Dale Junior Can Do The Math
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 11:07am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
While the whirlwind surrounding Dale Earnhardt Junior still spins, especially in light of the breakdowns in talks for negotiating the continued use of the #8, there are still a few things left undecided.
First, whom will sponsor NASCAR’S biggest star? All signs have pointed to a Pepsi product thus far, but who knows for sure yet.
Second on the plate of uncertainties is what number will Dale Jr begin his career at Hendrick Motorsports with?
Junior flat out said he didn’t think from the get go that the #8 would be in the mix. However, he went on to say that he kept his hopes up for his fans until the very end. It seems that the almighty head of TEI just couldn’t get over it, and was the sticking point of the negotiations. From media comments on that side, it seems that Max Siegel personally thought it would be fine, but couldn’t convince Her Royal Highness and ended up having to tow the company line. That’s understandable, and I feel Max did the best he could with it.
Dale Jr also said that he was looking hard at numbers in the 80’s. That being the case, while nobody else will say it, I will. I believe that he could run under the #85 next year. Here’s how I’ve come to my conclusion:
- - Junior said he was looking at numbers in the 80’s
- - The following numbers are in use:
- 80 (Joe Gibbs)
- 83 (Red Bull Racing)
- 84 (Red Bull Racing)
- 88 (Robert Yates)
- 89 (Morgan Shepard, no attempts in 2007)
- - The #5 has significance to Hendrick Motorsports
From those basics, it would seem a logical choice. Granted, this is my own opinion and not confirmed as fact from any source other than my brain. However, you can’t argue that it isn’t a logical opinion.
Many would like to see the tradition of the #5 kept in place. At the same time, Dale Junior wants to create his own history, and not continue on with one already started. That’s one reason why he decided to remain friends with Richard Childress, and to not mix business with it. Not that that would have been bad, but Junior said that in his original announcement.
That being the case, it could very well apply to the #5 as well. It has a tradition and history with it, but it seems for all intensive purposes that Junior wants to start fresh and make his own noise. Of course he makes noise just pulling onto the track. But I digress.
While adding to the fine history and legacy would be an honor, you can’t help but get the above impression that Junior is ready to begin building his own chapter. That being the case, being able to represent that through his car number would be possible. Whether that comes to light or not, we’ll see.
Filed Under: Dale Earnhardt Junior, Drivers, Nascar, Nextel Cup
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Luke, we spoke with David Poole of the Charlotte Observer on Tuesday and he told us he had checked copyright applications for Hendrick Motorsports. They had applied for the #81,82,58,38 and 08. He thinks the #58 is the one. That kind of jibes with your theories.
I hadn’t thought about reversing my 85 theory, but that makes sense as well.
What I’m wondering though, is exactly which number Rick would drop.
The 25 was Papa Joe’s, yet the 5 has been Hendrick’s from the beginning. Of course the 5 was also Ricky’s number as well.
Talk about a tough situation to wade through.
For me, I would “guess” that the 5 will win out, and Casey will be under that with Kellogg’s next year. Mainly because the National Guard can only opt for one season at a time, as per government restrictions. Meaning, they can only enter a contract for one year at a time. Well, they are supposed to anyway. They can renew for the following year, but can’t commit to more than one at a time.
See, I did learn something from having friends in the accounting department while I was in.
I was thinking though, that the 58 had been run by RCR in the not so distant past? Granted, it’s not one being run consistently. Well, that and Junior also said he was looking in the 80’s.
But, if the 5 sticks around, then that shoots my whole theory down the drain.
I could see 08, maybe. Although Bowyer’s use of 07 makes more sense. You know, since that’s what’s on the bottle.
Numbers are such a tricky game.
Although, I’m more interested in the paint scheme myself.
For example, take a peek at Kyle’s Busch ride. That Hot Shot car looks pretty damn good. I love the way that blue subtly changes shades depending on lighting and angle of view. It’s one slick looking hot rod.
Scrape off the Hot Shot logo, and put a Pepsi one on it, and you’d have one mean driving machine on the track.