Straight Up pw0ned
Wednesday, June 13th, 2007 1:47pm EDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
Can anybody tell I’m an avid Counter Strike fan?
How better to put the fact that Marty Smith was spot on, and indeed Dale Earnhardt Jr will indeed be in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for 2008?
This lineup brings comparable lineups of superstars to mind. The Yankees; Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman; Aikman, Smith, and Irvin; the list can go on and on.
The deal is done, Kyle Busch and Hendrick came to a mutual agreement to part ways, and for some people their world just started to take a lovely ride in a hand basket. Well, isn’t that special.
Who literally would have thought this would be the outcome? Pretty darn slick on Rick Hendrick’s part, I must say. Even a week or so ago he was saying his stable was full for 2008. Well, technically, it was. The fact that the lineup change was being worked out doesn’t change the fact that the stable is full. So it wasn’t necessarily untrue, now was it?
Excellent play, really. All the while the attention is focused on RCR or Ginn, here Rick was making the words of a very much missed son ring true. And with a chuckle, Rick reflected back on the day Ricky said he was going to try and sign Junior, and that someday Junior would drive for Rick Hendrick. Funny how that all works out.
There is no doubt Hendrick is the team in NASCAR right now. But, while Junior admitted it was enticing (well, DUH!), he said it was for personal reasons that he chose to sign with Hendrick Motorsports. Granted, the whole domination and kicking everybody’s butts right now was an added bonus.
Junior said from the start that it was the relationships that he was after, as well as the ability to be competitive for the Championship. He again said today that what attracted him to Hendrick was exactly that. The way Rick treats his people, his drivers, and everyone else in the world. It was exactly what Dale Jr was looking for, and when the door opened he walked right in.
There isn’t any news about the actual car number he’ll run. Several possibilities exist.
They are:
- 1. Drives the #5 (8-3 = 5, right?)
- 2. Mears to the #5, Junior to the #25 (A number switch only, not a team switch)
- 3. Kyle Busch signs with DEI, and basically they swap numbers.
Let’s look at the third possibility, as the rest are self-explanatory.
Would it be possible for not only the numbers to switch, but the sponsors as well?
I don’t know, but it might not be out of the question. Both cars will be in the Top 35 when the checkers fly at Homestead, so that really isn’t an issue. It might be if it’s limited to say the Top 15 next season, but if the deal is done it’s done. It could be that only the number changes, and there is no exchange of owners points at all. That would be the likely case, and wherever it falls it falls.
The only sticking point would be Kyle Busch signing with DEI, but yesterday Max Siegel did say that if Kyle was available then he would be very interested in talking to him. Could they work out a deal to Move Kellogg’s to DEI? Maybe. Then again, a little Budweiser on some Frosted Flakes or Rice Krispies isn’t a bad thing. (C’mon, you know you’ve done it once.)
This is a very interesting time indeed. Junior did say he didn’t want to live in his Dad’s shadow, and wanted to be his own man. While we all selfishly wanted to see Junior to the #3, that isn’t what Junior wanted. It’s what the fans wanted. With this situation, Junior can still maintain his relationship with Richard Childress, but at the same time he can be his own person without having to live up to his ever-looming father’s reputation.
I think this is a good move all around, and pretty darn cool when you think about it. We’ll be entering one of those rare times where there is a lot of talent in a single place. They only come along once in a great while, and it is something to watch with awe and inspiration.
… “Pippen brings it across… he feeds it to Jordan… Jordan jams it home…”
History folks. Cherish it, and cherish the fact you’re able to see it as it happens.
Filed Under: Dale Earnhardt Junior, Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #5, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Teams
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“Would it be possible for not only the numbers to switch, but the sponsors as well?”
Maybe? But lets see what the head Clydesdale has to say:
“Anheuser-Busch has enjoyed a remarkable relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. since our sponsorship commenced back in 1999. Dale Jr. is an excellent ambassador for the sport and our company, and we look forward to exploring options with Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports to continue Budweiser’s relationship with him as he enters this new stage of his racing career.†- Tony Ponturo, Vice President, Global Media and Sports Marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
To me that smells like Bud goes to JR Motorsports and when the Kellogg contact runs out they move back to their original home at Hendrick and Dale Jr.
Of course that doesn’t preclude a massive buyout by Bud.
marc said this on June 13th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
With a driver change, it’s typical contract lingo for the relationship to be renegotiated.
If BudBud will easily bring more cash to the table than Kellogg’s is currently shelling out.I could easily see that numbers are swapped, as well as sponsors, so that all branding is pretty much intact.
Then again, I could see the numbers swapped, and Kellogg’s flipping to the 25 with Casey.
Then again, Frosted Flakes and Budweiser… They’re Grrrrrrrreat!
I just can’t see Hendrick letting go of the Kelloggs sponsorship just to have the #8 in his stable. The long-time sponsor has to be worth more than the number. Beside, Bud is supposed to have an out in their contract with DEI triggered by JR departing. What’s easier to market, the Kellogs #5 or Casey Mear’s and his #25 sponsors (quick, who are they?)?
charlie said this on June 17th, 2007 at 11:54 am
NASCAR drivers typically aren’t as fortunate to be in the situation that Dale Earnhardt Jr currently is in. I would not be suprised to see Hendrick drop the National Guard sponsorship for Casey Mears, and have Mears drive the #5 Kellogs car while Jr gets a major player like Sony or Visa as a sponsor.
Jason Harris said this on September 1st, 2007 at 10:06 pm