image from daleearnhardtinc.com
Daytona in February will find another driver piloting the #8 DEI Chevrolet. It could be Mark Martin, Aric Almirola, Paul Menard, or even Martin Truex Jr. But it won’t be Dale Earnhardt Jr at Hendrick Motorsports. Ya, I said Hendrick Motorsports. I even put a link to Hendrick on this site.
After proposal and counter-proposals, NASCAR.com announced that Hendrick Motorsports and DEI has failed to agree on a deal to keep Dale Jr in the #8 at Hendrick Motorsports. That stinks.
I don’t believe that DEI even negotiated in good faith to let Dale Jr have the #8. So what now.
“Our hope was to carry the No. 8 with Dale Jr to his new team, but the last proposal Hendrick Motorsports received from DEI just wasn’t viable,” said Kelley Elledge. Sound familar.
So what has Junior done in the 8. Just 277 starts, 17 wins, 73 top 5’s, 117 top 10’s, 1 Daytona 500 in 2004 and 1 Cup All-Star win in 2000. He first climbed into the #8 on May 30, 1999. And all with Budweiser too. What a divorce this will be.
Dale Jr is leaning toward the No. 81, although he will consider the 87 or 88. The 88 is currently in use by Robert Yates Racing and Ricky Rudd.
I don’t appreciate NASCAR Now’s Marty Smith saying that all Junior fans can add a quick 1 to their tatoos.
I hope he picks the No. 81. It’s a good fit. Thanks again DEI. I hope to become an ex-DEInsider real soon.
