Dale Earnhardt Jr to RCR #33

[RGFan]

I posted this on another thread, but figured it deserved its own thread. It is all over the sports radio channels late tonight starting at about 11:30 pm

After announcing Thursday that he would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. could announce Friday that he will join Richard Childress Racing in 2008, according to FOX8 WGHP in Greensboro/High Point, N.C.

Childress has scheduled a news conference Friday at Darlington Raceway, site of the Nextel Cup Dodge Avenger 500 (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET on FOX).

Rather than drive the No. 3 car that his father, Dale Earnhardt, made famous for RCR, Earnhardt Jr. would drive the No. 33 car, according to the report. Budweiser would follow Junior from DEI to the new team.

Another FOX affiliate, FOX25 in Boston, reported that Earnhardt Jr. finalized a deal with RCR on Thursday night and that an announcement would come soon.

If the reports are accurate, NASCAR's most popular driver will partner up with Richard Childress, the same man for whom Dale Earnhardt Sr. starting driving in 1981.

Childress and Earnhardt Sr. won six Nextel Cup championships before Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

[spalind]

I'm not a NASCAR expert so who races for RCR now and would they have to bump someone out in order to field Jr.'s team?

[woundedyak]

Good for him. I'm sure Jr. will do very well in a RCR car. Burton and Harvick have had some good success in his cars. More so in the Busch series. Between Richard childress and Harvick,this going to give Jr the help and support he needs to build his Busch team!

[Total Loss]

Looks like a bad move for Teresa.
She just lost the biggest name, and one of the biggest sponsors.
She should have given Jr the majority ownership.
Does not bode well for DEI.
How much new gear will he sell now- all those "8" fanatics will need to reload.

[REEVESRacing]

If true, think this will be good for Jr., what does everyone else think?

Interested in thoughts on other Nascar fallout from this pending move, and possible impact on RGM? Hopefully good things to come so RG can get to the front...:rolleyes:

[RGFan]

I'm not a NASCAR expert so who races for RCR now and would they have to bump someone out in order to field Jr.'s team?

They only have a 3 car team so they can add one more, Teams can have 4 cars max. Roush will have to cut back by 2009

[RGFan]

Ahhh, Richard Childress denied it. Figure that. Well, Hendrick has 4 cars, JD Gibbs came out and said they would not be comfortable running an alcohol sponsor........ CHildress did say he would love to have Jr in his camp.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Jr doesn't need to sign with any team.

1. He could easily sign a 10 year 250 million dollar personal contract with Bud.

2. He could also sign a 10 year 100 million dollar personal contract with Chevy.

4. Over the next 10 years he could sign an additional 100 million in associate sponsorships.

5. He could get 100% of his collectable royalties

6. He could buy any top 35 team like Hall of Fame

7. He could buy the best Pit crew

8. He could for 10 million a year pick any Chevy team to deliver his cars ready to go to the track and pick the best performance from year to year and hold the owner's points no matter who builds the cars.

9. Jr and His Pit Crew jumps on Air Earnhardt and just show up at the track for races and testing.

10. Jr is a franchise and other than leasing cars and paying his pit crew he keeps every cent.

[RGFan]

He could do that, but I do not think it will happen ,not any time soon anyways. He wants to drive for a contender, jump in and win, he said as much yesterday. I think everyone who has thought about it just has to look at RGM and see the struggles that they are going thru. I do not think that Jr wants to be 30th in points, he wants to win championships. All of the contenders say they admire RG for what he has attempted, but none of them want to do it themselves. The rule of thumb for Nextel Cup is that owner/drivers are not contenders.......They know this and they would rather win. Unfortunate but true

[EdgeHost]

Great move for Little E, Bad move for Teresa!

I say,Whatch out for a 3 car!

[woundedyak]

Well,Hendicks could bring on a fifth car still under the rules and get rid of one by the end of 08. I doubt that would ever happen but,still possible. On the other hand,I could see Gibbs getting over the whole alcohol sponsor thing to have him in his camp.Who knows. Most likely he will end up at RCR for the next five years then maybe run for himself

[RGFan]

Well,Hendicks could bring on a fifth car still under the rules and get rid of one by the end of 08. I doubt that would ever happen but,still possible. On the other hand,I could see Gibbs getting over the whole alcohol sponsor thing to have him in his camp.Who knows. Most likely he will end up at RCR for the next five years then maybe run for himself

I heard this on Fox yesterday, No other team can add a 5th car at all now, since the beginning of last year was when the rule went into effect. Roush was grandfathered because they already had 5 cars, they have to be down to 4 by 2009. As far as the Gibbs team is concerned, that comment about alcohol came from JD Gibbs himself, he is the son of Joe Gibbs and now runs Joe Gibbs racing. With that being said, how hard would it be to get Jr another sponsor to run if he did go to Gibbs....... I think the natural fit would be RCR. They have 3 cars in the top 10, Richard loves him like a son and Jr is close to all of the upper management over there.

[michael_loomis]

so what happens to Truex if Jr does go to RCR?? you dont think hes just gonna leave him behind do ya?? thats his wingman !! lol

maybe he will stay, DEI will go Ford and RGM can merge.. pffft..

[b-makk]

Jr should just buy out Yates and take Truex with him. If he could afford 51% of DEI I'm sure he could afford Yates. Switch to Chev because they love to throw money at him. Take the owner points from the 38 & 88 and throw those bums in go-or-go-home cars. Ford sucks so bad this year! It's going to be a struggle for RG, Gilliland, Rudd to stay in the top 35 this year.
Better yet, Jr should just buy Nascar and give himself a championship.