. This guy also gives himself his own tattoos, so I don’t know if he is a credible source. He just sent me some YouTube stuff of him learning how to tattoo on himself. He is a race car driver over in Australia, they are crazy over there."
“I have never been to Aspen and I wanted to go check it out. I took all my buddies last year so this year I am taking my Momma and my Sister with me and family member. So this year it should be a lot more boring, a lot less drinking, a lot less partying so maybe I will come out the end a better person."
“I am not skiing. You don’t have to ski just because you are going to Aspen. (LAUGHS). That is the deal, can I go without any obligation at all, any guilt, can I just go??(LAUGHING MORE) There are a couple of good bar stools I would like to sit on that don’t have skis on the bottom of them. Good shopping, sure, I will go shopping. (CONTINUES LAUGHING) No, I am just going to hang out, see what’s up. I might snowboard. I am taking my buddy Josh, a couple of you know Josh, he wants to snowboard so might go snowboard. But I got to take it easy, you know what I mean. I am not real good at that stuff; I don’t want to get hurt."(GM Racing PR)(8-9-2008) Comment here

Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears Returns to ESPN with Final Two Episodes: Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears, the sports documentary chronicling NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his unprecedented move from the team founded by his father to Hendrick Motorsports, will return to ESPN for the final two episodes on Tuesday, July 22 and Friday, July 25, at 7 p.m. ET. The new episodes, each one hour in length, are the fourth and fifth installments of a five-part series and air during the week leading up to ESPN’s live coverage of the Sprint Cup Series Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 27, at 1 p.m. from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The July 22 debut of the new episode will feature, among other things, reaction to the emotional conclusion of the Crown Royal 400 in May at Richmond International Raceway. It will segue into the July 25 finale, which highlights the driver’s popular Father’s Day victory at Michigan International Speedway. The original airings will be simulcast on ESPN MobileTV. The first of the two new episodes re-airs Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, and again Sunday, July 27, at 2 a.m. on ESPN2. The final episode re-airs Sunday, July 27, at 3 a.m. on ESPN2.(ESPN PR)(7-17-2008) Comment here

Earnhardt Jr. not interested in buying DEI: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wanted at least 51 percent of Dale Earnhardt Inc. last season before he opted for a fresh start at Hendrick Motorsports. If the company were up for sale now? "I don't mean this in a bad way, but I would not have any interest in purchasing it," Earnhardt said following Thursday's first practice at Chicagoland Speedway. "I would not have any interest in purchasing any race team, just to have the ownership." The subject was broached because of an Internet report earlier in the week that claimed DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt had commissioned the investment banking firm Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. to locate a buyer or financial partner. DEI president Max Siegel refuted the report, saying the company is not for sale.(ESPN.com)(7-11-2008) Comment here

Special scheme for Dale Jr at Daytona: To honor the National Guard and this weekend's Fourth of July holiday, the #88 Chevy of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will run a special, hand-painted camouflage ACU (Army Combat Uniform) scheme. The National Guard Defending Freedom (ACU)/AMP Energy Chevy took two days and 10 coats of DuPont paint to finish. The scheme was unveiled to National Guard soldiers at North Carolina's Camp Butner on June 18 by Earnhardt and the #88 team.(HMS PR), see the scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page.(7-2-2008)

Dale Jr. not looking to talk about JR Motorsports moving to Cup: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a little testy Friday when asked again about future plans to move his Nationwide Series team up to Sprint Cup. "I shouldn't have said anything about that, man," Earnhardt said. "I should have kept it to myself, because I don't want to talk about it in the press. That's personal to me, what I do with my business, and I'm damn sure ain't going to air my timeline out over the media. If we feel like we want to do that, we'll do it. We'll let you know and that will be that. I don't want to answer questions about it every week. My [Nationwide] team is doing great. I'd be foolish to make too many changes right now."(ESPN)(6-28-2008) Comment here

Dale Jr. and team to visit base: On Wednesday, June 18th, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the #88 team will visit the Camp Butner National Guard training center, a 4,750-acre facility located outside of Durham, N.C. Earnhardt and his team will participate in training at the rifle range and observe how National Guard recruits prepare to serve their country. The team also will unveil its special paint scheme for the July 5 race at Daytona International Speedway to the soldiers at the base.(HMS PR), see am image of the scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page.(6-18-2008)

Dale Jr. wins at Michigan: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway for his 1st win of 2008, first in 76 races (Richmond in May 2006) and the 18th of his career. #9-Kahne finished 2nd, followed by #17-Kenseth, #83-Vickers, #20-Stewart, #48-Johnson [led the most laps], #99-Edwards, #6-Ragan, #19-Sadler and #26-McMurray. The win gave Chevrolet its first triumph at MIS since Jeff Gordon's victory in 2001. Points leader #18-Busch finished 13th but increased his points lead to 32 as #31-Burton finished 15th. There were 7 cautions for 22 laps and their were 31 lead changes among 13 drivers.
For race results, awards and more, see my Michigan Race Results Awards Page.(6-15-2008)

First NC driver: With #88-Dale Earnhardt's win at Michigan, it is the first time a driver born in North Carolina has won a Cup race since Brian Vickers won at Talladega in Ocr 2006. The 2007 season was the first time in the history of the sport that no North Carolina drivers won at least one race in a season since it started in 1949.(6-15-2008)

Some drivers upset with Dale Jr. passing pace car: Several drivers were upset that #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. was allowed to speed up and pass the pace car during a caution so he could save gas to make it to the finish line. The running start gave Earnhardt enough momentum to allow him to turn his engine off and coast halfway around Michigan International Speedway. "I just didn't know you could pass the pace car," third-place finisher #17-Matt Kenseth said. NASCAR rules prohibit anyone from passing the pace car during a caution, but Earnhardt was allowed to pull in front of the pace car at least twice to save fuel. The sanctioning body eventually warned him not to do it, but by then he had saved enough to win the LifeLock 400 on fumes. Earnhardt admitted he stretched the rules -- and NASCAR's patience -- but not enough to give the victory back. "I got a little greedy," he said. "I can understand how it looked, especially if you're not a Dale Jr. fan. But I got the trophy; I got the points."(Augusta Chronicle)(6-16-2008) Comment here

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hosts 100th Episode of XM Radio Show: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will host the 100th episode of his XM Satellite Radio show "Dale Jr. Unrestricted" on June 12. The show airs Thursdays during NASCAR season at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT on the XM Sports Nation channel (XM 144). Encores air on XM at various times through the weekend. For show number one hundred, Earnhardt and his friend and co-host Josh Snider will do their weekly round-up of the latest NASCAR news, and they will talk with professional golfer Boo Weekley, who recently won the Verizon Heritage tournament for the second year in a row. The first episode of "Dale Jr. Unrestricted" premiered on XM on February 13, 2006.(XM Radio)(6-12-2008)

Hendrick streak intact: Hendrick Motorsports' streak of top-10 finishes improved to 77 Sprint Cup races after Sunday's event at Lowe's Motor Speedway when #24-Jeff Gordon took fourth and #88-Dale Earnhardt nabbed fifth. The last time a Hendrick driver wasn't in the top 10 was April 9, 2006. Finishing 11th, #48-Jimmy Johnson was Hendrick's top performer that day at Texas Motor Speedway.(HMS PR)(5-28-2008) Comment here

300th straight for Dale Jr.: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be making his 300th straight start in the Cup Series this weekend at Dover. He made his Cup debut when he finished sixth on May 30, 1999 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Earnhardt, who was racing for his second straight Nationwide title, competed in five Cup races during the 1999 season. He drove in the last race of the 1999 season and hasn't missed a points-paying event since. Earnhardt has competed in 303 total Sprint Cup events.(HMS PR), #24-Gordon has the longest active consecutive start streak at 521 races and the all-time leader is Ricky Rudd at 788. See the streak list on my Misc Stats page.(5-28-2008)

Earnhardt Jr. leads in Generating Television Exposure:Despite a third-place standing in the driver's championship battle and joining a new team this season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands alone in terms of generating television exposure for his sponsoring brands through the first 10 events of the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. Altogether, Earnhardt's sponsors amassed $150 million of comparable television exposure value from being associated with the popular driver, some $24 million more than the next driver's overall sponsorship figure. According to research conducted by Joyce Julius & Associates, Inc.- which specializes in measuring the impact of sponsorships across all forms of media - 33 brands appearing on locations such as Earnhardt's car, uniform and support crew's uniforms have appeared clear and in-focus for a total of 12 hours, 45 seconds (12:00:45) during television coverage of NASCAR's first 10 official points races. Additionally, the sponsors have been mentioned by Earnhardt or the announcers 33 times. Exposure value is calculated by comparing the on-screen time and mentions to the estimated cost of a commercial spot during each respective race telecast throughout the season. Earnhardt's top sponsors, AMP Energy and National Guard, combined for nearly $78 million of exposure value, or 52% of the total in-broadcast exposure associated with Earnhardt thus far. Kyle Busch, meanwhile, led all drivers in delivering TV time for the most brands with 59 sponsors appearing in conjunction with the driver. Busch's sponsors also enjoyed the most verbal recognition as a group, with his backing brands having been mentioned a total of 92 times. Of the top-10 exposure-producing drivers, four are associated with Chevrolet, while Toyota (three drivers), Ford (two) and Dodge (one) are also represented by the leading drivers. Jimmie Johnson had the single largest contribution to an auto manufacturer, generating $15.2 million of exposure value for Chevrolet.(See the full story and top 10 at the Joyce Julius site)(5-23-2008) Comment here

JR Motorsorts could move to Cup UPDATE Stewart involved?: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. from a weekly top 12 drivers press conference:
THE OWNERSHIP THING, WHEN YOU’RE OUT THERE RACING WITH BRAD KESELOWSKI, ARE THERE THINGS THAT GO THROUGH YOUR MIND AND ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT HIM OR ABOUT THE RACE? “Well, I get mad when he messes up and I see him in a wreck or something. But normally I just hope he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing and running good and having a good night. But his night doesn’t go right or something happens to the car, it’s sort of bums you out a little bit and it’s hard to revert back to concentrating on what you’re trying to do with your car.”
IS THERE ANY CHANCE YOU’LL MOVE UP TO THE CUP LEVEL WITH THAT TEAM ANYTIME? “I used to say no way, no way. But it’s almost as expensive to run in the Nationwide Series. And their going to bring a CoT in and we won’t be able to race in the Nationwide Series with the CoT probably. That’ll just be too expensive to switch all that over.”
WOULD YOU DO IT AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR? “Yeah, maybe. If the right opportunity comes along with the right sponsorship and driver, we’d love to do it. And it would cost the same amount of money to do that, as it is to run the Nationwide Series. It’s harder to get sponsorships. 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.”
COULD YOU GET MARTIN TRUEX JR. IN THAT CAR? “No. Why would he want to come drive for me? 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 (laughter). 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 and a couple of other people (laughter). I don’t know with Tony (Stewart) if he goes over there (Haas), 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.”(GM Racing PR)(5-17-2008)
UPDATE - Stewart? Two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, who is exploring options outside of Joe Gibbs Racing, reportedly could be a partner with JR Motorsports. But Stewart's contract doesn't expire until after the 2009 season and team president J.D. Gibbs has said he will hold Stewart to it. "I don't know with Tony. If he goes over there [Haas CNC], he might be able to talk Martin into it. But I don't know. I mean no way would I even do that to Martin, even if he wanted to." Stewart has acknowledged that Haas CNC is one of several organizations to have offered part ownership as an incentive to join the team. JR Motorsports merged with the Nationwide program at Hendrick Motorsports this year after Earnhardt went to drive for HMS. The engines and chassis already are supplied by Hendrick and that could continue with a move to the Cup series.(ESPN.com)(5-19-2008) Comment here

Dale Jr. in gray colors at the All-Star race: This Saturday, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 Chevy will pay tribute to the Army National Guard with a special paint scheme inspired by the 3 Doors Down song "Citizen Soldier." The band's name and song title will appear on the hood. Lead singer Brad Arnold was moved to write the song after watching 50,000 everyday citizens become active members of Guard units and provide disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. On May 20, 3 Doors Down will release its new, self-titled album that features the song "Citizen Soldier." The #88 National Guard Citizen Soldier/AMP Energy Chevy will resemble the "Gray Ghost" that Buddy Baker drove to win the 1980 Daytona 500. The car earned its nickname because the colors made it difficult to see on the track, and a camouflaged Baker would sneak up and overtake the competition. After Baker's Daytona win, drivers complained to NASCAR, and Baker had to put reflector strips on his car.(HMS PR), see an image of the scheme on my #88 Team Schemes page.(5-14-2008) Comment here

TMS's Gossage offer Dale Jr. $100k to run Indy car; Dale Jr turns it down: IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick recommended on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s XM Satellite Radio show Thursday evening that if the NASCAR superstar ever wanted to swap cars and run an Indy car that Texas Motor Speedway would be the place to give it a shot. Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage is wholeheartedly backing that recommendation by Patrick and giving Earnhardt Jr. 100,000 reasons why "The Great American Speedway!" is indeed the ideal choice. Gossage is offering $100,000 to Earnhardt Jr. if he would pay the IndyCar Series a visit and compete June 7 in the Bombardier Learjet 550k at Texas Motor Speedway. Gossage is open to presenting Earnhardt Jr. $100,000 in cash or a check to his favorite charity for that amount if that is more to his liking.(TMS)
AND Dale Earnhardt Jr. ON EDDIE GOSSAGE OFFERING HIM $100,000 TO RUN THE INDY CAR RACE. “He thinks I’m a cheap date I guess. I wouldn’t be able to do it, my conscience wouldn’t let me. If they offered me more money, my conscience wouldn’t let me feel comfortable with doing it. I know his intentions are well and we had that discussion with the billboard thing and I totally understand what his approach is advertising now. If I had the opportunity if I was there testing my car and somebody had their car there, I’d like to jump in it and run a couple of laps but that would be the extent of the adventure.”(Team Chevy PR)(5-3-2008) Comment here

Dale Jr. to interview Danica on radio: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to interview popular Indy Racing League driver Danica Patrick this week during his XM radio show, "Dale Jr. Unrestricted." The interview with Patrick, who won the Indy Japan 300 in April, will air nationwide on the XM Sports Nation Channel 144 this Thursday at 7:30pm. Encore broadcasts will air at 10:30pm on Thursday and 1:30pm and 6:30pm on Saturday.(5-1-2008)

Career start #300 for Dale Jr: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to make his 300th career start in the Sprint Cup Series this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. In 10 years at NASCAR's elite level, Earnhardt has recorded 17 wins, eight pole positions, 79 top-five finishes and 127 top-10s. He has completed 85,378 laps, and his 5,842 laps led is fourth among all drivers since 1999. In 16 starts at Talladega, Earnhardt has five wins, seven top-five finishes and nine top-10s. He has led 21.23 percent of the laps he's run on the 2.66-mile superspeedway (570 of 2,684 laps).(HMS)(4-24-2008) Comment here

Fans Can 'Ride with Dale Jr.' in the AMP Energy 500: If #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. goes to Victory Lane in the Oct. 5 AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, he will bring the names of more than 70,000 members of JR Nation with him. To become one of the many people who will catch a "Ride with Dale Jr.," all consumers need is one can of AMP Energy drink and a computer. Beginning April 22, Earnhardt fans can simply take the code found on the bottom of any AMP Energy can, log onto www.AMPEnergy.com and register. The first 70,000 will have their names featured on the special #88 AMP Energy "Ride with Dale Jr."/National Guard Chevrolet paint scheme. But the program doesn't end there.AMP Energy will include each and every person who signs up to "Ride with Dale Jr." by the July 1 deadline by featuring additional names on Earnhardt's pit wall banner, car cover and other areas around Talladega Superspeedway during the AMP Energy 500 weekend.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(4-23-2008) Comment here

some Dale Jr. off track news: The public grand opening for #88-Dale Earnhardt's newest business venture -- a nightclub, Whiskey River -- will be held April 18. The club is located at 210 East Trade Street in Charlotte's EpiCenter. Patrons can eat, drink, listen to a mixture of rock and country music and even ride a mechanical bull. Log onto www.whiskyrivercharlotte.com for more information.
In an effort to enlighten himself and his fans, Earnhardt has decided to forego the role of interviewee to play reporter for his official Web site. The interviews will be conducted monthly and featured exclusively on www.dalejr.com. Earnhardt's first interview was with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and is available now. Look for his next installment -- an interview with Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick -- to be posted soon.(HMS)(4-10-2008) Comment here

Special Salute the troops scheme at LMS in May: Memorial Day Weekend is always thrilling for race fans at Lowe's Motor Speedway. This year, a special celebration of America's military personnel takes place with the Salute the Troops program. Dale Earnhardt Jr and Hendrick Motorsports join the celebration of America's heroes with a special National Guard paint scheme on the #88 Chevy. This special paint scheme features the Salute the Troops logo on the hood, as well as the lower side panels. Salute the Troops will be an on-track program based around strength, patriotism and philanthropy. By positioning this program around Memorial Day, Motorsports Authentics and the teams involved will look to celebrate and honor one of the greatest federal holidays for Americans all year long. The program calls for teams to carry the "Salute the Troops" insignia and/or showcase a special paint out featuring a branch of the United States military. The Salute the Troops program will be on track in May for the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. This program will celebrate the history and tradition of the military branches on this Memorial Day weekend. The pre-race show for Memorial Day will include a military demonstration for the fans and then followed by a concert for the troops. In support of this program, Motorsports Authentics will create a unique and collectible line of Salute the Troops merchandise. Motorsports Authentics will create a line of Salute the Troops die-cast and collectables that will raise money for military families. In addition, MA will work with corporate sponsors to raise money and awareness for the men and women of the armed forces.
Scheduled Participating Sprint Cup Drivers:
#88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Carrying the logo on hood and rear quarter panels
#24-Jeff Gordon - Carrying the logo on the decklid
#8-Mark Martin - Full military paint out with program logos
#21-Jon Wood - Full military paint out with program logos
#07-Clint Bowyer - Carrying the logo on the rear spoiler, along with Toast the Troops logo on the deck lid
Scheduled Participating Nationwide Seires Drivers:
#88-Brad Keselowski - Full military paint out
See the schemes on my #88 Team schemes page, #24 Team schemes page, #8 Team schemes page, #21 Team schemes page and #07 Team schemes page and on the Nationwide Series schemes Gallery.(4-8-2008)

Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears Airs Saturday on ESPN2: Race fans who missed original airings of the television series Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears, chronicling the move of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series, will have a chance to watch again. ESPN2 airs a one-hour episode Saturday, April 5, at 1:30pm/et, leading to live coverage of the Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The series provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal, corporate and competitive ramifications involved with the five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver award recipient leaving Dale Earnhardt, Inc., the team founded by his late father. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears is produced by Earnhardt Jr.’s Hammerhead Entertainment, a division of JR Motorsports, in cooperation with Hendrick Motorsports and is presented by the National Guard. The final two episodes air on ESPN in prime time the week of the July 27 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, ESPN’s first live Sprint Cup event of the season.(ESPN)(4-4-2008)

Retro Mountain Dew scheme for Dale Jr. UPDATE: hearing that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will run a retro #88 Mountain Dew scheme sometime in 2008, supposedly at Darlington in May, see an image on my #88 Team Schemes page.(3-5-2008)
UPDATE: Fans who attend the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway will not only see some of the most exciting racing of the 2008 season, they will also see a special one-time-only throwback paint scheme on the #88 Mountain Dew AMP Energy/National Guard entry driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. To kick off Mountain Dew's "Old School New School" promotion, Earnhardt will pilot the #88 Mountain Dew AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy with a throwback paint scheme modeled after the 1981-82 entry driven by Darrell Waltrip. "I'm so excited about this paint scheme. To run a paint scheme like the Mountain Dew one is a tribute to the history of the sport and the heritage at Darlington," said Earnhardt. "I can't wait to see how the car looks on the track because it looks awesome on paper." The folks at Mountain Dew think Darlington luck could be in Earnhardt's future, and that's why they've chosen Darlington as the race to launch the Mountain Dew and AMP Energy "Old School New School" promotion that will give consumers the chance to win "Cars, Kicks and More." You can learn more about Mountain Dew "Old School New School" by going to www.oldschoolornew.com.(Darlington Raceway PR)(4-1-2008) Comment here

JR Motorsports being sued over accident: A local [Florida] family is sueing JR Motorsports and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. following a rear end crash by a tractor trailer. In November 2006, Michael Harris and his son, 21 year old Chris, were driving in their pick up truck headed south on Interstate 95 in St. John's County [FL]. Harris was several cars in front of a Champion tractor trailer. Traffic started to back up and slow down on the interstate. Harris' lawyer, Charles Sorenson, says he slowed down to, going about 15 miles per hour and then pulling on to the shoulder. The only problem, Sorenson says is the semi didn't slow down with everyone else. Sorenson says the impact was so severe, the bolts in the pickup's seat, which hold it down to the floor, were broken. Both father and son were wearing seatbelts, but both went to the hospital. Both are still being treated for neck and back injuries. According to the lawsuit, JR Motorsports is the owner of the tractor trailer. The owner of JR Motorsports belongs to NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Sorenson says Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will most likely be deposed in the case. JR Motorsport's team told First Coast News it has received the lawsuit, but will not make any other comment at this time. The driver of the semi, Ricky Mace, is also being sued.(First Coast News)(3-31-2008) Comment here

Special Black and Silver Scheme for Dale Jr.: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr will run a special monochromatic paint scheme at the Sprint Cup All-Star Race, featuring an all black and silver design with hints of red and only a few sponsors in full color. 3 Doors Down dedicated a song they wrote for the National Guard Citizen-Soldiers. National Guard soldiers are "Citizens" in time of piece - "Soldiers" in time of need. Dale Jr. wanted to run a car that looked like the "Grey Ghost" that Buddy Baker drove. Most of the design work was done by Jim Gravin at Hendrick Motorsports. See an image of the car on my #88 Paint Schemes Page. No word on what races it will run in.(3-27-2008)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reality to sponsor racing team: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Realty has teamed up with Glacier Bear Racing for entire 2008 year as Primary Sponsor on race truck. 17 year old WKA Multi-Champion Jessica Brannam and NASCAR Car Engineer Tiffany Daniels have been approved by Dale Jr. to drive Glacier Bear Racing race truck in the Best in the Desert Racing Association Off Road Truck Series.(Glacier Bear Racing PR)(3-21-2008)

Dale Jr. featured on ESPN The Magazine cover: Five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is among a select group of professional sports stars featured on unique covers for ESPN The Magazine's 10th anniversary issue, released this week. The double-sided special edition features 10 covers, five on each side and in random order. The front half highlights athletes who have dominated their respective sport in the last 10 years -- baseball's Ichiro Suzuki, NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson, pro basketball player Tim Duncan, tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams, and professional snowboarder Shaun White. The flip side is devoted to athletes believed to shine over the next 10 years -- Earnhardt Jr., pro basketball player LeBron James, hockey star Sidney Crosby, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and NFL quarterback Vince Young. Earnhardt Jr.'s cover was shot by photographer Matt Jones, who shows the driver not in typical NASCAR attire but in a single-breasted Armani suit and tie. This marks the third time Earnhardt Jr. has appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine. He and Matt Kenseth shared the cover for the 1999 NASCAR Preview, and he alone was the subject of a cover story in the Feb. 18, 2002 edition. "It was a real honor to be included in this 10th anniversary project for ESPN The Magazine," Earnhardt Jr. said. "It's humbling to be among athletes of this caliber. I hope ESPN is correct in that we can generate a few headlines in the next 10 years. I feel like we can." In addition to the 10 covers, each athlete was photographed in settings of special meaning or personal significance for the inside pages. In homage to the history of NASCAR and his racing roots, Earnhardt Jr. took ESPN The Magazine to his vintage gas station in Mooresville, N.C., where photographer Sarah Friedman shot Earnhardt Jr. and his 1972 Camaro. "I have a great appreciation for the history of NASCAR where I grew up in Kannapolis," Earnhardt Jr. said. "This old-school gas station reminds me of that town, where the old cotton mill was the big industry. It's all torn down now, and I'm real nostalgic for it." ESPN The Magazine's 10th anniversary edition is on newsstands now. Fans can also log on to www.espnthemag.com for behind-the-scenes footage of each athlete at their respective photo shoots, as well as prominent feature articles that have appeared in the magazine during its first 10 years of publication.(HMS PR)(3-20-2008) Comment here

Dale Earnhardt Jr's New Big Mo' Chocolate Bar Is A Sweet Find For Fans: Dale Earnhardt Jr. devotees across the US have raced to stores to experience his new 2.5 oz Big Mo' creamy caramel and peanut butter chocolate bar. The Big Mo', named after Junior's hometown of Mooresville, NC, is the first candy bar in history created for and promoted by a NASCAR driver. Crafted and launched by the RM Palmer Company in January of 2008, the Big Mo' has had select retail distribution. The finite supply has led to the bar already reaching the status of collector's item, a title few candies can claim. Collectors guru Harry Rinker, featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Martha Stewart Living, and Good Morning America, was recently quoted that the Big Mo' has more to offer fans than just a sweet treat. The Big Mo' bars feature the "Your Big Mo'ment with Dale Junior Sweepstakes" packaging. Inside the wrapper contains a code for a chance to enter to win the sweepstakes at www.big.mo-ment.com. The grand prizewinner and three friends will enjoy lunch with Dale Junior and his famous "Dirty Mo' Posse" at JR Motorsports, as well as a VIP race weekend package at Lowe's MotorSpeedway. The Big Mo's are currently available at Kroger, Albertsons, Big Lots, select Walmarts, select CVS, Rite Aid stores, Sheetz, Bi Lo, Lowes Foods and Shopko. Additional retailers may be found online at www.big-moment.com. However, fans need to act fast. The contest ends on April 30, 2008, and the first run Big Mo's will be pulled from store shelves at that time.(PR) and see more info on my Racing Contest page.(2-29-2008)

Gatorade Duel Post Race Interviews - Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Eury Jr.

An interview with:

DALE ERNHARDT, JR. and TONY EURY, JR.

KERRY THARP: We'll roll into the winner of today's first Gatorade Duel and his crew chief, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. driver of the No. 88 AMP Energy Drink National Guard Chevrolet, his crew chief Tony Eury, Jr.
Congratulations, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Talk about your victory out there this afternoon.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: You know, first off I got to thank the engine guys, because we had a little problem yesterday and they worked overnight to really get us the package that was durable and also competitive, and it was good enough to win the race. Can't thank those guys enough.
The team worked hard to get that motor changed, to get the car set up right. The setup was good. Started to race a little loose. Listed right rear tire, so Junior told me. Just tried to keep the lead. We was up there on top sliding around a little bit. The cars are pretty much a handful after about 25 laps, but that makes for good TV, I think.
I just, you know, got the next set of tires. We made some judgments. We got a little bit too far on adjustment, but the car was better. I don't know really, I can't remember everything that was going on at the end. So many position changes we were having to make, being forced to make (laughter).
We got up to about the bottom trying to take the lead, got shuffled back to about eighth, got to the top, got back to third. Tried to lay back a little bit, get a run. Got a run put together that made it happen. We got underneath the 12. I don't know if I forced him into lifting or whether we just cleared him or not, but we were able to get by him, try to keep the lead for the rest of the race.
It was fun. Real proud of my team. Proud of the effort. That was a good work ethic right there. Just a good day.
KERRY THARP: Tony, your thoughts?
TONY EURY, JR.: I mean, it was a pretty awesome deal. We was kind of worried yesterday. But like he said, the guys done a really good job of preparing the car last night. Kind of worried about how the car was going to get, if it was going to get too tight or whatever. We freed it up a little this morning. Had him too free at the start of the race. He could still handle it.
When he told me we had that tire problem, he told me he felt a vibration, so we stopped early and got that handled, just tightened him up a little bit. It was all Dale Jr. at the end. He put a move together that basically won us the race. The team couldn't be prouder. We got to build good cars, but you also have to have a great driver to be able to do that.

Q. Do you dare consider yourselves the favorite for the 500?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Dare? Hmm, that's funny (laughter). I feel like we got a shot, you know what I mean? Nobody's boastful enough, I don't think, personality wise to come in here and claim that. I wouldn't expect anybody to do that.
But I thought we got a great shot. We've won some races down here, so we got to be in the group if there's a group of them.

Q. Long almost two year drought that you had, now you come out two for two. Obviously you had high expectations coming to Hendrick. Did you think you'd be this good right out of the box?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Well, we got to remember we're at Daytona, too. We've had a lot of wins here. We can't really, you know, sing a whole lot of praise right just yet. We got a lot of racing left to do, a lot of tracks to go to, a lot of work in front of us.
We just got to, you know, think now. We got to think right now, What do we got to do to win the 500? We got to keep the same attitude, keep the same work ethic, take everything one at a time. We should be fine. I'm real proud and happy to have the talent that I've got on my team. The depth that I've got in the whole organization over at Hendrick is a pleasure.
Sure has to make a driver's job a lot easier. I'm just looking forward to enjoying that and being involved in that all season. We'll see what happens. We're going to work hard. We're going to keep working hard. If we're lucky and the good Lord thinks we're deserving, we should have some success.

Q. Dale, a few years ago you came through here and just won everything: Shootout, Duel, even the Nationwide race. With each win you almost dreaded it more in the sense of you hated what was going to come up for the 500, everything is going to go against you. You're starting to put together a streak like that now. How does it feel and compare to a few years ago? Seems different.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Yeah, it seems different. I don't know why. I'd have to think about that one. When we were down here a couple years ago winning a lot, you could look at each other and see that me and the team were sort of like, Okay, what's going to happen? When is something going to happen that keeps us from winning the next one?
I don't know what happened. We done that a couple times. We've come down here and won a couple things, felt like the favorite, and either finished well in the 500, top five, or had blown tires and stuff like that happen to us, too. But the 500, I don't feel like that this time. As I win, as I do more winning, you guys do more writing, and there's a lot of attention and pressure comes with that attention, when people are watching, people are knowing, up to date on everything, and you're at the front, you carry a lot of attention into the next event, into the next time you perform.
But the Daytona 500 is a long, long race, and so many things happen in that race to every team, good and bad. You overcome things. You get through things. You work through things. You have more happen. You work through it. And you just have to take it best you can and hope that nothing's gonna take you out of the race.
You can think about a 70 lap race and go, Hey, man, this is what we need to do. This is the strategy. Pit stop, where we're going to stop. This is how quickly you need to be in front. You can do things to have a better shot at winning.
But the 500, you just got to run all day long. You're going to get passed. You're going to pass people. And you just got to be there at the end. It's just very hard to do. So many variables.
So I don't feel pressure as we continue to have success this week. I don't feel that pressure mounting 'cause I know how tough it is to win that race, and I just have to go in there when the race starts and do what we need to do and hopefully we have good luck.

Q. Junior, when people talk about a race car being racy, I guess they mean you can pass at will and go two and three wide. Would you call this car that, "racy", yet?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: No, that car in the Shootout was. It was cool. We had grip. At lap 25 or 30 on the tires today, I got very loose and I got very slick and the track was very slick and we were all having difficulty. I had Ryan kind of pinned on the bottom one time as he was challenging to take the position. He got loose or lost grip and almost come up inside of me. I had to make a little bit of a move up the racetrack that upset my car and we all come off the corner sideways.
After a while, the cars are just sliding everywhere. You can't gain overall grip. There's nothing I can ask Tony, Jr. to do that's going to give me overall grip. I think we've got everything we can maximized at this point. We can move the car from too loose to too tight and back and forth and find that happy medium, but I don't think I can gain grip.
It's kind of fun, I think. It's kind of fun to have the car moving around, sliding around. But that wouldn't be my opinion if I was running 20th in a 43 car field. That would not be fun. Hopefully we don't have ourselves in that situation on Sunday.

Q. Short of winning the pole, I think things couldn't have gone any better for you to start the deal here with Hendrick. Going into Sunday, is it hard not to think, Everybody has to beat us? Or knowing what you just said about the race, do you try to downplay the fact you look like the overwhelming favorite going into the race?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: I don't feel like our car looks to me or appears to be strong enough to have that kind of confidence going into the race. It's a good car, and we won today. We seem to have a great package.
But I would have to be a little bit stronger personally and then I would have that type of confidence that, you know, it's my race to lose.
I'm talking Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott dominance, you know, where you're just fast, nobody can pass you, you lead every lap. We don't have that, not with these cars, not with the ability these guys have to make slingshot moves and runs and get runs on you.
I made a bad move in the middle of that race. Luckily, we were only in about a 20 car at that point it was about an eight car pack. That move might have cost me 20 positions on Sunday where I only lost eight today.
You know, it's a totally different race. I got to do everything right. Team's got to have good stops. A lot of variables.

Q. Junior, have you ever had a car that felt like that, where you felt you could pass any time you wanted here? Secondly, Tony, Jr. said a move you made won the race. Explain that move, please.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Tony, Jr.?

Q. You.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: He's going to leave if you don't have any more questions for him.

Q. My question is for you. I was next in line.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Competition out here. Whoa! Competitive. Eight person field here. Y'all run a hard race all day long, don't you (laughter)? That's fun to see. Let's see some more.
Are y'all going to release Tony, Jr. 'cause he's got work to do?
KERRY THARP: A couple people have questions for him.

Q. Today was a pretty cool day. The forecast is for pretty warm weather Sunday, close to 80 degrees. Tire concerns? Not making a full fuel run now. Hair pulling over the next couple days, concerns? Also from a driver standpoint, Dale?
TONY EURY, JR.: It's definitely in my eyeballs. You know, we looked at the temperature today. That's why we kind of run pretty close to our Shootout setup. It worked out good. We freed the car up just a little bit. It was a little bit freer.
But you're right, you're probably looking at 10 degrees hotter on Sunday, which is going to be totally a lot less grip. So I might have to tighten the car up quite a bit. But I can't overtighten the car because if I do I'm going to blister a right front.
So it's like he said, you got to find that balance. That's all we're going to be working on Friday afternoon, Saturday afternoon, we're going to work on the balance of the car, try to get a little bit more grip in it. We can do a few things.
You can put all the grip in the world, but your car is going to slow down. You have to find that happy medium and figure that out. We know that's coming and it's going to be a totally different race from what you had today when it comes Sunday.

Q. How was Sea World?
TONY EURY, JR.: Sea World was great.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: He don't never go nowhere. I was calling him, What's up, man? Now you're having fun. I'm proud of him.
TONY EURY, JR.: Never been down to anything like that. I'm either at home are at work. The wife was happy, so I'll be good for a couple more weeks.
KERRY THARP: Tony Eury, Jr., thank you. We'll release you.

Q. How important was it to bring Eury with you over to Hendrick? I assume some of the success you're experiencing this week was a result of being able to bring him with you.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: We have a really good, close, strong relationship that goes beyond the racetrack. As we get older and understand how important that is, we take better care of it and we want it to last. You know, we have family and aunts and moms and stuff like that that are important to us. Mine and his relationship is, you know, it's important that we keep it, and it's strong.
I like Tony, Jr. a lot. I like to be a part of his life and do things that he does and help him do things, help him acquire things.

Q. You were talking about having a car like Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott had back in the day, could pass anybody. Have you ever had that car here? Secondly, Tony, Jr. said a move you made won that race. Could you explain that?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Yeah, I don't think I've ever had that car down here. We had a real good one when we won it. I had another car that I thought would have won the race hands down when it got rained out. Michael won. We had a battery issue. We were making laps up. I thought we were going to go right by the field no problem, win that race.
The move that we made was the one I was talking about how it was like 12 to go or something, coming 10 to go maybe. 12 was leading, 41 was second. I run about four laps behind them, wasn't going to make any gains or runs on them that way, so I moved back a little bit and tried to get some people packed up behind me. I had Casey back there. Don't know who was behind him. We really couldn't get packed up behind each other, get to pushing each other. There was about 20 laps on our tires at that point. They were starting to get slick.
So he couldn't really give me a great shove like I was hoping to make happen. But I got it backed up there pretty good, come off of two and let it rip. Lifted often the brake, just let the car do whatever. I just wanted to see what it would do. I didn't think it was going to be a pass. I didn't think it was going to try to make a pass because I didn't think I'd get that good of a run.
We got down into three. We'd been running at the top. So everybody drove into the top of the racetrack. I had a pretty good run. I just made that mistake about 10 laps before that of going to the bottom and ended up by myself down there, lost a lot of spots. I just almost didn't do it. But I wanted to try to win. Thought maybe I don't know, I drove down there. I didn't think I was going to clear him. I looked up in the middle of the corner. I didn't think I was going to clear him, but I did.

Q. No driver has ever pulled off the Trifecta here by winning the Shootout, the Duel and 500. What would it mean for you to be able to do that?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: It would mean we have a good race car. It would mean that we have some awesome stuff down here. I'm just going to try to do whatever I can to win that race. It's going to be hard to win it, but it's going to be hard for everybody.

Q. Do you feel like your new teammates are envious at all, you coming in and doing well right away?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: I haven't talked to them. I don't think so. You're envious of people that win. That's common. Human nature. I would be envious. I wouldn't be jealous. I'd be proud and happy knowing that I had the same opportunity and was given the same opportunity.
Envy is fine. I think that's human nature and not necessarily a bad thing in the right situation.

Q. They haven't expressed that to you?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Jeff and those guys, I would be envious if Jimmie or Jeff were winning all the races. I would be happy, too, you know, because it's my team. I drive for them. That's my job. Some way, somehow, even if you don't drive for the car that goes to Victory Lane, you have some indirect effect on getting it there.
So still you take a little pride and a little joy any time a teammate of yours wins a race.

Q. Are you now comfortable with the engines? The problems have passed, you're confident going in?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: I am now. I was surprised at the way they went back and responded to that. We had a problem in the test. They responded like it was some kind of emergency. They were all over the motors. Did the same thing down here. We had a problem, they got all over the engines, found out what the problem was. Within two hours they were already working on the remedies, fixing what we needed to fix so it wouldn't happen again.
I feel bad for them because they don't they don't anticipate having those problems. To have to deal with it, it was really a four alarm fire there for a second. I'm glad they got through it for their sake. Happy for them that we were able to give them some success today, give them some good confidence on what they did going into the 500. I don't want them guys sweating bullets. When the race starts, I want them to enjoy it. Hopefully we can get up front and stay there.

Q. The "mistake" that you were referring to earlier had to be when you got hung down low and the seven cars were up above you. Typically at this race they blow by you. You hung by yourself down there with that pack for quite a while. That's got to make you feel pretty good about what's underneath you right now.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Yeah, it does. It's not fun, though, having to stay there and look in the mirror and see nothing's going to come to change the situation and what's happening to you.
But, yeah, I'm glad that I've got a car that can maintain, if anything, sit there, sit there, aggravate those guys as long as I can until someone comes. But at that point the tires were so used and worn, everybody was going to stay at the top. That's the smart thing to do.
Jimmie did the same thing. He got down there and ended up getting trained by all of us. You could see it in this race here, too, the top is the way to go. After the tires get used up, you can't make any moves on the bottom. It's too slick.

Q. How important is it to be flexible at this racetrack? Seems more than any other place, you have to go with what's either behind you, in front of you, below you? Is it more true here than any other racetrack?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: The big part of having decent success here is the talent of your spotter. I tell T.J., who is my spotter, that he needs to tell me what's happening behind me as if he had just gotten home Monday and was telling his girlfriend how the race unfolded. This guy's doing this, then this guy did that, then this guy lined behind him, then this guy did that. That's how I want him to explain it to me so I don't have to look in the mirror. I don't have to focus so much in the mirror because he's telling me the race, how everything's going. He's painting that picture for me as best he can paint it.
It helps me know before they get the run, whichever lane, if it's outside or inside, it helps me know which lane's going to come before it gets there. And if he says, The 41 is a car length off the 12, the guy behind him is pushing the 41, then I know in a matter of another straightaway and a half the 41 will get to the 12 and push him, so the 12's going to have a run probably in three quarters of a lap. I can kind of plan out what I'm going to be doing at that point to fix that and stop it and counter it.
But T.J. is learning a lot. He's drove cars before. That also helps. That's why you see a lot of drivers, exdrivers, that are spotters because they know what you want to hear. When you're up there spotting, as a driver, you know what you want to hear as a driver. It's real easy for those guys to do well at that job.
That's really important. That sort of helps me understand how the race is playing out behind me so I know what to do.

Q. During practice weeks, even when you weren't driving, you were smiling a lot. Now you're smiling a lot. Does the mood have something to do with the performance or with your team?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Well, I think everybody knows if you go into something with a poor attitude, you typically have poor results or you have a miserable time anyways.
That ain't saying that I go to all these tracks with a smile on my face. But I do enjoy being in Daytona. I have enjoyed this relationship. Up to this point, it's been great, more than we ever could have dreamed of as far as the success we're having. I'm proud. I'm just happy that we're able to have this and thankful for it.
But, yeah, good attitude's important. I try to make sure, more importantly than my attitude, I try to make sure my team has one. I try to keep my guys pumped up because they're the ones putting that car underneath me. That matters probably more, their attitude, their anticipation and how they look forward to the event.

Q. It was mentioned earlier that the track was really beat up and tough running on. How do you feel about the track, the condition of it?
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: The bumps aren't so severe right now that I would ask for it to be fixed. I mean, it can be improved or it can be fixed, but it's not so extreme bump wise. The surface is worn and the tires are taking a beating and you're blistering tires. But that will go away. We always see that at the beginning of the week.
But as we rubber the track up with the Nationwide race and Truck race, the track seems to do a better job of taking care of the tires in the 500.
I would say that this car makes it a little bit more challenging. After 20 laps, it was definitely more challenging to drive the car, even running out front and up high. You're correcting the car, sliding the right rear into the corner, backing into the fence, into the entrance of every corner. It gets a little loose off, too.
It's way easier to do that when you're leading than when you're running second or third. I was behind Newman as our tires started to fade. Good Lord, it's tough. I know what those guys are going through when they're behind me now. It makes me feel better about that, about being able to hold my position as I'm leading the race, knowing how difficult it is running second or third. I can't imagine running 20th with still 20 more cars behind you, pushing you down in the corner, you got no air on the car because of the field in front of you. It's going to be a challenge.
The track itself is all right. It's hard to pave a place like this. I wouldn't anticipate them doing it for another five or so years.
KERRY THARP: Dale Jr., congratulations. Appreciate your time.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Thank you.
(NASCAR PR)(2-14-2008)

New York DMV Announces New NASCAR Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Custom License Plate: New #88 Plate is Available to All Race Fans Across the State
Commissioner David J. Swarts of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today announced the availability of the new #88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. custom license plate. The officially licensed NASCAR license plate series offered by the DMV is available to race fans across the state.
"NASCAR fans are among the most loyal to their favorite driver and team from Daytona to Miami and every race in between," Commissioner Swarts said. “As the new 2008 NASCAR season begins we are glad to be able to offer this new license plate to the many fans of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his team."
The new plate features a dark blue background with a large red #88 on the left side linked to Earnhardt’s logo, with the NASCAR logo on the bottom. The remainder of the plate on the right side features a yellow tint gradation behind the plate numbers and letters, with the black Hendrick Motorsports logo on the upper right. The two sides of the plate are separated by a checkered flag graphic.
New York race fans have been passionate for NASCAR plates since 1999. Currently, there are more than 4,200 vehicles with NASCAR plates issued to motorists in the state. The most popular NASCAR plate features #3 Dale Earnhardt with over 1,100 issued, followed by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s previous #8 plate with more than 900 issued and the generic NASCAR FAN plate with more than 680 issued.
There are three easy ways to order your favorite NASCAR plate for passenger or commercial vehicles: on-line 24-hours a day at www.nysdmv.com, by phone through the DMV Custom Plates Unit at (518) 402-4838, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or in any DMV issuing office. The initial cost with a number assigned by the DMV is $43 with an annual renewal fee of $25. A personalized version with the motorist’s choice of two to six characters, including spaces, is available for $68, with an annual renewal fee of $50. The annual renewal fee is in addition to the regular registration fee, which is billed every two years.(NY DMV PR)(2-14-2008)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates winning the first Gatorade Duel 150 at Daytona International Speedway. Photo Courtesy of Genesco Sports Enterprises

Daytona 500

Ninth Place Finish: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. led 12 laps on the day and finished the 50th Daytona 500 in 9th place.(2-17-2008)

Daytona 500 Happy Hour: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished the final practice session for the Daytona 500 37th fastest with a speed of 187.091mph. Complete speeds are posted on the Daytona 500 Practice Speeds page.(2-16-2008)

Friday Practice: Earnhardt Jr. was second fastest in Friday's only practice session. His top speed was 189.825mph. Complete speeds are posted on the Daytona 500 Practice Speeds page.(2-15-2008)

Earnhardt 2 for 2 at Daytona: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. led 26 laps in the first Gatorade Duel race to pick up his second win this week at Daytona. He will start the Daytona 500 from the 3rd position. See the complete starting lineup on the Daytona 500 Starting Lineup page.(2-14-2008)

Wednesday Practice: #88-Earnhardt Jr. lost and engine midway thru the 2nd Wed practice at Daytona International Speedway and the team will change engines. He finished the session 32nd fastest, with a top speed of 187.582mph. See complete speeds on the Daytona 500 Practice Speeds page.(2-13-2008)

Daytona 500 Qualifying: Dale Earnhardt Jr had the 15th fastest time in Daytona 500 Qualifying. His top speed was 185.659mph. He will start the first Gatorade duel Thursday from the 5th position.(2-10-2008)

Daytona 500 Practice 2: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 8th fastest in the second session with a speed of 185.659mph(2-9-2008)

Daytona 500 Practice 1: The first practice for the Daytona 500 is over and the #88 AMP Energy Drink Chevy was 8th fastest in the session with a speed of 185.621mph.(2-9-2008)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates in Victory Lane after winning his first race with Hendrick Motorsports. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR)

Bud Shootout

Earnhardt Jr. wins Bud Shootout: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 2008 Budweiser Shootout in his first race with Hendrick Motorsports, dominating the race and leading 47 or 70 laps to win the race for pole sitters. #20-Stewart followed in 2nd and led 9 laps [2nd most], with #48-Johnson third in a backup car, 4th was #24-Gordon and fifth was #41-Sorenson. Earnhardt Jr. also won the 20 lap first segment. There were 17 lead changes with 8 different leaders and 4 cautions for 15 laps. See my 2008 Budweiser Shootout page, for results, lineup, news, streaks, all time pole leaders, 2007 pole sitters and more. Comment here (2-9-2008)

Final Bud Shootout Practice: Earnhardt, Jr. was 21st fastest in the final practice session with a speed of 188.119mph.(2-8-2008)

First Bud Shootout Practice: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was 18th fastest in the first Bud Shootout practice. His top speed was 188.612mph.(2-8-2008)

Bud Shootout Starting Lineup: #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will start the Bud Shootout Saturday night from the 7th position. The complete lineup is posted on the Bud Shootout page.(2-7-2008)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Fan Community Is Full Speed Ahead:
JR Nation launches with the ultimate Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan club. The new fan community comes close on the heels of major change for Earnhardt Jr. who left a long history with Dale Earnhardt Inc. to drive the #88 Mountain Dew AMP/National Guard Chevy in the Sprint Cup series for Hendrick Motorsports.
Mooresville, NC (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- With the new year in full throttle, Dale Earnhardt Jr. shows no signs of slowing down. This week the legendary driver launched the brand-new JR Nation fan club. The new fan community comes close on the heels of major change for Earnhardt Jr. who left a long history with Dale Earnhardt Inc. to drive the #88 Mountain Dew AMP/National Guard Chevy in the Sprint Cup series for Hendrick Motorsports.
"The 2008 season is a fresh start for me," Earnhardt Jr. said. "In appreciation of all of the fans who've supported me over the years, we've launched a new fan club. We want to make it better than ever as I shift into the next part of my career."
The JR Nation fan club will be the best way for fans to get together and show support for their favorite driver. Announcements will be posted directly from Earnhardt Jr.'s headquarters at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, NC Contests and giveaways will be a hallmark of the club, including a regular-running Race Reporter contest which gives fans a chance to report on the action. Race Reporter winners will have the opportunity to have their recap published on JR Nation and receive a commemorative lanyard. Near the end of the season, the best Race Reporter selected by JR Nation members will win an ultimate flyaway for the final race before the Chase for the Cup begins.
"Dale Jr. is one of the most respected figures in racing, both for his on-track victories and his grace and dignity off. Having won the 2007 NASCAR NMPA Chex® Most Popular Driver for the fifth consecutive year it is clear that Dale Jr.'s fans will follow him anywhere and we're honored he chose us to grow the JR Nation Fan Club," said Lawrence Peryer, UltraStar President. "We're thrilled to show NASCAR that we can bring excellence to online communities in the racing world just like we've done for 10 years in the music business."
In honor of the launch, JR Nation is giving new members opportunities to win special prizes during the first 88 hours. From launch at 3:00 pm ET today through 7 a.m. ET on Friday, anyone who purchases a JR Nation membership is entered to win a grand prize 88-year JR Nation membership, an $88 gift card to ShopJRNation.com and a commemorative plaque signed by Dale Jr. All fans who join in the first 88 hours will be eligible for one of several other gift cards for ShopJRNation.com, and every new member will receive a special bonus gift with their 2008 membership kit. Anyone visiting JR Nation during the 88 hour celebration can also register for a free two-week limited access trial to the fan club.
Membership in JR Nation is just $34.88, and will provide full access to JR Nation online including access to exclusive media, contests, members-only message boards and chats, 10 percent off merchandise at ShopJRNation.com, and an annual JR Nation Crew Kit. The exclusive 2008 kit includes a welcome letter from Earnhardt Jr., vinyl banner, license plate frame, decal, zipper pull, collapsible can coolers, soft-sided cooler and membership card all emblazoned with JR Nation Crew.
"The new fan club will have cool, interactive features to help give fans a better look into my life both on and off the track," Earnhardt Jr. said. "The new club will have access to the all-new JR Nation online community that offers the latest announcements, behind-the-scenes multimedia, a members-only message board and chat room, discounts on merchandise at JR Nation and a ton of other features."
To visit the new JR Nation fan club, go to www.DaleJr.com and click on "Fan Club". For Dale Jr.'s official website, visit www.DaleJr.com. For Dale Jr. gear, check out the official online store at www.ShopJRNation.com.(PR)(2-13-2008)

Sports Illustrated cover to feature Earnhardt Jr.: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine's Feb. 18 issue, which is set to hit news stands this week.
Shot by photographer Michael J. LeBrecht II, the cover depicts a relaxed Earnhardt on the hood of his #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy with the headline "Time to Win? Dale Earnhardt Jr. Has a New Car."
The cover story, penned by writer Lars Anderson and entitled "Fired Up," details Earnhardt's journey to Hendrick Motorsports and his relationship with team owner Rick Hendrick.
Earnhardt will kick off his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with Hendrick Motorsports in Sunday's Daytona 500 (2 p.m. ET on FOX).
For more information on Sports Illustrated magazine, visit www.SI.com.
Photo credit: Michael J. LeBrecht II/1Deuce3 Photography.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(2-13-2008)

PREVIEW: DALE EARNHARDT JR. (#88 AMP ENERGY/NATIONAL GUARD Chevy)
VENUE: DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (2.5-MILE TRI-OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (RACE 1 OF 36)
EVENT: FEB. 17, 2008 (200 LAPS/500 MILES)
*****
AT DAYTONA: After winning the Feb. 9 Budweiser Shootout, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has 11 wins at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Notably, he won the Daytona 500 in 2004, the Pepsi 400 in 2001, two Budweiser Shootouts (2003 and 2008) and five NASCAR Nationwide Series events. Earnhardt also won his Gatorade Duel qualifying races in 2003 and 2004.
STELLAR RECORD: Earnhardt has recorded six top-five finishes, nine top-10s and has led 319 laps during 16 Sprint Cup races at Daytona. His average start is 11.9, and his average finish is 14.3 at Daytona in NASCAR's elite series. He recorded his only DNF last year when he was involved in a crash on Lap 195 of the 202 laps it took to complete the 2007 Daytona 500.
DRIVING EMMA: The #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy that Earnhardt will drive in the 2008 Daytona 500 is Hendrick Motorsports Chassis #88-475, but it goes simply by "Emma." The car is named after the original Emma, which was built by Earnhardt's maternal grandfather, legendary fabricator Robert Gee, and raced for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series by drivers Geoff Bodine and Tim Richmond in the 1980s. Both Bodine and Richmond won with the car, which Gee nicknamed after his mother.
'88' FASTEST IN TESTING: Earnhardt and the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard team posted the fastest overall lap (48.434 seconds and 185.820 mph) during January's Sprint Cup Series "Preseason Thunder" testing at Daytona International Speedway.
AMP ENERGY COMMERCIAL TO DEBUT: Earnhardt filmed two commercials for sponsor AMP Energy during the off-season. The first, which aired prior to the Super Bowl, involved a camel (view it at www.AMPEnergy.com). The second new spot will debut during the Daytona 500 telecast and involves a pesky gorilla that reminds Earnhardt just how much energy, focus and control it takes to get his job done on the track. Media members may view the commercial here (link not for public posting).
GOING GREEN: AMP Energy wants to see how fans of Dale Earnhardt Jr. are "going green" this season. Fans can win a chance to go to the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October and meet Earnhardt by showing AMP Energy how JR Nation is going green. Log onto www.AMPEnergy.com for more information or to submit photos or videos.
BUSY OFF-SEASON: In a matter of months, Earnhardt has launched a clothing line through adidas, a candy bar ("Big Mo") and a television documentary ("Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears" presented by the National Guard). With a few close friends, he also managed to squeeze in an off-season trip to Australia in December.
CLOTHING LINE HITTING STORES: Earnhardt's JR Nation adidas clothing line, which makes its debut Friday, will feature the same adidas ClimaCool technology that allows him to stay cool on the track. The first items will be available Feb. 15 at 9 a.m. local time at Sports Authority in Daytona Beach. The first 88 people to purchase adidas JR Nation gear will receive an autographed hat. Fans can text "88" to "adidas" from their mobile phones to receive updates on the latest adidas gear.
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: On Friday, Earnhardt will appear live on QVC's "For Race Fans Only" show, which will feature Earnhardt merchandise and other officially licensed NASCAR products. Earnhardt will appear on the broadcast from 8-10 p.m. ET. The show will air live from the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center in Daytona Beach.
*****
DALE EARNHARDT JR., DRIVER OF THE #88 AMP ENERGY/NATIONAL GUARD Chevy (ON QUALIFYING 15TH IN SUNDAY'S DAYTONA 500 TIME TRIALS.): "It felt good to come back to the track after the Shootout. We got that first win. Now we have to concentrate on the next one. That wasn't a bad lap for us, but it was jumping around out there in the wind pretty good. Now we will just keep working on that thing to get it where it will drive good in the qualifying race, and it'll be all good. Just got to make sure it works in traffic, work on the travel and the springs and stuff to make sure there isn't stuff dragging all over the track.
EARNHARDT (ON HIS SHOOTOUT WIN HELPING HIS 500 PERFORMANCE.): "I think being able to run with the Impala SS in the Shootout will give us great input on what to expect from the car in the early part of the 500."
EARNHARDT (ON HAVING AN ADVANTAGE AT DAYTONA THROUGH EXPERIENCE.): "I always love racing at Daytona and have a good bit of confidence going in there. The anticipation is there, but it is the same anticipation I have always had as a driver, no more and no less. I am just ready to do a good job."
EARNHARDT (ON HIS CAR'S NICKNAME.): My grandfather (Robert Gee) named one of his favorite race cars 'Emma.' It's a tribute to him and the Gee family. It makes me proud (to drive it)."
EARNHARDT (ON POTENTIALLY PUTTING "EMMA" IN VICTORY LANE.): "Any win this early in the season would be great. We are just looking forward to having that chance, especially with the 50th running of the Daytona 500."
EARNHARDT (ON HIS CONFIDENCE AT DAYTONA AFTER SUCH SOLID TESTING.): "I feel pretty comfortable with our chances at winning some more races in Daytona. We will have one of the top cars for sure."
EARNHARDT (ON RUNNING HIS FIRST POINTS RACE FOR CAR OWNER RICK HENDRICK.): "I feel like I'm at a better place for work and in my life. I feel like I have a better opportunity. I feel fortunate and thankful -- that is the emotion I feel. I definitely have to be in a better place if that is the feeling I get about being here in his race cars."
TONY EURY JR. CREW CHIEF OF THE #88 AMP ENERGY/NATIONAL GUARD Chevy (ON WHAT NAMING THE CAR "EMMA" MEANS TO HIM.): "It's a fitting tribute to my granddaddy (Robert Gee). He had a big part in getting me into this sport, but my dad (Tony Eury Sr.) also taught me a lot. I can remember going to Charlotte Motor Speedway (now Lowe's Motor Speedway) with my granddaddy, and we had the car 'Emma.' It was really cool when we were able to see Emma down in the Hendrick Motorsports museum. That car is a tribute to my great-grandmother, my grandmother and Rick Hendrick. This organization is and always has been about family, and now it's like the family is all back together. I hope we win with Emma. It would be a great tribute."
EURY (ON HIS OUTLOOK AFTER TESTING WELL IN DAYTONA.): "I think we have as good of a chance as anyone. The test went exceptionally well, but it's a long week in Daytona. We have to survive the 150-mile Gatorade Duel races and the pit crew is going to have to be on their game. But I think we're going to be in good shape."
EURY (ON HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEW SPRINT CUP CAR AT DAYTONA.): "The bump stops are definitely different. We want to make sure the car is handling good in traffic. We had a chance last year to look at how the Impala SS would race at a restrictor plate track, but Talladega is a different beast. There, a driver can just hold the pedal to the mat and just flat-foot it all the way around (the track). At Daytona, the car needs to handle. I think what happened in the Shootout is a good indicator of how the 500 will play out. Winning these races and doing well in them is all about being at the right place at the right time."
FRANK EDWARDS, AN ORIGINAL HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS EMPLOYEE (ON THE ORIGINAL "EMMA."): "Robert Gee's 'Emma,' she was a beautiful race car. He would spend as much time making the bumper look right as he would putting the engine in it. It had several different front ends for the car. Tim Richmond won races in it, and Geoff Bodine won Darlington in it. That car has a soul to it. That's one of the few cars I've ever seen that you just have a different feeling about it. Even if I didn't grow up around here, which I did, I would still feel like there's just something when I'm around that car. And it just feels like, you know, when someone's around you, and you can just feel that presence? That's how I feel around that car. It's like it's alive. Like there's something there."(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(2-12-2008)

Eury dedicates Junior's Shootout win to mourning teammate: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr crew chief, Tony Eury Jr. was shocked upon returning from the Sprint Cup test session at California Speedway to see Joey Arnold, one of his car setup specialists, working feverishly in the shop on one of the #88 cars. Arnold's 5-year-old son, Cayden, had died just days beforehand. "I said 'Joey, what are you doing here?'" Eury said. "I mean, what do you say to a guy whose 5-year-old kid just died? I didn't know. I couldn't believe he was there." Arnold's response was one Eury won't soon forget. "He said 'This is my best chance to win the Daytona 500, and I want to be a part of it,'" Eury said. Eury was so deeply impacted by the scope of that statement that his eyes welled with tears recounting it Sunday just before pole qualifying at Daytona. "His son had a lung issue, I think, and he couldn't run from here to that generator," Eury said, pointing out a distance of about 20 feet, "and he'd have to go back inside and lay down for the rest of the day. "But that day [he died], he ran down the driveway, down into the cul-de-sac and back up the driveway. They all stood there like, 'Wow, what was that?' He came in, went to sleep and never woke up." So when Eury's #88 opened the 2008 Sprint Cup season in Victory Lane, the win was dedicated to Arnold. "To me, that kind of dedication from that guy -- that meant a lot to me, so I told Joey that was for him," Eury said. "It took a lot of heart and emotion for him to walk in that shop, so I told my guys in Victory Lane [Saturday] night: That [checkered] flag, hold on to it, it's going to Joey Arnold."(full story and quotes at ESPN.com)(2-11-2008)

Earnhardt Jr. skeptical about drivers showing more personality: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't convinced that NASCAR really wants Sprint Cup drivers to loosen up and show their personalities more. "I don't believe them," NASCAR's most popular driver said during media day on Thursday. "I don't think anybody does. What does that mean? Are we supposed to walk the line and see where we step over it and where are we going to get fined when we go too far? What are they saying?" NASCAR chairman Brian France said last month that the governing body wants to get back to the days when drivers were able to be themselves without the fear of a big fine. It was part of his back-to-the-basics mandate, an attempt to win back the traditional fan that he believes may have been lost with all the changes the sport has undergone since 2004. "NASCAR is focused on the best side-by-side racing in the world," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. But again, Earnhardt isn't convinced. "I think honestly they're playing to you guys, not talking to the drivers," he said to a crowd of reporters in a tent outside of Daytona International Speedway. "Basically, they're trying to appear to be looser."(ESPN.com)(2-8-2008) Comment here.

Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears Premieres Friday on ESPN2: MORE: The new television series Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears, chronicling the move of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, premieres Friday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The five-part series provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal, corporate and competitive ramifications involved with the five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver award recipient leaving Dale Earnhardt, Inc., the team founded by his late father. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears is produced by Earnhardt Jr.’s Hammerhead Entertainment, a division of JR Motorsports, in cooperation with Hendrick Motorsports and is presented by the National Guard. Three of the five episodes of Dale Jr. - Shifting Gears air on ESPN2 in the nine days prior to the Daytona 500, including following ESPN2’s live coverage of Nationwide Series qualifying on Friday, Feb. 15, and the Nationwide Series Camping World 300 at Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 16. The final two episodes air on ESPN in prime time the week of the July 27 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, ESPN’s first live NASCAR Sprint Cup event of the season.(ESPN PR)(2-5-2008)
Click here to view clips of Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears.(2-7-2008)
MORE: The first episode of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s new television series Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears is scheduled to air Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The series provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal, corporate and competitive ramifications involved with the five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver award recipient changing teams.
Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears is produced by Earnhardt Jr.’s Hammerhead Entertainment, a division of JR Motorsports, in cooperation with Hendrick Motorsports and is presented by the National Guard. The new program is part of an exclusive, multimedia agreement between ESPN and Hammerhead Entertainment.
Three of the five episodes of Shifting Gears air on ESPN2 in the nine days prior to the Daytona 500, including following ESPN2’s live coverage of Nationwide Series qualifying on Friday, Feb. 15, and the Nationwide Series Camping World 300 at Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 16. The final two episodes air on ESPN in prime time the week of the July 27 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, ESPN’s first live NASCAR Sprint Cup event of the season.
The air schedule (all times Eastern):
Friday, Feb. 8 - 7-8 p.m. - ESPN2
Friday, Feb. 15 - 6:30-8 p.m. - ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 16 - 4:30-6 p.m. - ESPN2
Thursday, July 24 - 7-8 p.m. - ESPN
Friday, July 25 - 7-8 p.m. - ESPN
(JR Motorsports PR)(2-8-2008)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. To Appear Live From Daytona On QVC 'For Race Fans Only' Broadcast:
Who: DALE EARNHARDT JR., Sprint Cup driver of the #88 AMP/National Guard Chevy.
What: For Race Fans Only broadcast featuring officially licensed NASCAR merchandise, including NEW 2008 NASCAR Driver Sprint Cup Series 1:24 Scale Die-Cast Cars; NEW 2008 NASCAR Driver Sprint Cup Series Big Face and Number Graphic T-Shirts; Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2008 AMP 1:24 Scale Die-Cast Cars; and Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2008 National Guard 1:24 Scale Platinum and Gold Die-Cast Cars.
In addition to the For Race Fans Only show, QVC will offer a special NASCAR-themed item on February 15. The special offer will kick off at midnight (ET), and will be good for February 15, 2008 until 11:59 PM (ET).
When: Friday, February 15, 2008, 8 PM – 10 PM (ET)
Where: On QVC, Live from Daytona, Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Details: Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to appear live on QVC For Race Fans Only with QVC on-air host and NASCAR enthusiast Dan Hughes, live from Daytona. NASCAR fans are encouraged to tune in to QVC to enjoy the show.(QVC PR)(2-8-2008)

Las Vegas to Offer Promotion with Dale Jr. UPDATE: On Thursday, February 7th, Las Vegas Motor Speedway will announce one of the most unique promotions in motorsports history. The promotion will involve Dale Earnhardt Jr. Race fans also are being sent flyers and emails to count down to this announcement.(LVMS PR)(2-5-2008)
UPDATE: LVMS race fans pinning their hopes on a Dale Jr. title run LAS VEGAS – What would a Sprint Cup Series championship by Dale Earnhardt Jr. mean to race fans?
Answer: For 8,888 fans who participate in a unique promotion offered by Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it would mean free tickets to the spring 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at LVMS.
In one of the most extraordinary promotions in sports history, Las Vegas Motor Speedway is offering free tickets to thousands of race fans should Dale Earnhardt Jr. power his #88 Chevy to the 2008 Sprint Cup title.
The promotion, known as Dale Jr.’s South Point Jackpot, is sponsored by the South Point Hotel of Las Vegas. Fans can renew their weekend race tickets for 2009 – and be included in the promotion – Wednesday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 17. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entries for the promotion will end at the scheduled start of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 (12:30 p.m. PST)
“Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been the most popular driver in NASCAR for the past five years, and we’re excited to give race fans a stake in his quest for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship,” said Chris Powell, LVMS general manager. “This promotion is unprecedented in our sport. We’ve bought the best insurance policy available, so if Dale Jr. is fortunate enough to win the title, we’ll be ecstatic for all the fans who receive free tickets to our spring 2009 event.”
Said South Point Hotel owner Michael Gaughan: “The South Point has become synonymous with NASCAR, and we’re thrilled to be a part of Dale Jr.’s South Point Jackpot. Our family has been involved in racing for many years, and we have a very strong relationship with Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the entire racing community.
Thousands of race fans stay at the South Point during NASCAR Weekend in Las Vegas, so we’re excited about the fans’ opportunities to take advantage of this creative promotion. We wish the best of luck to Dale Jr. and his legions of followers.”
Individual ticket-holders will have five days next week (Feb. 13-17) to renew their Weekend Package tickets for the spring 2009 NASCAR Weekend at LVMS. The people renewing the first 8,888 tickets – reflecting Earnhardt Jr.’s car #88 – will be refunded the entire ticket amount for next spring’s Sprint Cup event on Sunday of NASCAR Weekend – if Dale Jr. wins the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. As long as the number has not exceeded 8,888, the speedway will continue renewals until the scheduled start of the Daytona 500. The only way to participate in Dale Jr.’s South Point Jackpot is to call the LVMS Ticket Services department at 1-800-644-4444 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 13-16 and 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. (All times PST.)
Tickets for the 2008 NASCAR Weekend, as well as credentials for the fan-interactive Neon Garage, are still available. Race fans can call 1-800-644-4444 or log on to www.lvms.com.

Q&A with Las Vegas Motor Speedway General Manager Chris Powell
Question: What was the motivation behind this promotion known as Dale Jr.’s South Point Jackpot?
Answer: We’re always looking for ways to make racing more exciting for the fans. There is a tremendous amount of attention and anticipation surrounding Dale Jr.’s move to Hendrick Motorsports, and this allows our race fans to share in his quest for his first-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.
Q: Given the cost involved with refunding ticket revenues, are you rooting against Dale Jr. this year?
A: Absolutely not. We’ve purchased an insurance policy that will cover every dime that we would pay out. So if Dale Jr. is fortunate enough to win his first Sprint Cup championship, we’ll be ecstatic for the race fans who’ll have the cost of their tickets refunded.
Q: Why did you pick Dale Jr.?
A: He’s been NASCAR’s most popular driver for the past five years, and I believe his popularity transcends NASCAR and motorsports. Combine his popularity with his switch to a new race team, and he’s the logical choice. Imagine the excitement if Dale Jr. makes the Chase for the Sprint Cup this year as 8,888 ticketholders sit on the edge of their seats hoping he wins the title.
Q: What about the ticketholders who don’t participate? Can they still renew their tickets in the same seats.
A: Absolutely. All Weekend Package holders are eligible to renew their same seats regardless of whether they participate in the promotion.
Q: What’s the role of the South Point Hotel?
A: There is no greater supporter of motorsports in the Las Vegas community than Michael Gaughan, owner of the South Point Hotel. As soon as we mentioned this promotion to Michael, he was captivated by it. Michael’s from “old-school Las Vegas.” He still works in the sports book on Super Bowl Sundays. He knows a fun wager when he sees one. And he immediately agreed for the South Point to become the sponsor. It’s not a coincidence that NASCAR fans flock to the South Point when they’re in town for our NASCAR Weekend.
Q: How does this promotion benefit Las Vegas Motor Speedway?
A: First off, we want it to benefit our returning ticketholders. We also want to entice people to purchase the few tickets that we have remaining for our NASCAR Weekend in three weeks. And I’m confident that Dale Jr.’s South Point Jackpot will help build goodwill with the race fans who participate, and it should draw the attention of anyone who follows Dale Jr.’s progress throughout the year. So this promotion benefits our speedway as well as NASCAR and its fans.
(Las Vegas Motor Speedway PR)(2-7-2008)

Dale Jr and adidas Unveil Three Stripe Race Suit at Daytona: UPDATE: Dale Jr. will debut his new three stripes on February 17 at Daytona 500. Working closely with the adidas Innovation Team, they have created a race suit featuring advanced ClimaCool technology. With extreme temperatures in the car, ClimaCool will lower Dale Jr.'s body temperature and combat fatigue, allowing him to be more alert and responsive in those final laps. Two days prior to the debut of the three stripes on the track, Dale Jr.'s exclusive adidas fan gear will go on sale at The Sports Authority available first in Daytona. Dale Jr.'s official adidas fan apparel line, which includes a variety of men and women's clothing such as t-shirts, jackets, hats and jerseys, will be available at The Sports Authority in Daytona on February 15 in conjunction with Speed Week. The fan collection features the same adidas ClimaCool technology that allows Dale Jr. to stay cool on the track.(adidas / Hill & Knowlton PR)(2-5-2008)
COMPLETE RELEASE: After months of research, development and design collaboration, Dale Earnhardt, Jr will debut the adidas three stripes at the 2008 Daytona Speedweeks, which starts Feb. 9 with the Budweiser Shootout and ends Feb. 17 with the year’s premier NASCAR event, the Daytona 500. On Feb. 15, Dale Jr.’s exclusive adidas JR Nation Gear will go on sale at Sports Authority available first in Daytona.
"I’ve been wearing adidas my whole life. It’s who I am. Throughout my career I’ve been fortunate to partner with brands that fit my lifestyle, and adidas fits," explained Dale Jr. "I’ve been working with adidas on the design of the new suit, and I’m looking forward to debuting the three stripes at Daytona."
Dale Jr. continues to work closely with the adidas Innovation Team to create a race suit featuring ClimaCool® technology. With extreme temperatures in the car, ClimaCool® will keep Dale Jr.’s body temperature lower, ultimately combating fatigue and therefore allowing him to be more alert and responsive throughout the entire race.
"adidas’ philosophy has always been to work closely with athletes and have them involved in the design process. Dale Jr. has been involved every step of the way providing feedback, comments and opinions," said Mark Clinard, business director for Motorsports, adidas America. "Our ultimate goal is to help Dale Jr. perform at his maximum level and gain a competitive edge on the track. Along with the racing gear, Dale Jr. assisted in designing a complete adidas JR. Nation fan apparel line, which will provide fans access to the same ClimaCool technology that keeps him cool on the track."
Dale Jr.’s official adidas JR Nation apparel line will launch with men’s and women’s apparel such as t-shirts, jackets, hats and jerseys. The adidas JR Nation fan collection features the same adidas ClimaCool technology that allows Dale Jr. to stay cool on the track and will be first available at Sports Authority in Daytona on February 15 at 9 a.m. in conjunction with Daytona Speedweeks. In celebration of the launch, the first 88 people to purchase adidas JR Nation Gear will receive an autographed hat. Fans can text "88" to "adidas" from their mobile phone to receive a message from Dale Jr. about the latest adidas gear. Throughout the season, new products, including footwear, accessories and other exclusive gear, will debut in conjunction with special events like All-Star in Charlotte this May.
"I'm really excited for my first adidas line to launch here in Daytona," said Dale Jr. "It goes on sale Friday at 9 a.m. at Sports Authority, across from the speedway and on adidas.com. This stuff will have some of the same adidas technology, like Climacool, that I'll be racing with in the car. Fans can text ‘88’ to ‘adidas’ for more information."
adidas ClimaCool technology is a ventilation system that addresses the needs of the body based on adidas’ research of body mapping. This system utilizes specially engineered air channels, materials and components to provide superior moisture management, enhanced evaporation and better breathability.
Through adidas’ strong nationwide network of retailers including adidas stores and Sports Authority, the adidas JR. Nation fan gear will be more accessible for Dale Jr. fans than ever before.(JR Motorsports PR)(2-7-2008)

TMS replaces billboards referencing Earnhardts: Four identical Texas Motor Speedway billboards referring to the strained relationship between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother, Teresa, will be replaced within the next two weeks. The flap is over ads featuring a picture of the driver and the wording "Reason #88: Step-Mom." TMS president Eddie Gossage said Thursday night that the billboards, part of a series of similar ads to promote the Sprint Cup weekend at the track in April, will be changed after a request from Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, the driver's sister and business manager. "The first thing I told her when I answered the phone was if you guys are uncomfortable with it, all you have to do is say the word," Gossage said. "We had a very pleasant talk." #88 is a reference to Earnhardt's new car number with Hendrick Motorsports, the team he went to after last season when he decided to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., his late father's company that is run by Teresa Earnhardt. He left DEI after months of contentious negotiations with his stepmother. Earnhardt will still be displayed on the billboards, but the wording will change to "Reason #88: New Car Smell." Gossage said Elledge thought the new slogan "was cool, and Dale Jr. loved it."
There are billboards with catchy slogans featuring the car numbers of three other drivers. One features a wide-eyed, grinning Tony Stewart with "Reason #20: Road Rage!" Then there is one for Jeff Gordon with "Reason #24: 81 Cup Wins. Zip At Texas!", and one for two-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, "Reason #48: Twice As Good As 24!" After getting the call from Elledge, Gossage decided to make sure Stewart was all right with the #20 ad. "I e-mailed Tony, 'What do you think?' He thought they were hilarious," Gossage said. Gossage said he didn't follow up with Gordon and Johnson, Earnhardt's new teammates with Hendrick, because the TMS president considers those slogans "benign" despite one small glitch. Johnson's slogan "Twice As Good As 24!" was supposed to end with a question mark, not an exclamation point.
Elledge told Gossage that she and her brother still have friends and family at DEI and want to see the company succeed, but that they were "excited about Hendrick Motorsports" and saw no reason to point to past issues. "We were trying to be edgy," Gossage said. "If this went over the line, in their opinion, we don't want to." There are 15 billboards, three featuring Johnson and four for each of the other drivers, displayed on Interstates and busy highways throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Gossage said there will be similar-themed broadcast and print ads in the coming weeks.(ESPN.com/AP)(2-1-2008)

Super Bowl Commercials featuring some NASCAR drivers: The pulse of American pop culture is racing right through Super Bowl Sunday and it's hitching a ride on the back of Pepsi's unprecedented slate of Super Bowl advertising that features a lineup of brands, images and stars as diverse as Pepsi's portfolio of drinks. Promising a one-of-a-kind lineup for a one-of-a-kind day, Pepsi's Super Sunday lineup includes: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. getting a charge out of AMP Energy drink as he gets over the hump and harness the energy, focus and control he needs to compete in a camel race.(PepsiCo)
#99-Carl Edwards will appear on advertising's largest stage this Sunday, February 3 - Super Bowl Sunday in a 60 second Under Amour spot, the brand's first-ever Super Bowl Commercial. The commercial, showcasing several professional athletes will mark the first time audiences will see Under Armour's new performance trainers. "I am really looking forward seeing the commercial. I'm going to the Super Bowl and I hope that they show the commercials at the game," said Carl Edwards. "The scale of the production was huge and I'm looking forward to seeing the end product."(Roush Racing PR)(1-31-2008)

Dale Jr. upset over DEI's removal of his memorabilia UPDATE: A mix-up over memorabilia has created hurt feelings with #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., while his former team claims it's all a misunderstanding. Earnhardt said Monday he's upset that all signs of his stint at Dale Earnhardt Inc. had allegedly been removed from the shop. First told of the absence of his memorabilia last week, he originally said he didn't care. But at the first day of testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Earnhardt said time to think about it had made him mad. He said the team members that were part of his Daytona 500 victory and two Busch Series championships should be recognized at the shop. "It sort of hurt my feelings that it's sort of a hack at even the guys that are still there and have worked on that car," Earnhardt said. "To not see the accolades or any sort of appreciation for the work that they did, and they're still there." The absence of Earnhardt-related items was noticed by media who attended a luncheon at DEI last Wednesday. The driver left his late father's company at the end of last season, and he'll drive for Hendrick Motorsports this year. But Max Siegel, president of DEI, said Monday that the team has Earnhardt memorabilia on display and "about nine of his old cars" had been moved off the showroom floor to make room for the luncheon. "There seems to be some confusion over memorabilia and merchandise," Siegel said. "We no longer have a relationship with Dale Jr. or Budweiser, so we have no license, agreement or business reason to sell any of that merchandise in our gift shop. But as far as memorabilia, more than half of the showroom floor is dedicated to Dale Jr.'s history here."(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(1-29-2008)
UPDATE: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. said his feelings about the removal of show cars and memorabilia at Dale Earnhardt Inc. were mischaracterized, and he has no ill will toward his late father's company. Max Siegel, president of DEI's global operations, said Wednesday that the cars and memorabilia were returned to the showroom after the media luncheon on Jan 23. "There is no anger or ill-feeling towards DEI, period," Earnhardt wrote Wednesday on his Web site. "Nearly half the cars that were moved out of the showroom to accommodate the media tour consist of cars I've won races and championships with, and any fan of mine who wants a glimpse of my past can still and always will find it at DEI. I know that DEI is proud of its past. Max Siegel has been nothing but honest, direct, and supportive. We both sincerely wish success for each other. We both want to move forward diligently with our individual futures in this sport. To continue to have to answer about the past makes it difficult for either one to achieve that. We're both solidly entrenched in new chapters of our lives, and it's a great feeling."(AP/ESPN.com)(1-30-2008) Comment here

Hendrick museum closes for renovations: The Hendrick Motorsports museum, located on the team's racing complex in Concord, has been temporarily closed to the public while it undergoes a full renovation. The redesigned facility will reopen in time for NASCAR's annual visit to Lowe's Motor Speedway in May. Hendrick Motorsports is located one mile from the race track. Also undergoing a facelift is Hendrick Motorsports' team store, which will reopen in a temporary location on Jan. 28. The store will operate under its regular business hours in the race shop of drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson until construction on the new facility is completed. Other areas of the Hendrick Motorsports complex, including the team race shops, will remain open to the public during the museum renovation.(HMS Site)(1-25-2008) Comment here

Shifting Gears on ESPN Goes Behind Scenes with Dale Earnhardt Jr.: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the focus of a new television series on ESPN, Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears, premiering prior to next month’s opening of the 2008 NASCAR season. The five-part series chronicles Earnhardt’s move from Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team founded by his father, to Hendrick Motorsports, in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The first episode airs Friday, Feb. 8, at 7:00pm/et on ESPN2. The series provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal, corporate and competitive ramifications involved with the five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver award recipient changing teams. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears is produced by Earnhardt Jr.’s Hammerhead Entertainment, a division of JR Motorsports, in cooperation with Hendrick Motorsports and is presented by the National Guard. The new program is part of an exclusive, multimedia agreement between ESPN and Hammerhead Entertainment. “We were working on a new DVD about my life and the guys kept getting more and more footage, so they decided to put a whole TV show together to document the biggest career decision I’ve ever made,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The past year of my life has been a roller coaster, and it’s pretty cool that we’re giving everyone an inside look at how everything came together.” Three of the five episodes of Shifting Gears air on ESPN2 in the nine days prior to the Daytona 500, including following ESPN2’s live coverage of Nationwide Series qualifying on Friday, Feb. 15, and the Nationwide Series Camping World 300 at Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 16. The final two episodes air on ESPN in prime time the week of the July 27 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, ESPN’s first live Sprint Cup event of the season. The pre-season episodes reveal never-before-seen footage from the 2007 press conferences and fan response to the announcements. Shifting Gears also chronicles the design process of the new paint schemes, the makings of Earnhardt Jr.’s Adidas fire suit and how the driver of the #88 Mountain Dew AMP/National Guard Chevy handles the pressure of working with new sponsors as he prepares for his first season with Hendrick Motorsports. The final two episodes, each one hour in length, will catch up with Earnhardt Jr. and the Hendrick team as he chases his first Sprint Cup championship. Previews and additional video from the show will be made available on ESPN.com Video and DaleJr.com starting next week and the full episodes will be made available shortly after they air on ESPN2 on ESPN MobileTV and ESPN.com Video.
The air schedule (all times Eastern):
Friday, Feb. 8 7-8 p.m. ESPN2
Friday, Feb. 15 6:30-8 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 16 4:30-6 p.m. ESPN2
Thursday, July 24 7-8 p.m. ESPN
Friday, July 25 7-8 p.m. ESPN.(ESPN PR)(1-24-2008) Comment here

Earnhardt Jr.'s Big Mo' Chocolate Bar Hits Store Shelves:"Dale Jr.'s Big Mo' " chocolate bar was created specifically for NASCAR's mega star driver through the R.M. Palmer Company. The name Big Mo' is a play off Earnhardt Jr.'s hometown of Mooresville, N.C., and the longtime moniker used for he and his closest friends, the Dirty Mo' Posse. Weighing in at an impressive 2.5 ounces for only .99 cents, the king size milk chocolate filled bar is currently available in two popular flavors- creamy caramel and peanut butter. The exclusive recipe of the Big Mo' bar included numerous taste-tests by Earnhardt Jr., and was tailored to please his pallet. "We went though a few rounds of taste tests with the team at RM Palmer, and I was very happy with the final result of the Big Mo'. I'm excited it's available now so I can share it with racing and chocolate fans," Earnhardt Jr. said. To coincide the launch of the Big Mo' bar, R.M. Palmer Company has created the "Big Mo'ment with Dale Jr." sweepstakes which runs from January 10th to April 30th 2008. More info about the sweepstakes on the Racing Contest page. For more information in RM Palmer Company please visit www.rmpalmer.com.(PR)(1-22-2008) Comment here

Grooved Tires in Dale Jr's garage? A set of grooved Goodyear tires in #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s garage created a buzz Tuesday. The tires, which are the same specifications as the race tires teams lease from Goodyear, are set-up tires which teams can use when pushing the car through the garage en route to inspection, thus saving wear on their race tires.(Floriday Today)(1-16-2008)

Four wins for Dale Jr.? #88 crew chief, Tony Eury Jr. is convinced they [he and Dale Earnhardt Jr.] can make the most of that close relationship and win races this season, something that didn't happen in a lame-duck year at DEI. How many will they win? "I'd be very disappointed if we don't win at least four," Eury said. "I don't think that's out of line at all. We can get the job done. It's just a matter of getting the right breaks and making the right calls. If we do that, we have a shot at getting in the Chase and winning the title."
"We have to get a little bit faster, but all in all, I couldn't be happier," Eury said from Daytona International Speedway. "I've been pumped, and Dale Jr. is more pumped up than I've ever seen him."(paraphrased from ESPN.com) Conversation - click here

Dale Jr. to appear in Super Bowl Ad: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will go bumper-to-bumper with his former backer before the Feb. 17 Daytona 500 if he makes the starting grid in a Feb. 3 Super Bowl ad for the company sponsoring his new ride. Earnhardt recently shot two ads for Pepsi's Amp energy drink, sponsor of his race car this year. Pepsi is the No. 2 Super Bowl ad spender this year behind Anheuser-Busch, which was Earnhardt's sponsor last season. "There's only a few Super Bowl spots and it's limited on what celebrities get chosen; after a while, you start to understand the competition between the brands," Earnhardt said by phone from a commercial shoot in Los Angeles, where he said he and a crew of 30 took over a "nice woman's café. You start to see how big a deal it is not to bomb," he said. "It's important to be at the top of the list. When they go out and spend all this dang money, they don't want to bomb out." Pepsi shot two ads with Earnhardt and they're in a pool of ads in testing to see which will get a piece of its two minutes of in-game ad time. With that time valued at about $10 million and more than 90 million people expected to be watching, Pepsi is testing to see if they are game-ready. Either way, the Earnhardt ads will air in the telecast of the Daytona 500. Pepsi marketers think Earnhardt's appeal can help the Amp ads top soft-drink rival Coca-Cola and end Anheuser-Busch's Super Bowl Ad Meter winning streak. A-B has taken the checkered flag for the most-liked ad for nine games. Before Anheuser-Busch began its Ad Meter run, Pepsi reigned as king of Big Game ads for six consecutive Super Sundays. With the Earnhardt ads, Pepsi's formula has mixed in some of the traditional ingredients of crowd-pleasing Super Bowl ads: celebrity star power and animal antics. In one of the ads, Amp gives Earnhardt the energy to take on a camel (real), in the other a gorilla (human powered). The beasts are meant to represent the forces that drivers endure on a race track at 200 mph.(USA Today)(1-15-2008) Conversation

Past Dale Earnhardt Jr 2007 News

TRANSCRIPT 3 view the full transcript from Wednesday's news conference, in which Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his plans sponsors and car number he will run in 2008 with Hendrick Motorsports on the Dale Jr. Sponsor Announcement Transcript page.(9-19-2007)

TRANSCRIPT 2 view the full transcript from Wednesday's news conference, in which Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his plans to drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 on the Dale Jr. Transcript page.(6-13-2007)

TRANSCRIPT 1 view the full transcript from Thursday's news conference, in which Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his plans to drive for a new team in 2008 on the Dale Jr. Transcript page.(5-10-2007)

Ambrose shows Dale Jr around his racing school: Australian NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose has spent the day with Dale Earnhardt Jr at Ambrose’s V8 Super School on the Gold Coast in Australia. Ambrose hosted Earnhardt Jr, who is in Australia on holiday with friends, and gave the American the opportunity to drive one of the school’s 450-horsepower race cars around the V8 Super School’s 2.1-kilometre road course circuit. Ambrose and Earnhardt Jr shared the track in a Ford and GM-Holden respectively for some laps before speaking with the assembled media contingent. Ambrose only recently arrived back in Australia after collecting his eighth place championship trophy at the Busch Series Awards banquet in Orlando, Florida. Earnhardt Jr spoke with Ambrose late this season about his impending trip to Australia, taking tips from the Australian regarding his homeland. The two agreed to catch up on the Gold Coast in Queensland so that Ambrose could host Earnhardt Jr and his friends for a day of fun and thrills at the V8 Superschool, which Ambrose co-owns with friend and Australian V8 Supercar driver Paul Morris. Earnhardt Jr thoroughly enjoyed his time behind the wheel of one of the V8 Super School’s cars, more accustomed to oval racing a NASCAR at over 300km/h. “I have to thank Marcos for everything he has set-up for me on this trip,” said Earnhardt Jr. “This is my first trip to Australia and I absolutely love it. Everyone here has been so good to me and to all of my friends and we will never forget this trip. I have really enjoyed the chance to drive these cars on a road course-style track. It’s great fun and Marcos and Paul Morris have been great to me and really looked after us. We are having a ball. It’s been great to experience Australia and see how racing is down here. Our group has all had a blast and Marcos’ advise on where to go and everything he has set up for us has been awesome.”(BAM Media PR)(12-14-2007)

Dale Jr. Sports Century on DVD: ESPN’s Critically Acclaimed SportsCentury Series Profiles One of NASCAR’s Most Popular Drivers – SportsCentury Greatest Athletes: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on DVD. Two Hours of Candid Bonus Features and Interviews Provide Insight into Dale Jr.’s Relationship With His Legendary Father Dale Earnhardt Sr. and More. ESPN Home Entertainment, in conjunction with Genius Products, LLC, to release the much-anticipated SportsCentury Greatest Athletes: Dale Earnhardt Jr.; on DVD Tuesday, December 11, for $16.95 SRP. SportsCentury Greatest Athletes: Dale Earnhardt Jr. provides fans with a unique and rarely seen look into the life of the man who continues the Earnhardt legacy. The DVD includes in-depth interviews providing insight into his relationship with his father, the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr.; also featured - the press conference announcing Dale Jr.’s departure from DEI, updates since his departure and its impact on NASCAR.(more info at espnshop.com)(12-9-2007)

Dale Earnhardt Jr guest at Phillip Island [Australia]: America's biggest motor sport star, Dale Earnhardt Jr, was the guest of honour at Phillip Island [Sunday]. Earnhardt is the most popular driver in NASCAR racing and earns more money than the entire V8 Supercar field combined. But unlike the media circus that surrounded David Beckham's recent visit to Australia, Earnhardt was able to slip under the radar. The only people clamouring to meet the racing celebrity were the V8 Supercar drivers and team managers as he walked down pit lane. The American had a close look at the cars and was impressed with the technology and craftsmanship. "I didn't anticipate the cars to have so much preparation because they race them so hard," Earnhardt said. Having just signed a multi-million dollar deal with NASCAR's leading team, Hendrick Motorsport, Earnhardt is highly unlikely to quit any time soon but admitted he would like to try his hand at V8 Supercars. "In a perfect world, I would come and race in the V8 series for a year and I would enjoy it," he said.(Herald Sun [Australia])(12-3-2007)

Hendrick Motorsports Atlanta COT Test Plans: Although Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will test with their 2008 teams at Atlanta, they will not drive cars branded with their 2008 numbers. Mears, who will drive the #5 Chevy next season, will run his customary # 25 National Guard/GMAC paint scheme during the two-day session. Earnhardt, who is slated for the #88 Chevy in 2008, will test a #5 car at Atlanta. To commemorate his first laps with Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt will sport a "throwback" #5 All-Star Racing Chevy during next week's Atlanta test. Earnhardt's Impala SS will feature a red and white paint scheme identical to the first car campaigned by team owner Rick Hendrick in Cup-level competition. Then known as "All-Star Racing," Hendrick Motorsports fielded the car with driver Geoff Bodine in 1984. The #24 and #48 teams of Hendrick Motorsports will not attend next week's Atlanta test.(Hendrick PR)(10-27-2007)

Earnhardt Jr. Launches The Dale Jr. Foundation: Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced the launch of The Dale Jr. Foundation Tuesday night at the eighth annual Dale Jr. Celebrity Sports Auction. His newly-formed charitable organization is dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals, primarily youth, the resources to improve confidence, education and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals. "My path in life made it a bit easier for me to reach my goals and get to where I am today, but I realize that not everyone is as fortunate," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I've had the opportunity to meet some really cool kids through the Make-A-Wish Foundation the last few years, and it's made me appreciative of all that I have. I decided to start this foundation as a way to help those who haven't had some of the opportunities I've had. We plan to help those in need who are trying to reach their goals and just need someone to give them a chance to succeed." The Dale Jr. Foundation will continue to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation and will also aid the Victory Junction Gang Camp, with the Dale Jr. Celebrity Sports Auction serving as the annual fundraising event for the foundation.(JR Motorsports PR)(10-26-2007)

Another Episode of MTV Cribs with Dale Jr. Filmed: Six years after the first episode aired, MTV video crews were back near Mooresville, NC Thursday to tape another episode of CRIBS with Dale Jr. It's the last major media appearance for Junior as a part of the Budweiser family (even though it will air sometime early next year). This time it's an all-new ball game as MTV has the first exclusive look at Junior's Whisky River western town, the multiple karting tracks, the golf course, numerous priceless automobiles, the vintage gas station, the pool/jacuzzi/slice of tropical paradise and... oh yeah... his house.(fingerprint inc./Budweiser PR)(10-26-2007)

Earnhardt Jr. & Busch will test with new teams at Atlanta: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch will be allowed to test with their new teams at a car of tomorrow test at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 29-30. A Hendrick Motorsports spokesman confirmed Saturday that plans have been finalized to allow Earnhardt Jr. to drive one of that team's Chevys in the test following next weekend's Cup race at the Atlanta track.(Thats Racin)(10-21-2007)

New Dale Jr. show on ESPN? hearing that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is working on a deal with ESPN to telecast a mini-series following Dale Jr as he makes the transition to Hendrick Motorsports from now up to the Daytona 500, which Jr's people have already started taping meetings, all kinds of behind the scenes situations. No word on an air date.(10-16-2007)

Latest on Dale Jr. testing for Hendrick: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to test a car for Hendrick Motorsports at the upcoming Atlanta car of tomorrow test, but said he would only do so if Dale Earnhardt Inc. allowed it. DEI's answer? Go ahead. "We're talking about it and we don't necessarily have a problem with it," DEI vice president John Story said. "We recognize that Dale Jr. and Tony [Eury] Jr. both need to get going with their new program and we're not going to stand in their way." DEI had already planned to put Regan Smith in the #8 car during the two-day Atlanta test, which will take place in the two days following the Nextel Cup race at the track. Tony Gibson will be the crew chief at the test for DEI, as Eury will already have left for Hendrick. "It would be positive for everybody," Story said. "It would give Regan a chance to work with our team and give Tony Jr. and Dale Jr. an opportunity to go work with their new guys. In the spirit of cooperation, I don't think there's anything wrong with that."(SceneDaily.com)(9-24-2007)

About car numbers and #28 back at Yates? A common misconception in NASCAR Nextel Cup racing is that the teams own their numbers and can trade them freely among each other. In fact, NASCAR owns each and every number in the Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series and licenses them to the teams on an annual basis. That’s the formal policy. Informally, NASCAR has on occasion permitted the exchange of number between teams, which was the case when Robert Yates Racing agreed to forego its right to the #88 so that Dale Earnhardt Jr. could use the number in 2008 when he moves to Hendrick Motorsports. RYR agreed to give the number up and Hendrick went to NASCAR for approval of moving the #88 to Earnhardt’s car. But the transfer wouldn’t have happened without the OK from the Yates organization, which next year will campaign #28 in the Nextel Cup Series for Travis Kvapil and #38 for David Gilliland. The deal to move the #88 to Hendrick was negotiated between Robert Yates and Earnhardt’s sister and business manager, Kelley Elledge Earnhardt.(Ford Racing)(9-22-2007)

McGrath leaves JR Motorsports: JR Motorsports development driver Jeremy McGrath has left the team and has joined a Late Model team on the West Coast, closer to his home. JR Motorsports Vice President of Competition Steve Crisp confirmed Friday the departure of the motorcycle supercross star. "He's got a little girl, and he's got another on the way," Crisp said. "Looking at what he's done, he's had a full career, a very successful career - and a career that's every bit as taxing as a Nextel Cup driver. He traveled all the time, had to go all over the world. He wanted to drive a stock car, but he didn't want to get into the traveling. "And he didn't want to relocate his family. Looking at those two components, that mean he probably needed to do it on the West Coast." McGrath, who lives in the San Diego area, has Monster Energy Drink as one of his sponsors, and that would have been an apparent conflict with JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s deal with Mountain Dew Amp Energy beverage.(SceneDaily.com)(9-22-2007)

Eury Jr. to leave DEI after Talladega: Tony Eury Jr. will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. for Hendrick Motorsports earlier than expected, team officials confirmed on Thursday. Eury, who has been Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car or crew chief for all but one season since the two broke into the Nextel Cup Series in 2000, will step down after the Oct. 7 race at Talladega Superspeedway. He will be allowed to take four members of Earnhardt's #8 team with him under a deal made by DEI when it agreed to free him contractually to join Earnhardt at HMS in 2008. DEI vice president John Story said he met with Eury's crew this week and only one person has mentioned leaving thus far. Eury and Earnhardt could work together for HMS as early as the Car of Tomorrow test at Atlanta Motor Speedway following the Oct. 28 race. Tony Gibson, who replaced Eury during Eury's six-race suspension earlier this year, will complete the season with Earnhardt Jr. Mark Martin will step into Earnhardt's #8 next year, bringing crew chief Ryan Pemberton and his entire crew with him from the #01 team. Gibson is a candidate to move to the #01 car that will be driven by Regan Smith. "Tony Gibson needs an opportunity to get his team together,'' said Max Siegel, the president of global operations at DEI.(ESPN.com)(9-20-2007)

Dale Jr. to run up to seven Busch races in 2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr. likely will run seven Busch Series races next season. Which races he runs in the #5 car is still to be determined, said his sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, general manager for JR Motorsports. "It will be around seven or so," Earnhardt Elledge said Wednesday. "We haven't identified where exactly and we haven't identified all of the sponsor partners." The team has not yet named a driver for the #88 [Busch Series] car, where Brad Keselowski is finishing out the season and is a candidate to remain there for next year. The drivers of the #5 car will likely come from the Hendrick Motorsports stable. The two teams are merging their Busch operations.(SceneDaily.com)(9-20-2007)

Hendrick may try to test Dale Jr at Atlanta: Rick Hendrick said he might try to get Earnhardt into a Hendrick Car of Tomorrow during testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway next month, a week before the Nextel Cup series returns to Texas Motor Speedway. Hendrick said he's considering talking to other car owners to see if they'd be willing to swap some drivers so teams could get a head start on next season. "Car owners do work together, so we'll see if that's a possibility," Hendrick said. "But we don't have anything planned at this time."(Dallas Morning News)(9-20-2007)

Mountain Dew AMP Energy & the National Guard to Sponsor Earnhardt Jr.: Mountain Dew AMP Energy and the Army National Guard will sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr. when the popular stock-car driver joins Hendrick Motorsports for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series campaign, it was announced Wednesday at the Dallas Convention Center. Earnhardt, who helped design his two primary paint schemes and red car-number graphic, will drive the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolets next season. The cars will see racing action for the first time in February during season-opening Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. "To be able to announce our new sponsorship partners, car number and paint schemes for 2008 is a big relief for me, and I know it is for my fans as well," said Earnhardt, 32, winner of 17 Cup-level races and two NASCAR Busch Series championships. "This year has been full of major decisions and changes, and I'm really happy with the outcome. We are aligned with powerful brands, Mountain Dew AMP Energy and the National Guard, each with traits that everybody can identify with. And we are racing with a number that's very relevant to me, the #88. It's hard not to already be excited for the 2008 season."
Pepsi-Cola North America, the maker of Mountain Dew AMP Energy, has been involved in racing since NASCAR introduced its premier division, now known as the Nextel Cup Series, in 1949. Mountain Dew was the lead sponsor on Darrell Waltrip's championship-winning Cup entries in 1981 and 1982. The Mountain Dew AMP Energy sponsorship will provide opportunities for driver-branded products and prominently feature Earnhardt's image in television, radio, print and online advertising, along with at-track activation and in-store marketing. Mountain Dew AMP Energy is charged with an energizing blend of B-vitamins, taurine, caffeine, ginseng and guarana geared to help keep consumers focused and in control. "Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most popular athletes in the world and his talent is as big as his following," said Dawn Hudson, president and CEO of Pepsi-Cola North America. "Mountain Dew's racing heritage runs deep and in many ways it is the original energy drink. AMP is the next evolution of Dew and now it's entering a new exciting chapter with Dale. We couldn't be more thrilled to be partnering with Dale, Hendrick Motorsports and the National Guard. We look forward to joining them in victory lane."
The oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard has a longstanding dual mission: to provide the states with units trained and equipped to protect life and property, while serving the nation with units ready to defend the country and its interests around the world. An active NASCAR sponsor for more than five years, the National Guard's racing initiative focuses on three primary areas: recruiting, retention and branding. The Guard also leverages its program by honoring exceptional soldiers through NASCAR-focused recognition programs. "Dale Jr. is the real deal," said Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, director, Army National Guard. "He is authentic, talented and focused on victory, which mirrors what America's National Guard Soldier is all about. Every mission, every time America calls on us, whether at home or abroad, victory is the only goal that matters. We are proud to be partnered with PepsiCo, a great American company that has done so much for the Soldiers of the National Guard, and Rick Hendrick, a NASCAR icon who knows how to win. It is an honor to be a part of one of the greatest teams in the greatest sport in America."
Both sponsors of the #88 Chevrolets are established Hendrick Motorsports partners, as 2008 will mark PepsiCo's 12th season with the organization and the National Guard's second. "Having a pair of sponsors like Mountain Dew AMP Energy and the National Guard supporting the #88 team is just unbelievable," said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, who has scored a NASCAR-best 161 Cup-level victories since 1984. "It's a fantastic combination that fits Dale Jr.'s personality and will allow him to be successful at Hendrick Motorsports for many years to come. We have terrific sponsors, talented people and sharp-looking cars, so we think Dale Jr.'s fans can really get excited about the future. Now that we've got everything set for 2008, there's a lot to look forward to." With 65 wins and 52 poles since 1949, cars carrying the #88 have started 1,264 Cup-level events with multiple drivers, including Earnhardt's legendary grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt. The number is currently campaigned by Yates Racing, which has released it for the 2008 season.(Hendrick Motorsports PR) Added a bunch of images of the cars on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(9-19-2007)

Numbers Game: History of the '88' in NASCAR: It was announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the #88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolets in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, giving him a storied car number for his transition to Hendrick Motorsports. Some history behind the #88 in NASCAR's top series:
FAMILY TIES: Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s grandfather, drove a #88 Petty Enterprises "Oldsmobile 88" in the 1957 Virginia 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The elder Earnhardt started ninth and finished 13th in the May 19 Grand National division race won by Buck Baker. Ralph Earnhardt also piloted the #188 entries for Petty in seven events that season, posting three top-10 results and six top-15s.
'88' DEBUTS: On Sept. 11, 1949 at Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway, driver Pepper Cunningham started 15th and drove his #88 car, a 1949 Lincoln, to a 33rd-place finish in the Strictly Stock event. Won by Curtis Turner, the race marked the first time a #88 was entered in NASCAR competition.
ALL-STAR ROSTER: The list of drivers who have piloted a #88 car in NASCAR Cup-level competition reads like an all-star race roster. Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Buck Baker, Buddy Baker, Geoffrey Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Benny Parsons, Jim Paschal, Fireball Roberts, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip and Joe Weatherly have all taken turns wheeling it.
65 WINS... AND COUNTING: The #88 has been to Victory Lane 65 times since its first race in 1949, ranking it ninth among car numbers on the all-time win list. It is also 10th in all-time starts (1,264) and 12th in all-time pole positions (52).
WHAT'S IN A NUMBER: Along with its 65 Cup-level wins, the #88 has recorded 52 poles, 315 top-five finishes and 526 top-10s. It has led 18,398 laps and logged nearly 350,000 miles.
PAIR OF 88s: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports operation also uses the #88 on its Chevrolets in NASCAR Busch Series competition. In fact, the current driver of the #88 Busch Series entries, Brad Keselowski, also has family ties to the number. His uncle, Ron Keselowski, ran a #88 car on 43 occasions in 1971, 1972 and 1973 combined, recording a best finish of fifth at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 1972.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(9-19-2007)

Dale Jr. in the #88 Mountain Dew/AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy in 2008: It was announced at a press conference in Dallas, TX, that Dale Earnhardt Jr., who announced in May he would leave the #8 DEI Chevy, then in June he would drive for Hendrick Motorsports, and Rick Hendrick announced Earnhardt Jr. would drive the #88 Chevy with sponsorship Mountain Dew / AMP Energy Drink / Army National Guard in 2008. Dale Jr. thanked Robert and Doug Yates for working with him to get the #88.(ESPNEWS/SPEED press conference coverage), will post the press releases, images and transcripts as they are available during the day. Added a bunch of images of the cars on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(9-19-2007)

#88 Retires with Robert Yates: Robert Yates confirmed today he is retiring the #88 from Robert Yates Racing (RYR) following the last race of the 2007 Nextel Cup season. He is requesting NASCAR transfer the number to Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for use in competition for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series. "Ralph Earnhardt drove the #88 Olds in 1957 and because of this number's history with the Earnhardt family; I felt car #88 should continue with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.," Yates said. "Younger fans don't realize I built cars and raced against Ralph. I also had a very close relationship with Dale Earnhardt, Sr. I'm proud to transfer this number to Dale Jr. and let him know how much I appreciate the friendship and competitive racing I've always enjoyed with his family," Yates continued. Dale Jarrett began driving the #88 Ford Quality Care/Ford Credit Racing Ford in 1996 and promptly won the Daytona 500 in the team's first race. UPS assumed the role of primary sponsorship in 2001 with Ford Credit staying on as an associate sponsor. Jarrett had 29 victories and won, what was then, the Winston Cup championship in 1999. He also finished in the top 10 in points seven consecutive seasons from 1996 through 2002. Ricky Rudd assumed driving duties in 2007, with sponsorship from Snickers. Doug Yates announced two weeks ago, David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil will be the team's drivers in 2008 with sponsorship and car numbers to be announced.(Robert Yates Racing PR)(9-20-2007)

ESPNEWS, ESPN360.com To Have Live Coverage of Wednesday’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. Announcement: NASCAR fans will be able to watch live coverage of Wednesday’s media announcement by Dale Earnhardt Jr. on cable channel ESPNEWS and on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband service. Coverage from Dallas begins at 1:30pm/et. Full coverage and reaction to the Earnhardt announcement will be included in Wednesday night’s edition of NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information show, at 6:00pm/et.

Dale Jr.'s Sponsor and Car# to be announced Sept 19th UPDATE 2 TODAY: The official announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s primary sponsorship and car number for the 2008 NASCAR season will be announced Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 1:30pm/et in Dallas, TX. The event is not open to the public.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(9-13-2007)
SO: the latest rumors have the sponsor being AMP Energy Drink, Mountain Dew and Army National Guard with the car number being #88
AND The announcement is coming in Dallas because PepisCo Inc. executives are having an annual conference there next week.(ESPN.com)(9-14-2007)
UPDATE: Earnhardt is expected to announce Pepsi’s Amp energy drink as his new sponsor Wednesday; but Jeff Gordon hinted that it might be otherwise: “Have you tried the Jeff Gordon Energy Drink by Pepsi? There’s a huge investment there.”(Winston Salem Journal)
AND SPEED will interrupt regular programming Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1:30pm/et to present a live press conference with Dale Earnhardt Jr. from Dallas. Anchored by SPEED's Steve Byrnes from the network's Charlotte studio, Earnhardt is expected to disclose additional information about his racing plans in 2008 with Hendrick Motorsports, including his sponsor and car number. At the conclusion of the press conference, SPEED will return to regular programming in progress.(9-18-2007)
DW: and Darrell Waltrip will be in Dallas at the press conference and then the bottlers meeting tonight at Texas Stadium.(9-19-2007)

Dale Earnhardt Candy from Hershey: If you're a Dale Earnhardt fan and you like chocolate, you'll likely love the new "collector edition" Hershey bars that will hit the market in January. Hershey Co. unveiled four bars featuring different images of Earnhardt, two Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar designs, one Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds bar design and one Kit Kat wafer bar design. The images span the career of the seven-time NASCAR champion, including an image of the #3 Chevrolet with which Earnhardt won the 1998 Daytona 500. Also, the candy bars will feature a design that include Earnhardt's signature and the stylized #3. Hershey will invite consumers to make a donation to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation through an online charity event. The bars will be available in January at retail outlets nationwide, Hershey said. The promotion will run through May 2008.(SceneDaily)(9-19-2007)

More Earnhardt candy with Dale Jr.: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is bringing his heavy-hitting brand and high-profile name to the candy business, announcing the launch of his new candy bar, “Dale Jr.’s Big Mo’ ” through R.M. Palmer Company. Earnhardt Jr. introduced Big Mo’ to buyers and industry media today at the 2007 Candy Expo at McCormick Place. The name Big Mo’ is a play off Earnhardt Jr.’s hometown of Mooresville, NC., and the longtime moniker used for he and his closest friends, the Dirty Mo’ Posse. The milk chocolate candy bar will come in two flavors – creamy caramel and peanut butter. It is scheduled to hit stores nationwide in January 2008. Known for its seasonal novelty candies, R.M. Palmer Co. has been specializing in traditional holiday candies since 1948, but this is the first of its product line to be a milk chocolate everyday candy bar. To coincide the announcement of the Big Mo’ bar, R.M. Palmer Company is launching the “Big Mo’ment with Dale Jr.” sweepstakes [more info on my Contest Page](JR Motorpsorts PR)(9-19-2007)

What Dale Jr's cars will look like? been told the #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy's will look as follows:
One car is white from the nose back to just past the door, then green with the mountain dew logos
the other is white with blue and National Guard decals with the #88 is in red, both have AMP energy drink logos on them. No images, have had a few renderings from fans sent me, but I don't post those type images.(9-18-2007)

Drivers May Test with New Teams at Atlanta: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and J.J. Yeley both know they'll be with new teams next year, and both know where they're headed, but they can't escape their contracts until season's end. There's a possibility they could get a chance to at least test with their future teams in a few weeks, when there's an open trial at Atlanta, though a series of dominos would have to fall if that's to happen. Yeley hopes to test the #96 car that Tony Raines currently rides, which would allow his eventual replacement, Kyle Busch, to steer the Interstate Batteries Chevy, but in order for that to take place Earnhardt would have to be allowed to take Busch's seat in a Hendrick Motorsports machine. Whether that'll happen, however, remains in question. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. president Teresa Earnhardt has already said Regan Smith will test with Junior's current team at Atlanta, but hasn't yet released her stepson to test with Hendrick, so the whole equation may break down and leave the lame ducks with their soon-to-be defunct teams. "The biggest domino is if Teresa will let Dale Jr. go drive for Hendrick," Yeley said. "If that'll happen, I think you're going to see next year's lineup four months in advance, but that comes down to Teresa." (Concord Monitor)(9-16-2007)

Dale Jr. re-signs with Wrangler: As far as the Wrangler brand is concerned, whether or not to re-sign Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the 2008 season was not a difficult decision. Today, Dale Jr. confirmed the feeling was mutual by re-signing as an endorsee for the Wrangler brand. The denim icon will continue its tie-in with Earnhardt Jr. and follow him to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. For a fifth consecutive season, the Wrangler logo will once again proudly appear on his soon-to-be-announced car and race suit. "When a company like Wrangler acknowledges relationships and history, it really means something," said Dale Jr. "That's why they continue to be a really special sponsor for us. I'm proud to have them back and am looking forward to seeing that Wrangler logo on my car again next year." The Wrangler brand, the official jeans of Dale Earnhardt Jr., is long respected for comfortable, durable and affordable jeans, pants, shorts and shirts and is available at value-minded retailers nationwide. For more information visit www.wrangler.com.(VF/Wrangler PR)(9-15-2007)

No #25 for Jr. at Hendrick UPDATE: #88? Q) Will The Owner Points For The #5 And #25 Stay In Place Where They Are In 2008?
A) Rick Hendrick: "Yes, they'll stay like they are. Casey will move over to the #5 car and that's the only that will change there and the number will change on the #25."
Q) Do You Already Know What Number and Sponsor Dale Jr. will have and can you reveal it?
A) Rick Hendrick: "It's not going to be the #8. Nor the #25. And the sponsorship, hopefully in the next two weeks we'll be able to announce that and the number at the same time. We hope that's going to be probably something with the #8 [such as 81,58,82,38,28] in it but we really don't even have that locked in right now. That's a true story."(GM Racing PR)(9-8-2007)
UPDATE: Hendrick said he'd like to find a number that includes an 8 for Earnhardt, and the team has applied for trademarks on the 28, 38, 51, 58, 81 and 82.(Associated Press), the #28 is new, seems an odd choice...but.
AND on Sunday's LTN Hour radio show, Travis Kavapil, who was recently named to run the #88 Yates Racing Ford in 2008, said he didn't know what number the car would be, so that could free up the #88 for Dale Earnhardt Jr.(9-10-2007)
UPDATE: Fans who liked watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the #8 since he moved to the Nextel Cup series eight years ago will double their pleasure in 2008. Earnhardt will drive two stylized 8s next season for Hendrick Motorsports, sources told ESPN.com on Friday. Robert Yates Racing, sources said, has agreed to sell the #88 that Dale Jarrett drove to the 1999 championship.(ESPN.com)(9-14-2007)

Dale Jr. to open a nightclub: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. plans to open Whisky River, a bar and live-music venue, in uptown's new EpiCentre development this December. "It's going to be a cool hangout," said Chris Epstein, a nightclub veteran in Charlotte who is partnering with Earnhardt, the majority owner. But don't expect Whisky River -- named for the bar at Earnhardt's house -- to look like a racing watering hole with NASCAR memorabilia strewn about. Rather, it will resemble a basement bar that anyone would enjoy hanging out in -- including Junior when he's in town, Epstein said. Think lots of wood and metal decorations, multiple TVs and a mechanical bull "with rides a bit rougher than those in a race car," according to a news release. As for food, think bar staples, such as chicken wings. "He really wants it to be a cool place he can take his friends and not be a shrine to anyone," said Epstein, who owned the former Liquid Lounge in Charlotte. He and Earnhardt worked with Charlotte's Bar Management Group, which operates Dixie's Tavern uptown and bars in 21 other cities, to land the EpiCentre location. Earnhardt, who has been sponsored by Budweiser, looked at other markets across the country and closer to home, including Mooresville, before choosing Charlotte. Unavailable Thursday for comment, Earnhardt said in a news release: "Charlotte is where I'm at the most and it's home." Whisky River will open in a 10,000-square-foot space facing East Trade Street across from the Bobcat Arena's main entrance. When asked how much Earnhardt was investing in the entertainment venture, spokesman John Rhodes left it at "a lot." Earnhardt and Epstein expect Whisky River to be popular with Charlotte residents looking for uptown entertainment as well as visitors, especially those checking out the NASCAR Hall of Fame, slated to open in 2010 at Stonewall and Caldwell streets.(Charlotte Observer)(9-7-2007)

Mears to the #5 in 2008; DaleJr to #25 team [new number]: Casey Mears will drive the #5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports in the 2008 Sprint Cup Series, joining a team that secured its second consecutive Chase for the Championship berth Sunday at California Speedway. In his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, Mears has notched one victory, a pole position, four top-five finishes and six top-10s through 25 races. The Bakersfield, Calif., native will complete the current schedule in the organization's #25 Chevys before transitioning to the Kellogg's/CARQUEST team. The effort will be led by Alan Gustafson, 32, who has earned four wins, two poles, 25 top-five finishes and 45 top-10s since his first season as crew chief of the #5 Chevy in 2005. "My goal is to meet the high standard the drivers before me helped established with the #5 Chevrolet, both on and off the track," said the 29-year-old Mears. "I'm looking forward to working with Alan and the team to continue the winning tradition for Kellogg's, CARQUEST and Hendrick Motorsports." Since its inception in 1984, the #5 Hendrick Motorsports team has posted 27 victories and 35 pole positions with just four different drivers -- Geoff Bodine, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte and Kyle Busch. It has finished among the top 12 in Cup points in 17 of the past 23 seasons (1984-2006), including a championship in 1996. "The #5 was our first car (at Hendrick Motorsports), so, for me, there's a lot of personal history in that team," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "Casey has proven capable of winning and running up front, which is what the #5 has always been about. The goal is more victory lanes and championships for the team, and for Kellogg's and CARQUEST." The relationship between Kellogg Co. and the #5 Hendrick Motorsports team is one of the most enduring in NASCAR. Kellogg's debuted as primary sponsor of the #5 Chevys in 1994 and has since earned a Cup Series title, 16 race wins, 89 top-five finishes and 170 top-10s.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(9-4-2007)

Eury Jr. to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008: When driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Hendrick Motorsports for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season, Tony Eury Jr. will be his crew chief. Eury, who has been Earnhardt's crew chief for the past two seasons, signed a multi-year agreement with the organization this week. "Tony Jr. and Dale have a successful history working together," Hendrick said. "They have trust in each other, which is the biggest part of the relationship between driver and crew chief. We have the utmost confidence in their ability to win races and compete for titles at Hendrick Motorsports." A Kannapolis, N.C., native, Eury will move to Hendrick Motorsports immediately following the current NASCAR season. He will continue the work of Darian Grubb, who will finish the 2007 schedule as crew chief of the #25 Chevrolets before moving into a senior competition role with Hendrick Motorsports. "Dale Jr. and I are both excited to continue working together," said Eury, 34, who has been Earnhardt's crew chief or car chief for the majority of the driver's NASCAR career. "With the resources we'll have at Hendrick Motorsports, it's an opportunity to consistently run up front and be in title contention every year. The goals are winning races and winning championships." Grubb, 31, who hails from Floyd, Va., will coordinate the at-track engineering efforts of the Earnhardt and Mears teams with emphasis on supporting Eury's transition to Hendrick Motorsports and Mears' switch to the #5 Cup Series program. The personnel moves will give Hendrick Motorsports additional depth with the Earnhardt and Mears teams. Grubb, who earned a championship as an engineer with the #48 Chevrolets and has won three times in 29 races as a crew chief, will work hand-in-hand with veteran team manager Brian Whitesell. Hendrick Motorsports is evaluating alternative numbers for the Earnhardt team, which currently uses the #25 on its Chevy race cars. A timetable for that announcement has not been set.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(9-4-2007)

AMP Dale Jr's sponsor? UPDATE 2 and mountain Dew: ESPN.com's sources say Budweiser knows it won't be on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s cars next year at Hendrick Motorsports, and that it looks like some sort of sponsorship deal with a Pepsi product (or products) is likely for him. Terry Blount and David Newton got further down the road with sources than I have. Nothing they wrote conflicts with what I've been trying to nail down. But all anybody with official ties to Pepsi or Budweiser or the teams will say for the record is they don't comment on speculation. One source I've trusted for a long time tells me that AMP, an energy drink Pepsi markets under the Mountain Dew umbrella, will factor in the deal for Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick. Jeff Gordon and the Hendrick folks have a deal with Pepsi that stretches through 2010. Pepsi also is ending its contracts with International Speedway Corp. One reason could be that money's going into the Hendrick-Earnhardt Jr. basket.(Charlotte Observer)(6-12-2007)
UPDATE and Mountain Dew: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports are expected to announce later this month Pepisco Inc. products Mountain Dew and Amp energy drink are his primary sponsors for next season, sources confirmed Sunday.(ESPN.com)(9-3-2007)
UPDATE 2: on ESPN2's NASCAR Now Monday night, it was reported that Mountain/AMP would probably be 55% of the races and National Guard would be 45% of the races for Dale Earnhardt Jr. There would be no problem with Navy being the sponsor of Dale Jr's #88 Busch team, but don't expect to see Earnhardt in a National Guard Busch car.(9-4-2007)

RYR asked NASCAR to transfer the #38 to Hendrick for Dale Jr.: SPEED's Bob Dilner reported on Sunday's SPEED report that Robert Yates Racing has asked NASCAR if they could transfer the #38 to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 for Dale Eanrhardt Jr. to use, the #3 in honor of his father, the late Dale Earnhardt, who ran the #3 [a few races in 1981 and then from 1984 until the 2001 Daytona 500 and won 6 of his 7 championships using #3] and the #8 of course is Dale Jr.'s car #8 since he came into the sport. No word what number David Gilliland would switch to, but RYR still has the license on the #28, last used in 2002 with Ricky Rudd and has used the #90 in the past.
AND: Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Monday that Robert Yates Racing and Hendrick Motorsports are discussing a transfer of that number for 2008. The #38 currently is being used by David Gilliland. No formal request has been made to the NASCAR, which has to ultimately approve the transfer. Officials at Hendrick Motor Sports, Robert Yates Racing and JR Motorsports could not be reached for comment. Should RYR give up #38, it still has the rights to the #28 that was last used in 2002 with Ricky Rudd.(ESPN.com)(8-27-2007)

No #8 for Earnhardt Jr at Hendrick: Hendrick Motorsports will not have the ability to field #8 entries for Dale Earnhardt Jr. when the Sprint Cup Series driver joins the organization in 2008. "We've been working hard to secure the #8 for Dale Jr.'s car number next season," said Marshall Carlson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. "Obviously, he has a tremendous history with that number, and we know how important it is to his fans. Unfortunately, we couldn't reach a point where the terms made sense, and now we have to move forward with other options. "We appreciate the efforts of Max Siegel and his team (at Dale Earnhardt Inc.), and are excited about unveiling our plans for 2008 in the near future." No timetable has been set for an announcement of Earnhardt's car number or team sponsor.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(8-15-2007)

Three to Six Weeks Until Earnhart, Jr. Sponsorship Announcment? A well-placed source at Hendrick Motorsports said it will be three to six more weeks before the 2008 sponsorship package for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will be announced. “There are a lot of details to deal with,” the source said. Earnhardt is leaving details of the sponsor agreement to his sister and business manager, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, and his new boss. “Obviously there's a rush behind the scenes with Kelley and Rick and all them guys,” Earnhardt said. “They're doing all those things that they've got to do for sponsors and numbers and all that but me as the driver, I can go over there all season and do everything I need to do to get ready for the year. I'm not really looking in that direction quite yet. Still got things to do here. I've got my integrity and my team's integrity on the line to be able to run hard all year long and finish well."(SPEEDtv.com)(8-4-2007)

Pepsi? National Guard? #81? for Dale Jr.? No final decision has been made regarding #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s future team sponsor at Hendrick Motorsports, but one is expected within the month and possibly within the next two weeks, multiple sources close to the negotiations said Monday. It is widely speculated that PepsiCo. is the leading candidate to sponsor Earnhardt through its Mountain Dew brand, but sources with knowledge of negotiations say National Guard is also a top candidate as part of a split sponsorship package. National Guard currently sponsors Hendrick's #25 Chevy, driven by Casey Mears. Sources say the combined deal will be the richest team sponsorship in NASCAR history, somewhere between $25 million and $30 million annually. Earnhardt said last week that Navy will continue its sponsorship of JR Motorsports' #88 Busch Series entry in 2008, but sources said that would not conflict with a potential National Guard association in the Sprint Cup Series. As for the other key piece of the Junior puzzle -- his car number -- DEI and Hendrick are actively negotiating. Hendrick has submitted a proposal to DEI. This is an intricate proposal that carries obvious emotions. NASCAR owns the car numbers and leases them to the teams each year, and gives the team that ran a respective number the previous season last right of refusal on running it again the following year. Therefore, DEI holds the rights to the #8. NASCAR said it won't stand in the way of any potential transaction. Earnhardt last week reiterated his want to drive the #8 in 2008, but said if the deal ultimately doesn't pan out he'd like #81, which he has run at times in the Busch Series.(ESPN.com), so how would this effect the #25 and Mears? Kellogg's and Carquest are supposedly signed with Hendrick thru 2009, so they could sponsor Mears, who would drive the #25 or #5 if Earnhardt Jr. gets the #8 or #81.(7-30-2007)

Hendrick Motorsports Confirms Dale Jr. Will Have New Sponsor in 2008: UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports announced that long-term contractual commitments to existing sponsors will preclude Budweiser from continuing as primary sponsor of the car driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he joins the organization next season. "We have agreements in place with sponsors for the 2008 Sprint Cup season, which prevent us from having a relationship with Budweiser," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "Honoring our commitments is important to us. The trade-off is missing an opportunity to bring Budweiser, a marquee brand synonymous with NASCAR and its fans, into the fold." On June 13, Earnhardt Jr. signed on to race for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2008, but primary sponsorship of his team remains undecided. No timetable has been established for an announcement. "Budweiser has sponsored Dale Jr. for nearly a decade, and we wish him the very best," said Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch Inc. "Budweiser will remain an active sponsor of NASCAR, and we look forward to building upon the legacy of the iconic Budweiser red car in 2008 and beyond." "To climb into that red Budweiser car each weekend has always been a privilege," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Although Budweiser and I will be unable to continue our partnership beyond this season, I remain committed to driving for Bud the rest of this year, and will continue to make it my beer of choice. I'm a race car driver. All I can do is drive as hard as I can for my fans and sponsorship partners, and give my best effort each weekend."(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(7-13-2007)
UPDATE: Earnhardt announced at Chicagoland Speedway that beyond ending his association with Budweiser on the hood of his car, he will end his personal services deal that was to run through 2008. Leaving Budweiser is another sign that Earnhardt's new deal will be with PepsiCo Inc., likely the Mountain Dew brand or a combination of several Pepsi products that include Gatorade, because the soft drink company can't be associated with a beer company.(ESPN.com)(7-14-2007)

Dale Jr. to announce deal with adidas UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Friday will announce a personal services agreement with clothing manufacturer adidas, sources told ESPN.com. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sources said adidas will manufacture Earnhardt's fire retardant driving suits and shoes, and the Nextel Cup star will be involved in promoting specific consumer apparel. Earnhardt has yet to announce the biggest piece of his sponsorship puzzle for 2008 -- the primary financial-backer [rumored to be Mountain Dew or Monster Energy Drink] of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. Earnhardt is leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company his late father founded, to drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season.(ESPN.com)(7-5-2007)
UPDATE: adidas and Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced a multi-year partnership, beginning with his quest to win THE CUP in 2008. The collaboration will include a full line of Dale Jr. footwear, apparel and accessories including his future racing suit and technical footwear as well as off track footwear and fan apparel. In the same way that crews work to enhance race cars, Dale Jr. will work directly with the adidas Innovation Team (aIT) to design and create an innovative, groundbreaking racing suit and technical driving shoes as the critical link between man and machine. Dale Jr. will debut these cutting edge adidas products at the 2008 season opener in Daytona. Together with Dale Jr., adidas is exploring opportunities to add technical features such as ClimaCool to Dale Jr.’s racing products in order to provide him with a competitive advantage. In addition to providing fans access to Jr.’s technical driving range, there will be an extensive collection of off track footwear, technical apparel and fan merchandise. These products will be more accessible than ever via adidas’ extensive network of retail partners. For the first time, Dale Jr. licensed products will be available via adidas’ own retail stores and through sporting goods retailers such as ‘The Sports Authority,’ who have over 400 stores nationwide. The line will roll out beginning in February 2008.(JR Motorsports PR)(7-7-2007)

Hendrick wants to buy the #8 from DEI UPDATE 2: Car owner Rick Hendrick has let it be known to officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc. that he'd like to purchase the #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 #8 if a deal can be reached with DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt, who has the rights to the number [NASCAR owns the number and leases them to a team to use and market] 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."(ESPN.com)(6-24-2007)
UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports wants to buy the #8 so that Dale Earnhardt Jr. can race it next season. But it's not for sale, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer. The story quoted NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston, who said NASCAR owns and issues the numbers and that teams can't sell them. He said a team can allow another to use the number for a year as long as NASCAR approves. The report said Dale Earnhardt Inc., which uses the number, was aware of NASCAR's policy on selling numbers. Hendrick Motorsports officials weren't available for comment.(Dallas Morning News)(6-26-2007)
UPDATE 2:There is nothing keeping Hendrick Motorsports from buying the #8 from Dale Earnhardt Inc. as long as NASCAR approves the transfer of the number. While NASCAR owns all numbers and issues them to organizations on an annual basis, teams sell numbers all the time. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said it is unlikely the governing body would prevent such a transfer, adding the financial terms are not a concern.(ESPN.com)(7-2-2007)

Monster Energy Dale Jr's sponsor in 2008? NASCAR Nation is on pins and needles waiting to hear who will sponsor the ride [at Hendrick Motorsports] of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008. The deal could fetch $28 million, vs. roughly $15 million this year, fueling a growing consensus that Budweiser will bow out of its eight-year relationship with Earnhardt at season’s end. Chatter from both NASCAR and Wall Street is making an Anheuser buyout of Hansen Natural, the Corona, Calif., maker of the popular energy drink, Monster Energy, increasingly likely. Officials at the companies were not available for comment. Mentioned as a possible successor in its own right to the King of Beers' deal with Earnhardt, Hansen’s Monster Energy drink has been distributed by Anheuser-Busch for over a year. In five months this year, sales have increased more than 67% on average vs. 20% for rival Red Bull, which is making its NASCAR debut this season as a primary sponsor. The test drive of Hansen’s high-growth "functional beverage" business makes an Anheuser takeover the next logical step.(Forbes.com), also...Monster Energy has a plant in Mooresville, NC and also a rumored sponsor is Mountain Dew..a Pepsi product.(6-30-2007)

Eury Sr. leaving DEI...to JR Motorsports? UPDATE: Claire B. Lang reported on XM Radio Tuesday that Tony Eury Sr. [former #8 and #15 crew chief] has resigned from Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s research and development team and will be named Director of Competition at JR Motorsports today.(XM Radio)
AND David Poole reported on Sirius' Morning Drive that Tony Eury Sr is expected to announce this afternoon that he is leaving DEI to become the team director at #88-JR Motorsports. Early in June, Eury reportedly accepted a Research and Development position with DEI after stepping down as Paul Menard's Nextel Cup crew chief.(6-27-2007)
UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has turned to a familiar face and proven winner to help lead the competition efforts of his race team, announcing today that his uncle and longtime NASCAR crew chief, Tony Eury Sr., has been named Director of Competition at JR Motorsports. Commonly referred to as “Pops” around the NASCAR garage, Eury Sr. will oversee competition and technical support for all of JR Motorsports, which includes a full-time Busch Series program, a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series entry, and three late model teams. His new role at JRM will begin immediately, as he will work closely with crew chief Wes Ward, motorsports director Steve Crisp, and driver Shane Huffman in preparation for Saturday’s Camping World 200 Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway. “Tony Sr. brings wins, championships, and an immeasurable amount of knowledge to JR Motorsports,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He also brings a sense of trust that you only have in family. This company needs his expertise, and I’m glad he sees the potential at JR Motorsports to want to work here. I hope I can provide him the same amount of success here that he has achieved over the years, and I hope he enjoys working here as much as I know he enjoyed working at DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc.).”(JR Motorsports PR)(6-27-2007)

Sony and Dale Jr. and more on Adidas UPDATE: Sony will announce Thursday [6/21] that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has signed a personal endorsement contract with the high-end consumer electronics company. Adidas is set to announce another deal with Earnhardt next month. Sony was an easy choice for Earnhardt, an avid online racing gamer who likes high-tech gadgets and computers. He primarily will hawk high-definition products (such as TVs, camcorders, cameras and Blu-ray disc players) for Sony, joining Peyton Manning and Michelle Wie as its high-profile endorsers.(USA Today)(6-21-2007)
UPDATE: Sony Electronics announced a personal endorsement deal with #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Jr Motorsports to participate in the company's upcoming marketing efforts. The multi-year deal provides Sony the use of Earnhardt's name, likeness, image, voice and endorsement for use in advertising, promotions and merchandising for consumer marketing campaigns aimed at driving sales of Sony Electronics products. Among the products Earnhardt will promote are Sony's high definition BRAVIA televisions in which he will appear in Sony's new HD ad campaign. In addition, Earnhardt will participate in major electronics industry events and trade shows and will make personal appearances each year on behalf of Sony as part of the agreement. Sony Electronics is an active supporter of NASCAR for the past seven years and is the official high-definition TV partner of NASCAR.(Paine PR)(6-22-2007)

Monster? Pepsi? Adidas? Dale Jr's 2008 sponsor? Captain Thunder reports....am hearing that Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has been in talks with two beverage sponsors for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s racecar for 2008. One is Pepsi [or a Pepsi Product] and the other is Monster Energy. Pepsi has had a running relationship with Hendrick for many years as they have shared the sponsorship of Jeff Gordon's #24 car with the DuPont Corporation. Monster Energy has had a recent relationship with Dale Jr. and JR. Motorsports. Monster is all set to sponsor the late model car that Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath will drive for JR. Motorsports this year for a 10-race run. Look for an announcement soon as teams must have sponsorships and car numbers to the merchandise manufacturers for merchandise to be ready for February's Speed Weeks in Daytona.(Captain Thunder site)
AND a note, Monster Energy drink is marketed by Anheuser-Busch, who also owns Budweiser, Earnhardt Jr.'s current sponsor.(anheuser-busch.com).
MORE Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s marketing team at JR Motorsports has been working on an apparel deal with Adidas that could put his own line of ClimaCool wear in major sporting goods retailers, a place where NASCAR has had no presence. Earnhardt’s own endorsement muscle is again evident in the deal with Adidas, which is believed to be a separate agreement from Earnhardt’s new relationship at Hendrick. It’s uncertain if the Adidas relationship might blossom into a team sponsorship deal. Earnhardt, though, was looking to go in a different direction. Sources say he was more interested in the “lifestyle” approach that Adidas offered through its ClimaCool brand, which could include Dale Jr. jerseys, performance T-shirts or other mainstream sportswear, as well as footwear. No launch date for any lifestyle line could be determined. Meanwhile, team owner Rick Hendrick offered no sponsorship news last week on Earnhardt’s new ride. Although Budweiser has made it clear that it’s interested in continuing its relationship with Earnhardt, other sponsor conflicts must be navigated. Kellogg’s and Carquest have a contract to be co-primary sponsors on Hendrick’s #5 car — the one that will be vacated by Kyle Busch to make room for Earnhardt — through 2009.(Sports Business Journal)(6-20-2007)

Another Beverage Sponsor for Dale Jr.? Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain (Sundays, 9pm/et on SPEED) welcomed Darrell Waltrip on Sunday June 17 to talk about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s move to Hendrick Motorsports. One comment was about Dale Jr.'s 2008 sponsor:
Dave Despain: (There's) a great picture on the Internet. Somebody has already designed the paint job for the car. How quickly these things happen (with) the magic of the computer. There is your #5 Dale Jr. Budweiser car, all laid out for next year. Photoshop indeed. Darrell Waltrip: That can't be true because I don't think it's going to be Budweiser.
Dave Despain: That was one of my questions. You don't think it will be Budweiser. Do you know who it will be? We've heard a shoe deal. We've heard a credit card deal from one of your buddies. What's it going to be?
Darrell Waltrip: Yeah, wrong. It'll probably still be something you could drink. That would my guess.
Dave Despain: "Something you could drink," he said, hinting.
Darrell Waltrip: And it won't be in a red can.(FoxSports)(6-19-2007)

Gordon Knew Hendrick was Negotiating with Earnhardt: #24-Jeff Gordon was in on the secret all along. Privately he listened to team owner Rick Hendrick agonize over the arduous, closed-door maneuvering to sign #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. "Rick was going back and forth, back and forth," Gordon said. "He was like, 'Man, I would love to do this,' and at the same time, 'I don't know how I'm going to do it.' And, 'Should we do it?' " Gordon didn't waver. "I was very supportive of it from the beginning," he said, sitting in the lounge of his team transporter during preparations for the Citizens Bank 400. "Because I've been at Hendrick for 15 years and I have equity in the company, I probably got let into it a little bit sooner," Gordon said. "I actually told Rick, 'Don't give me too many details because I know I'm going to get asked.' But I knew they were in talks."(Orlando Sentinel)(6-18-2007)

Earnhardt Elledge says contract details still to be finalized: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick have agreed for Earnhardt Jr. to drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season. But while they have an agreement, there are many details to work out, from potential sponsorship conflicts to whom the actual sponsor of the car might be. While Hendrick and Earnhardt Jr. have agreed, it's now time for Hendrick Motorsports Executive Vice President Marshall Carlson and JR Motorsports General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Elledge to get to work. "We haven't gotten all the details down," said Earnhardt Elledge, who is the business manager for her brother. "Rick is a man of his word. We've had some high-level discussion on our expectations and what the most important thing for us is, the involvement in terms of sponsors and licensing and marketing in terms of Dale's brand. Dale knows the competition side and what's important there. ... We still have a long ways to go in putting all the details together." Earnhardt Elledge said that Earnhardt Jr. has basically signed a letter of intent and contract details are still being worked out. But she said it will get done because Earnhardt Jr. is comfortable that Hendrick will watch out for his well-being. Earnhardt Elledge said negotiations with other teams had not progressed to the point where Earnhardt Jr. was close to signing with another team.(SceneDaily.com)(6-14-2007)

Anheuser-Busch Statement Regarding Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Tony Ponturo, Vice President, Global Media and Sports Marketing Anheuser-Busch, Inc.: "Anheuser-Busch has enjoyed a remarkable relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. since our sponsorship commenced back in 1999. Dale Jr. is an excellent ambassador for the sport and our company, and we look forward to exploring options with Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports to continue Budweiser’s relationship with him as he enters this new stage of his racing career." Per Anheuser-Busch policy, there will not be any additional public comments, nor interview requests granted regarding on-going negotiations or contracts.(fingerprint inc./Budwesier PR)(6-13-2007)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. to drive for Hendrick in 2008: announced via live on TV, Dale Earnhardt Jr., current driver of the #8 Budweiser Chevy for DEI, will drive for Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2008. Dale Jr. started the press conference with a short speach/explanation, then introduced his new team owner Rick Hendrick and unveiled the Hendrick Motorsports logo. One thing noticed...the biggest smile ever seen on Dale Jr.'s face.
Hendrick was asked about having a full stable of drivers, Hendrick immediately brought up Kyle Busch and working on a contract extension, that Busch was talking to other teams, Hendrick said conversations with Busch led both to realize it would be better for Busch to look at his other opportunities and part ways, but that Busch would run the #5 Chevy for the remainder of the season.
As for a car number and sponsor for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick said none of that has been finalized as of yet.
Dale Jr. said concerning Budweiser that sponsorship has not been talked about, before the press conference, SPEED reported that Budweiser is talking to other teams, including Kasey Kahne.
As for the #8, Dale Jr. mentioned he would like to keep the #8 and would talk to Teresa Earnhardt [owner of DEI #8] and that drew a large laugh from the media, but said he is looking for a number and car design that would look 'cool'.
Asked about crew members and current crew chief Tony Eury Jr., Dale Jr. said it would have to be discussed down the road.
Dale Jr. said all the other rumors to other teams [Gibbs/VISA, RCR] came out of thin air.
Hendrick said Kyle Busch would finish the season in the #5 Chevy and run for the championship
Hendrick said he would be open to swapping the #5 for the #8 if DEI is interested, but no discussions so far. But said the #24 and #48 are locked up and nodded his head when said the number Dale Jr would use was between the #5 and #25.
The deal is a five-year deal 2008-2012
The press conference ended at 12:05pm/et....let the speculation begin
(TV Coverage of the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Press Conference, transcript will be available later and posted)(6-13-2007)

Earnhardt Jr. To Drive for New Team in 2008 Four-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., announced today at a news conference at JR Motorsports that negotiations to extend his driving contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. have come to an amicable end. Earnhardt Jr. will continue driving the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet through the remainder of the season, while his sister, Vice President and General Manager of JR Motorsports, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, will begin exploring new opportunities for 2008. Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday he would look at his options in the coming months and hopefully announce a decision mid to late summer. “What team I drive for next season, I don’t know,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “But what I do want to say is that it’s been a privilege to drive for DEI. After a year of intense negotiations and concerted efforts to extend my contract there, it became evident that while we want to get to the same place, we simply have different visions on how to get there.” Earnhardt Jr. made the announcement with his sister, Earnhardt Elledge, by his side, and many of the Earnhardt family in attendance. “DEI will always be a special place for me and my family,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “(Owner) Teresa (Earnhardt) and (Vice President of Global Operations) Max Seigel are taking the necessary steps to bring DEI back to one of the front-running NASCAR teams. However I am 32 years old – the same age as my father when he made his final and most important career decision – and the time for me to compete on a consistent basis and contend for championships is now. Since that is what I plan to do, I feel strongly that I would have my father’s blessing.” Earnhardt Jr. said JR Motorsports will continue to work with DEI on many projects that will benefit both companies and protect the legacy of his father. A full transcript of today’s news conference will be released later this afternoon.(JR Motorsports PR)(5-10-2007)

Dale Jr. to leave DEI after 2007 season UPDATE: Statement from Teresa Earnhardt/DEI: In response to today's announcement by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., that he will be leaving DEI, Teresa Earnhardt, CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. issued the following statement. "While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company's future. Our aggressive expansion and diversification plans have not changed. This company has continued to thrive since Dale left us in 2001, and it will thrive following today's announcement. Dale and I built this company to be a championship-contender, and those principles still apply. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will win, and we have other extremely talented drivers and hundreds of employees that are dedicated to the programs we founded. This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity, and commitment."(DEI)
UPDATE: some highlights from the Dale Earnhardt Jr. press conference:
Dale Jr. will leave DEI at the end of the season
Sponsor/Budweiser? will be discussed in a timely manner
Car #8: No decision, but Dale Jr. expects DEI to keep the car number 8. Note: NASCAR owns and assigns car numbers to an owner(s). NASCAR reserves the right to revoke or transfer car numbers to another owner/team at any time. Car numbers are non-assignable and non-transferable, except by NASCAR. NASCAR works with teams and sponsors when a specific number is requested. Team have been known to 'sell' car numbers, like when DEI got the number from the Stovala Brothers in 2000, #15 from Bud Moore, etc.
Crew Chief Tony Eury Jr.: no decision on if crew chief Eury Jr. will go with DaleJr, Dale Jr. said he can't speak for Eury Jr.
DEI Teammate Truex Jr.: is not part of this situation or discussion
Possible Plans:
1) sign with a top tier Nextel Cup team [one that wins and runs for the championship
2) sign with a second tier team
3) and the last choice, would be to run Nextel Cup with Dale Jr's own team, JR Motorsports, but no plans for that to happen at this points, Dale Jr. does hope he can drive a few Busch Series [or whatever it will be called in 2008] out of the JR Motorsports shop.
Why leave DEI? Dale Jr. said he negotiations were never close, and he knows fans are disappointed, but so is he.
More on this and hopefully a transcript will be posted in a bit.(5-10-2007)

Also see the #8 Past Teams News page

Past #25 team 2007 News

Goodbye to the #'25: The #25 Chevrolet will make its final start for Hendrick Motorsports Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports first entered the #25 Chevy in the 1986 Daytona 500 with Tim Richmond behind the wheel. The #25 has had 11 different drivers, including car owner Rick Hendrick, in 656 starts. Six drivers have visited victory lane with the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, with Casey Mears adding win No. 17 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(11-14-2007)

Former 49ers Owner Almost Bought Hendrick in 2004 UPDATE no: Former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo told Sports Business Journal recently that he almost became a NASCAR owner in 2004. "We would have bought a NASCAR team if Reggie White hadn't died," DeBartolo said of the former NFL player. "The week he passed away we were going to sign the agreement with Hendrick Motorsports. After that, I just couldn't do it. I loved Reggie too much."(Roanoke Times)(10-14-2007)
AND and from a July article - Dale Earnhardt Inc. president Max Siegel told ESPN.com on Wednesday [in July] that three years ago he was prepared to partner with NFL Hall of Famers Reggie White and Ronnie Lott, as well as former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartalo Jr., in purchasing MB2 Motorsports, which at the time fielded the #01 and #10 Chevrolets. The papers were drawn. All that was left was the official closing, which was slated for Jan. 15, 2005. But when White died suddenly on Dec. 26, 2004, and the deal died with him. Siegel said he and White originally had planned to partner with Rick Hendrick on a NASCAR Busch Series operation. Then the Hendrick Motorsports plane crash in October 2004 halted that initiative. A couple of months had passed, and Siegel said Hendrick contacted him about the program. Hendrick explained that in order for him to be involved, White and Siegel had to purchase a team with an existing Hendrick partnership. Enter MB2, whose engines were supplied by Hendrick. At the time, Valvoline was part-owner of MB2, as well. All the pieces were in place, then White passed away.(ESPN.com)(10-14-2007)
UPDATE 2: At the time in question, Mr. DeBartolo and Mr. White were in discussions with the former MB2 Motorsports team, and our involvement was limited solely to a potential technical support relationship. Hendrick Motorsports is not, and has never been, for sale.(HMS)(10-16-2007)

Hass Racing Quiet about 2008 Drivers: When it comes to who'll be in what Haas CNC Racing cars in 2008, nobody seems to know much of anything. Joe Custer, the team's general manager, plays his cards close to the vest. Very, very close. Johnny Sauter, driver of the organization's #70 entry, says that he doesn't have a clue what he'll be doing next year, but adds that he's been given permission to look elsewhere. Jeff Green, who steers its #66 Chevy, refuses altogether to comment on the situation. With Scott Riggs already signed for next year and two Haas cars available, there's considerable speculation as to which one he'll drive and whether it'll be Green or Sauter who's left out of the mix. Then again, names other than Riggs' [including Mayfield and Stremme] have been mentioned as joining the operation. If that happens, Green and Sauter would most likely both be gone. According to Custer, neither driver has a decided advantage at this stage of the game.(NASCAR.com)(10-14-2007)
More Stremme Buzz in the Garage: Hearing from many sources that #40 David Stremme is now the leading candidate for at least four teams. Options include third and fourth car situations (GEM?, Penske?, MWR?, Ganassi?) and Haas Racing where Johnny Sauter is expected to be replaced.(10-14-2007)

Crew Cam: This weekend at Kansas, fans at home will be able to experience pit stops through the eyes of Ben Fischbeck, front-tire carrier for the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy team. The Waynesville, Mo., native will wear a "crew cam" during ABC's coverage of Sunday's Nextel Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. In addition to his duties with the #25 team, Fischbeck also serves as the front-tire carrier for Hendrick Motorsports' #24 Busch Series team. He has worked at Hendrick Motorsports since 2001.(HMS PR)(9-29-2007)

Mears To Visit Walter Reed: Casey Mears and members of the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy will visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. on Thursday afternoon. The group will meet with military service men and women who are currently receiving treatment. The Walter Reed Army Medical Center serves more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military. “It’s not easy to visit soldiers who have been through so much, but it’s something I really want to do,” Mears said. “It’s a great honor to represent the National Guard every weekend, and the men and women who serve put a lot of things in perspective for the rest of us.”(NASCAR)(9-20-2007)

Chevy Continues Partnership with Hendrick Motorsports: Chevrolet, the winningest nameplate in NASCAR, will continue its partnership with championship team Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR competition in 2008 and beyond. In 23 years (1984-2006) of NASCAR competition, Hendrick Motorsports has garnered six Nextel Cup Series (formerly Winston Cup) championships, three Craftsman Truck Series titles and one Busch Series crown, making it one of stock-car racing's premier organizations. Rick Hendrick is the only team owner in NASCAR's modern era to earn more than 150 Cup Series victories and is currently at 160 Cup wins - all of them coming in Chevrolets. Hendrick Motorsports' win at the first "Car of Tomorrow" race at Bristol earlier this year also earned Chevrolet its first Impala SS win and Chevy's 600th win in NASCAR Cup competition. The four full-time NASCAR Cup teams of Hendrick Motorsports slated to run in 2008 include four-time champion Jeff Gordon in the #24 DuPont Chevy; Jimmie Johnson in the #48 Lowe's Chevy; Casey Mears in the #5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevy; and new addition Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who has only driven Chevrolets in his NASCAR career.(GM Racing PR)(9-7-2007)

Congratulations to Lisa Smokstad, tire specialist for the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy team, and husband Craig on the birth of their first child. RaElla Michelle Smokstad entered the world on Aug. 30 and weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces.(HMS PR)(9-6-2007)

#25 to run the '57 Chevy scheme at MIS: This weekend Casey Mears' #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy will feature a special paint scheme to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1957 Chevrolet, one of the most recognizable cars in American motoring history. The scheme will include decals replicating the iconic 1957 car design. In addition to the '57 Chevy paint scheme, Mears #25 Chevy will also recognize Sundance Chevrolet of Grand Ledge, Mich., on its deck lid this weekend. As a co-primary sponsor on the #25 Chevy, GMAC recognizes outstanding GM dealerships throughout the NASCAR season.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), approx 10-12 Chevy's are scheduled to run the '57 Scheme, see my Paint Scheme Gallery Chart for the most recent list and some images.(8-15-2007)

Hendrick re-signs with GM: Hendrick Motorsports has verbally agreed to a five-year contract with General Motors, keeping HMS in Chevrolets through 2012. "We're done," team owner Rick Hendrick said after Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen International. "We haven't signed it, but we've verbally agreed." GM is in the last year of all of its contracts with teams in the Nextel Cup series. Re-signing HMS was key, particularly with speculation that Joe Gibbs Racing may be leaving for Toyota. Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., GM's other top teams, remain in negotiations but are expected to re-sign. Two of the top three owners in Chevrolet expect Joe Gibbs Racing to move to Toyota in 2008. "I'd say they're gone," said Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, who has agreed to a five-year deal with General Motors. Richard Childress Racing owner Richard Childress said there are enough signs to believe that JGR will make the jump, which he says will take Toyota to another level. "It's pretty well written in stone," he said on Sunday at Watkins Glen International. Childress is so convinced JGR will bolt that he questions whether the organization should be included in Thursday's key partners' meeting at GM's headquarters in Detroit. "No, I wouldn't feel comfortable with them there," he said. "If the [other Chevrolet] teams have a feeling they're going to be there, we're not going to discuss openly with them in a room things we normally would discuss openly. You're sitting there working on stuff for next year and you don't want them to take that and help out the competition."(ESPN.com)(8-13-2007)

Eury Sr. talks about HMS/JRM merger: Tony Eury Sr, Director of Competition at JR Motorsports, talked with Claire B. Lang on XM Satellite Radio Tuesday about the developments in the JR Motorsports Busch operation this week. He told her that he and the JR Motorsports team visited the team at Hendrick Motorsports yesterday. JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports have merged their Busch operations and Eury told CBL he was amazed by what he saw. Eury Sr. said: "I had not actually been through Hendrick Motorsports until yesterday and I took my first tour through there yesterday and we all sat down and kind of tried to address this thing out how it's going to happen you know how it's going to work. Kelly (Earnhardt Elledge) and myself and Dale Junior and Rick (Hendrick) and Marshall (Carlson) and Doug Duchardt you know and Ken House and everybody thats involved in this deal we all just trying to figure out how we're going to make this thing work and no bumps in the road. And I actually took my first tour yesterday with Kelley through Hendrick Motorsports and I really was amazed at what I seen you know. I actually made a phone call to Tony Jr last night after I got back and told him we need to pat ourselves on the back if we ever outran a Hendrick Motorsports because it's one heck of a race shop no doubt about it.
Claire B. : What was it that they had that you were so impressed with or that you saw?
"They are just swarmed with engineering help I mean every building you go in is engineered very well they just have the seven post rig and they have just all kinds of engineering stuff to work with. They have the...the engine shop is just amazing the machine and equipment the CNC stuff thats running in there. You know it's it's just really amazing to walk in there and see so much stuff going on and they build a lot of carbon fiber seats for a lot of the drivers over there, they have a carbon shop. It was really just amazing to walk through there and see how much he has accomplished, you know, in his racing career because he has really built a really nice place over there.(XM Radio)(8-1-2007)

Mears Team Captures First Pit Crew Challenge Win: Casey Mears' over-the-wall crew captured its first Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge win of the season by taking top honors in Saturday night's Nextel Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. The #25 National Guard/GMAC team spent 132.049 seconds on pit lane. The crew will be awarded $11,000 by Checkers/Rally's for winning the weekly competition. Mears' crew is the 10th different team to win the pit crew competition this season. The #25 Hendrick Motorsports team is made up of: Jason Hunt (jackman), Ben Fischbeck (front-tire carrier), Tony Hamm (front-tire changer), Matt Myers (rear-tire carrier), Chuck Efaw (rear-tire changer), Chris Fasulka (gasman), Chris Hamilton (catch can) and Jim Jenkins (eighth-man). The team's pit crew coach is Mark Mauldin.
At the halfway mark of the 2007 Nextel Cup season, Mark Martin's/Regan Smith's #01 crew leads the season-long Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge standings with four wins. Jeff Gordon's and Denny Hamlin's crews are second with three wins each. To date, Checkers/Rally's has paid out $198,000 to Nextel Cup pit crews. An $111,150 prize will be presented to the pit crew team with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race Nextel Cup schedule. To win the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge, teams are required to finish on the lead lap while spending the least amount of time on pit road. Checkers/Rally's is in its third season as title sponsor for the Pit Crew Challenge. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(7-12-2007)

Tire Specialist to take time off...to have baby: As tire specialist for the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy team, Lisa Smokstad is a recognizable face in the Nextel Cup Series garage and one of only a handful of women working on the competition side of the sport. The native of Shakopee, Minn., has worked for Hendrick Motorsports since 1999, but soon she'll be taking a hiatus from air-pressure gauges and tire-wear trends to take on the role of new mom. Smokstad, who joined the #25 team in 2005, and husband Craig, car chief for the #83 team, are expecting their first child in early September. The Smokstads anticipate that this weekend or next will be their last at the track together until the baby is born.(HMS PR)(7-5-2007)

Mears' share #25: In 1995, Roger Mears made his first foray into the NASCAR world and entered four Craftsman Truck Series races. In three of those races, his truck ran with a number borrowed from team owner Rick Hendrick. As fate would have it, that number was 25. Same as his son Casey drives now, for Rick Hendrick. Said Roger, "Rick (Hendrick) let us use that number when I was driving the Budweiser truck for a few races, and now it seems like it must have been a hint at the future. It's just a neat piece of history to have, and hopefully it's a little bit of good luck."(HMS PR)(6-12-2007)

Mears wins the Coca Cola 600: #25-Casey Mears won the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway for his 1st ever Nextel Cup Series win in his 156th career start. The race came down to fuel mileage and a few drivers/teams took the chance to finish well and hope for no cautions in the last 60 laps and there were none. Finishing 2nd was #18-J.J. Yeley for his first ever top-5 finish, 3rd was #45-Kyle Petty for his first top-5 since Sept 21, 1997 at Dover. 4th was #41-Redd Sorenson and 5th was #83-Brian Vickers which is Toyota's first ever top-5 finish. The rest of the top 10 were #20-Stewart, #88-Rudd, #8-Earnhardt Jr., #11-Hamlin and #48-Johnson. #24-Jeff Gordon crashed out early and finished 41st, so his points lead decreases to 132 over Johnson. Hendrick Motorsports now has 9 wins in the 12 races this season. There were 13 cautions for 61 laps and 15 drivers lead the race with 29 lead changes.
Race Results on my Charlotte Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Charlotte page
Race Rundown: see my Charlotte Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(5-27-2007)

Special scheme for Mears in Coke 600:: Casey Mears'#25 National Guard/GMAC "American Heroes" Chevy also will feature a special paint scheme this weekend as part of the American Heroes Memorial Day salute to the Armed Forces. The tribute, which includes the cars of eight Nextel Cup and two Busch Series drivers, is part of a nationwide effort to raise funds for military families in need. The #25 Chevy features an ACU pattern (camouflage) paint scheme with the names of National Guard soldiers who have lost their lives in the Global War on Terror displayed on the car's deck lid. One of those names holds special significance for Jimmy "Biscuit" Parrott, who provides pit support and serves as the backup truck driver for the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series team. Parrott's older brother, Michael C. Parrott, was killed in action on Sept. 15, 2005, while serving with the National Guard in Iraq. The late Parrott, who made his home in Cheyenne, Wyo., will be recognized on Mears' car during Sunday's race.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(5-27-2007)

Dale Jr. leans toward Hendrick? UPDATE denied: The efforts to sign #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. to a NASCAR driving contract for 2008 and beyond has reached a critical point, and the top two teams on Earnhardt’s list are the Chevrolet teams owned by Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick, according to men familiar with the negotiations. Earnhardt today is leaning toward a deal with Hendrick [NOTE: where would Earnhardt go? HMS has four Cup teams and all three drivers signed for a couple more years, unless some sort of deal with Haas CNC Racing or Ginn Racing would be worked out], largely because of Hendrick’s very strong engine program, sources here said yesterday. Earnhardt and veteran crew chief Tony Eury Jr., his cousin and close confidante as well as the man who has led him to many of his 17 Cup victories, have talked with both the Hendrick and Childress camps in recent weeks about the positives and negatives each team owner would have to offer, sources said yesterday. And Eury will have a major voice in the decision, because Earnhardt’s primary goal now, at age 32, is to win a championship.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-9-2007)
UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports General Manager Marshall Carlson told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway Tuesday that his team is fully stocked with drivers for 2008 and beyond, and that he has not spoken with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., about the possibility of joining the Hendrick stable.(Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway)(5-9-2007)

Mears' HANS device cracked after Talladega wreck: #25-Casey Mears says that his HANS Device suffered a minor crack in a crash last week at Talladega. Mears said he didn't see exactly how it was cracked, but he said that it was in the center area as if the left strap had been tugged hard. Mears wasn't too concerned with the cracks. "I mean in a hit like that it probably should have. It was hard," he said. He says that the device might still have been safe, but that he and his team opted to go with a new one this week. (SceneDaily.com)(5-5-2007)

Mears gives Dad a nice birthday present: Roger Mears, father of #25-Casey Mears, drives his son's motor coach from race to race during the NASCAR season and is a familiar face at the track. However, the former off-road racer won't be so easy to find this weekend in Martinsville. Roger Mears, who celebrated his 60th birthday last Saturday, will be at the Barrett-Jackson auction -- also known as the "World's Greatest Collector Car Event" -- in Palm Beach, Fla., from March 28 to April 1. The younger Mears, driver of the No. 25 National Guard/GMAC Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, arranged for his father to attend the event as a birthday present and even slipped a blank check in with the ticket.(Hendrick Motorsports)(3-28-2007)

Hendrick going for 200th NASCAR win: Car owner Rick Hendrick now has 199 combined NASCAR victories: 151 at the NEXTEL Cup level, 23 in the Busch Series and 25 in the Craftsman Truck Series. The total includes a 1983 Busch Series win by the late Dale Earnhardt at Lowe's Motor Speedway in a car co-owned by Hendrick and Robert Gee.(HMS PR)(3-22-2007)

Mears to run run Jackson Hewitt National Guard "Hero of the Year" scheme at California: This weekend at California Speedway, Staff Sgt. Quinton D. Martin of Gulfport, Miss., will have his image displayed on the hood of the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy as the winner of the first-ever National Guard "Hero of the Year" award sponsored by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. Martin served in Iraq with the 1,108th Aviation Support Detachment and has been a member of the National Guard for 24 years. For more information about the "Heroes of the Year" campaign, visit www.supporttheguard.com.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), see the full Jack Hewitt PR at jacksonhewitt.com(2-22-2007)

Grubb named crew chief of #25 Chevy: Hendrick Motorsports named Darian Grubb crew chief of the #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevys driven by Casey Mears in the Nextel Cup Series. The 31-year-old Grubb will lead the team into the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. "Darian is one of the most respected voices in our organization and has proven to be a terrific leader," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "He and Casey represent an exciting new combination for the #25 team, its sponsors and its fans." Grubb, who holds a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech, joined Hendrick Motorsports from Petty Enterprises in January 2003, assuming the role of team engineer for the #48 Chevys led by crew chief Chad Knaus. A native of Floyd, Va., Grubb was interim crew chief during the first four races of the #48 team's 2006 campaign, leading driver Jimmie Johnson to a pair of victories [including the Daytona 500], one runner-up finish and a sixth-place effort. Grubb assumes the duties of Lance McGrew, who will remain with Hendrick Motorsports in a leadership role.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(2-5-2007)

Another Hero chosen in Jackson Hewitt National Guard promotion: Sergeant First Class (SFC) Todd M. Tilkens, of Bravo Company 2/127th in Green Bay, Wisconsin, has been chosen as an honoree in the Jackson Hewitt National Guard "Heroes of the Year" campaign. Sponsored by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, an industry leader providing full service individual federal and state income tax preparation, this year-long campaign recognized National Guard soldiers, families and even employers around the country who have made a difference in their states or on foreign shores. In his nearly twenty years of working with the National Guard, SFC Tilkens has held a variety of duties within the community and abroad. He has recently returned home from Kuwait, where he assisted in escorting convoys as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following the 9-11 attacks, he volunteered at the local airport working with security teams. On a local level, he has made the streets of Green Bay safer for trick-or-treating children as a volunteer working to patrol neighborhoods on Halloween. When not on active duty, he works for Moore Wallace, an RR Donnelley Company, as a printing press operator. He lives in Green Bay with his wife, Teresa, who nominated him, and his children.
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, in partnership with the Army National Guard, launched the Jackson Hewitt National Guard "Heroes of the Year" campaign in early 2006 as a unique opportunity for people across the county to nominate a loved one, friend or neighbor who serves in the Army National Guard. This program recognizes the efforts of the thousands of Guardsmen and women - as well as families and employers - who are making a difference within our communities and abroad.
Ten monthly honorees have been chosen, and Jackson Hewitt will soon announce the grand prize winner, who will have the opportunity of a lifetime - to have their image featured on a NASCAR race car [supposedly #16 Greg Biffle as seen on supporttheguard.com but National Guard is now on the #25 and Casey Mears] that will be raced at a 2007 Nextel Cup Series Race in February [that would be Daytona or California]. This is the first time that a non-celebrity's image will be featured on a NASCAR race car. In addition to spotlighting soldiers, the campaign also recognized families and employers who show exceptional support for, and service to, the core mission and values of the National Guard. To view the soldiers, families and employers who have been nominated for their dedication to and support of the National Guard's mission, visit www.supporttheguard.com. In each case, monthly nominees were selected based on service to their community, their support of the values of the National Guard and the unique ways they have enhanced their lives and the lives of those around them through their affiliation with the Guard.(Yahoo Biz)(1-21-2007)

Delphi to announce NASCAR plans at open house in Vegas UPDATE: Delphi Corp. will host a media open house on Monday, Jan. 8 from 3 - 5 p.m. at its exhibit at the Las Vegas Convention Center (#Exhibit 5206). Jeff Owens, president of Delphi Electronics & Safety and Francisco (Frank) A. Ordonez, president, Delphi Products & Service Solutions, will host the reception. Also hosting is: NASCAR driver Kyle Busch. Kyle will be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans. Along with Kellogg's, Delphi was a major associate sponsor of the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy driven by Busch during the past NASCAR season. Delphi will announce its 2007 sponsorship at the open house. During the event, a host of Delphi subject matter experts will be available for interviews and to demonstrate the new technologies.(Yahoo Biz)(12-21-2006)
UPDATE: Delphi Product & Service Solutions announced today at a media reception held at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nev., that it will continue its major associate sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports during the 2007 NASCAR season. Nextel Cup Series driver Kyle Busch personally attended the reception to help kick-off yet another year with Delphi. An associate sponsor of all 2007 Hendrick Motorsports entries, Delphi will also be the primary sponsor of Busch's #5 Chevy in the Busch Series for five races. Delphi sponsored events in the Busch Series will include Las Vegas (March 10), Talladega (April 28), Daytona (July 6), Chicago (July 14), and Texas (Nov. 3). In addition, Delphi will receive preferred logo placement on both the #5 Chevy driven by Busch and the #25 Chevy of Casey Mears in select 2007 Nextel Cup Series races.(Yahoo Biz)(1-8-2007)

New Sponsor for the #25? hearing that Labor Ready will sponsor the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Casey Mears in some form in 2007.(1-5-2007)

New Driver for Hendrick Motorsports? Landon Cassill UPDATE: The Gazette [of Cedar Rapids Iowa] is reporting: Landon Cassill, a 17-year-old senior at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School, has signed a contract to drive for NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports, he told The Gazette today [1/2/2007]. Cassill joins a powerhouse race team that includes Nextel Cup champions #48-Jimmie Johnson and #24-Jeff Gordon, as well as #5-Kyle Busch [and #25-Casey Mears]. "I feel really, really honored to be part of this organization," Cassill said. "I'm honored to be in such an elite group." it says to "See more of this story in Wednesday's Gazette."(The Gazette)
AND Landon will move to North Carolina in March to begin working full time for Hendrick Motorsports.(kcrg.com), of note: Cassill can't drive in the NASCAR Cup, Busch or Truck series until he is 18 [July 7th] and since Hendrick Motorsports has four team in Nextel Cup [the limit], it won't be a full-time Nextel Cup ride, look for this to be a development program of some sort [ARCA, Trucks, Busch], also Cassill was part of the GM Racing Development Driver Evaluation program and made it to the final stages.(1-3-2007)
MORE: Landon Cassill — most recently an ASA racer who surged from 30th to fourth in the October race at Iowa Speedway — will graduate high school in February and journey to Hendrick headquarters March 1, his father said. Roger Cassill said Landon has already tested cars for Hendrick, and his future role with the team will include more of that while he’s groomed as a developmental driver. Cassill said his son may test Gordon’s “Car of Tomorrow” next week. “Hendrick was really good about coming in and saying they think he’s got the talent and they are more interested in developing him rather than making a bunch of promises,” Cassill said. “If he’s not ready he’s not going to race. As soon as he’s ready, he’s going to race.”(Des Moines Register)(1-3-2007)
UPDATE: Cassill will take part in two tests - one this month - while continuing to build a base of knowledge and experience. Hendrick Motorsports spokesman Jesse Essex said Cassill is the only driver with the organization other than defending Cup champion Johnson, four-time series champ Gordon, Busch and Mears. Cassill's progress toward a possible behind-the-wheel NASCAR career will be measured in baby steps. "Right now we're solely focused on seat time," Essex said.(Des Moines Register)(1-5-2007)

Past 2006 News

Sponsor changes at the #25? UPDATE 2 National Guard official: hearing National Guard could end up being the sponsor, either whole or in part, of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Casey Mears will drive in 2007. No word if current #25 primary sponsor, GMAC, stays as a co-sponsor or would leave the team. National Guard currently sponsors the #16 Roush Racing Ford of Greg Biffle, supposedly Subway could step up full time or be co-sponsors with Ameriquest [sponsors a slew of Roush Racing Busch cars] or 3M.(7-30-2006)
UPDATE: been told the National Guard will move to the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy and will team up to co-sponsor the team with GMAC.(8-19-2006)
UPDATE 2: Beginning in 2007, the Army National Guard will join forces with longtime Hendrick Motorsports partner GMAC to sponsor the #25 Chevry driven by Casey Mears in the Nextel Cup Series. "This is a fantastic day for our organization," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "We take an enormous amount of pride in welcoming the men and women of the National Guard and continuing our time-honored relationship with GMAC. These are two incredible groups that share our vision for the #25 team and its bright future." Mears, 28, will drive the new-look #25 National Guard/GMAC Chevy in the car's on-track debut this February at Daytona. "The National Guard is looking forward to joining the #25 Hendrick Motorsports team," said Col. Mike Jones, chief of the Army National Guard's Strength Maintenance Division. "NASCAR continues to be a vital component of our recruiting and retention programs, and we believe this new relationship will further enhance our involvement in the sport." GMAC's association with Hendrick Motorsports is one of the longest and most successful sponsor-team relationships in NASCAR. Headquartered in Detroit, the company joined Hendrick in 1993 and has since been featured in some form on 10 championship-winning race cars, including two as a primary sponsor. The red, white and blue #25 Chevy design will make its first public appearances during activities surrounding the Jan. 7 GMAC Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. New enlistees of the Alabama National Guard will be sworn in on the field prior to the game featuring Ohio University and the University of Southern Mississippi. For more information, visit the National Guard website at www.1-800-GO-GUARD.com.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), see an image of the paint scheme on my #25 Team Schemes page.(12-22-2006)

Hero of the Year to be announced in January, featured on a car: For the first time, a non-celebrity's image will be featured on a NASCAR race car that will be raced in the 2007 Nextel Cup Series. The national award winner will be featured on Greg Biffle's #16 NASCAR race car [or it could be #25 Casey Mears as the National Guard sponsorship will move to the #25 in 2007] and will be a VIP guest trackside at a race during the 2007 season. To nominate a hero of the National Guard, military family or employer, visit www.support theguard.com. The award is co-sponsored by the Army National Guard and Jackson Hewitt as a part of their National Guard Heroes of the Year campaign.(Biloxi Sun Herald)(12-20-2006)

Mears and National Guard in Turkey race: while not yet confirmed, it was reported a while back that the National Guard sponsorship would move from the #16 Greg Biffle Ford to the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Casey Mears will drive in 2007. It has been reported that Mears drove a sprint car at Irwindale Speedway in the Turkey Night Grand Prix and was sponsored by the National Guard and he was wearing a National Guard/GMAC Hendrick firesuit. It was recently announced that the National Guard would not return to the #16 [Ameriquest and 3M will sponsor Biffle in 2007](11-25-2006)

Agency honored on Vickers car at Texas: GMAC Insurance has declared Al Boenker Insurance of Fort Worth, Texas, as the winner of the GMAC Insurance Agency Pole Position promotion. As part of the grand prize, the agency will be honored with its name on the television panel of the #25 GMAC Chevy that Brian Vickers will drive in Sunday afternoon's Nextel Cup event at Texas Motor Speedway.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(11-3-2006)

Vickers' Team Earns Pit Crew Win at Talladega: It was a double victory for Brian Vickers' #25 team Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. Not only did the Hendrick Motorsports driver capture his first career Nextel Cup victory, the #25 over-the-wall crew also claimed its second win of the season in the weekly Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge. Vickers' GMAC Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road (247.112 seconds) to take top honors during the 188-lap, 500-mile race. "Having good pit stops at superspeedways are important because you always try to maintain contact with those cars you pit with in order to have a drafting partner when you leave," said crew chief Lance McGrew. "I'm really proud of the guys on the GMAC Racing team for their efforts on Sunday. Over the past several weeks, they've turned it up a notch which has helped us get some good finishes." The #25 pit crew will be awarded with the weekly $10,500 prize. In addition, Checkers/Rally's will also present the crew with the most victories at the completion of the 36-race schedule with a $100,500 bonus.
Vickers' over-the-wall crew is made up of: Mike Moore (jackman), Jake Brzozowski (front-tire carrier), Tony Hamm (front-tire changer), Matt Myers (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fabian (rear-tire changer), Chris Fasulka (gasman), Chris Hamilton (catch can) and Jim Jenkins (windshield). The pit crew coach is Mark Mauldin. With six races remaining on the Nextel Cup Schedule, the pit crews of Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart lead the standings with four wins each. To date, Checkers/Rally's has paid out $315,000 in Nextel Cup Series prize money during this season. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(10-11-2006)

Bruton Smith Assigns Extra Security to Assist Brian Vickers during Bank of America 500 Week: In the aftermath of the controversial finish Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway Chairman Bruton Smith has assigned extra security for driver Brian Vickers during this week's Bank of America 500 activities at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Monday, the speedway ticket office was inundated with calls from race fans angry about the finish in which Vickers initiated a wreck that took out race leader Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and second-place Jimmie Johnson on the final lap. "We want to make sure Brian has an uninterrupted weekend here and that he is able focus on his driving duties," Smith said. "We will offer security escorts in and out of the speedway and anywhere he feels he needs our assistance. We've done this in the past as well, I think the last time was for Rusty (Wallace) when he knocked Darrell (Waltrip) out of the way to win the all-star race back in 1989. We added security at his house and track the week of the Coca-Cola 600." Tickets are still available for all events and can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(10-10-2006)

WOW! Wild Day at Talladega; Vickers Wins: #25-Brian Vickers won the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on the final lap after pulling out with 'teammate' #48-Jimmie Johnson to pass #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the final lap, got into Johnson, who was along side with Earnhardt Jr, Johnson turned when he got tapped, going into Earnhardt Jr. sending both spinning, with Vickers taking the lead as the caution was thrown and the field frozen. After some time NASCAR released the results with Vickers winning his first ever Nextel Cup race after 107 starts [he won the non-points Nextel Open in the past], #9-Kahne finished 2nd, followed by #2-Busch, #17-Kenseth, #1-Truex Jr., #29-Harvick, #66-Green [1st top 10 of 2006], #6-Martin, #99-Edwards and #43-Labonte. #8-Earnhardt Jr. finished 23rd and #48-Johnson 24th a lap down and with an DNF. Points leader #31-Jeff Burton was running in the top 10 when he lost a right rear tire with 11 laps left, finishing 27th down a lap. Burton maintains the points lead, but only 6 over Kenseth and 10 over Martin. There were 63 lead changes by 23 drivers, and 6 cautions for 22 laps including a semi-big one with 10 cars that took out #24-Jeff Gordon, who finished 36th. For the most part it was a clean race with a ton of lead changes, but still had 13 cars not finishing the race.
Race Results on my Talladega Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Talladega page
Race Rundown: see my Talladega Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(10-8-2006)

Vickers not allowed in Hendrick Meetings: #25-Brian Vickers, who is leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the season to drive for Toyota's Team Red Bull, no longer takes part in the customary Hendrick race weekend team meetings. Only crew chief Lance McGrew is allowed to attend the at-the-track meetings where strategy and race setups are discussed among crew chiefs and drivers. "We all know there are few secrets in this sport and it's important to keep as many as possible," Vickers' teammate #48-Jimmie Johnson said.(Yahoo! Sports)(9-30-2006)

Gordon says Vickers not a teammate: Technically, Brian Vickers is Jeff Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate. Well, for nine more races at least. Certainly, Gordon doesn't seem to mind that Vickers is leaving after this season, especially not after some hard driving led to some harsh words on Friday. "He's my teammate, but he's not my teammate because he's moving on next year," Gordon said. "I raced him harder than he wanted me to race him earlier in the race. I could give all the reasons and excuses, but it doesn't do any good." The two raced each other hard at New Hampshire, and Vickers rankled Gordon when he wouldn't let the former champ pass. Gordon, fourth in the points standings, even complained on the radio to his team that he hoped Vickers knew that he was racing for a championship. "It did cost us time, Gordon said. "Right now he's in a tough position. He's moving on to a new team. He hasn't been able to win races like other guys at Hendrick Motorsports. He wants it bad and he's driving hard and I think it was just a little lapse in judgment." Vickers finished fifth; Gordon third. Vickers will drive for Team Red Bull in 2007. "It's not a guy that's out there trying to help you win a championship," Gordon said.(FoxSports/AP)(9-24-2006)

Medaire Provides Lifesaving Medical Solutions to Vickers: MedAire, a company that serves the business and general aviation industry with lifesaving medical solutions, is providing a MedLink medical advisory subscription service and medical kits for #25- Brian Vickers, Nextel Cup Series Driver and 2003 Busch Series Champion. Vickers is the first motor-sports driver to take advantage of MedAire’s medical offerings. Should Vickers or his associates become ill while traveling by private aircraft or while on the ground, they will have 24/7 access to MedAire’s MedLink Global Response Center located in Phoenix, Ariz., where board-certified emergency care physicians will assess the medical emergency and help treat the patient remotely. During flight-based emergencies, MedLink physicians access MedAire medical equipment on board and recommend treatment for ailments ranging from heart and asthma attacks to respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. More info on MedAire can be found at www.MedAire.com.(MedAire PR)(9-21-2006)

O.A.R. Scheme for Vickers at Richmond: Hendrick Motorsports' #25 GMAC Chevy will have a different look for this weekend's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Richmond. As part of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, Brian Vickers' #25 will feature the colors of his favorite band, O.A.R.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(9-8-2006)

Vickers going green at California: Brian Vickers' #25 Chevy will sport a different look this weekend at California Speedway. Garnier, the popular unisex haircare brand, will be featured on the hood of the bold bright-green design. The scheme will adorn the car in one more NextelL Cup Series event this season -- Kansas Speedway in October.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), see an image of the scheme on my #25 Team Schemes page.(9-1-2006)

Foamy mess at Hendrick hanger: Maintenance workers at Hendrick Motorsports have a foamy mess to clean up at the company’s airline hanger after the building's fire extinguishing system activated. The foam covered Hendrick aircraft inside the hanger at Concord Regional Airport and workers used fans, shovels and cardboard boxes to push the foam out. The building holds about 1,200 gallons of the foam and firefighters estimated that 500 to 700 gallons of the foam discharged. The foam does not pose any environmental impact and can be dissipated with water, firefighters said. Firefighters have not determined how the system was tripped. The aircrafts were not damaged.(WCNC.com)(8-31-2006)

Sponsor changes at the #25 and #16? UPDATE 3: hearing National Guard could end up being the sponsor, either whole or in part, of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy that Casey Mears will drive in 2007. No word if current #25 primary sponsor, GMAC, stays as a co-sponsor or would leave the team. National Guard currently sponsors the #16 Roush Racing Ford of Greg Biffle, supposedly Subway could step up full time or be co-sponsors with Ameriquest [sponsors a slew of Roush Racing Busch cars] or 3M.(7-30-2006)
UPDATE: been told that Ameriquest has signed a multi-year deal with Roush Racing to sponsor the 16 Ford and Greg Biffle. As for the #25, GMAC will back in some form in 2006.(8-10-006)
UPDATE 2: been told the National Guard will move to the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy and will team up to co-sponsor the team with GMAC.(8-19-2006)
UPDATE 3 - Roush still waiting on National Guard: Roush Racing is still awaiting word on whether the National Guard will return as primary sponsor on the #16 Ford driven by Greg Biffle next year. "We don't have an indication on what they are going to do for next year," Roush Racing President Geoff Smith said Saturday. "That is being more closely maintained by them. Sometimes it's typically later in the year when they have all of their options decided." Even if the team loses that sponsorship, there are other sponsors to fill in the gaps. That car has had several sponsors, such as Subway, which have been the primary sponsor for select races in the past couple of years. "We're covered," Smith said. "It's only a question of how the car is going to be allocated among those sponsors."(SceneDaily.com)(8-28-2006)

#100 for Wimmer and Vickers: #4-Scott Wimmer and #25-Brian Vickers are scheduled to make their 100th starts in Nextel Cup this weekend at Michigan International Speedway.(8-15-2006)

Vickers to drive for Red Bull Racing MORE: it was announced by Brian Vickers on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain that Vickers has signed with Red Bull Racing to drive one of their two Toyota's in 2007. Bill Elliott will drive for the team in three races and could run for the team full time in 2007, he will supposedly drive Dodge's in the three 2006 races.(6-25-2006)
MORE: As revealed this evening on Speed TV, Team Red Bull formally announces a multi-year agreement with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Brian Vickers, the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series champion, to race the #83 Red Bull Toyota Camry starting with the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. Rumors notwithstanding, more official information on the new team, including the second 2007 driver, will be made available later this year.(Red Bull Racing PR)(6-26-2006)

Vickers to run West Series race in special scheme UPDATE 2 wins the race: Along with running Sunday's NEXTEL Cup event at Infineon Raceway, #25-Brian Vickers will enter Saturday's NASCAR Grand National West Series race at the 1.99-mile road course. Making his first-ever start in the series, Vickers will drive a #17 GMAC Chevrolet with a paint scheme identical to the Busch Series car driven by the late Ricky Hendrick.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(6-23-2006)
on the Pole: Brian Vickers won the pole position for today's West Series race at Infienoen Raceway, had a best speed of 90.872 mph in a Chevrolet. Eric Holmes was second and Brian Ickler will start in the third spot.(San Francisco Chronicle)(6-24-2006)
UPDATE 2: Brian Vickers held off Boris Said to win the Blue Lizard Australian Suncream 200 NASCAR AutoZone West Series race Saturday afternoon at Infineon Raceway. Running the race to gain more road-course experience, Vickers sat on the pole and led 61 of the 64 laps. Said had to start from the back because of an engine change and worked his way to second. NASCAR West rookie Brian Ickler finished third and was the best series regular. Ken Schrader also competed in the race but was penalized for being too fast on pit road and finished 18th.(SceneDaily.com)(6-25-2006)

Vickers' Team Captures Pit Crew Win In Michigan: Brian Vickers' pit crew claimed the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge win in Sunday's rain-shortened 3M Performance 400, becoming the 10th Nextel Cup team of the season to capture the weekly competition. The victory was the result of Vickers' #25 Chevy spending the least amount of time on Michigan International Speedway's pit road - 337.524 seconds. "It was a solid performance by the GMAC Racing team on pit road at Michigan," said Hendrick Motorsports pit crew coach Mark Mauldin. "We had all of our regulars on the crew back in place and it showed. We expect to be able to win this award a couple of mores times before the season is finished." Vickers' over-the-wall crew includes: Mike Moore (jackman), Jake Brzozowski (front-tire carrier), Tony Hamm (front-tire changer), Matt Myers (rear-tire carrier), Jeff Fabian (rear-tire changer), Chris Fasulka (gasman), Chris Hamilton (catch can) and Jim Jenkins (windshield). Crew chief for the #25 team is Lance McGrew. The program awards $10,500 per week to the pit crew of the car spending the least amount of time on pit road. In addition, a bonus of $105,000 will be awarded to the pit crew with the most wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule. Jimmie Johnson's crew leads the season standings with three Checkers/Rally's Drive-Thru Challenge wins. Tony Stewart's, Elliott Sadler's and Kyle Busch's crews are tied for second with two wins each. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(6-21-2006)

Highlights from Rick Hendrick's teleconference: [#5, #24, #25, #44, #48] Car owner Rick Hendrick says his entire organization is excited about having Casey Mears on board beginning next season. Mears will take over the #25 GMAC Chevy for Brian Vickers who has decided to seek a fresh start [in 2007]. Vickers’ decision to move on has been especially emotional for Hendrick saying “It’s both the car and the driver that’s been a real emotional deal for me. This was my Dad’s team and he and Ricky decided to joint venture this car and the Busch Series car. Brian was Ricky’s pick and Brian has been like a part of our family...and I think that’s been good and bad for both Brian and I. I think it’s created a feeling that something’s missing for Brian that Ricky’s not here and I think it’s made it hard for me in trying to talk to Brian and treat Brian like just another driver. But at the same time I want what’s best for Brian...Brian and Ricky were close but Ricky and Casey were close so this deal is almost like one of my children is going on to do something else and I’m getting one of my other children back in the car. So, that way I think it’s been a little bit easier for me. I want the best for Brian whatever that is and I want him to be comfortable and have every opportunity to do everything in the sport he wants to do.” As far as the on-track run-ins between Casey Mears and Kyle Busch, Hendrick said both drivers have addressed their problems. Hendrick said “I think that deal has already been put to bed. I think there were a lot of things that have happened that the two guys just never got a chance to sit down and talk. That’s already happened now...that’s history and I don’t think there will be any problem at all.” If neither driver makes the Chase for the Championship Hendrick has no immediate plan to try and put Mears in the 25 car before the end of the season, but he also said never say never. “I think a lot of things have to fall into place said Hendrick. We want to do what’s best for our sponsor and look after our team and right now we’re focused on running the 25 with Brian Vickers. Chip Ganassi and Felix (Sabates)...I don’t know what their plans are...there could be a time in the future where we could all sit down and talk and it might make sense to do something different...but...we’re just keeping all of our options open. Right now we’re just going to focus on Brian and the 25.”(PRN's Garagepass Radio Show)(6-16-2006)

OFFICIAL - Mears to Hendrick #25 team in 2007: Car owner Rick Hendrick today announced the signing of driver Casey Mears to pilot Hendrick Motorsports' #25 Chevys in the Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2007. Financial terms were not disclosed. Mears, 28, inked a multi-year agreement that will keep him with the team through at least the 2009 racing season. He will replace Brian Vickers, who is slated to complete the current schedule after being granted a release from contractual obligations to Hendrick Motorsports beyond 2006. "Casey is a talented driver and a high-character person who is going to be a great fit with our organization," Hendrick said. "He has the ability to win races and ultimately contend for championships, so we're thrilled to welcome him to Hendrick Motorsports." In the midst of his fourth full season, Mears has posted two pole positions, five top-five finishes and 21 top-10s on the NEXTEL Cup circuit. The Bakersfield, Calif., native kicked off the 2006 campaign with a career-best second-place performance in the Feb. 19 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, where on Jan. 29 he became the first full-time NASCAR driver to be part of a winning Grand American Rolex 24 team. "I'm committed to winning races and going after championships with the #25 team," said Mears, the son of legendary off-road racer Roger Mears and nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Rick Mears. "This is an opportunity for me to work with close friends and start fresh with one of the top organizations in all of sports. It's an exciting situation for me, both personally and professionally."(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(6-14-2006)

Vickers looking to get out of contract? UPDATE 2: Hearing that Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports is now looking to get out of his contract with Hendrick after the 2006 season.(6-7-2006)
UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports has given driver Brian Vickers permission to seek a ride elsewhere in racing. Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex said Thursday that the driver of the team's #25 GMAC Chevy in the Nextel Cup Series had asked team officials for permission to pursue "employment opportunities outside our operation." Essex said "multiple years" remain on Vickers' contract at Hendrick.
AND rumors have Vickers going to the #88 Robert Yates Racing ride or one of the Red Bull Racing rides.(6-8-2006)
UPDATE 2: There's been speculation that Vickers might drive a Toyota for Team Red Bull next season. Team Red Bull general manager Marty Gaunt indicated in an e-mail that there's no deal yet with any driver. "Frankly, it is flattering to have this much interest in our new program, but the reality is that the driver search is still very open right now," Gaunt said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(6-9-2006)

Vickers Interview: Brian Vickers was in Somerset making an appearance for the Somerset Patriots minor league baseball team, Mike Ashmore of the Hunterdon County Democrat asked Vickers some questions:
About Toyota coming into the sport: "I think it's great. The more support we have from the more manufacturers, the better. It's irrelevant who it is. With NASCAR, I guess one of the rules is they have to produce the cars they race in Cup in America, which Toyota does. Those are the requirements, that they make most of their cars in America. You've got Chevy, Ford, Dodge and now Toyota, and it's only going to bring more attention to the sport. If more want to come, I think it'll be even better."
About backlash from the NASCAR fanbase about Toyota's foreign roots: "There's no way to predict that, but I don't think so. You look in the parking lot at a race or anywhere else, and there's cars from every manufacturer. There's always been a lot of support in NASCAR from the big three manufacturers, and everybody's always going to respect that. But the fact is, Toyota employs a lot of people here, and if they want to be here, they deserve to be here."
About Red Bull and Yates Rumors: "Who we've talked to is private. We're in the process right now...the only thing that's going on is Hendrick Motorsports and I are trying to figure out what we're going to do, and right now it looks like we're both going to look at other options next year for the betterment of both of us."
About a hot commodity: "It could potentially be a good position. Right now, we're focused on handling this thing the best we can with Hendrick Motorsports and we're looking at other options. What we decide to do is going to be held private until the time is right, and then we'll announce it."(Hunterdon County Democrat/Mike Ashmore)(6-9-2006)

Mears to Yates? or is it Hendrick? hearing that Casey Mears, current driver fo the #42 Texaco Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing could leave and go to Robert Yates Racing to drive the #88 Ford in 2007....no word yet on sponsor.
MORE: but hearing now that Mears is more likely headed to the #25 Hendrick Chevy that Vickers is leaving....(6-8-2006)

RYR Hopes to hear from UPS on decision soon; 4 Cup teams? UPDATE 2 Mears? Vickers?: Robert Yates Racing hopes to hear in the next two to three weeks whether UPS will return as a sponsor [on the #88 team], team general manager Eddie D'Hondt said Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. UPS is trying to decide whether to stay with RYR, move with current RYR driver Dale Jarrett over to Michael Waltirp Racing, where Jarrett will run a Toyota starting in 2007. or go to another team. "We're still talking with them," said D'Hondt, who added that there is no timeline for UPS to decide. "In three weeks time, I think we'll all know what we're all doing." The team is still in the early stages of looking for a replacement. It has two development drivers - Stephen Leicht and Matt McCall - currently running part-time Busch schedules. "There is a chance you may see them in a Cup car to get a race under their belt as the year goes on," D'Hondt said. "That's not written in stone, but it has been talked about. We're not going to rush them beyond what they are capable of. ... A year from now, I think Matt and Stephen will be ready." D'Hondt said eventually RYR would like to have four Nextel Cup teams and two Busch Series teams. "We're setting ourselves for a good future; we just have to live with what we're going through now," D'Hondt said.(SceneDaily.com)(5-20-2006)
UPDATE: RYR is also waiting to hear if #88 team sponsor UPS will remain with RYR next year, move to the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota team with Dale Jarrett or go to another team entirely. If UPS moves to Waltrip’s organization, that may bump the team from two to three cars. Waltrip’s own Toyota will be sponsored by NAPA and a second team car will fly the Burger King colors in 2007, leaving UPS as a possible sponsor for a third MWR car. On the driver front, the Yates crew is said to be hot after Casey Mears, the biggest remaining name free agent.(Speed Channel)
AND Who's the lead candidate for the #88 (possibly UPS) Ford in 2007? One name mentioned more than once is Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Chevy owned by Rick Hendrick.(CircleTrackPlus.com)
UPDATE 2: In response to the CircleTrackPlus.com posting up on the site today. The "Unsubstantiated Rumors' as they're classified as on the Web-Site are in fact just that. Vickers and Hendrick Motorsports remain committed to each other.(Hensrick Motorsports)(5-22-2006)

Inside Nextel Cup Show returns on Feb 13th: Dave Despain will once again climb into the host's chair for SPEED's popular Monday night program Inside Nextel Cup, beginning Feb. 13 at 7:00pm/et. Joining Despain, will be veteran drivers Michael Waltrip and Kenny Schrader, both in new rides for 2006. Brian Vickers, the Hendrick Motorsports driver who joined the show late last season, will return for 20 shows in 2006. "I think 2006 should be exciting for everyone - especially the fans of Inside Nextel Cup," said Vickers, the youngest national series champion in NASCAR history. "Kenny (Schrader) and Michael (Waltrip) are driving for new teams, the GMAC Racing team and I are ready and we're all optimistic about a new season. I've gained some valuable experience working with them and Dave (Despain) on the set, so hopefully I'll pass the SPEED rookie stripe to someone else and we'll bring viewers even more insight and entertainment. I appreciate the opportunity they've presented by welcoming me back to the program."
"It took a lot of courage for Brian to step onto a show that had changed for the first time in 10 years last year," said Chris Long, VP of Studio Production for SPEED. "We made some aggressive changes to a fan favorite SPEED show midway through the year and Brian did a great job blending in with the team. We're thrilled to have him back for 20 shows in 2006."(Speed Channel)(1-31-2006)

Vickers cleared to test: #25-Brian Vickers, who missed the Daytona test earlier this month because of sports hernia surgery, received clearance from his doctor Wednesday to participate in the Nextel Cup test at Las Vegas later this week. David Green will be on standby as a backup driver.(Charleston Post and Courier)(1-27-2006)

Hendrick offer bonus for The Chase: Hendrick Motorsports Team owner Rick Hendrick said he will split a $1,248,525 bonus between his four full-time teams if they qualify, figuring to increase his odds of winning the title. Last season Roush Racing placed its five Fords in the 10-race playoff among the top 10 drivers. Hendrick's lone qualifier, Jimmie Johnson, finished fifth. "We're thankful for what we've done, but that doesn't count," Hendrick said Wednesday during the media tour of Nextel Cup garages. "We're hungry for another championship here. We want to win Busch and Cup titles, we want to all be in the Chase, we have bonuses, we have coins that say all four are in the Chase ..." The bonus amount is comprised of the car numbers of four-time champ Jeff Gordon (24), Johnson (48), '05 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch (5) and Brian Vickers (25).(USA Today)(1-26-2006)

Hendrick makes $3 million donation in Ricky's name: Carolinas Healthcare System announced the commitment of $3 million from the Rick and Linda Hendrick family to benefit Levine Children's Hospital. In recognition of the gift, Levine Children's Hospital will dedicate its Pediatric Intensive Care Centers in honor of the Hendrick's late son and youngest child, Ricky Hendrick. Encompassing the sixth floor of the new hospital, the Ricky Hendrick Centers for Intensive Care will house the facility's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the region's first Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. The Centers will feature a five-room sleep inn for parents, two private family waiting areas, a large open waiting space and a state-of-the-art business lounge. "Our family is proud to make this pledge in Ricky's name," said Linda Hendrick, Ricky's mother. "He was a young man who would run, not walk, to wherever he was going. This hospital will make certain that others have the same opportunity." Lauded by planners as the hospital's "heart and soul," the Centers will treat the most critically ill and injured children from across the region. Upon completion in summer 2007, the 234-bed facility will be the third-largest of its kind in the southeastern United States and the largest between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. "Our son placed a great importance on doing one's part to help others," said Ricky's father, Rick Hendrick, chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsports. "He had a passion for making a difference in people's lives, which is exactly what Levine Children's Hospital will do for families of this region." Currently under construction on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center, Levine Children's Hospital will have the capacity to provide daily treatment to hundreds of patients from all walks of life. Its forward-thinking design will foster a warm and loving environment that is also state of the art. Levine Children's Hospital, already under construction on the campus of Carolinas Medical Center, will be dedicated solely to the needs of children and their families. Expanding upward to 12 stories, the new children's hospital will feature several of the region's "firsts," including a dedicated cardiac intensive care unit and a 24-hour pediatric emergency department.(Carolinas Healthcare System PR)(1-25-2006)

Mountain Dew signs on as sponsor for Hendrick Motorsports: Mountain Dew will be an associate sponsor of Brian Vickers' #25 GMAC Chevy throughout the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series season announcing a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports. The season will mark the 20th anniversary of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports team, which has 29 pole positions and 15 wins since 1986. Vickers will also pilot #57 Mountain Dew Chevys in three Busch Series races in 2006: Feb. 25 at California, May 12 at Darlington, and Aug. 19 at Michigan. Vickers will be featured in Mountain Dew advertising and on in-store display materials. He joins teammate #24-Jeff Gordon as part of the Pepsi-Cola racing team. Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew's parent company, has been involved with stock car racing for more than five decades. Today, Pepsi serves its products at 15 of the 22 NEXTEL Cup tracks and is the title sponsor of the Pepsi 400, which is held annually at Daytona International Speedway.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(1-19-2006)

Vickers to skip Daytona testing: Vickers comments from brianvickers.com: "I hate having to miss any time, but given the timing of it all and making sure the impact was minimal, the conclusion was for me to have the surgery, skip Daytona testing and rest in order to be able to get back in the car for the Las Vegas test. I appreciate very much David Green, who agreed to go to Daytona a few days early to help out with the #25 Cup test, and Justin Labonte, who will drive the #57 car during Busch Series testing."(Brian Vickers site), no word on what the surgery was for.(1-14-2006)

Past 2005 News

Vickers to test 'Car of Tomorrow' at Atlanta: Following Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway #25-Brian Vickers will remain in Atlanta to conduct a test session for NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports. He will be driving the next-generation NEXTEL Cup Series car, known as the "car of tomorrow." Several other teams that have built the new cars will be testing as well.(Hendrick Motorsports)(10-28-2005)

Georgia Pacific to Hendrick? hearing that Georgia Pacific, current sponsor for #45 Kyle Petty, will go to Hendrick Motorsports in some capacity. Could be as a full associate and part-time primary one or more of the Hendrick teams, which are #5-Kyle Busch, #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Brian Vickers, #44-Terry Labonte, #48-Jimmie Johnson. Petty had announced midseason Georgia Pacific would not be back, they were also rumored to be the new sponsor for Roush Racing's #6 with Mark Martin driving but looks like AAA will be the sponsor there. Georgia Pacific is scheduled to make an announcement of some sort at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday.(10-26-2005)

Hendrick unsure about attending Martinsville: Car owner Rick Hendrick won't decide until Sunday whether he’ll travel to Martinsville for the Subway 500 cup race. It was one year ago this weekend when a Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed into Bull mountain near Martinsville while attempting to land in foggy conditions.10 people lost their lives, including his son Ricky, brother John and head engine builder Randy Dorton. Hendrick told PRN'S Garagepass; “I’ve learned since the accident that I have to take things day by day. I can have three or four days great and then I’ll get really down and thinking about things. It could be somebody’s birthday or Ricky’s daughter comes over to the house or whatever and it just unleashes a lot of emotions so I just try not to make too many plans. I want to go back to support the guys and I also feel like you just can’t run from it. But, if that morning if it doesn’t feel right then I won’t go.”(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(10-20-2005)

OT to be paid: Hendrick Motorsports will pay more than $350,000 in back overtime wages to employees after an investigation found the racing company violated federal labor laws. The company, which designs, builds and races cars in NASCAR, acknowledged it failed to pay 214 salaried production workers $351,783 in overtime between July 2003 and July 2005. The U.S. Labor Department said it determined Hendrick violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. "We certainly wanted to make sure our employees received any compensation to which they were entitled, so we were glad to make the appropriate payments," Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex told The Associated Press on Saturday in an e-mail. "We've updated our internal policies and do not anticipate any ongoing issues."(ESPN.com/AP)(10-2-2005)

Fines, Penalties and Probations Result from New Hampshire Infractions
NASCAR issued fines and penalties Monday to four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams, resulting from rule violations this past weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway.
• Lance McGrew, crew chief for the #25 Chevrolet driven by Brian Vickers, was fined $10,000 and placed on probation for the remainder of the year. The #25 team had its primary car confiscated after the weekend’s initial inspection process, due to an unapproved car body. Vickers was penalized 25 driver points and car owner Mary Hendrick was penalized 25 owner points. The team was in violation of Section 12-4-A and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules).(NASCAR PR)
updated points on Jayski's Drivers/Owners Points after New Hampshire page.(9-19-2005)

Vickers car impounded UPDATE 2: the primary #25 Chevy failed inspection before the first practice and the team worked on the car and presented it before the 2nd practice [Happy Hour] and it failed inspection again and was impounded and confiscated by NASCAR. The team worked feverishly to get the back up car out and ready to pass inpsection to make a practice run but looks doubtful the car will get on the track, if so, Vickers will be qualifying a backup car with no laps at on it...and probably faces penalties/fines by NASCAR early next week.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)
NOTE: The #25 team was able to get the backup car thru inspection and Vickers got some laps in. Hendrick Motorsports says the car was not confiscated by NASCAR but the team forfitted the car to NASCAR when they decided they could do no more to make the templates fit.(9-16-2005)
UPDATE: The #25 Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports brought to New Hampshire International Speedway as the primary Nextel Cup car for Brian Vickers was in NASCAR's possession Friday after it failed inspection five times. "This was a brand new body that had never been raced," said Doug Duchardt, vice president of development for the Hendrick team. "We learned of a measurement issue during the inspection process and made attempts to correct it. But, after several tries, we decided to forfeit the car [to NASCAR] and go with our backup." The frustrated Vickers missed the first practice and got in just five laps in the second session for Sunday's Sylvania 300. "We made the decision to forfeit the car because we didn't feel it could be repaired in a reasonable amount of time," Duchardt said. "It was important to get out on the racetrack in the backup and prepare for Sunday. We have a very thorough system that should prevent these things, but something obviously fell through the cracks."(ESPN.com/AP)(9-17-2005)

UPDATE 2: Brian Vickers is running his backup car and feels glad to have it. His primary Chevrolet didn’t get through inspection on Friday, and NASCAR officials wouldn’t even let Vickers’ team go to a backup for qualifying without confiscating the primary car. What was the Hendrick Motorsports strategy in trying to slip the car through? Was the Vickers car used as a test to see what the team could get away with? Had it passed, would the car have been passed to teammate Johnson, a title contender, at a later date? Or would its construction have been been mimicked in Johnson cars? Are there cars in Johnson’s stable with those characteristics already in place? The problem was reportedly related to how, not whether, the car fit the aerodynamic templates used by inspectors. Officials “didn’t like the way” the templates fit.(Gaston Gazette)(9-18-2005)

Congrats: Multi-team [#5, #24, #25, #44, #48] team owner, Rick Hendrick welcomed new granddaughter, Josephine Riddick “Ricki” Hendrick, today [June 29th] at 2:49am/et. Ricki is the daughter of the late Ricky Hendrick, Rick's son, who passed away in the Hendrick Motorsports airplane crash near Martinsville, VA last Oct. Ricki and mother Emily are doing fine.(6-29-2005)

Executive Changes at Hendrick: In a tactical realignment of his business entities, Rick Hendrick today announced personnel changes affecting the Hendrick Automotive Group (HAG), Hendrick Motorsports and, now, the Hendrick Companies. As part of the refreshed business model, Hendrick introduced longtime Automotive Group executive Jim Huzl as president and chief executive officer of Charlotte-based HAG. In his new role, effective July 1, Huzl will oversee the direction of one of the nation's largest privately held auto retailers with 68 franchises, 4,000 employees and more than $3.5 billion in revenue. Sharing Huzl's former duties as HAG's chief operating officer will be three new senior vice presidents: Tom Blocker, East Division; Kirk Heppler, West Division; and Gary Davis, who will manage retail operations support. Huzl succeeds Jim Perkins, who will transition to become the first president and COO of the Hendrick Cos., an organization recently formed to manage strategic initiatives relative to Hendrick's various business enterprises. Perkins will continue to serve as a member of HAG's partnership committee.
Bobby Rice, a trusted friend and business associate of Hendrick since 1976, was named executive vice president of the Hendrick Cos. and special adviser to the chairman. Rice also will work in a consultative capacity with Hendrick Motorsports, which fields multiple stock-car racing teams in two different divisions of sanctioning body NASCAR..(HMS PR)(6-20-2005)

Vickers visit camp: On Tuesday, #25-Brian Vickers made the first of four scheduled trips to GMAC’s community outreach program, Team Focus. The weeklong summer camps provide fatherless boys ages 9-18 with leadership skills, guidance, Godly values and a continual relationship with a mentor. Vickers routinely spends time speaking with the youngsters about leadership, answering questions about racing and occasionally catching up with them on the baseball diamond or basketball court. In addition to visiting the Team Focus camp in Mobile, Ala., this week, Vickers will attend sessions in Michigan and Tennessee later this summer.(Brian Vickers site)(6-9-2005)

Vickers takes flight: It's fair to say that NASCAR driver #25-Brian Vickers has enjoyed a variety of unique and special opportunities as a result of his occupation. But on Thursday, the 21 year-old enjoyed arguably one of his most memorable personal experiences ever. He joined a very small group of civilians fortunate enough to ride in a U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat from the VF-101 "Grim Reapers" fighter squadron, currently based at Naval Air Station Oceana (Virginia Beach, VA). Visit www.brianvickers.com for the complete story and photo gallery on Vickers' ride.(5-14-2005)

Chevy Rock and Roll Schemes to be unveiled UPDATE 2 - IMAGES: Chevrolet will give race fans a taste of what they will see when they return to Richmond International Raceway in September for the Crown Royal IROC, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 200, Emerson Radio 250 NASCAR Busch Series and Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. As an official partner and longtime race sponsor at Richmond International Raceway, Chevrolet plans to unveil three Rock & Roll themed stockcars on Friday afternoon.(RIR Fact Sheet)(5-10-2005)
UPDATE: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have 3 Doors Down on his car. Others: #31-Jeff Burton / Big & Rich; #29 Kevin Harvick / e Gretchen Wilson; #10-Scott Riggs / Nickelback and #07-Dave Blaney / Drive by Truckers.(5-11-2005)
IMAGE added the #10 Nickelback and #29 Gretchen Wilson images to the #10 Team Schemes and #29 Team Schemes pages.(5-13-2005)
UPDATE 2: Chevrolet is mixing the red carpet with black asphalt announcing today that more stars and cars than ever will be part of the popular Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 10. NASCAR drivers #29-Kevin Harvick, #10-Scott Riggs and #25-Brian Vickers helped Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper unveil their musical artist-themed Chevy Monte Carlo racecars for the event. Chevrolet also will host a pre-race concert with Nickelback performing and Gretchen Wilson singing the national anthem.
Three of the specially themed cars that will compete in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 were revealed:
· Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Gretchen Wilson.
· Brian Vickers' #25 GMAC Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Green Day.
· Scott Riggs' #10 Valvoline Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Nickelback.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Chevrolet will be the title sponsor of the fall race at Richmond International Raceway. With more than 107,000 fans attending, the race will mark the 28th consecutive sell-out of a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at the track and will be broadcast live during primetime. The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 is the 26th race of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season and will determine the participants in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship." Today's announcement is the first of many musical pairings to be announced prior to the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Additional vehicles that will be participating in the event will be announced later.(Chevrolet-GM/Action Performance/RIR), see updated images and the #25 car on my #25 Team Schemes pages.(5-13-2005)

Vickers learning a new language: #25-Brian Vickers this week participated in the first of his many upcoming Spanish lessons. The Thomasville, N.C., native had his initial tutorial with Berlitz International, a company renowned for its language instruction. Vickers is working to complete the first level of proficiency (10 courses), which should take approximately seven weeks.(HMS)(4-14-2005)

Hendrick may attend Martinsville: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick is leaning toward attending today's Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway. It's the first event at the track since a Hendrick plane crashed on the way to Martinsville last October. Engine builder Randy Dorton, General Manager Jeff Turner, President John Hendrick and Vice President Ricky Hendrick were among the 10 killed in the crash. Besides his brother and son, Rick Hendrick also lost two nieces.(Richmond Times Dispatch)
NOTE: Hendrick is at the track today for the race.(4-10-2005)

Scooby Doo on the #25 UPDATE Johnny Bravo on the #5: #25-Brian Vickers is scheduled to run a Scooby Doo scheme at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. See an image on my #25 Team Schemes page.(4-6-2005)
AND #5-Kyle Busch will run a Johnny Bravo scheme at Bristol in August. See an image on my #5 Team Schemes page.(4-7-2005)

Busch and Vickers on Country Music Television Awards: On Monday, April 11, Hendrick Motorsports teammates #5-Kyle Busch and #25-Brian Vickers will travel to Nashville, Tenn., where the pair will be presenters at this year's Country Music Television Awards. Other attendees include Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Jeff Daniels, Gina Gershon, Dennis Hopper, Larry the Cable Guy, William Shatner and many more. The show will air live on CMT beginning at 8:00pm/et.(Hendrick Motorsports)(4-7-2005)

Vickers to test Bristol next week: #25 GMAC Racing Chevy and Brian Vickers are scheduled to test at Bristol Motor Speedway on Tuesday, March 15. The team already has completed tests at California, Daytona and Las Vegas this season..(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(3-10-2005)

Chevy Adds Vickers to Endorsement Roster: Chevrolet’s Racing division announced the addition of Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC/ditech.com Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, to their already impressive list of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup endorsers that includes 4-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon, Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and HMS teammate Jimmie Johnson. The personal services partnership is the first official manufacturer endorsement for Vickers and compliments an already extensive history between GM’s flagship racing brand and the 21 year-old sophomore Cup Series driver. For more information on Chevrolet and Brian Vickers, please visit www.chevrolet.com or www.brianvickers.com.(Brians Vickers PR)(3-2-2005)

More changes at Hendrick? UPDATE: hearing that Eddie Dickerson, Manager of Hendrick Motorsports Chassis Shop, which was responsible for building all of the Chassis, and hanging all of the bodies, has left the organization.(2-16-2005)
UPDATE: Eddie Dickerson, the director of chassis engineering at Hendrick Motorsports, left the team. Team spokesman Jesse Essex said Dickerson's duties likely will be split among several team members, including Doug Duchardt, who who left his position as director of GM Racing two weeks ago to become Hendrick's vice president of development.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(2-17-2005)

Brian Vickers & Carolinas Pizza Hut Stores Partner to Benefit VJGC: Representatives of North and South Carolina Pizza Huts announced they have entered a personal services partnership with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Financial Services Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, which will specifically focus on their mutual support of the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The partnership will include Vickers endorsing and representing 325 participating Pizza Hut stores located in North Carolina and South Carolina, which will include their efforts to help raise funds in support of the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a designated charity of both Pizza Hut in the Carolina’s and Vickers. The Carolinas Pizza Hut Stores previously committed support to Victory Junction and hope to raise funds and awareness through in-store promotions. Vickers supports the Camp as one of his designated charities and is a friend of the Petty family and fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and wife Pattie, who founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp in honor of their late son, Adam Petty. In-store promotions at participating Pizza Hut stores will include the opportunity for customers to win one of two special VIP Race Experiences awarded on behalf of Victory Junction. The VIP Race experience will give a customer a birds-eye view of what the pit area is like during a Nextel Cup Race. The winner will get two tickets, two pit passes and a “meet and greet” with Brian Vickers. For more information, visit www.victoryjunction.org, www.pizzahut.com or www.brianvickers.com.(Brian Vickers, LLC PR)(2-10-2005)

Vicker to run limited Busch schedule, Ore-Ida as an assoc on Cup car: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick announced that 21-year-old Brian Vickers will return to the NASCAR Busch Series for four races in 2005 with support from primary sponsor Ore-Ida and its Extra Crispy French-fry brand. As part of the agreement, Vickers will drive his four Busch Series races in Ore-Ida-wrapped #57 Chevrolets. In addition to its support of Vickers' Busch Series appearances, Ore-Ida will become a major associate partner of the #25 NEXTEL Cup Series team with Vickers as driver. Vickers, the 2003 Busch Series champion is scheduled to make his first Busch Series start of 2005 at Lowe's Motor Speedway May 28, followed by events at Daytona International Speedway in July, Michigan International Speedway in August and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(2-8-2005)

Hendrick announces new VP's: Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson announced that competition director Ken Howes and longtime General Motors executive Doug Duchardt have been named vice presidents over the organization's racing operations. Transitioning from his role of competition director, Howes has been tabbed as vice president of competition. The Johannesburg, South Africa, native will oversee Hendrick's day-to-day competition-related activities, now encompassing teams, crew chiefs and pit-crew trainers, along with at-track logistics and execution.
Duchardt, who most recently managed General Motors' North American motor sports initiatives as director of GM Racing, has been named Hendrick Motorsports' vice president of development, a position in which he will control race-car evolution through design, engineering and production in the chassis and engine areas.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(2-7-2005)

Vickers gets a major associate sponsor - Garnier Fructis: Garnier Fructis and Hendrick Motorsports announced a multi-year agreement featuring Garnier Fructis as a major associate sponsor of the #25 Chevys driven by Brian Vickers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The deal marks the first foray into motor sports by Garnier Fructis, the wildly popular unisex haircare brand owned by L'Oreal USA. In addition to the associate-sponsorship on the #25 GMAC / ditech.com Chevrolets in 2005, the union will be highlighted when Vickers and the #25 car don the trademark bright green Garnier Fructis color scheme in two races -- April 17 at Texas Motor Speedway and Aug. 7 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Under the associate sponsorship agreement, Vickers will serve as a spokesperson for Garnier Fructis haircare and styling products. His likeness will be featured in print advertising, at point-of-purchase and in-store displays, and throughout public relations campaigns and Internet initiatives.(Hendrick Motorsports PR), more info on Garnier Fructis at garnierfructis.com, image of the scheme on my #25 Team Schemes page.(1-25-2005)

New Spotter for Vickers: after many years with Richard Childress Racing, Spotter Danny Culler has left RCR and will be the spotter for #25-Brian Vickers at Hendrick Motorsports. Culler takes over for the late Ricky Hendrick.(1-12-2005)

Past 2004 News

Hendrick Awarded: Team owner Rick Hendrick is the latest winner of the Buddy Shuman Award: Buddy Shuman was a popular NASCAR driver in the early 1950s who died in a hotel fire in 1955. The award has been given annually since 1957, honoring someone from the NASCAR community for contributions to the sport. Hendrick, a popular figure in the garage area, lost his son, his brother, two nieces and two key team officials among the 10 persons who died in an Oct. 24 crash of a team plane on the way to a race in Virginia. Hendrick's team has won five Cup championships and fields cars in both the Cup and Busch Series.(Augusta Chronicle/AP)(12-5-2004)

Dorton Honored: The late Randy Dorton, the chief engine builder for Hendrick Motorsports, who was killed in an October plane crash, was honored as Clevite Engine Builder of the Year. The award was accepted by his widow, Diane Dorton.(ESPN/AP)(12-5-2004)

Rick Hendrick at the track: mulit-team owner [#5,#24,#25,#48], Rick Hendrick, is at the track and made a statement today in the media center, thanking the racing community and fans for their support in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash. No questions were taken, to see Hendrick's comments in full, see my Hendrick Tragedy Page.(11-20-2004)

Crew Chief Changes at Hendrick? UPDATE 3: hearing Hendrick Motorsports will make some changes with the #5 Kelloggs team [2005 driver Kyle Busch] and #25-Brian Vickers, supposedly starting with the crew chiefs.(11-18-2004)
UPDATE: Nextel Cup rookie Brian Vickers is expected to get a new crew chief next season and be reunited with Lance McGrew, the crew chief with whom Vickers won the 2003 Busch Series championship, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Vickers’ crew chief for the #25 GMAC/ditech.com Chevrolet this season, Peter Sospenzo, will remain with the Hendrick Motorsports organization in another capacity, sources said. Officials with Hendrick said Sunday no announcements on personnel changes will come until after the season.(ThatsRacin.com)(11-21-2004)
UPDATE 2: After a lackluster rookie year in the #25 car, Brian Vickers will be reunited with his Busch Series crew chief, Lance McGrew. They won the Busch title in 2003, and some were surprised when McGrew didn't join Vickers during his rookie year in Cup. Vickers' current chief, Peter Sospenzo, will join Terry Labonte's limited run in 2005 [in the #44], and Jim Long, who was crew chief for Labonte's #5 Kellogg's Chevy, will work on the NBS program with rookies Boston Reid and Blake Feese and possibly a driver or two from the Cup stable. Alan Gustafson, who previously was the team engineer for the #25, will be Kyle Busch's crew chief on the #5.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(11-22-2004)
AND Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick today announced key personnel changes affecting each of his organization's stock-car teams going into the 2005 NASCAR campaign. Racing veterans Jim Long, Lance McGrew and Peter Sospenzo will each assume fresh responsibilities next season, while lead engineer Alan Gustafson has been promoted to crew chief. As part of the restructuring effort, team executive Brian Whitesell will also transition into a new role. "With a new shop opening and drivers moving to different teams, it made sense for us to look at our organizational structure in a different light," Hendrick said. "These changes will create more opportunities for our folks and help us work together more efficiently."
GUSTAFSON TO LEAD KELLOGG'S RACING: Gustafson, 29, has been named crew chief of Hendrick's #5 Kellogg's Chevrolets, which next season will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rookie Kyle Busch as driver. A native of Ormond Beach, Fla., Gustafson cut his racing teeth working as a mechanic at local short tracks in his home state while taking mechanical engineering courses at nearby Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Gustafson moved to North Carolina in 1996 to pursue a career in motor sports, gaining experience with various teams before joining Hendrick's in-house chassis effort in 1999. He was named lead engineer for the No. 5 Cup Series team the following year.
LONG MOVES TO BUSCH SERIES: After leading the No. 5 NEXTEL Cup team for the past three years, Long will slide into the crew chief position with the No. 5 Lowe's-sponsored NASCAR Busch Series operation. The team has earned a championship, eight victories and six pole positions over the past two seasons. An announcement regarding driving duties for the No. 5 Busch Series team is forthcoming.
McGREW AND VICKERS REUNITED: A Baton Rouge, La., native, McGrew, 36, has been named crew chief of the NEXTEL Cup No. 25 GMAC Financial Services team, a move that reunites him with driver Brian Vickers. The duo already has an impressive track record, winning Hendrick Motorsports' first-ever Busch Series championship together in 2003.
SOSPENZO JOINS LABONTE EFFORT: A three-time winner on the NEXTEL Cup circuit, Sospenzo will work exclusively with two-time Cup Series champion Terry Labonte as crew chief of the new #44 Hendrick Motorsports team, which will attempt a 10-race schedule in 2005.
WHITESELL NAMED TEAM MANAGER FOR 5, 25 & 44: Whitesell, 40, will take on the newly created position of team manager for the Nos. 5, 25 and 44 NEXTEL Cup teams. A native of Stuarts Draft, Va., he most recently held an identical post with Hendrick Motorsports' Nos. 24 and 48 efforts.
Shop foreman Mark Thoreson and lead engineer Darian Grubb will share Whitesell's former duties with the "24/48" operation. The Nos. 5, 25 and 44 teams will be housed together in a new facility adjacent to the 24/48 building on the Hendrick Motorsports grounds. The new state-of-the-art shop is scheduled to open before the 2005 season.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(11-22-2004)

Randy Dorton/Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown: The event began with a moment of silence, but the roar of 600-horsepower engines soon filled the room as Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group employees gathered this week for the third annual Randy Dorton/Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. Sponsored by Dana Corp., the two-day contest teamed Hendrick Motorsports engine builders with Hendrick Automotive Group certified master technicians for head-to-head competition. Twelve pairs were clocked until their respective powerplant established a one-minute run after complete assembly, with the shortest elapsed time taking home first-place honors. Monday's qualifying round set the grid for Tuesday's finals, with the team of Jon Young and Mike Maiwald posting a build of 20 minutes, 52 seconds to tie the event record and earn the victory. Young is a Hendrick certified master tech from Gwinnett Place Honda in Atlanta, while Maiwald, of Hendrick Motorsports, is NASCAR's defending Engine Builder of the Year. For his efforts, Young was presented with an all-expenses-paid trip to the February 2005 events at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Runner-up Vince Bonfiglio, who teamed with Larry Zentmeyer, was also presented with a Daytona vacation package. Bonfiglio represented Hendrick BMW of Charlotte." This is a wonderful event that recognizes the > '> best of the best> '> in our industry," said Jim Perkins, Hendrick Automotive Group CEO. "It gives us the opportunity to bring the two companies together and acknowledge the contributions of our top-level staff." The brainchild of Rick Hendrick and the late Randy Dorton, the Showdown draws from more than 800 Automotive Group technicians, taking the 12 that are deemed most qualified by a one-of-a-kind Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exam created specifically for Hendrick employees. Those 12 are then paired with Hendrick Motorsports engine builders. Hendrick is owner of NASCAR operation Hendrick Motorsports, and chairman of the Hendrick Automotive Group, an organization comprised of 64 car dealerships across the United States, from the Carolinas to California. Dorton, recognized as one of the most gifted engine builders in NASCAR history, won nine championships during his two-decade tenure as head of Hendrick Motorsports' engine department before tragically losing his life Oct. 24. The Showdown was officially renamed in his honor shortly afterward. A silent moment of remembrance opened the competition at the Hendrick Motorsports Museum in Charlotte, and many of the participants wore red -- Dorton' s favorite color -- throughout the two-day experience.(HMS PR)(11-20-2004)

GM head of racing to Hendrick? General Motors' Doug Duchardt, head of the company's world-wide racing operations, is apparently being wooed by car owner Rick Hendrick to move to North Carolina to take a key position at Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick's racing operations were hard-hit by the plane crash three weeks ago that killed 10. Among those killed were John Hendrick, the company's president; Randy Dorton, the legendary engine builder and head of the company's engine department; and general manager Jeff Turner.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-13-2004)

Hendrick Motorsports update: Ken Howes, Hendrick Motorsports’ director of competition, played a major role in “talking the team through” the aftermath of the plane crash that killed seven employees of the team on Oct. 24. “He just took responsibility for taking us through that,” said Jimmie Johnson. A team spokesman, Patrick Perkins, said that Bobby Rice, a close business associate of Rick Hendrick, would oversee the operation for the time being while Hendrick recovers from the loss of his brother John, son Ricky and nieces Kymberly and Jennifer. Also lost in the crash were general manager Jeff Turner and head engine builder Randy Dorton. Jeff Gordon’s stepfather, John Bickford, will take on a more prominent role in the business side, and controller Scott Lampey will oversee financial operations. Jeff Andrews and Jim Wall will combine in directing the engine department.(Gaston Gazette)(10-30-2004)

Vickers wants to build a better reputation: #25 Rookie Brian Vickers has come under fire for his role in crashes during the last three races. The most notable was a Watkins Glen crash involving Dale Jarrett that may prove costly to Jarrett in his bid to get in the top 10 of the Nextel Cup points standings and qualify for the 10-race playoffs that begin in four weeks. “I’m embarrassed about what’s gone on during the last three races,” said Vickers. “Some were just racing incidents, and some were solely my fault. What happened at Watkins Glen with Dale (Jarrett) was a huge mistake on my (part) It was a case of me being way too impatient at that point in the race. It’s been a learning year for us. I’ve tried to build a reputation as a patient driver that’s around at the end of races. It seems like all the boneheaded moves I’ve avoided over the years have been dumped into the last three weeks. We’re going to move on, and I’m looking forward to getting things turned around this weekend in Michigan.”(Gaston Gazette)(8-20-2004)

Papa Joe Hendrick Passes Away: Joseph R. Hendrick Jr., father of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and company president John Hendrick, passed away Wednesday evening at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He was 84. Fondly referred to as “Papa Joe,” Hendrick began his auto-racing career in the early 1960s with longtime friend Frank Edwards, winning races throughout the state of Virginia at tracks like South Boston, Martinsville and Richmond. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will be immediately followed by a 1 p.m. memorial service at the Central Church of God, 5301 Sardis Rd., Charlotte, NC 28270. For friends and family in Virginia, a Sunday graveside service will be held at Union Chapel Methodist Church in Palmer Springs at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Nazareth Children's Home, P.O. Box 1438, Rockwell, NC 28138, or the Papa Joe Hendrick Fund, care of the Hendrick Marrow Program, 4400 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28262.(Hendrick Motorsports Site - more there)(7-15-2004)

Stewart goes after Vickers UPDATE: #20-Tony Stewart again finds himself in the middle of controversy, this time involved in an alleged physical confrontation with rookie #25-Brian Vickers. Following Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway, Stewart brought his #20 Chevrolet to a rest on pit road, exited his car and hurried quickly to Vicker's car. Witnesses said the two engaged in what appeared to be an amicable conversation at first, with Stewart leaning over the driver's-side window of Vicker's car. After a few moments, Stewart became quite animated, began reaching into the car and tried to pull Vickers out, witnesses said. Members of Vicker's team quickly grabbed Stewart and hustled him away from the car. Stewart and Vickers both made a trip to the NASCAR hauler after the race. Late Sunday, NASCAR President Mike Helton said the sanctioning body was still gathering information about the incident. Vickers, who remained at the track well after Sunday's race while Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon celebrated the win, said he had no idea why Stewart was upset. "He hit me earlier in the race and then he wrecked us in Turn 11 and that's why we spun there. Then after the race he came over to the car and then it just went from there. "I was still strapped in the car with my helmet off. He came after me in the car. He reached for me and knocked the breath out of me. It was not a fist and he didn't hit me in the face." Vickers said he laughed when Stewart yelled at him because he had no idea why Stewart was so angry. "He said that I laughed about the situation and when I laughed I pissed him off and that's why he did it. I'm not going to lie to him and say that I didn't smile about it," Vickers said. "Somebody is upset at me because they wrecked me and I thought it was funny."(ThatsRacin.com)(6-28-2004)
AND from a Raybestos ROTY report/PR: BRIAN VICKERS, #22 GMAC CHEVROLET:
NOTES: Vickers finished 22nd and took Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the fourth time this season.
WHAT WAS TONY STEWART SO UPSET ABOUT?
"To be honest with you, I have no idea why he is upset. He hit me earlier in the race and then he wrecked us in turn 11 and that's why we spun there. Then after the race he came over to the car and then it just went from there."
YOU WERE STILL SITTING IN THE CAR?
"I was still strapped in the car with my helmet off."
WAS HE YELLING AT YOU?
"At first it was a discussion about why he hit me and I thought it was kind of funny. I was trying to figure out why he was coming to me, mad at me, when he hit me. I was a little confused there and I thought it was kind of funny and that's when he came in the car after me."
WHAT DID NASCAR SAY ABOUT ALL THAT?
"You'll have to ask them for that. That's a question that you will have to ask NASCAR."
WHAT PREVENTED IT FROM GETTING OUT OF HAND?
"My team grabbed him off and pulled him off of me. He came after me in the car. He reached for me and knocked the breath out of me. Here's the deal: it was not a fist and he did not hit me in the face. He hit the armrest and he reached in the car and he grabbed me in the chest and when he did he hit me. It was kind of open-palm, grabbed my shirt. It was hard enough to knock the breath out of me and then he tried to pull me out of the car and that's when my guys grabbed me."
DID STEWART APOLOGIZE WHEN YOU GUYS MET WITH NASCAR AFTER THE RACE?
"He said that I laughed about the situation and when I laughed it pissed him off and that's why he did it. I said 'Yeah, I did laugh. I thought it was funny that you were mad at me because you wrecked me.' I thought it was funny. I'm not going to lie to him and say that I didn't smile about it. That's how I was raised. This is not a situation that I'm going to make a big deal out of. Somebody is upset at me because they wrecked me and I thought it was funny. He was always behind me. I never passed him, I was never behind him."
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH TONY BEFORE TODAY?
"No, actually Tony I get along. Well, we used to [laughs]. We used to get along fine, actually, I guess as well as can be."
ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT THINGS WILL SORT THEMSELVES OUT?
"I'm sure NASCAR will do the right thing. I'm sure they will handle the situation. They'll take care of it. If this happened at a restaurant, it would be my problem to handle. This happened at their racetrack and they're running the deal. It's their problem to handle and I'm sure they'll do the right thing. Right now, I'm looking forward to next weekend. What happens down the road happens. Am I happy with the guy right now? No, not really but I'm not going to make a big deal out of it. That's NASCAR's job to penalize people for things like that, not mine. Whatever NASCAR decides is their decision and I' support them in whatever they do."(Camp and Assoc.)
AND II After his visit to the NASCAR hauler Sunday, Stewart left without comment. But he and Vickers did speak afterward.(see another story at NASCAR.com)(6-28-2004)
UPDATE: Tony Stewart could get word today or Wednesday from NASCAR officials about his run-in with rookie Brian Vickers after Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-29-2004)

Off to F-1 for the day: Teammates #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Brian Vickers and #48-Jimmie Johnson and several Hendrick Motorsports team members hopped aboard a helicopter and then a private plane and headed for Indianapolis immediately after the final practice Saturday. They made the quick trip to Indy in time to watch qualifying for Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix and take a tour of the Formula One garages at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We're going to show these guys a little bit about what Formula One is like and how it works," said Gordon, who earlier this year caught an F1 race in Barcelona, Spain. Joining the drivers, who will start 1-2-3 in Sunday's race, were Chad Knaus, Johnson's crew chief, Hendrick Motorsports competition manager Ken House and Brian Whitesell, team manager for Gordon and Johnson.(Michigan Live/AP)(6-19-2004)

Papa Joe Honored: "Papa Joe" Hendrick, the father of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick who planted the seed that has grown into one of NASCAR's most successful organizations, was presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by N.C. Gov. Mike Easley on Tuesday. The award is the State of North Carolina's highest honor presented to an individual for dedication and extended length of service to his or her organization. Gov. Easley made the presentation at Hendrick's headquarters near Lowe's Motor Speedway, in front of nearly 450 of the organization's employees, including Hendrick Nextel Cup driver Jimmie Johnson, who won Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. "Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick you really have helped the weak grow strong and you've made the strong grow great," Easley said. "Because of the work that you two started many, many years ago, you have improved the quality of life of thousands of North Carolinians and those beyond this state."
"Papa Joe" Hendrick Jr., 84, has been in and out of a Charlotte, N.C., hospital battling cancer in recent months. He and his wife, Mary, were on hand Tuesday to receive the honor. Johnson and former Hendrick driver Ken Schrader made remarks during the presentation. Johnson lauded "Papa Joe" for his courage in the face of adversity. "Pop, you make us all wake up every morning and work a little harder seeing how hard you've fought through everything," he said. "You give us all a lot of inspiration to wake up each morning, put a smile on our face and get to work." "Papa Joe" Hendrick co-owns Hendrick's #5 Busch and #25 Nextel Cup series teams with his grandson, Ricky Hendrick. "Papa Joe" Hendrick began racing modifieds in the early 1960s. While fielding a car with driver Ray Hendrick (no relation), the team won races throughout Virginia at such tracks as South Boston, Martinsville and Richmond.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-2-2004)

Vickers testing at road courses: Only two of Nextel Cup's 36 races are on road courses, but the events are important enough that rookie Brian Vickers is doing extensive road-course testing before the tour travels to Infineon Raceway on June 27. Two weeks ago, Vickers tested at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C., with veteran Hendrick Motorsports teammate Terry Labonte. "Terry is very smart when it comes road racing," Vickers says. "I really learned a lot from him in Kershaw." The team also plans on testing at Virginia International Raceway, Infineon and Watkins Glen prior to the two Cup events.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-31-2004)

Hendrick to build new shop: Hendrick Motorsports plans to build a new shop for its #5 and #25 teams, a team source confirmed to NASCAR.COM on Friday. The shop will be built next to the two-year-old shop that houses the No. 24 and 48 teams in Harrisburg, N.C., near Lowe's Motor Speedway. Hendrick's pairing of Jeff Gordon's #24 and Jimmie Johnson's #48 teams in one location has proven successful, as Johnson has won seven times and Gordon eight times in the two-plus seasons they have been together. Hendrick hopes the 25/5 shop - which will be headquarters for drivers Brian Vickers and Terry Labonte, respectively - will be done by the end of 2004. Vickers' and Labonte's teams are currently in separate buildings, but Hendrick wants all four Nextel Cup teams as close to each other as possible. The #25 team is housed next to the current museum, which could expand slightly into the old shop. Or Hendrick's chassis engineering department, which needs more room, could take over the old #25 shop. Labonte's #5 team moved into Gordon's old shop. Plans for that building are unclear.(NASCAR.com)(5-22-2004)

New Book about Hendrick: UMI Publications, in conjunction with Hendrick Motorsports, is pleased to announce a new book celebrating 20 years of NASCAR competition by one of the most outstanding organizations in motorsports history. What began as a chance meeting between a semi-retired crew chief and a successful businessman with a passion for racing ultimately grew into a motorsports empire that garnered well over 100 victories and nine NASCAR championships in just its first 20 years of competition. "Twenty Years of Hendrick Motorsports" documents the history of Rick Hendrick's racing organization from its inception, in 1983, and recounts each racing season leading up to and including Hendrick Motorsports' historic milestone, its 20th season, in 2003.
Perhaps no other racing organization has accumulated such a record of success in such a short period of time, and "Twenty Years of Hendrick Motorsports" tells the whole story of how these achievements were accomplished. Quite simply, this is a story that needed to be told, and UMI Publications is honored to bring it to the public eye with award-winning writing and outstanding photos, many of which have never before been published.
"Twenty Years of Hendrick Motorsports" is available directly from the publisher for $34.95 plus shipping & handling, and may by ordered by contacting UMI Publications, Inc., at 1-800-747-9287 or by visiting their website at www.umipub.com. Book excerpts may be viewed at www.ThatsRacin.com.(5-20-2004)

Hendrick Motorsports Fan Festival - May 26-28: As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, Hendrick Motorsports will host a fan festival at its Charlotte-based headquarters May 26-28 prior to the May 30 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Free and open to the public, the festival was designed as a way to thank fans for their support of the team since its 1984 inception. Scheduled to run 8:30am until 6:00pm each day, the event will include interactive games, show cars, sponsor displays, product sampling and autograph sessions from past and present Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Townsend's Gourmet will sell food throughout the festival, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Hendrick Marrow Program. The 15,000-square-foot Hendrick Motorsports Museum will offer festival-goers a free-of-charge glimpse into HMS history, including championship trophies; three of Jeff Gordon's #24 Chevrolets; Tim Richmond's #25 Chevy; the very first #5 "All-Star Racing" car; and the "Days of Thunder" Lumina driven by Tom Cruise. The facility has recently been updated with new trophies, cars and other memorabilia. Lowe's Motor Speedway will provide free festival parking, which can be accessed at "Lot Z" off Speedway Boulevard in Concord. Trams will be available to transport fans from the parking area to the festival grounds. For additional information, including directions and schedule updates, fans may visit www.HendrickMotorsports.com or call 877-467-4890 toll free.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(4-28-2004)

Hendrick Motorsports 20th Anniversary 2004 Schemes: Celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2004, Hendrick Motorsports goes to Lowe's Motors Speedway with special paint schemes on the Chevy's for the race in October 2004. #25-Brian Vickers, #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, and #5-Terry Labonte of the HMS team will be racing together to commemorate the first twenty years of Hendrick Motorsports. These cars will be based on their primary paint schemes, but the colors will be replaced with a "silver on silver" paint palatte, giving them a platinum or chrome effect. Each car will have the Hendrick Motorsports commemorative 20th Anniversary logo.(4-23-2004)

Rick Hendrick gives CPCC $1 million: Rick Hendrick [#5, #24 and #48 Cup team owner], chairman of the national car sales company Hendrick Automotive Group, has donated $1 million to Central Piedmont Community College to build a center that will train mechanics in the latest automotive technology. CPCC will start construction on the Joe Hendrick Center for Automotive Technology, on the Levine Campus in Matthews, by fall. It should be completed by December 2005. The $4 million, 25,000-square- foot building will be named for Rick Hendrick's father, who has been involved in auto racing for more than 40 years. The other $3 million will come from bonds, donations and other sources, according to the college. Joseph "Papa Joe" Hendrick Jr., 83, co-owns Hendrick's #5 Busch and #25 NEXTEL series teams with grandson Ricky Hendrick. He is in a Charlotte hospital with an undisclosed illness.(Charlotte Observer)(4-22-2004)

Hendrick Motorsports signs prospects: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick today announced the signing of drivers Blake Feese, Boston Reid and Kyle Krisiloff, who will each compete under the Hendrick banner in 2004 thanks to a pair of developmental alliances that were also unveiled. Feese and Reid will each start a minimum of three ARCA Series events this season in the No. 5 Chevrolets of Bobby Gerhart Racing (BGR). The six-race schedule will serve as a driver-technology development project for Hendrick Motorsports, which will provide engines and chassis to the Gerhart team, headquartered in Lebanon, Pa. In addition to the alliance with Gerhart, Hendrick Motorsports has inked an agreement with Indianapolis-based SS Racing that will allow Krisiloff to compete in 13 American Speed Association (ASA) events in 2004. In only his second career start on the ARCA circuit, Feese won at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on April 9, leading 29 of 113 laps in the #5 BGR Chevrolet powered by a Hendrick engine. Although unannounced at the time, the race was part of the Hendrick-BGR developmental program. In addition to his ARCA victory at Nashville, the Saybrook, Ill., native is scheduled to compete on the circuit at Kentucky Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway, both in the month of May. Driving the #5 BGR Chevrolets, Boston Reid will enter ARCA events at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway in May, Kansas Speedway in June and Kentucky Speedway in July. Krisiloff, 18, will race full-time in ASA competition with SS Racing beginning on May 29 at Lake Erie (Pa.) Speedway. Driving the No. 06 Chevrolets, he will be a teammate of three-time ASA champion Butch Miller.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)
Cup team owner Rick Hendrick will be interviewed via telephone this evening on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel (10pm/et), discussing today's HMS announcement that Hendrick has signed drivers Blake Feese, Boston Reid and Kyle Krisiloff.(4-21-2004)

Update on the #25 Draftshaft Problem: Drive shaft failures are rare. In fact, prior to Brian Vickers' broken drive shaft at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series had gone more than a year since the last drive shaft failure, which seemingly victimizing the #10 Pontiac during practice at the 2003 Daytona 500. Whether or not the 10 car was a victim was answered in rather concrete terms when NASCAR levied a penalty against the team's crew chief for the use of an illegal, and excessively lightweight, part in the drive train. Vickers'#25 GMAC Chevrolet has now lost two drive shafts in the last three races, first during Happy Hour at Atlanta and next during the race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Answering the obvious questions, NASCAR sources say that the two failures were caused by different problems. The first one was the result of improper installation while the second one was attributed a weak part that failed in battle. There is no evidence indicating that the team is doing anything irregular.(Ford Racing)(4-5-2004)

Get Well The father of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, Joseph "Papa Joe" Hendrick Jr., is at a Charlotte, N.C., hospital with an undisclosed illness. "Papa Joe" Hendrick co-owns Hendrick's #5 Busch and #25 Nextel Cup series teams along with his grandson, Ricky Hendrick. "I just like to say my thoughts and prayers are with Papa Joe," said Kyle Busch, who drives the No. 5 Chevrolet and finished third in Saturday's race at Bristol, Tenn. "He's a little bit sick right now. I don't know exactly what it is, but my prayers are with him. "We just want to make sure that Papa Joe and Rick and everybody is OK at home."
"Papa Joe" Hendrick began racing modifieds in the early 1960s. While fielding a car with driver Ray Hendrick (no relation), the team won races throughout Virginia at such tracks as South Boston, Martinsville and Richmond.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-28-2004)

NASCAR looking at the #25: Nextel Cup series director John Darby said officials at NASCAR's research and development center will look into an incident involving Brian Vickers' car during a practice session at Atlanta on Saturday. The driveshaft on Vickers' car broke, apparently punching a hole in the bottom of the car and sending a small chunk of metal through the catchfence and into an unoccupied area of the grandstands. A broken driveshaft is relatively rare in NASCAR, and it certainly got Vickers' attention. "When it comes apart, it's pretty big," Vickers said. "But luckily I wasn't hurt, nobody else was hurt. I could have sworn it sounded like a bomb went off. I thought we were under attack."(USA Today)(3-15-2004)

Vickers fan club and website unveiled: Representatives of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rookie contender Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, have introduced his all-new official website, www.brianvickers.com, and 2004 Brian Vickers Fan Club (BVFC). For info on Vickers fanclub and other drivers fanclubs, see my Fan Club Info page. Cool note: portion of all BVFC proceeds donated to Brian’s designated charities.(2-18-2004)

Hendrick Motorsports Website Re-launched: Hendrick Motorsports today unveiled its new-look Internet presence, www.HendrickMotorsports.com, with a fresh design and unique features found nowhere else on the Web. The latest version of the site, which received more than 1 million visits in 2003, marks the second re-design since HendrickMotorsports.com was initially launched in 1998.(HMS PR)(2-10-2004)

Brian Vickers and T. Wayne Robertson Fund Team Up to Sponsor Camper Cabin at the Victory Junction Gang Camp: When NASCAR driver Brian Vickers won the 2003 Busch Series Championship, he carried a photo of Adam Petty in his driver’s uniform to remind him of his close friend and to keep his memory alive. Now, the 20 year old champion has teamed up with another friend, fellow racer Toby Robertson, and the T. Wayne Robertson Fund to permanently honor Adam and the memory of T. Wayne Robertson by sponsoring a camper cabin at the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The donation will simply be acknowledged as, “a gift from the friends of Adam Petty and T. Wayne Robertson in their memory.” Vickers and Robertson, son of the late T. Wayne Robertson – former head of RJR’s Sports Marketing Enterprises, are both friends of the Petty family and their son, Adam, in whose honor the Victory Junction Gang Camp was founded. “Our families and the Pettys have enjoyed a relationship for years,” said Toby Robertson, “and we’re proud that the T. Wayne Robertson Fund can continue giving back to the community by honoring the memory of Adam and my father.” The funds will be used to underwrite the cost of a camper cabin. Victory Junction will have sixteen 2,300 square foot cabins capable of accommodating up to 10 campers and 10 counselors each session. During family weekends and specialized retreats, the cabins will accommodate two families per cabin. The maximum capacity for the cabins will be 160 during camper sessions or up to 32 families during the weekend sessions. The T. Wayne Robertson Memorial Fund was established in 1998 and is managed by the Winston-Salem Foundation. The fund benefits a variety of local North Carolina charitable and public service-related efforts dear to Robertson, including the racing, police and fire department sectors.(Victory Junction Gang Camp PR)(1-29-2004)

EMP becomes an assoc sponsor for the #25: Hendrick Motorsports announced a multi-year agreement that will feature Engineered Machined Products Inc. (EMP), the world leader in automotive thermal cooling and oil management systems, as an associate sponsor of the #25 Chevrolets driven by Brian Vickers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. "EMP has already enjoyed a successful association with Brian and we're delighted they've chosen to continue that relationship by joining the #25 team," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "We're looking forward to many years of partnership." EMP began its relationship with Vickers in 2001 as a primary sponsor in the USAR ProCup Series and continued into the following year on the driver's NASCAR Busch Series entry.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(1-20-2004)

Ditech to move up to Cup: Ditech.com has elected to continue its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports in 2004 and will expand its involvement by joining the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series next season. Ditech.com will sponsor Hendrick Motorsports’ #25 Chevy driven by Brian Vickers.(Ditech Site), see images on the 2004 Cup Paint Schemes page or the #25 Team Schemes page (all will load, may take a bit)(1-1-2004)

Past 2003 News

New Spotter for Vickers: Ricky Hendrick, owner of the #5 GMAC Busch Chevy, has assumed Winston Cup spotting duties for Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet. Hendrick made his spotting debut last week at North Carolina Speedway and will continue at Homestead.(Hendrick Motorpsorts PR)(11-13-2003)

Delphi to be major assoc of the #5 and Terry Labonte in 2004: Delphi Product & Service Solutions, part of Delphi Corp. announced today that they are renewing their relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and will become a major associate sponsor of the #5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2004. "We are very excited about the new sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports on the No. 5 car," said Francisco A. (Frank) Ordonez, president, Delphi Product & Service Solutions and vice president, Delphi Corporation. "Our relationship with Hendrick Motorsports has been successful both on and off the racetrack during the past three years, and this new agreement demonstrates our commitment going forward. We are thrilled about having the Delphi brand associated with the winning tradition of the No. 5 team." Delphi will be prominently featured on the #5 Chevy in all Nextel Cup races during the 2004 season. In addition, Delphi will be the primary sponsor of the car at the Brickyard 400, along with three other events, yet to be determined.(Yahoo Biz)(11-4-2003)

Hendrick buying the #01 and half of the #10? UPDATE Denied: hearing Hendrick Motorsports/Rick Hendrick may be purchasing the #01-US Army MB2 team and half of the #10 MBV Valvoline team. Joe Nemechek drives the #01 Pontiac and Scott Riggs will drive the #10 Valvoline Pontiac in 2004. Johnny Benson is the current driver.(10-24-2003)
UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports [HMS] officials on Friday denied an Internet report that it was considering buying into MB2/MBV Motorsports which currently fields Pontiacs for Winston Cup drivers Joe Nemechek and Johnny Benson. Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex said HMS is not interested in buying any or all of the MB2/MBV teams. The interest in Hendrick's relationship with MB2/MBV has been fueled by several arrangements recently between the two organizations, including the move of Hendrick's former driver, Nemechek, to MB2's #01 team. Hendrick also had a tentative arrangement to place its Busch driver, Brian Vickers, in MB2's #01 the final four races of this season. That deal was nullified when Nemechek left for the #01, and Vickers moved to HMS' #25, which he will run full time in 2004. Also, HMS currently provides all the engines for the MB2 and MBV teams.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-24-2003)

Vickers not the Youngest UPDATE well...looks like he is: Brian Vickers will come to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series next season driving for Rick Hendrick [#25]. When the season begins he'll be 20 years old, making him one of the youngest full-time drivers in series history. But he won't be the youngest. That distinction belongs to Bobby Hillin Jr., who was 19 years old at the start of the 1985 season. Of course, you could also throw in Richie Panch, who was 19 and drove 28 races during the 1974 season. Panch, though, gets an asterisk in this statistical category: there were 30 races in the 1974 season, leaving him two short of true full-time status.(NASCAR PR)(9-10-2003)
UPDATE: According to research, if Brian Vickers starts every Winston Cup race next season, he will be the youngest driver ever to run a full season [all 36 races] in the modern era. Panch was younger in 1974, but he didn't start every event on the schedule that year [28 of 30]. Actually Hillin was born in June of 1964, so he turned 21 in June of 1985, his first full season. Vickers will turn 21 in October of 2004. Some asked about Kyle Petty, his first full year was 1981 and he turned 21 in June of that year.(9-11-2003)

and....Vickers to drive final four Cup races in the #25: Brian Vickers will drive the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet in the final four NASCAR Winston Cup Series races of 2003 it was announced today by Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick. Vickers will succeed Joe Nemechek, who was named driver of the #01 Winston Cup entry this afternoon. Nemechek, 40, will compete at Martinsville Speedway in the #25 Chevy before moving full-time to MB2 Motorsports the following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "This opportunity affords both Brian and Joe the chance to get a jump on next season with their new teams," Hendrick said. "It's something that we all feel is mutually beneficial for the drivers and organizations alike. Joe led the #25 team back to Victory Lane and handled himself like a genuine professional from Day One. We truly appreciate everything he's done for Hendrick Motorsports, both on the race track and off." Originally scheduled to drive the #01 car in the final four Winston Cup events of 2003, Vickers will pilot the #25 Chevy at Atlanta, Phoenix, Rockingham, N.C., and the season finale at Homestead, Fla. He will drive the car full-time next season with primary sponsorship from GMAC Financial Services. Vickers, who will turn 20 on Oct. 24, made his Winston Cup debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday, starting 20th and finishing 33rd in the #60 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(10-13-2003)

Nemechek close to 2004 ride? UPDATE 3: not sure who, but hearing Joe Nemechek, currently in the #25 Hendrick Motorpsorts Chevy, is close to signing a deal with an established Cup team, not PPI Motorsports 2nd team. Hearing it could be the #01 US Army team.(10-11-2003)
Nadeau part time in 2004? UPDATE Nemechek in the #01; Vickers to the #25 after Martinsville: Hearing an announcement will come Monday morning regarding the #01 and the driver for next year, with a rehab program for Nadeau that will encompass 12-15 races in 2004.(10-12-2003)
UPDATE 2: Joe Nemechek will leave his #25 UAW-Delphi Chevy team following next weekend's race at Martinsville, and run the final four races of the season with MB2 Motorsports and its #01 US Army Pontiacs. In addition, Nemechek will remain with MB2 as the team's driver for the 2004 season, sources said. A formal announcement of the driver change is expected as early as Monday. Hendrick's Busch Series driver, Brian Vickers, has already been named as the driver of the #25 in Cup in 2004 and was planning to run the final four races this season in the #01. He will now run those races with his new team, Hendrick's No. 25, sources confirmed. Officials with Hendrick and MB2 could not be reached for comment Sunday night. Jerry Nadeau started the season in the #01, but suffered serious head, lung and rib injuries in an accident in practice May 2 at Richmond. In recent weeks, officials with MB2 have said they were holding Nadeau's seat for him in the #01. Nadeau has undergone extensive rehabilitation but is not yet ready to run a full Cup schedule. Instead, MB2 is expected to announce a plan to provide Nadeau opportunities to drive in various NASCAR events in 2004, sources said.(ThatsRacin.com)
UPDATE 3: As Jerry Nadeau continues to recover from a head injury he suffered in a May 2 accident at Richmond International Raceway, MB2 Motorsports announced today that Joe Nemechek has agreed to drive the #01 U.S. Army/MB2 Pontiac in the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season and in the final four races of the 2003 season. MB2 Motorsports also announced it has teamed with Hendrick Motorsports and NEMCO Motorsports to establish a recovery driving program for Nadeau that will most likely include a mixture of Nextel Cup, Busch and ARCA races during the 2004 season. "We were faced with circumstances that none of us wished we had to deal with," said Jay Frye, general manager of MB2 Motorsports. "But due to the reality of our current situation, we felt in the best interests of Jerry and of the race team this was the right path to take as we head into the 2004 season. Jerry continues to make progress and once he is ready to return to driving, we'll have a program in place that will allow him to gradually make his comeback to Cup racing. The uncertainty of how long his full recovery will take is difficult for everyone, but Jerry is a young (33-years-old) and determined individual who has many years of racing ahead of him." Nadeau said he is frustrated at times by his recovery progress, but he is ready for the challenge and looks forward to the day when he will be able to get behind the wheel of a racecar and be competitive. "I have repeatedly said that I will not rush back," said Nadeau. "I still have a ways to go, but I will get there. To be honest, the reality of not being able to come back sooner than I would have liked, is hard to take. But I want to do this right and I am grateful to MB2, Hendrick Motorsports and NEMCO Motorsports for giving me the opportunity to work my way back to the Cup series." Nemechek, who has been racing full time on the NASCAR Cup circuit since 1994, most recently in the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports entry, has three career victories, including a win at this year's spring race in Richmond.(US Army PR)(10-13-2003)

Nemechek has many options: Joe Nemechek, who has lost his ride with #25 Hendrick Motorsports after this year, is reportedly under consideration to drive a Dodge [I think teh author meant Pontiac and made a mistake, have heard nothing about Wells switching to Dodge] for Cal Wells if Wells is successful in adding a second team for 2004. Neither Wells or Nemechek has said much about the possibility, although Wells has said he is working with a potential sponsor for a second car. Wells, a highly successful owner in Indy Car racing, started a NASCAR team with driver Ricky Craven. Wells has long felt that singlecar teams are at a distinct disadvantage in Winston Cup racing and feels he needs a second team to be competitive. "I feel real good about next year," Nemecheck said. "We've got a lot of things going. I talk with Rick (Hendrick) almost every day. He's really trying to help me out. In fact, if they get another sponsor, there's a possibility something could happen here." In addition to Wells and Hendrick, Nemechek has been in contact with DEI and Richard Childress.(Lakeland Ledger)(9-28-2003)

Vickers adds another 2003 Cup race: Hendrick Motorsports is planning to move up the Winston Cup debut of its Busch Series driver, Brian Vickers. Vickers, who leads the Busch points race, was already planning to run this season's last four Cup races with MB2 Motorsports. He will move full time to Cup next season in Hendrick's #25 Chevrolet [with GMAC as a sponsor]. However, Vickers, 19, now hopes to make his Cup debut in the Oct. 11 UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., where he will run the #60 Chevrolet, Hendrick's research and development team. Hendrick officials confirmed the plans Friday. The Busch Series is off this weekend and Vickers was away testing and unavailable for comment.(ThatsRacin.com)(9-26-2003)

Hendrick Named NCMA Vice Chairman: Richard Petty, chairman of the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA), announced today that Rick Hendrick has been named vice chairman of the NCMA board of directors. "It is an honor to accept the position of vice chairman of the North Carolina Motorsports Association," Hendrick said. "I look forward to working with Richard and the board of directors in promoting and growing our sport statewide. The NCMA has served as the unifying voice for the racing industry in North Carolina for more than a year, and I'm proud to be a part of that continuing effort." Hendrick succeeds Keystone Marketing Co. Inc. president Roger Bear as the NCMA vice chairman. Bear will continue to serve the organization as an active board member. "Many thanks to Roger for his efforts and support in getting this great organization off the ground," said Ed McLean, NCMA executive director. The North Carolina Motorsports Association is a nonprofit corporation designed and structured to be an effective representative and proponent of and for the motor sports industry in North Carolina. The NCMA is a trade association of businesses and individuals involved in motor racing in North Carolina. Further information on the NCMA can be accessed via the organization's Web site, located at www.ncmotorsportsassociation.org.(North Carolina Motorsports Association PR)(9-25-2003)

Vickers to run some Cup races end of 2003: Brian Vickers, who will drive the #25 GMAC Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in Nextel Cup in 2004, says he has learned a lot by racing Cup drivers in the Busch Series. Currently third in the Busch standings, Vickers, 19, says his immediate goal is "to get as much experience as possible and be there at the end of the race." He will run five Winston Cup races later this season, and Peter Sospenzo will remain his crew chief.(FOX Sports/Sporting News)(9-8-2003)

Nemechek still working on his deal UPDATE Nemechek out/Vickers In the #25 for 2004: [#5, #24, #25, #48, #60] team owner Rick Hendrick is pondering next season's Winston Cup lineup, and team sources say that either Kyle Busch or Brian Vickers could be promoted to a full-time ride. In fact, an announcement could come Tuesday. Despite his victory at Richmond in May, #25-Joe Nemechek senses that he's on the hot seat. Terry Labonte is also trying to negotiate a new contract. "'There is a lot of stuff going on at Hendrick Motorsports, and I don't know the answers,' Nemechek said. 'Rick said in a week or two everything would be decided. It's a great organization, and I'd love to finish out my career there. But if I can't, man, I've got some great experiences here."(from the Winston Salem Journal)
AND Nemechek, 39, hopes his contract will be renewed for next season and is awaiting word from owner Rick Hendrick. Nemechek says the No. 25 Chevrolet is the best car he has driven in his 11 seasons in Cup competition, and he should be a factor in several races down the stretch, including New Hampshire, Charlotte, Atlanta and Rockingham.(from the Sporting News)(9-1-2003)
UPDATE - Vickers to Cup in 2004 in the #25: Hendrick Motorsports #5 Busch Series driver, Brian Vickers, is getting a bump up to Winston Cup. Vickers, 19, and his Busch Series sponsor, GMAC, will move to Hendrick Motorsports' #25 Chevy next season, ThatsRacin.com has learned. An official announcement of Vickers' move could come as soon as Tuesday afternoon. Vickers will replace Joe Nemechek, who has spent over a year in the car and won earlier this season at Richmond, Va. Nemechek is 23rd in points, with a win, one top-five and four top-10 finishes. He has also failed to finish six races. Following his win last weekend, Vickers moved into third in Busch points, just 67 behind leader Scott Riggs. He has won two of the past four races (Indianapolis and Darlington). Vickers' move to Winston Cup will open his #5 Chevrolet ride in the Busch Series. Hendrick plans to move 18-year-old Kyle Busch into the ride next season, sources said. Busch, brother of Winston Cup standout Kurt Busch, has been running a combination schedule of Automobile Racing Club of America and Busch series races this season. He has two ARCA wins and two poles in five starts and has finished second twice in three Busch starts.(ThatsRacin.com), see the official releases at the Hendrick Motorsports site.(9-2-2003)

Special decal for Hendrick cars: The teams of Hendrick Motorsports [#5, #24, #25, #48] will carry very special artwork during this weekend's events at Bristol in support of one-year-old Cole Jackson of Waxhaw, N.C. The "C-post" decals will feature "Get Well Soon" wishes to the youngster, who suffers from bilary atresia, a rare liver disease that affects one in 15,000 babies and requires a liver transplant. Hendrick Motorsports president John Hendrick met the Jackson family at a charity golf tournament earlier this year and will lend his support at a silent auction at Firethorne Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday, Aug. 24. For more information, visit www.HendrickMotorsports.com or www.TheJacksonFour.com.(HMS PR)(8-22-2003)

UAW leaving but... as announced previously, UAW will not return in 2004 to sponsor the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy and driver Joe Nemechek, however, Delphi, co-sponsor on the car the past few years, will return in some form. The team is not worried about landing a replacement for UAW.(Wisnton Cup Scene - need sub to read)(8-8-2003)

Vickers may debut in Cup later this year: Car owner [#'s 5,24,25,48,60] Rick Hendrick said he plans to put Brian Vickers in a Cup car this season, most likely in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hendrick said Vickers has tested a Cup car in Kentucky during an engine test.(Roanoke Times)(8-4-2003)

#25 Crewman Injured at Pocono: #25 Front-tire carrier Kevin Sigafoos was injured on Sunday at Pocono while repairing damage to the #25 Chevy's left-front fender caused by a brush with the #41 car of Casey Mears. Sigafoos was taken to the infield care center where he received four stitches to his right ring finger. Despite the injury, Sigafoos plans to go over the wall this weekend at Indianapolis.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(7-30-2003)

#25 Looking for a sponsor in 2004? UPDATE UAW Will NOT Return: quote from DEI's Ty Norris at the WSJ: 'You have Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Racing, DEI and Jim Smith ... and somebody is going to be left out because we're not even aware of two companies willing to spend that kind of money, let along four,' Norris said. Norris is worried about finding someone willing to write a check for the $12 million to $18 million it takes to feed these monster teams. I don't know if Rick Hendrick will run Joe Nemechek's [#25] car white (UAW isn't expected to renew)(Winston Salem Journal)(7-27-2003)
UPDATE: Add Hendrick Motorsports to the growing list of Winston Cup organizations looking for new sponsors for next season. UAW, which along with Delphi co-sponsors Hendrick's #25 Chevrolets driven by Joe Nemechek, has informed the team it will not return in 2004, ThatsRacin.com has learned. UAW's decision is not based on team performance, sources said. Asked about the sponsor and driver contracts, Hendrick team spokesman Jesse Essex said Tuesday the team does not comment on contract negotiations.(ThatsRacin.com)(7-29-2003)

Soap Box Derby UPDATE add Stewart: #32-Ricky Craven and #25-Joe Nemechek will fly to Akron, OH, following the final practice session at Pocono Raceway on Saturday afternoon. The two drivers will attend the 66th-annual All-American Soap Box Championship at Derby Downs in Akron, where they will present trophies to the winners of the event. Craven and Nemechek will also take part in a special match race in adult-sized soap box racers.(PPI Motorsports PR), also for more info, see the All-American Soap Box Derby site.(7-22-2003)
ADD STEWART: Following Saturday's final practice for the Pennsylvania 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway, Home Depot Chevrolet driver Tony Stewart will fly to Akron, Ohio to participate in festivities surrounding the 66th running of the All-American Soap Box Derby. The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer and title sponsor of the All-American Soap Box Derby, invited Stewart to take a break from his Winston Cup duties to join the 430 youngsters competing for more than $50,000 in scholarship awards. "Soap Box racing is all about the kids," said Stewart, who started racing go-karts at age seven and was a three-time karting champion.. "I've been in their shoes, where you're doing all you can to be your best, and testing your hard work against a bunch of other kids who are doing the same thing.. Being in Akron is the payoff for all of their efforts, and I'm happy to share in the excitement with them."(True Speed Communication PR)(7-23-2003)

Hendrick Third at Daytona: Car owner Rick Hendrick, who fields Chevy for #5-Terry Labonte, #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson and #25-Joe Nemechek [plus this week, #60-David Green], is third all-time with seven Winston Cup victories at Daytona. He trails only the Wood Brothers (12) and Petty Enterprises (11). Gordon (four), Geoffrey Bodine, Tim Richmond and Darrell Waltrip all have driven Hendrick cars to first-place finishes here, including four Daytona 500s.(Gaston Gazette)(7-5-2003)

Rock n' Roll at Richmond in Sept UPDATE 2: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. featuring the band Staind; #20-Tony Stewart featuring the band Diamond Rio; #15-Michael Waltrip featuring the band Hootie & The Blow Fish; will run at Richmond in Sept. Supposedly the "Chevy Rocks" program is said to be similar to the Looney Tunes program ran at Richmond the last couple of years in that it will include many Chevy teams from Cup and maybe some Busch and Truck Series.(4-25-2003)
UPDATE: add Busch driver #2 Ron Hornaday with the band Trapt and #30 Steve Park (sure is weird not putting #1) with Third Eye Blind.(5-16-2003)
UPDATE 2: Warner Music Group (WMG), Chevrolet and Action Performance Companies, Inc. announced today that some of the hottest names in music and NASCAR will team up for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCARâ Winston Cup Series race on Saturday, September 6 "under the lights" at Richmond International Raceway. The campaign kicked off today in the Chevrolet Rock & Roll Tour at Charlotte's Food Lion Speed Street festival and featured a performance by Elektra Recording artists Third Eye Blind and appearances from NASCAR drivers #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #15-Michael Waltrip and #25-Joe Nemechek (with Uncle Kracker). In addition, representatives from WMG, Chevrolet, Richmond International Raceway and Action Performance unveiled the official Chevy Rock & Roll 400 pace car and event logo. Steve Park and his #30 AOL Chevrolet show car featuring Third Eye Blind were also on hand for the announcement.(RIR PR), see full PR and images of the #8, #15, #25, #30 on my Paint Scheme Gallery page, also, #29-Kevin Harvick is part of the program and will be paired with the band ZZ Top.(5-22-2003)

Hendrick To Team With U.S.S. Nimitz At LMS Cup Entries Provide 'Friendly Competition' For Squadrons: Hendrick Motorsports will join forces with the U.S. Navy this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where all four of the team's NASCAR Winston Cup Series entries will display decals from fighter squadrons of the U.S.S. Nimitz (CVN 68 - more info at their site), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout the week leading up to Sunday's 600-mile event, each Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will display the Nimitz logo on the driver's side "C-post," along with the logos of two individual squadrons on the car's opposite side. The eight units were able pick which entry would carry their artwork, adding some "friendly competition" between squadrons.
The decals, also known as "zappers," will be distributed as follows:
#5 Kellogg's / got milk? Chevrolet and driver Terry Labonte: VFA-41 "The Black Aces" (based in Lemoore, Calif.) and VFA-14 "Tophatters" (Lemoore).
#24 DuPont Chevrolet and driver Jeff Gordon: VFA-97 "Warhawks" (Lemoore) and VFA-94 "Mighty Shrikes" (Lemoore).
#25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet and driver Joe Nemechek: VAQ-135 "Black Ravens" (Whidbey Island, Wash.) and VAW-117 "Wallbangers" (Point Mugu, Calif.).
#48 Lowe's Chevrolet and driver Jimmie Johnson: VS-29 "Dragonfires" (San Diego) and HS-6 "Indians" (San Diego).
Each squadron employs up to 250 people and carries between four and 14 aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, EA-6B Prowler, E-2C Hawkeye 2000, S-3B Viking, and SH-60B Seahawk. On Aug. 5, 2002, six Hendrick Motorsports employees spent a day on the Nimitz as part of the Navy's Distinguished Visitors Program, an initiative designed to increase public awareness and appreciation for the Navy. Named after Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, the ship was commissioned on May 3, 1975 in Newport News, Va., and is the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in her class. More than 18 stories high from keel to mast, the Nimitz was deployed to the Arabian Gulf from its home base in San Diego on March 3.(HMS PR)(5-21-2003)

Nemechek wins at Richmond: #25-Joe Nemechek wins a slightly rain shortened Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Speedway, his first win in 45 races when he last won at Rockingham in November 2001. #18-Bobby Labonte was 2nd, his third 2nd place finish in a row. The race was rain shortened by 7 laps [393 run of 400 scheduled]. The win puts Nemechek in The Winston [23 drivers eligible + the Winston Open winner]. #31-Robby Gordon [4th] and Nemechek get their first top fives of 2003. Jason Keller finished 32nd in the #01 US Army Pontiac subbing for injured Jerry Nadeau. Ironically it was the first win for the #25 team since Nadeau won at Atlanta in 2000.
See my Pontiac Excitement 400 Info page for my race rundown, with cautions and why, lap leaders, dnf's, and Notes.
Race Results at Jayski's Pontiac Excitement Results page and at:
ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com or MotorsportsOne.(5-3-2003)

#600 for Hendrick: When the teams of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series take the green flag at Richmond on Saturday, it will mark the 600th race started in the storied 19-year history of Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick teams have brought home 110 wins in 599 Winston Cup events [18.7%]. The four Winston Cup teams of Hendrick Motorsports [#5, #24, #25, #48] will display a special "600th Start" decal at Richmond. The artwork will take the place of the HMS logo on the "B-post" of each car.(HMS PR)(5-1-2003)

Hendrick Teams To Carry Patriotic Decal: In support of American soldiers at home and abroad, the NASCAR teams of Hendrick Motorsports will display patriotic artwork on the "C-post" of their Chevrolet Monte Carlo race cars beginning with this week's events at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. "During these turbulent times, it's especially important that we show support for the men and women of the United States military," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "This is a small gesture to show that our thoughts and prayers are centered around these brave individuals and their families." In the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the decals will be carried on the #5 Kellogg's / got milk? Chevy of Terry Labonte, the #24 DuPont Chevy of Jeff Gordon, the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevy of Joe Nemechek and the #48 Lowe's Chevy of Jimmie Johnson. The #5 GMAC Financial Services Chevy of Busch Series driver Brian Vickers will also display the design, which depicts a yellow ribbon wrapped around the American flag.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(3-20-2003)

Nemechek OK: Joe Nemechek, who stepped out of his pole-sitting BGN car Saturday while battling a 24-hour flu bug, said Sunday morning he felt "like a million-and-a-half bucks." Nemechek is scheduled to start 15th in the "Great American Race" at Daytona, but gave up the seat in his own Cellular One Pontiac for Saturday's Koolerz 300. "I feel good," Nemechek said after exiting Sunday's pre-race drivers' meeting. "Yesterday I got my butt kicked by some sort of bug or virus or something -- but I feel really good today."(NASCAR.com)(2-16-2003)

Spying on the Spies: A little bit of scanner chatter this afternoon provided some entertainment for those who happened to catch the action. The talk centered on a Hendrick Motorsports employee as observed by a Dale Earnhardt Inc. employee. The Hendrick employee, in street cloths, was taking pictures of competitors’ car noses and tails. The DEI employee dutifully reported each new location of the Hendrick employee as he moved through the garage. This week there’s been a lot of open talk regarding the rear bumper cap and rear-end styling of the DEI cars. There’s no doubt that there’s a visual difference in those areas between the DEI cars and the other Chevys. But NASCAR doesn’t inspect cars during these test sessions – unless requested – so, it wouldn’t matter how DEI, or any other team, trimmed any aspect of their car. The only true hit comes from lost test time, which is a valuable commodity with just four weeks until the Daytona 500.(Ford Racing)(1-10-2003)

Past 2002 News

New Crew for the #25: Expect a new look on pit road for the #25 (Joe Nemechek) crew. After Homestead, crew chief Peter Sospenzo released his entire squad and hired seven new members. Now that shop foremen Ed Guzzo has returned to the traveling team as chief mechanic, former crew chief Billy Woodruff will take over the shop foreman's role for the #25 team(Sporting News)(12-2-2002)

Nemechek and Sospenzo sign with Hendrick for 2003: Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, today announced the signings of driver Joe Nemechek and crew chief Peter Sospenzo, who will each return to their respective roles with #25 UAW-Delphi team in 2003. "I like the positive direction of the UAW-Delphi team," Hendrick said. "Over the last few months, I've seen improvement in our practices, qualifying efforts, pit stops, race performances -- you name it. We're excited about the group we've assembled and the progress they're making." Nemechek was named driver of the #25 Chevy on May 15 and struggled through much of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series season until Sospenzo stepped in as crew chief on Sept. 10. Since that time, the former BGN champion has earned two top-five finishes and started in the top-15 four times. "I'm very excited about this opportunity," said Nemechek, who has two career Winston Cup victories. "We're headed in the right direction with great leadership, an amazing sponsor and awesome talent on the crew. Everything is in place for success next season." Coinciding with Sospenzo's arrival was the decision to move Ed Guzzo, the team's shop foreman, to car chief of the #25 Chevy. Guzzo, who won three Winston Cup championships as Jeff Gordon's car chief in the 1990s, will remain in that role with Team 25 next season. "The dynamic has changed," Hendrick said. "The level of communication has improved with every race and the chemistry is probably better than it's ever been in that shop. Led by Joe, Peter and Ed, the team has worked extremely hard to make things happen and their improvement shows that the effort is starting to pay off. I believe this team is going to be very competitive and turn a lot of heads in 2003."(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(11-13-2002)

Nemechek and Hendrick close: According to team sources a deal between Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Nemechek [for the #25 ride] is very close to finalization, with the announcement anticipated as soon as next week at Homestead. Also, close to a extending an existing partnership (if it didn’t happen today) is crew chief Peter Sospenzo’s and Rick Hendrick for the #25 Chevy. That deal eliminates Sospenzo as one of the men that Robert Yates eyed as a replacement wrench for Michael “Fatback” McSwain.(Ford Racing)(11-9-2002)

Nemechek to stay in the #25 in 2003? UPDATE 3: During the rain delay at Atlanta, owner Rick Hendrick said he has no plans to change the lineup on the #25 Chevy -- and that was before driver Joe Nemechek finished second. Hendrick says the addition of crew chief Peter Sospenzo has brought new focus to the team.(Sporting News)(10-28-2002)
UPDATE: Rick Hendrick gave Joe Nemechek a vote of approval to stay with his team next season. Since putting Peter Sospenzo in as crew chief, Nemechek's team has come alive. Nemechek said that the new design of the cars he has been driving recently is key.(Winston Cup Journal)(10-29-2002)
UPDATE 2: Hendrick Motorsports is working to keep driver Joe Nemechek in its #25 UAW/Delphi Automotive Chevy next season and the team and Nemechek have started discussions toward that goal. Nemechek, who has been driving for the team since Jerry Nadeau left in May, had been among the leading candidates for the job, but cemented his position with his runner-up finish last weekend at Atlanta - the team's best of the season. Team officials on Friday would say only that no decision on a driver for the 2003 season had been made.(ThatsRacin.com)(11-1-2002)
UPDATE 3: Car owner Rick Hendrick has offered Joe Nemechek an official contract to drive next season, according to team sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-3-2002)

Hendrick Engine Problems: on ESPN2's RPM2Night (gonna miss that show in 2003) Hendrick Engine Builder, Randy Dorton was interview by Mike Massaro, the part that caused the engine failures in all 6 engines (#'s 5,10,24,25,36,48) at Talladega was a valve retainer clip that broke/failed.(10-10-2002)

Hornish visits Hendrick? UPDATE 2: just before signing off on Tuesday's show, it was reported on ESPN2's RPM 2 Night that Robin Miller would have news on Wednesday show why IRL Champ Sam Hornish Jr recently visited Hendrick Motorsports.
UPDATE: basically it was an exploratory meeting in case Hornish is interested in NASCAR in the future, Miller reported Hornish will be in the IRL nest year. Also was reported that CART driver Kenny Brack met with DEI, also exploratory.(ESPN2's RPM2Night)(10-2-2002)
UPDATE 2: At the IRL's banquet Sam Hornish Jr discussed a recent visit to the shop of Hendrick Motorsports. Hornish, who spent the summer being courted by Dale Earnhardt Inc., wants to compete in the Daytona 500, perhaps as soon as next season. "I was offered a chance to go to [Charlotte] and see how [Hendrick's] operation works," Hornish told AutoWeek. "I had heard stories about the engine shop and we got a tour." Hornish said time is running out for a chance at the next Daytona 500, although he will keep the dream alive for 2004. Running in some selected NASCAR races (or a full season) likely will be a factor in Hornish's contract extension negotiations with Panther Racing. 2003 is the final year of an original three-year deal.(Autoweek)(10-7-2002)

NAPCM Pit Crew Of The Week #25 Crew: Consistant pit road performance all day helped take the under-recognized #25 UAW/Delphi team to a 4th place finish from a 12th place start 267 Kansas Speedway laps later. Congratulations #25 UAW/Delphi crew on earning this week's NAPCM "Pit Crew Of The Week" award, sponsored by Toxabsorb (www.toxabsorb.com), "Non-skid pit stall prep for faster pit stops" and "Official Spill Response Agent of the National Association Of Pit Crew Members". Check out the latest Mechanix Wear "Pit Crew Of The Year" standings and exclusive NAPCM member benefits, available ONLY at the National Association Of Pit Crew Members website:(www.napcm.com)(10-1-2002)

Schrader back in the #25? Rick Hendrick's plans for his #25 team are still up in the air, but Hendrick is now talking with [former #25 Bud driver] Ken Schrader, according to team sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-23-2002)

Hendrick looking at Hornish? UPDATE: Sam Hornish Jr., who captured his second consecutive Indy Racing League championship Sunday, is on the short list of drivers being considered for Hendrick Motorsports' #25 Chevy in the Winston Cup series next season, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Hornish, 23, who had been touted in recent months as a possible driver for Dale Earnhardt Inc. because of sponsorship ties, is a "serious candidate" for the #25 ride, sources confirmed Sunday. Among the other drivers being considered are the team's current driver, Joe Nemechek, BGN drivers Scott Riggs and Ron Hornaday. Hornish now drives for Panther Racing in the IRL with sponsor Pnnzoil, which also sponsors the Cup team of DEI's Steve Park. Hendrick team officials on Sunday would say only that no decision had been made about a driver for the #25 in the 2003 season. Hornish won the 2001 IRL title in his first year in the series and finished with three wins and led the most laps in six of 13 races. He had five wins, including Sunday's at Texas, this season.(ThatsRacin.com)(9-15-2002)
AND more Here's more on Sam Hornish Jr.'s future from Sunday's IRL post-race celebration on ABC: Jack Arute: "Tell me what you and Dale Earnhardt Jr. talked about a couple of weeks ago." Sam Hornish Jr.: "I had a talk about deciding what you wanted to do for the rest of your life. You have your choice, he said, 'You've got make up your mind whether you want to be a stock car driver for the rest of your life or an Indy car driver.' I still got to win that Indianapolis 500, and it's becoming more apparent all the time what I need to be doing."(MotorsportsTV)(9-16-2002)
UPDATE: after Sam Hornish Jr. win and championship clinching run at Texas, Hornish was linked to another NASCAR rumor involving Rick Hendrick, car owner of four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon and super rookie Jimmie Johnson. The fact is, Hornish said, that he is signed with Pennzoil Panther Racing through 2003. And Hornish is working on an extension through the 2005 IRL season that will bring the driver in line with sponsor Pennzoil and engine supplier Chevrolet. "I don't know where all this stuff keeps coming from," said Hornish, specifically addressing the Hendrick rumor Wednesday. "There's been plenty of people I've talked to about next year. But I haven't been offered anything by Hendrick Motorsports."(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(9-20-2002)

#25 Changes: Because just one year remains on the UAW-Delphi sponsorship, Hendrick Motorsports is making major moves to turn around the #25 team. Ed Guzzo, who was instrumental in building the #24 car with Ray Evernham, has returned to assist new crew chief Peter Sospenzo. "Peter requested that Ed come to the track to help him through the transition and you won't find anyone that works harder," said John Hendrick, president of Hendrick Motorsports. "Ed's attention to detail is second to none." Guzzo has been overseeing the #25 shop at Hendrick's operation in Concord, NC, and has not been to the track since he returned to the company last year. Not only does Hendrick hope to restore the team to attract a top driver for next year, but the team has to be running on eight cylinders to entice a sponsor should UAW-Delphi not renew its contract.(Sporting News)(9-16-2002)

No Hornish in NASCAR? UPDATE Hendrick looking at Hornish? Because of his battle for the IRL championship, combined with his agent negotiating an extension with Pennzoil Panther Racing, Sam Hornish Jr. admitted that time is running out for him with NASCAR. "Because of everything that has gone on with this season, we have put a lot of things on hold until after the IRL season is over," Hornish said after testing his IRL car at Chicagoland Speedway last Wednesday. "With all that is going on, I would say it's more likely that we won't be doing any NASCAR races next season. It's so late in the game right now that in order to properly do it, I would have already liked to have had a deal together. Any involvement would probably have to wait one more year." Earlier this summer, Hornish admitted he had talked with Ty Norris, president of DEI, about doing a selected number of Winston Cup and BGN races next season in addition to his full IRL schedule. Hornish was interested in competing in the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 at Indy. Norris expressed interest in adding Hornish to DEI's lineup, even if it were for just a few races. Since that time, Steve Park has had his contract extended for another year as the driver of the Pennzoil Chevrolet. Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives the 8-Budweiser Chevy and Michael Waltrip the #15-NAPA Chevy for DEI. "What we are focusing on now is getting my contract extended with Panther Racing in the IRL," Hornish said. "I'm locked in with the team through 2003, but we would like to extend it until 2005." As for a possible switch to NASCAR, Hornish said his heart belongs in open wheel cars, but he is open to new opportunities in the future. "If I win the IRL title three or four times, maybe it would be time for me to try something different," Hornish said. "I love Indy cars and I always want to race in the Indianapolis 500. I also have to ask myself if I want to race 36 or 38 times a year in NASCAR. "It's funny -- people in the IRL say I need to consider racing in NASCAR and people in NASCAR say I'm pretty valuable to the IRL. It depends on which side of the fence you're on as to where I should go."(ESPN)(9-6-2002)
UPDATE: Sam Hornish Jr., who captured his second consecutive Indy Racing League championship Sunday, is on the short list of drivers being considered for Hendrick Motorsports' #25 Chevy in the Winston Cup series next season, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Hornish, 23, who had been touted in recent months as a possible driver for Dale Earnhardt Inc. because of sponsorship ties, is a "serious candidate" for the #25 ride, sources confirmed Sunday. Among the other drivers being considered are the team's current driver, Joe Nemechek, BGN drivers Scott Riggs and Ron Hornaday. Hornish now drives for Panther Racing in the IRL with sponsor Pnnzoil, which also sponsors the Cup team of DEI's Steve Park. Hendrick team officials on Sunday would say only that no decision had been made about a driver for the #25 in the 2003 season. Hornish won the 2001 IRL title in his first year in the series and finished with three wins and led the most laps in six of 13 races. He had five wins, including Sunday's at Texas, this season.(ThatsRacin.com)(9-15-2002)
AND more Here's more on Sam Hornish Jr.'s future from Sunday's IRL post-race celebration on ABC: Jack Arute: "Tell me what you and Dale Earnhardt Jr. talked about a couple of weeks ago." Sam Hornish Jr.: "I had a talk about deciding what you wanted to do for the rest of your life. You have your choice, he said, 'You've got make up your mind whether you want to be a stock car driver for the rest of your life or an Indy car driver.' I still got to win that Indianapolis 500, and it's becoming more apparent all the time what I need to be doing."(MotorsportsTV)(9-16-2002)

New Crew Chief for the #25: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick today named Peter Sospenzo as crew chief of the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevy through the remainder of the 2002 Cup season, replacing Brian Pattie. "It's exciting for me to join an operation like Hendrick Motorsports," said Sospenzo, who has nearly 20 years of Winston Cup experience. "My goal is to work hard, produce results on the race track and make the most of the opportunity I've been given." Sospenzo, 45, will assume the position immediately, leading the team into Sunday's event at New Hampshire International Speedway with driver Joe Nemechek. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native most recently worked with drivers Jeremy Mayfield and Mike Wallace as crew chief of Penske Racing's #12 team from 1999 through 2001. He joined the team in December 1997, serving as car chief before being named crew chief in May 1999. In his first full season as crew chief in 2000, Sospenzo led Mayfield to two victories, four pole positions, three runner-up finishes, six top-fives, 12 top-10s and 10 top-10 starts. Pattie will return to his role with Nemechek's #87 BGN operation as team manager and crew chief.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(9-10-2002)

#25 Driver - short list - no names: Team Owner Rick Hendrick says there is a short list of candidates for the #25 ride next season. Joe Nemechek has been driving the car since the Coca-Cola 600 in May. Though Hendrick says he knows "Joe can drive a car and is great with the sponsors," his hard luck since joining the team is unsettling.(Sporting News)(8-26-2002)

New Hire for Hendrick: Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) general manager Jeff Turner today named Patrick Perkins as director of marketing, assuming the duties of longtime company executive Dan Lohwasser, who lost his courageous three-year battle with cancer last month. Perkins, who joined HMS in 1999 as marketing manager and transitioned to director of marketing services in October of 2000, will lead sponsorship acquisition and servicing efforts while overseeing a 15-person department responsible for public relations, merchandising and licensing. The Upland, Calif., native graduated from California Lutheran University in 1992 with a degree in communication arts, joining Phoenix International Raceway later that year as marketing manager. In 1995, he became vice president and general manager of Phoenix-based Associated Companies, a group of advertising and promotional agencies specializing in the retail automotive industry, where he stayed until coming to HMS in 1999. Perkins, 34, currently resides in Charlotte, N.C., with his wife, Mary.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(8-16-2002)

Nemechek not in the #25 after 2002: FSN's Totally NASCAR reports that Joe Nemechek will not be back in the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy in 2003.(7-24-2002)

#25 gets new crew chief: Hendrick Motorsports president John Hendrick named Brian Pattie as crew chief of the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevy through the remainder of the 2002 Cup season, replacing Ken Howes who returns to the role of HMS director of competition full time after seven races as interim crew chief. Pattie will assume the position immediately, leading the team into Sunday's Winston Cup event at Michigan with driver Joe Nemechek. The Zephyrhills, Fla., native joined Nemechek's BGN (#87) operation in 1994, working as chief mechanic until going to the #25 team of HMS for the 1996 season as a fabricator and mechanic. In 1997, he returned to NEMCO as crew chief, earning two victories and three pole positions with Nemechek's Busch Series entry that year. The 27-year-old Pattie has earned 11 victories and nine pole positions in BGN competition with drivers Ron Fellows and Nemechek. In August 1999, he led Fellows to a second-place finish at Watkins Glen International in his first of four career Winston Cup events as a crew.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(6-12-2002)

Nemechek to be honored at a school: Joe Nemechek will be honored at the Milford Public Library in Milford, Delaware tomorrow as he kicks off the library's "Summer Reading 2002" program. Mayor Ronnie Rogers will be on hand to present Nemechek with the key to the city. Nemechek, who will be in town for the Cup and BGN races at Dover International Speedway, first visited the library during race weekend last September. During that visit, he autographed copies of his book "Racin Buddies," a book written with Peter Roe and Nemechek's young son John Hunter about traveling the racing circuit. The overwhelming response from the town prompted the return visit. "We are so pleased to have Joe Nemechek visit our library again," said Director Kay Hudson. "He'll be here to help kick off our Summer Reading Program themed 'Join the Winner's Circle - Read!' Joe's visit in September was a great hit with everyone. Milford has adopted him!" The summer reading program is an annual reading incentive that runs throughout the summer months encouraging children of all ages to read. Children reading ten or more books receive special awards including a certificate from Delaware's Governor Minner. Nemechek will sign autographs tomorrow from 4:00-6:00pm/et at the Milford Public Library located at 11 S.E. Front Street, Milford Delaware. The Cellular One Showcar will also be on location from 3:00-6:00pm.(NEMCO Motorsports)(5-30-2002)

New #25 Driver? UPDATE: Expect official word that Joe Nemechek will replace Jerry Nadeau as driver of the #25 Chevy for the rest of the 2002 season, beginning with The Winston Saturday night. Nemechek is eligible to run in The Winston by virtue of a victory in the #33 Chevy owned by Andy Petree at Rockingham last fall. He tested last week to run the all-star race in a car owned by Dale Earnhardt Inc., but instead will make the #25 the fourth Rick Hendrick-owned entry in the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-15-2002)
UPDATE: Joe Nemechek picked up a ride for the remainder of the 2002 Winston Cup season on Wednesday, while Hendrick Motorsports added a fourth entry to the field of Saturday night’s Winston all-star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Nemechek, who lost his ride with Travis Carter Enterprises earlier this season when sponsor Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, was named driver of Hendrick’s #25 Chevy for the remainder of the season. That move includes Nemechek driving the #25 in The Winston. Nemechek is eligible by virtue of his win last fall at Rockingham. He was originally going to drive a car provided by Dale Earnhardt Inc., but has dissolved that plan. Hendrick’s three other teams – those of Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte and Jimmie Johnson – were already qualified for The Winston. Nemechek replaces driver Jerry Nadeau who parted ways with Hendrick last week after two-plus seasons with the #25 team. Nadeau won one race with the team, the fall Atlanta race in the 2000 season. (ThatsRacin.com)(5-16-2002)

Nadeau and Hendrick Part Ways: Hendrick Motorsports and driver Jerry Nadeau on Wednesday agreed to part ways, effective immediately, ending Nadeau’s tenure with the #25 team. Sources said Joe Nemechek, who lost his ride earlier this season with Travis Carter Enterprises when sponsor Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, is the top candidate to replace Nadeau for the remainder of the season. Hendrick said no one has been chosen to fill the vacancy, although a search is under way. Nadeau, 31, scored the only win of his Winston Cup career in November 2000 at Atlanta at the conclusion of his first full season with Hendrick. In 150 starts, he has one win, eight top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. Just last week, the 25 team replaced crew chief Tony Furr with Ken Howes. “Both Hendrick Motorsports and myself as a driver are dedicated to the same goal – winning races,” Nadeau said. “But after we sat down and evaluated the situation, it was obvious that we were not making the kind of progress we owe our fans and sponsors and decided it would be best to go our separate ways. Driving for Hendrick Motorsports was a great experience for me. At the end of my first season with the team, I really felt that we were on our way, but the results we were capable of just weren’t there.”(ThatsRacin.com)(5-8-2002)
UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau, who parted ways with Hendrick Motorsports Wednesday says he's in no rush to jump into a situation right away. With the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte coming up, Nadeau if he has to sit in the stands with his wife at Charlotte he'll do that and watch a good race. As for the UAW-Delphi Monte Carlo team, Nadeau said Hendrick gave him a heck of an opportunity, but unfortunately things just didn't work out. "We just seemed like we've always had tons and tons of bad luck. I was really discouraged and I think they were discouraged at their side because we didn't have a crew chief in line for the team, but things were starting to fall apart. I was not happy because I really felt that team should be a lot better than it is and I felt there were areas in which we could improve but we never had a lot of good luck. I hate to say that as a team, but we just seemed like we always had situations happen to us and it never really seemed like it happened to a lot of other teams. I'm not here to gripe about it, but it was a matter of everything working together and obviously there was some situations that just wasn't working right. Nadeau also says it's disappointing because he got his first win his first year there and "then it just seemed like it started downhill from there". They were really good to me...they were like family to me, but things just didn't happen. I'm sad to go for sure because they're great people.(PRN's Garage Pass)(5-8-2002)
UPDATE 2: hearing the new driver will be be Joe Nemechek.(5-9-2002)

Elledge to the #25? UPDATE: Tony Furr's decision to quit as #25-Jerry Nadeau's crew chief this week has raised speculation that Jimmy Elledge may be in line for that job. Elledge could not be reached for comment yesterday.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-20-2002)
UPDATE: Jimmy Elledge, who lost his job on Dale Jarrett's team a couple of weeks ago, is being courted by two teams. He now is the top candidate for crew chief on Jerry Nadeau's #25 team, replacing Tony Furr, who resigned. Last week, Elledge was the top candidate for Casey Atwood's #7.(Sporting News)(4-22-2002)

Furr and the #25 part ways: Tony Furr stepped down Wednesday as crew chief of the #25 Delphi Automotive/UAW-GM Chevys driven by Jerry Nadeau for Hendrick Motorsports. Furr said he is leaving to pursue other opportunities in Winston Cup competition. Ken Howes, director of competition for the Hendrick teams, will replace Furr on an interim basis. Howes, who has been with the Hendrick operation since 1985, was crew chief on the #25 team from 1992 until 1995. Furr had been the team's crew chief since the beginning of the 1998 season.(ThatsRacin.com and a story at Hendrick Motorsports site)(4-17-2002)

Hendrick Honored: The Charlotte, N.C.-based Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal has named Rick Hendrick its 2002 recipient of the Bill France Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, as chosen by a committee of editors. Started last year, the honor is designed to recognize an individual whose contributions have had a substantial long-term impact on NASCAR. Hendrick won his 100th Winston Cup race last season, along with a third NASCAR Truck series championship, both firsts for an owner. Hendrick Motorsports has grown into a $50 million industry leader, headquartered at a 62-acre, 400,000 square-foot facility in Charlotte and employing more than 300 people.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-2-2002)

Penalties: NASCAR issued two penalties Saturday for rules violations found over the past week in the Winston Cup and Grand National series. Tony Furr, crew chief for the #25 Chevys and driver Jerry Nadeau in the Winston Cup series, was fined $25,000 after the car did not meet the minimum height requirement following Thursday’s 125-mile qualifying race. The minimum height requirement is 51 inches, measured from the center of the roof, and the #25 was found to be approximately 1/8th of an inch too low. In the BGN, a $5,000 fine was levied against Fred Bickford, crew chief for the #94 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Spraker. NASCAR officials confiscated the engine from the car, as internal components did not meet the minimum weight requirements.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-16-2002)

2001 News

Nadeau Sprints: Jerry Nadeau hopes to field the No. 28 USAC Silver Bullet Series team for 2001 USAC Western Sprint Car Series Champion Tony Hunt. Open-wheel racing is nothing new to Nadeau, who has been racing since he was four years old in everything from go-carts to Formula racers in Europe to NASCAR stock cars. This season was his fourth full year in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and his second with Hendrick Motorsports. Hunt captured the 2001 USAC Western Sprint Car Series championship with three victories, 12 top-five finishes and 15 top-10 finishes. He also received the Hard Charger Award, which is presented to the driver in each USAC series who passes the most cars throughout the year. Hunt is the all-time leading winner in the USAC Western Sprint Series with 10 feature wins, and is also the all-time leader in number of pole starting positions with 14 first-place starts in the last four years.(CMI PR)(11-30-2001)

Some 'Wild' rumors UPDATE 2: The latest drivers changes in the wind could involve a shake-up at Hendrick Motorsports. John Andretti's name is being mentioned. Richard Childress still hasn't announced his new driver, adding to the confusion in the garage. There is even wild speculation that Childress might be able to wrangle Tony Stewart away from Joe Gibbs(Winston Salem Journal), a few Jayski notes - Andretti is signed with Petty Enterprises thru 2002, All Hendrick drivers are signed thru 2002 at least. Tony Stewart is signed with Joe Gibbs Racing thru 2004.(9-3-2001)
UPDATE: Am hearing Jerry Nadeau may be out at the #25 car at the end of the 2001 season but UAW-GM is staying as a sponsor and that Wally Dallenbach supposedly is talking with Rick Hendrick about coming back to the #25 Chevy(9-3-2001)
UPDATE 2: John Hendrick, president of Hendrick Motorsports, says the team is close to landing a sponsor for a fourth team, which will feature rookie Jimmie Johnson. He also dispelled rumors that Jerry Nadeau's job was in jeopardy, saying that team would stay intact(Winston Cup Scene - in part - need sub to read)(9-6-2001)

Some rumors: This week's rumor mill, or version of Winston Cup musical chairs: Stacy Compton will replace Buckshot Jones in the Petty Enterprises' #44 next season (as mentioned here last week, see #92 Team Page, Jerry Nadeau will go back to Melling Racing(#92) to fill Compton's seat, and Ward Burton will take over Nadeau's #25 for Hendrick Racing(Sporting News). Jayski Note: Burton has a contract with Bill Davis thru 2002(8-28-2001)

Guzzo back in the Hendrick fold: Ed Guzzo has returned to Hendrick Motorsports as foreman for Jerry Nadeau's #25 Chevrolet team. Guzzo resigned his position with the organization at the end of the 1999 season to join Ray Evernham in the initial development of the Dodge program, but the two parted ways in May. Hendrick crew chief Tony Furr welcomes Guzzo's contributions. "He's a very thorough mechanic," Furr says.(Sporting News)(8-6-2001)

SDRC and Hendrick: SDRC announced it has renewed and expanded the company's marketing alliance with Hendrick Motorsports with a five-year contract effective immediately. Hendrick's engineering team uses I-DEAS(R) software for design, analysis, and manufacturing requirements on the team's high-performance racecars. Hendrick sponsors three drivers in the NASCAR Winston Cup including, #5-Terry Labonte, #25-Jerry Nadeau, and #24-Jeff Gordon. "We have very clear objectives in our business," said Jim Wall, engineering group manager, Hendrick Motorsports. "We want to win races. A critical few seconds make a big difference on the track, and we're working daily to gain the slight edge needed to win races. I-DEAS provides the technology that enables us to design, test, and manufacture cars and engines -- in fact, we build over 700 engines each year. We've already gained significant improvements in our processes with I-DEAS, and we're pleased to be renewing our relationship with SDRC to further expand our use of this technology and our overall business results."(Business Wire)(7-30-2001)

Get Well: "Papa" Joe Hendrick, father of Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, is scheduled for heart surgery Monday at a Charlotte, N.C.-area hospital. The elder Hendrick, who is listed as the car owner for the #25 Chevrolets of driver Jerry Nadeau, had heart surgery in March. On Saturday, teams working with the three Hendrick cars - those of Nadeau, Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte - were preparing decals expressing their get-well wishes to run on their cars during Sunday's Kmart 400 at Michigan(That's Racin')(6-10-2001)
UPDATE: FSN's NASCAR Today and ESPN2's RPM Night both reported that "Papa" Joe Hendrick underwent sucessful heart surgery on Monday, no other details(6-11-2001)
UPDATE 2: "Papa" Joe Hendrick, the father of Winston Cup team owner Rick Hendrick, is beginning the recovery process after having heart surgery on Monday in Charlotte. The elder Hendrick is 83(That's Racin')(6-13-2001)

the 100 Hendrick Wins: Phil Werz from Charlotte's NBC 6 's "On Track from Lowe's Motor Speedway" sent me a breakdown of the 100 wins for Hendrick Motorsports:
Jeff Gordon 55(currently with Hendrick #24)
Terry Labonte 11(currently with Hendrick #5)
Tim Richmond 9(deceased)
Darrell Waltrip 9(retired with Fox in the booth)
Geoffrey Bodine 7(currently in the BGN driving the #66)
Ricky Rudd 4(currently with RYR #28)
Ken Schrader 4(currently with MB2 Motorsports #36)
Jerry Nadeau 1(currently with Hendrick #25)
Gordon has averaged a win every 4.9 races (271 starts)(6-10-2001)

Hendrick goes after #100: Hendrick Motorsports is just one win away from becoming only the second motorsports operation to reach 100 Winston Cup wins in NASCAR’s modern era(1972-present). The 17-year-old organization claimed three wins in its first year of operation – the only team in the modern era to do that – and hasn’t slowed since. Hendrick Motorsports claimed win number 99 when Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag at Dover. Only Junior Johnson holds more wins in the “modern era” as team owner than Hendrick Motorsports, with 135 wins from 1972 to 1994. In stock car racing’s early days, Winston Cup – then Grand National – teams raced as many as 61 races in a single season; that changed to 31 races a season in 1972 and has hovered around that number until this year’s increased 36-race schedule. Other teams posting high win numbers in NASCAR’s modern era of points competition include Richard Childress Racing (70), Petty Enterprises (63), Woods Brothers Racing (61), Roush Racing (49) and Robert Yates Racing (49).(HMS SIte - link fixed)(6-6-2001)

Nadeau, Stewart and Blaney hit the dirt at Lowes UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau plans to drive a new DIRT modified owned and prepared by Hendrick Motorsports employees and veteran DIRT mechanics Charlie Langenstein and Ray “Rizzo” Schepler in the April 7 Eckerd 100 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series event at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Eckerd 100 is scheduled to be Nadeau’s inaugural race in a big-block DIRT modified and his first dirt-track appearance in nearly a decade. The Eckerd 100 is slated to be the first of three to five races Nadeau runs this season in the #2L R&C Motorsports Ventures DIRT modified. Tony Stewart is slated to drive the #20 GE Sealants & Adhesives-Extreme Silicone Tech/TEO entry owned by long-time DIRT Motorsports supporter Brian Goewey while Dave Blaney, a veteran of the DIRT Modified ranks whose father still campaigns a similar car in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, is entered in a #74 TEO machine also owned by Goewey. The Eckerd 100 will be run in conjunction with the April 5-8 Food Lion AutoFair, one of the nation’s largest car shows and automotive swap meets. More info at the LMS Site(4-5-2001)
UPDATE: 10,846 fans cheered during the inaugural Eckerd 100 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series event Saturday night at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Steve “The Hurricane” Paine of Waterloo, N.Y., and Brett “The Jet” Hearn of Sussex, N.J., shared the victory podium as the New York-based DIRT Motorsports organization brought its unique brand of modified stock car racing to the Carolinas for the first time. Both Paine and Hearn took home $5,000 for their victories. Paine started fifth in the first 50-lap event and took the lead on lap 20 en route to his second straight Super DIRT Series feature victory of the season. Hearn finished second in the first race with Billy Decker third, Alan Johnson fourth and Pat Ward fifth. Nadeau finished 31st in the 1st feature, Stewart finished 14th in the 1st and 13th in the 2nd feature and Blaney finished 35th in the 1st and 23rd in the 2nd feature(LMS Site) and see a story and pictures at Speed Illustrated(4-8-2001)

Get Well Papa Joe: Hendrick Motorsports cars(#'s 5,24,25) will carry decals sending get-well wishes to "Papa Joe" Hendrick, team owner Rick Hendrick's father. The elder Hendrick had surgery this week and is recovering in a Charlotte hospital(That's Racin'), "Papa Joe" is also listed as the owner of the #25 team(see below)(3-24-2001)

Thanks to Jeff of Race2Win for the image

Nadeau hits the Dirt: Jerry Nadeau, driver of the #25 UAW/Delphi Chevy, tested a big-block DIRT modified at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in preparation for the April 7 Eckerd 100 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series event. Driving a car owned by Hendrick Motorsports team members and former DIRT modified mechanics Charlie Langenstein and Ray “Rizzo” Schepler, Nadeau tested for nearly three hours Monday night on the four-tenths-mile clay oval. It was the first time in more than 10 years that the 30-year-old Danbury, Conn., driver had been on a dirt track. Langenstein, who has over 200 DIRT modified victories on his résumé as a crew chief, was pleased with the results of the team’s initial outing. The team plans to run four or five DIRT races this season beginning with the April 7 Eckerd 100. Nadeau had a literal army of support as several members of his UAW-Delphi Winston Cup team, including crew chief Tony Furr, were on hand. Former dirt late model driver Rodney Combs and Tony Hunt, an open-wheel racer who will drive a pavement sprint car co-owned by Nadeau and Tom Cotter later this season, were also in attendance.(LMS PR)(3-29-2001)

#25 Crew Chief: Gordon Gibbs will be the crew chief for Jerry Nadeau in the upcoming weeks. Tony Furr begins serving a four-week suspension next week at Rockingham, NC. Furr altered the suspension system on his car, earning a $10,000 fine, the suspension and a year's probation(Times Dispatch)(2-14-2001)

Nadeau's Run Disqualified UPDATE 3 Penalty soon? Furr Suspended?: #25-Jerry Nadeau's second-place time was disqualified due to an unapproved shock absorber and spring shackle discovered in post-qualifying inspection. So Nadeau's speed of 182.763 mph has been disallowed and it moves #92 Dodge driver Stacy Compton into the front row. Elliott and Compton are the only drivers locked in their starting positions for the Daytona 500(ESPN)(2-10-2001)
UPDATE: #92-Stacy Compton inherited the outside spot on Row 1 when Jerry Nadeau's second-fastest lap at 182.763 mph was disallowed. Nadeau's car failed to meet the minimum height requirement in post-qualifying inspection. There's also the matter of further potential penalties and, almost certainly, fines for Nadeau's #25 Hendrick Motorsports team. NASCAR officials, meanwhile, were working on figuring out the parts they confiscated from the rear suspension of Nadeau's Chevy. "We have disallowed his time," said Gary Nelson, Winston Cup Series director. "The height of the roof was more than a half-inch low in inspection. Some of the suspension parts we have in our possession … and we are holding these parts for further study. We will decide what further action to take." Nelson said Nadeau will "most likely" be allowed to make a second-round qualifying run on Monday to post a speed that could help him make the Daytona 500 field if he doesn't finish in the top 15 in Thursday's second 125-mile qualifier.(That's Racin')
AND Because Nadeau ran timed laps in practice, he would not need to requalify, NASCAR garage chief Gary Nelson explained, although Nadeau could try again in Monday's second round in order to establish a fast time. Nelson would not be more specific, although he indicated further penalties were possible. Nelson, accompanied by Nadeau crew chief Tony Furr, was seen walking to the NASCAR office carrying a spring shackle/wedge bolt assembly. There also was word that the car's rear shocks had been confiscated, although rear shocks at Daytona and Talladega are sealed units handed out by NASCAR(SpeedVision)(2-11-2001)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR president Mike Helton said any further penalties as a result of questionable suspension parts found on the Chevrolet of Jerry Nadeau will likely be announced Monday(That's Racin')
UPDATE 3: hearing crew chief of the #25 UAW-Delphi Automotive Chevy, Tony Furr, will be suspended for four races (Rockingham thru Darlington) and fined $10,000(2-12-2001)

Nadeau to DIRT: Jerry Nadeau, driver of the #25 Delphi Automotive/UAW Chevy in Cup, has agreed to drive a dirt modified car owned by R & C Motorsports Ventures of Harrisburg, NC in three to five races during the DIRT series season. His first appearance will be April 7 at The Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway(Gaston Gazette/SpeedVision)(1-5-2001)

2000 News

Nadeau to own a USAC team: Jerry Nadeau, driver of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy, announced he will team with Charlotte area businessman Tom Cotter in ownership of a USAC sprint car operation to be piloted by driver Tony Hunt in 2001. "We want Tom & Jerry Racing to be a stepping stone for young drivers looking for opportunities to move into NASCAR," said Nadeau, whose victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this month was the first of his NASCAR career. The venture is just the latest stemming from a long-standing relationship between Nadeau and Cotter, chairman of SFX/Cotter Group -- a relationship that began nearly seven years ago when Cotter got a tip from a friend about a young Connecticut driver that appeared to have what it takes to win races. Hunt finished second in points in the USAC Western Sprint Car Series with three victories and 10 top-ten finishes in just 15 starts this season. More info on Hunt at www.tonyhunt.com (Cotter Group)(11-27-2000)

Holigan back in 2001 UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau’s race winning sponsor, Michael Holigan, has scrapped plans to take an active role in the sport next year, but after his team’s only victory, promised he would be back. Holigan said he was close to buying an ARCA team, presently owned by Eddie Sharp, and converting it to compete in BGN next year. But, Holigan said, "My father and I talked about it and kind of had a heart-to-heart, and he asked me to sit on the fence for a year and not go racing." Holigan wants to own a team and not merely sponsor it. He said he expected to be back in NASCAR by 2001(Gaston Gazette) - Delphi Automotive/UAW will be Nadeau's sponsor in 2001(11-21-2000)
UPDATE: Michael Holigan said Nov. 20 that his only involvement in NASCAR for 2001 will be working on "a few marketing deals with one of the teams and one of the owners." He won't field teams in the BGN and CTS in 2001 as he'd previously planned upon getting out of his sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports. Holigan, however, says he'll field a Winston Cup team in 2002(Winston Cup Scene)(11-23-2000)

Hendrick Motorsports Double wins: Two drivers from Hendrick Motorsports have won at least one Winston Cup race for seven consecutive seasons. No other current multi-car team has done that.(Gordon 1994-2000, T Labonte 1994-1999 and Nadeau in 2000)(11-22-2000)

Holigan back in 2001: Jerry Nadeau’s race winning sponsor, Michael Holigan, has scrapped plans to take an active role in the sport next year, but after his team’s only victory, promised he would be back. Holigan said he was close to buying an ARCA team, presently owned by Eddie Sharp, and converting it to compete in BGN next year. But, Holigan said, "My father and I talked about it and kind of had a heart-to-heart, and he asked me to sit on the fence for a year and not go racing." Holigan wants to own a team and not merely sponsor it. He said he expected to be back in NASCAR by 2001(Gaston Gazette) - Delphi Automotive/UAW will be Nadeau's sponsor in 2001(11-21-2000)

GMAC News: GMAC, a longtime member of the Hendrick family of racing sponsors, announced today a comprehensive sponsorship agreement with Hendrick Motorsports for 2001 that includes involvement in NASCAR’s Winston Cup, Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series. GMAC, which will expand its presence on Hendrick entries in NASCAR’s three major touring series, will be the primary sponsor on the #17 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Ricky Hendrick in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as well as a major associate sponsor on the #24 Chevrolet of Jack Sprague. In 2001, netzero.com will assume primary sponsorship of the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet truck now driven by Sprague. Additionally, GMAC will also serve as the primary sponsor for Ricky Hendrick in a select number of NASCAR Busch Grand National and ARCA events during the 2001 season. Dennis Connor, the all-time winningest crew chief in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history, will oversee the new GMAC racing operation, which will operate out of its own separate facility. And as it has since 1993, GMAC will continue to be an associate sponsor on all three HMS Winston Cup cars: the #24 DuPont Chevrolet driven by three-time champion Jeff Gordon, #5 Chevrolet of two-time champion Terry Labonte and the #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet of Jerry Nadeau(RaceWorks, LLC)(11-3-2000)

#25 Sponsor? UPDATE 3: while Lowes is making the rumor rounds as the next sponsor of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy with driver Jerry Nadeau, hearing that Delphi Automotive may be the next sponsor for the #25 team(9-28-2000)
UPDATE: hearing the #25 will have a co-primary sponsor with Delphi Automotive and UAW-GM as the sponsors(10-13-2000)
UPDATE 2: The International Union, UAW and Delphi Automotive Systems announced a partnership to sponsor Hendrick Motorsports' car #25 driven by Jerry Nadeau in the Cup series. The announcement was made at a press conference at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas. The announcement was part of Delphi's U.S. launch of its aftermarket brand(HMS Site see a drawing of the car there and PR at Delphi Auto Site)(10-31-2000)
UPDATE 4: see more drawings of the car at the Jerry Nadeau Site(11-1-2000)

#25 Penalty UPDATE: NASCAR officials announced today they have penalized NASCAR Winston Cup Series crew chief Tony Furr for rules violations discovered in inspection prior to last Sunday's UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. Furr, crew chief of the No. 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team, was fined $2,000 and penalized under Section 12-4-Q in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform... or have not been approved by NASCAR..."(NASCAR PR)
UPDATE: more info about the fine/penalty and images at TachZone: Furr Fined $2,000 for Unapproved Fender Brace(10-11-2000)

Lowes Sponsorship News: Car owner Rick Hendrick(#'s 5,24,25) said he has been approached with a pitch for a Lowe's sponsorship but turned it down saying "...Lowe's will not be sponsoring one of our cars next season." Lowe's has two more years on its contract with Childress, but Lowe's officials said two weeks ago they would be dropping Childress at the end of the season, a move that Childress has disputed(PitNow)(10-6-2000)

#25 Sponsor? while Lowes is making the rumor rounds as the next sponsor of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy with driver Jerry Nadeau, hearing that Delphi Automotive may be the next sponsor for the #25 team(9-28-2000)

Holigan to the CTS and BGN: Michael Holigan, who has sponsored the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy driven by Jerry Nadeau in 2000 but will leave after the 2000 season is working with driver David Starr about basing a team in Texas and running in the Craftsman Truck Series. Holigan also is interested in fielding a Busch Grand National team out of Charlotte(Times-Dispatch) AND Holigan said he plans to make an announcement during Charlotte race week in October regarding plans to start a BGN team in 2001 and said he will also be involved in a CTS team, based in Texas, with driver David Starr(That's Racin')(9-26-2000)

Lowes In? Lowes Out? UPDATE 4 - the #25?: many readers emailed me a Lowes in-house memo saying that Lowes was leaving the #31 Richard Childress Team and driver Mike Skinner after the 2000 season, ESPN2's RPM 2Night also reported the memo. I was told as was RPM 2Night, that owner Richard Childress says he spoke with Lowes on Wednesday and was assured that Lowes would honor the remaining two years of their contract with the team. The memo goes on to say that Lowes would not leave the sport but move to another team. There is nothing on the Lowes site concerning this
UPDATE: Richard Childress admits he has learned sponsor Lowe's will leave his #31 Chevy after this season, but he insists he still has a two-year contract with the company and intends that it be honored by both sides(SpeedVision)
AND from NOL: One way to put rumors to rest in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series is to simply hold a press conference and set the record straight. Richard Childress did just that Friday regarding Lowe's sponsorship of Mike Skinner's #31 Chevy. According to Childress, he met with Lowe's Wednesday, and was told they would honor the remainder of their deal with Richard Childress Racing. Thursday, however, Lowe's sent a company-wide memo to its employees stating they would no longer sponsor the car(NOL). Note: Still leaves some questions, in-house hoax at Lowes?? Lowes response??
UPDATE 2: Reached Friday by telephone, Lowe's spokesperson Chris Ahearn said the company would honor its financial commitment to the team for the next two years, but "the Lowe's name will be off the car at the end of the season." Ahearn said the team had not performed up to expectations, though she said that was not the only reason the company was leaving. She said Lowe's remains committed to NASCAR and will likely sponsor another team next season. Ahearn also said Lowe's decision to leave Richard Childress Racing would not affect the company's 10-year naming rights deal with Lowe's Motor Speedway(more at That's Racin')(9-21-2000)
UPDATE 3: One possibility making the rounds at Dover was that Jack Roush either has or is on the verge of making off with the Lowe’s account. Roush has at least two teams open(#'s 16, 97) and earlier nabbed Pfizer/Viagra away from Eel River Racing(#27) for Mark Martin’s #6 Ford(Gaston Gazette) AND Lowe's will be backing another team next year, apparently moving to the Rick Hendrick camp to sponsor Jerry Nadeau(#25 Chevy)(PitNow)(9-23-2000)
UPDATE: Jack Roush and Geoff Smith, the manager of Roush Racing, say they haven't talked with Lowe's executives about acquiring that company's NASCAR sponsorship. However, Roush said, since Richard Childress' announcement Friday that Lowe's plans to leave the Mike Skinner team, Smith has begun pursing Lowe's. However, Lowe's has already agreed to a deal with car owner Rick Hendrick for next season, with Jerry Nadeau(#25 Chevy), according to sources(PitNow)(9-25-2000)

New #25 Sponsor? UPDATE 2: hearing that Hendrick Motorsports may be announcing a new 2001 primary sponsor of the #25 Jerry Nadeau team within the next few weeks, hearing it may be GMAC, who sponsors Hendrick Motorsports in the CTS and BGN series. No idea what Michael Holigan's plans are(9-18-2000)
UPDATE: hearing it will not be GMAC on the #25 Cup car but they and the #24 CTS Hendrick Motorsports team will both have new sponsors in 2001. GMAC will stay with Hendrick on their 2nd CTS team with Ricky Hendrick(9-19-2000)
UPDATE 2: Michael Holigan has informed Hendrick Motorsports that he will not sponsor the #25 Cup team or driver Jerry Nadeau in 2001. Holigan is talking to Hendrick about maintaining a role with the team(RPM 2Night)(9-20-2000)

Nadeau beats Benson: Jerry Nadeau defeated series regular Johnny Benson in the NASCAR Grudge Match Tuesday night in round nine of the Wendy’s Summer Shootout at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Benson and Nadeau put 600 Racing’s newest production machine, the Thunder Roadster(LMS PR)(8-9-2000)

Holigan to own Cup team?/Nadeau to stay at Hendrick UPDATE 2: Michael Holigan, whose Web site MichaelHoligan.com sponsors Nadeau's #25 Chevrolets, is considering moving from Winston Cup sponsor to team owner and the move has prompted questions about Nadeau's future. If Holigan buys into a team or starts his own, he would like to keep Nadeau as driver, sources told ThatsRacin.com Thursday. Nadeau's contract, however, is with Hendrick Motorsports, where he said he is very comfortable(That's Racin')
UPDATE: but Holigan has never talked to Nadeau about becoming his driver IF he decides to buy, own or start a Cup team(6-30-2000)
UPDATE 2: Barely eight months after entering the sport with his companies' sponsorship of the #25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy driven by Jerry Nadeau, Michael Holigan is pursuing team ownership. Holigan says a lot of relationships would have to fall into place in the next few weeks for that to happen in 2001, but his goal is to have a car entered in the Daytona 500 in February. Sponsorship for a new team would have to come from outside sources because of the ownership structure of Holigan's companies. Olympus Real Estate Corp., an arm of Dallas-based Hicks, Muse & Furst Inc. owns 50% of the companies. Holigan's existing sponsorship with Hendrick Motorsports has two years remaining, but it wouldn't be a surprise if that relationship ends early. Holigan says he has told Rick Hendrick that building the Michael Holigan brand name isn't as important as it was when the deal was signed. If Holigan does establish his own team, he isn't likely to take Nadeau. Holigan pushed for Nadeau's hiring at Hendrick late last year and still has a high regard for him, but Nadeau is under contract with Hendrick(see full story at the Dallas Morning News) and Dallas' Michael Holigan says he looked into purchasing the #10 Tyler Jet Racing team, which was sold last week by Texan Tim Beverley to MB2 Motorsports(Dallas Morning News Notes).(7-27-2000)

Nadeau to stay at Hendrick UPDATE: Michael Holigan, whose Web site MichaelHoligan.com sponsors Nadeau's #25 Chevrolets, is considering moving from Winston Cup sponsor to team owner and the move has prompted questions about Nadeau's future. If Holigan buys into a team or starts his own, he would like to keep Nadeau as driver, sources told ThatsRacin.com Thursday. Nadeau's contract, however, is with Hendrick Motorsports, where he said he is very comfortable(That's Racin')
UPDATE: but Holigan has never talked to Nadeau about becoming his driver IF he decides to buy, own or start a Cup team(6-30-2000)

Nadeau out at end of 2000? Rumors are circulating through the garage area that Jerry Nadeau may be out of the #25 Michael Holigan.com Chevy at the end of the season(Atlanta Journal Constitution) Note: in interviews with Rick Hendrick lately he has done nothing but praising Nadeau, calling him a 'a diamond in the rough', unless Michael Holigan starts his own Cup team as rumored and takes Nadeau with him(6-20-2000)

Nadeau Pitches: Jerry Nadeau, driver of the #25 MichaelHoligan.com Chevy, threw out the first pitch Friday night before the Texas Rangers' exhibition game with the St. Louis Cardinals at The Ballpark in Arlington, TX(Total Sports)(4-1-2000)

Crew Changes: The #25 MichaelHoligan.com team has two new crew members for driver Jerry Nadeau. Raymond "Rizzo" Schepler takes over as Parts Mgr in the shop and for Bristol only Jeff McKinney will be the front tire carrier(not changer) as Ray Holm Jr., is no longer with the team(Cotter Group)(3-22-2000)

Hendrick Comments: Rick Hendrick, owner of the Chevrolets of Jeff Gordon, Jerry Nadeau and Terry Labonte, said Sunday if NASCAR plans to make more rules changes - including a move to common templates - it should give teams plenty of time to prepare. See full story at That's Racin'(3-20-2000)

Hendrick and Cicci-Weliver Alliance: Hendrick Motorsports announced a new partnership with Cicci-Welliver Racing(BGN teams #'s 34,36,66) designed to enhance the performance of both organization’s BGN teams. As part of the exclusive agreement, the two organizations will share aerodynamic, chassis and certain technical information as well as participate together in in-house testing sessions and those held at outside facilities. They may also join forces to test during a limited number of Winston Cup races using Cicci-Welliver drivers. Hendrick Motorsports will provide Cicci-Welliver access to chassis and engine dyno testing facilities, key personnel and wind tunnel results throughout the season(David Green Site)(3-17-2000)

Rear Windows? UPDATE: not sure why, but have heard that the NASCAR inspectors made all three Hendrick cars change the rear window's at Rockingham(3-2-2000) -- UPDATE: hear the problems were minor but the template would not fit correctly, so the windows has to be swapped out, no fines or anything like that(3-3/4-2000)

Teachers: Michael Holigan, sponsor of #25-Jerry Nadeau, bought 250 tickets to the NAPA 300 Busch race at Daytona and donated 130 of them to send teachers of the year from area school districts to the race Saturday. The remainder will be used to send members of boys/girls clubs and big brothers/big sisters programs to the event(Cotter PR)(2-16-2000)

#25 Trouble? UPDATE: the Jan 21st issue of Speedway Scene Magazine reports in the Snowballs section: "Oh yes, keep an eye on that 25 car --- we're hearing that all is not so well between sponsor and owner" -- UPDATE: There is no truth to the statement reported in Mike Snow's Speedway Scene column concerning the #25 Michael Holigan Racing team. All parties are working together extremely well and Holigan is very pleased with the testing results of the #25 car(Team Source)(1-25-2000)

2000 News

Hendrick Back: Team owner Rick Hendrick is back at work at Hendrick Motorsport(#'s 5,24,25). He told the media that he has been off chemotherapy for six weeks now and that his cancer is in full remission and feels great(goRacing)(1-16-2000)

Hendrick in Remission: Results of tests conducted this month have prompted Rick Hendrick's doctors to say he no longer needs chemotherapy and the disease(chronic myelogenous leukemia) can be declared to be in full remission. Hendrick own's the #5 Kelloggs, #24 Dupont and #25 Michael Holigan Chevy teams(ESPN/AP)(12-24-1999)

Congrats Jerry: Posted in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal on Sunday, December 12th. #25 Hendrick Motorsports driver, Jerry Nadeau of Danbury, CT and Jada Blanchard of Spartanburg, SC wed in the Bahamas on Dec 11th, congrats(12-16-1999)

Nadeau roofing: Michael Holigan, President of Michael Holigan Companies and host of the national television series Michael Holigan's Your New House, and Jerry Nadeau, driver of the No. 25 Michael Holigan Chevrolet NASCAR Winston Cup stock car for the Hendrick Motorsports Team will videotape a segment for an upcoming episode of Michael Holigan's Your New House national television program. The two will be roofing Nadeau's house! Nadeau learned the roofing trade at an early age, working alongside his father, Gerard, in the roofing industry. The elder Nadeau also will be on hand Monday assisting with the project. Michael Holigan's Your New House is syndicated to more than 130 broadcast television stations around the nation each week and a one-hour daily version also can be seen on The Discovery Channel. The taping will take place Monday, November 29 at Jerry Nadeau's Residence in Mooresville, N.C. Nadeau and Holigan continue to "Build for 2000" as Nadeau will make his debut behind the wheel of the No. 25 Michael Holigan Chevrolet in the Feb. 20 Daytona 500 at Daytona(NE Racing Site via PR)(11-23-1999)

More Engines? hearing something is amiss in the Hendrick Motorsports department, more to follow as I hear it(11-17-1999)

Good News: #5,24 and 35 Cup team owner, Rick Hendrick is 100% in remission from his leukemia and 60 days from ending his medication, his brother, John, said yesterday. In fact, it was Rick Hendrick who handled the contract talks with (former)crew chief Ray Evernham last week. The owner of Hendrick Motorsports has been undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with leukemia in late 1996. Company President John Hendrick said the talks took their toll on Rick which resulted in Rick Hendrick releasing Evernham from his seven-year contract to work as Jeff Gordon's crew chief. Hendrick said the team had negotiated a deal with Evernham to move into management and had planned a press conference for next week at Charlotte. John Hendrick said that Evernham notified them last week that he had changed his mind. His release took effect Wednesday, and Brian Whitesell has taken over as Gordon's crew chief(Times-Dispatch)(10-2-1999)

#25 Paint UPDATE and an IMAGE: the #25 Budweiser Chevy, driven by Wally Dallenbach, will have a World Series paint scheme for the last four races of the 1999 season(NOL) -- UPDATE/Correction/Image: I had the races wrong: Budweiser - the "Official Beer" of both Major League Baseball and NASCAR - is joining Major League Baseball to celebrate the last World Series of the century with a special paint scheme on Dallenbach's #25 Budweiser Chevrolet during the four NASCAR Winston Cup races in October, coinciding with Baseball's playoffs and World Series(Budweiser PR)(9-25-1999)

Wells Crew Chief: Cal Wells has talked to several prospective drivers and crew chiefs in the Winston Cup garage. As he prepares to start his team in 2000, Wells has offered top dollar for a stellar pair. The latest addition to his wish list is Hendrick Motorsports' Andy Graves, crew chief for Terry Labonte(Times-Dispatch)(9-27-1999)

Dallenbach Announcement? UPDATE 5, to the #75: hearing Wally Dallenbach will announce his 2000 Cup plans on Tuesday, Sept 21st -- UPDATE: Wally Dallenbach said that he expects to have next year's negotiations wrapped up this week. He indicates he won't be running for Cal Wells, and he says that he's not taking a ride with either Jim Mattei or AJ Foyt. Dallenbach has inquired about a ride with the #30 Barry Dodson-Jack Birmingham team(PitNow)(9-20-1999) -- UPDATE 2: On NASCAR Today radio it was mentioed that Wally Dallenbach hopes to know by the end of this week his 2000 plans, one would not be the Cal Wells Tide team(9-21-1999) -- UPDATE 3: no announcement made on Tuesday(9-23-1999) -- UPDATE: Winston Cup Today Radio reports that Wally Dallenbach has signed a three-year deal with a yet to be named car owner, Dallenbach expects to make an annoucnement sometime this weekend at Dover -- UPDATE 5: Wally Dallenbach is going to the #75 car - Galaxy Motorsports owned by Darwin Oortt. The General Manager is Jimmy Johnson. The car will have the Yates motor program and all new exciting major sponsors which will all be announced later in the year. It is a three year contract(Official Wally Dallenbach Site) Note: no word on Ted Musgrave but the #45 and #33 teams could be involved there(9-24-1999)

Dallenbach: Despite reports that Wally Dallenbach has spoke with the management at MB2 Motorsports(#36 M&M's Pontiac), he insists that simply isn't the case. He spoke to crew chief Ryan Pemberton to let them know he was interested, but not the owners. He says if he had the choice, he'd be leaning towards the #36 ride, if offered to him. Dallenbach, as reported in the past, has been speculated as the lead candidate for the Cal Wells Cup ride. Although Dallenbach was expecting to hear from Wells on Monday, their signals were crossed and never touched base. Hopes to speak on Tuesday or Wednesday. Wells said personal committments in California and this week's CART race in Monterrey, would keep him from making a final decision until next week, but he has pared down the applicants to Dallenbach, Al Unser Jr., Scott Pruett, and an unnamed Winston Cup driver with contractual considerations. Dallenbach plans to have his mind made up by the time he leaves for Richmond(in part from SpeedVision)(9-8-1999)

Dallenbach UPDATE 3 Nadeau swap? Wally Dallenbach met again with owner Cal Wells last week. Wells and sponsor Procter & Gamble(Tide) are meeting Monday to decide whether to hire Dallenbach or Al Unser Jr. to drive for the team next season. Meanwhile, Dallenbach has been approached by representatives of Robert Yates and by the Read Morton team left without a driver by Ernie Irvan’s sudden retirement(Times-Dispatch) and More and more, it looks as though Cal Wells plans to place Al Unser Jr. in the Tide-sponsored Ford he will debut on the Winston Cup Series next year. Jerry Nadeau, currently in the #36 M&M's ride, will drive at Hendrick Motorsports(#25) next year, replacing Wally Dallenbach Jr. Dallenbach is also looking for a ride, and he could immediately fill the Irvan vacancy with Nadeau finishing up the year in the #25. Such a move is being considered, according to sources at both teams(SpeedNet)(9-4-1999) -- UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau tested in Tony Furr's #25 Bud Chevy in St. Louis(Gateway) last week, and Furr was impressed. Enough so, apparently, that a Nadeau-for-Wally Dallenbach swap may be under consideration, with Nadeau taking the ride with Furr in the next couple of weeks and Dallenbach moving to Ryan Pemberton's #36 M&M's Pontiac. Both teams are Hendrick Motorsports operations(PitNow) -- UPDATE 2: sources tell me that the Budweiser contract would probably not allow for a driver swap, so look for Dallenbach to say in the #25 through the end of the season(9-5-1999) -- UPDATE 3: Might a Dallenbach-for-Jerry Nadeau swap be in the cards? Dallenbach says he doubts that would happen as he doesn't think Budweiser(sponsor of the #25) would allow it(PitNow)(9-6-1999)

Dallenbach/Wells/Yates: Wally Dallenbach says that car owner Cal Wells is getting a bum rap from some quarters of the garage. Dallenbach said that he's been quite impressed with what he's seen during his negotiations with Wells for a ride next season. Dallenbach has a meeting this week with Tide executives and if he passes that test, he could be offered the ride. He also has a meeting next week with another Winston Cup team owner, whom he declined to name, but who is reported to be Robert Yates(PitNow) There is apparently a meeting set for early next week between (Wally) Dallenbach and representatives from Procter & Gamble, the company that makes Tide detergent. Dallenbach is one of the drivers whose name has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Kenny Irwin in the #28 Fords owned by Robert Yates. Dallenbach said he has talked with Yates, but also said that Yates and Wells have agreed not to go after the same driver for next season. Wells' Winston Cup team will apparently be using Yates-built engines next season(8-21-1999)

Wells meeting: Wally Dallenbach Jr. will meet on Monday with Cal Wells about driving Wells’ Tide-sponsored car on the circuit next year. Dallenbach vows not to sign another one-year contract with anyone. He did so a year ago with Hendrick Motorsports, which is why he is back in the unemployment line(Gaston Gazette/Monte Dutton)(8-9-1999)

Dallenbach Looking: Speedwords is hearing that Wally Dallenbach is not letting the Hendrick door hit him in the butt on the way out and has have been told he has already had discussions with Melling and Robert Yates and at least one other team who "might be in need of a driver" in the near future. That means somebody is about to lose their ride but doesn't know it yet. Watch for Dallenbach and probably other drivers to change teams before the year is out. It's getting common for teams outside the top 10 in points to make changes near the end of the current year rather than wait for Daytona. This way they have some time to get everyone aquatinted an hopefully get a better start in 2000(Speedwords)(8-5-1999)

Furr back in 2000: #25 Hendrick Motorsports Crew Chief, Tony Furr says he will return as the crew chief in 2000 and work with new 2000 driver Jerry Nadeau(WC Scene Magazine)(7-30-1999)

Melling Ride: At least three drivers, Morgan Shepherd, Steve Grissom and Dallenbach have spoken to Melling Racing about moving to the #9 Fords next season(That's Racin')(7-27-1999)

Wally's Run: Wally Dallenbach had his first top five in 84 races, since he finished 3rd at Sears Point in 1996(7-25-1999)

Dallenbach/Wells? Unser? Wally Dallenbach said that his plans are now unclear. But he is seen as one of the front-runners for the Tide-sponsored ride with new car owner Cal Wells. According to one top car owner, Wells has opened his wallet in an effort to get his new operation off the ground and is offering as much as $2.5 million to land the right Cup driver. Steve Grissom is reported to be on Wells' list of potential drivers for his new McDonald's sponsored Busch team, which is to be promoted to a full Cup team in 2001(PitNow). Jayski Note: other rumors have Al Unser, Jr, whose CART/Penske contract runs out this year, as a possible driver for Well's Cup deal, but most think he'll stay in CART or go to the IRL and no matter what happens drive in the 2000 Indy 500(7-24-1999)

#25 has a sponsor UPDATE 2: This weeks Winston Cup Scene reports that the #25 Hendrick team has signed a sponsor and will make an announcement within the next month. It is unsure if Dallenbach will stay with the team or take one of the offers he has on the table. Jayski Note: I hear it is a construction company of some sort and not Yamaha as reported recently(7-9-1999) -- UPDATE: hearing the sponsor will be Michael Holigan Homes who does the TV show Your New House, Whirlpool may end up as an associate here too(7-14-1999) -- UPDATE: Posted on the USA Today site: Jerry Nadeau will replace Wally Dallenbach Jr. as driver next season in one of the three Winston Cup teams owned by Rick Hendrick. The sponsor is an Internet company, MichaelHoligan.com, that specializes in home repair and garden supplies. The sponsorship will be worth between $8 million-$10 million(USA Today)(7-15-1999)

Dallenbach? where might Wally Dallenbach end up? actually hearing many rumors he may go back to....SABCO and I hear he is talking to Cal Wells about the Tide ride(7-14-1999)

#25 Driver UPDATE: I hear the Jerry Nadeau will replace Wally Dallenbach as the driver in the #25 in 2000. Dallenbach will finish out the season in the #25 Bud Chevy(7-13-1999) -- UPDATE: Hearing it will be Jerry Nadeau as the driver -- UPDATE: Jerry Nadeau will join Hendrick Motorsports next season as the driver of the #25 Chevrolets. Nadeau, 28, will replace Wally Dallenbach, who has been in Hendrick's third car since the Michigan race in August of last season. The sponsorship for Nadeau's car is a multiyear deal, according to sources. Melling Racing is planning to continue its Winston Cup operation and is currently involved in a search to replace Nadeau next season(That's Racin')(7-14-1999)

Wally World: Wally Dallenbach says he should know in a week or so if he'll be back with Hendrick Motorsports or with another team next season. He finished seventh on Sunday, his best placing of the year(PitNow), I hear he will NOT be back in the #25(7-13-1999)

#25 Sponsor news UPDATE 2: Ever Since DEI announced that Budweiser would sponsor Dale Earnhardt, Jr in the #8 Chevy, Hendrick Motorsports has been in the process of searching for a replacement sponsor for the #25 Chevrolet. According to General Manager John Hendrick, the team should have an answer in the near future as it is close to signing a three year deal and expect to announce it in a few weeks(SpeedVision), I hear it's some building/contruction company, but that's all I know, also Food Lion was a rumored sponsor, but I hear that was incorrect(6-26-1999) -- UPDATE 1: This weeks Speedway Scene reports that Yamaha or Burger King are the possible sponsors with Yamaha being preferred with Dallenbach back driving(Speedway Scene) -- I hear the new sponsor for the #25 car is Yamaha and Wally Dallenbach will remain as driver(6-27-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Radio Shack may be the next new Winston Cup tour sponsor, according to NASCAR sources, and Rick Hendrick may be the guy signing the deal(PitNow)(7-3-1999)

#25 Sponsor? UPDATE 2: hearing rumors that Food Lion may be the primary sponsor for the #25 Hendrick Chevy(5-29-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Expect an announcement sometime this coming week on a sponsor -- UPDATE 2: Wally Dallenbach chose not to discuss the rumor of Tony Furr’s future status or how soon the #25 car would announce its’ new sponsor(SpeedVision). I now hear the sponsor is NOT Food Lion and that Sprague will stay in the Truck series next year AND that Dallenbach may not be back with the #25 in 2000(5-31-1999)

Hendrick Crew News UPDATE 1: Dave Charpentier, one of the NASCAR tour's better known engineers, is leaving the Rick Hendrick-Wally Dallenbach camp and is expected to land a job quickly, either in the Dale Earnhardt camp, working with Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt Jr., or with Richard Childress' team, working with Earnhardt(PitNow) -- more info: Dave Charpentier, a shock specialist with the #25 Chevys driven by Wally Dallenbach, left the garage area at Lowe's Motor Speedway Thursday morning following an argument with crew chief Tony Furr. It was unclear whether Charpentier has quit. According to sources, Charpentier and Furr argued Wednesday night following first-round qualifying in which Dallenbach qualified 41st out of 52 drivers. The argument carried over to Thursday morning after which Charpentier stormed out of the garage(That's Racin')(5-28-1999) -- UPDATE 1: Crew Chief Tony Furr said that Hendrick Motorsports is close to signing a sponsor to the #25 car. And it could happen this week. The departure of shock specialist Dave Charpentier Thursday morning is expected to be just the first of possibly five members leaving Papa Joe’s team. Charpentier could end up at DEI(SpeedVision)(5-29-1999)

#25 Sponsor: Hendrick Motorsports, who is losing Budweiser as a sponsor of the #25 Chevy, says they are close with thee different companies for sponsorship in 2000 of the car. Hope to close something within the next 30 days. No decision on driver Wally Dallenbach for the 2000 season has been made yet(WC Scene)(4-23-1999)

Sponsorships and restructuring: article at PitNow talks about Bill Elliott, one-car and mutli-car teams, sponsorship with McDonald's, Yates/Texaco and the Hendrick #25 team(PitNow)(4-18-1999)

Hendrick Sponsors: The Hendrick teams all have Kelloggs either as a primary or associate sponsor. Viewers might have noticed the 'K-SENTIALS' logo on Jeff Gordon's car and driving uniform yesterday. Starting in March, Kelloggs will use the 'K-SENTIALS' logo to identify cereals that contain nutrients it believes are essential for growth and development. Also, on Dallenbach and Labonte's cars, the Advance Auto Parts logo is on the rear decklid. However, on Gordon's car the AAP logo is on the B pillar just behind the side window. In the Daytona 500 event, DuPont Dow Elastomers will be on the rear decklid of the #24.(Jeff Gordon Online)(2-7-1999)

Hendrick returns to the track: Rick Hendrick made his first appearance at Daytona in a couple of years as he attended testing Wednesday in a show of support for his three Cup teams(#'s 5,24,25)(WC Today Radio)(1-21-1999)

Hendrick Sponsor: Advance Auto Parts has signed on as an associate sponsor for 1999 for Jeff Gordon and the #24 DuPont team. In addition, another new paint scheme will likely be unveiled on the #24 car at Charlotte in May (most likely for 'The Winston'). Hear that it will be called "Splash"(Gordonline), in addition Advance will be on the #5 Kelloggs Chevy and #25 Bud Chevy(1-11-1999)

NOTE: This team was #25 for years, switched to #50 for NASCAR's 50th anniversary and reverted back to #25 before the 1999 season

Slugger back: Richard 'Slugger' Labbe has returned to Hendrick Motorsports. Last Monday Labbe was hired as chief mechanic for the #25 Budweiser team and driver Wally Dallenbach(Marty's Two Cents-MRN)(12-18-1998)

Crew Changes: Tony Liberati, car chief/engineer for the #50 Bud team this past season has been released from Hendrick Motorsports and is looking. From what I hear Liberati is a crew chief in the making.(11-17-1998)

Current #88 News Page
Jayski's Silly Season Sprint Cup News Page
Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

#88/25 Team Past News and Rumors

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This page designed by Jayski LLC, 1996-2009© All Rights Reserved.
Jayski's® is a registered trademark of Jayski LLC
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.