As Earnhardt Jr. matures, so does JR Motorsports (cont'd)

"I have learned a lot. There are so many things that you tackle, things you enjoy. The relationship with the Navy has been really fun. Working one-on-one as the owner with a sponsor was new to me. We have really enjoyed the relationship. I have learned a lot through the Navy and how that actually works and how you have the working relationship and compromising," Earnhardt said.

Accelerating again

Brad Keselowski and sponsor Navy will be back with JR Motorsports after signing a deal just before the season finale.

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"With the drivers it has been challenging as well, an enjoyable challenge. Brad is a likeable young guy and we have a lot of things in common. We get along great. I want to see him succeed. That is sort of my motivation is to help to achieve whatever he wants to achieve and get to where he wants to go. I feel like the credibility I seek has been in respect from the community, whether it be my sponsors, the drivers and crew members that work for me and amongst the garage. It is great when you have guys come knocking on your door on Monday wanting to know if there are openings or opportunities for them to work in our program. That is a compliment for us every time it happens. It has been happening quite often."

Now, in addition to Keselowski, Earnhardt's stable also includes a Hooters Pro Cup car, a Late Model team headlined by Martin Truex Jr.'s cousin Curtis, and the Hendrick Busch entry that could feature Landon Cassill and an array of other drivers. Personally, his goal is to perform well enough that Keselowski merits a Cup ride -- but with a team other than JR Motorsports, which the owner has no plans to take to NASCAR's top level.

"Our ultimate goal right now is to stay in the Busch Series and to work there," Earnhardt said. "I enjoy that series. It is part of my history. It is part of me as a driver. That is where I hope to stay and enjoy a lot of success and be formidable for many years. We have aspirations to look further ahead than that. I think it would do an injustice not only to our partners such as the Navy, but ourselves, if we do not tackle the challenges we are facing now. We are still trying to become a successful team in the Busch Series. Until we are and have mastered and seem to be in control of that, we can then see what other places and opportunities we may have to grow. But that is definitely not even in the back of my mind right now."

Truthfully, he has more pressing interests. In addition to getting his team ready for the 2008 Nationwide Series, there's also the small matter of preparing for his ride in Hendrick's No. 88 Sprint Cup car. Tony Eury Jr., his crew chief, has been deep in preparation since October. Earnhardt, who hasn't won a race at NASCAR's top level since May of 2006, believes the pieces are in place for a breakthrough. But it won't be easy.

"I feel right now that Tony Jr. is very stressed out and has a lot on his mind. The last couple of months, since going to work there, the information has just been crammed into his brain," he said. "He could use a vacation. He knew when we signed on that we were going to kind of have to up our program a little bit, up our efforts. Jeff [Gordon] gave me a little bit of advice at the end of the season, that the work ethic might be a little more intense than I was accustomed to as a driver. For the crew chief, it's probably the same. Tony Jr. talks of 7 o'clock meetings every [morning]. He seems really stressed to me. His mentality is positive and focused, like he's going after it and attacking it. But you can tell he's in a new environment. There's just a little more going on that he's got to get in tune with."