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)
