Rick Hendrick said he is ready to announce a new deal with Jimmie Johnson sponsor Lowe’s ‘probably anytime over the next 3-4 weeks and Nationwide also has indicated a willingness to continue with Hendrick Motorsports after the retirement of Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the end of the season. One sponsor Hendrick doesn’t have to worry about is Earnhardt sponsor Axalta, which opened a 36,000-square-foot training and customer service center today on the Hendrick Motorsports campus. Hendrick, whose automobile dealerships use 40,000 gallons of paint a year, said he would discuss 2018 driver options with Axalta leadership later today.[ESPN.com]
