Dale Earnhardt Jr.

• Junior to Hendrick: Post your thoughts | Video Coverage | Transcript

Junior's last race at DEI ends like so many this season
After completing his nine-year run with DEI with a 36th-place finish at Homestead, Dale Earnhardt Jr. sounded like a man who can't wait to move on.
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Caraviello: Earnhardt ready to get 2007 season over, 2008 started
It's going to be difficult for him to say goodbye but Junior is ready to slide into that Hendrick Motorsports equipment and find out how good he really is.
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Caraviello: Earnhardt's future begins with glance back at past
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will turn his first laps for Hendrick in a test at Atlanta and he won't be in the No. 88.
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Sponsor announcements loom for Junior, Kahne
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was giving no hints as to what his number or sponsor would be at New Hampshire.
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Eury Jr. to be crew chief for Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick
When driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Hendrick Motorsports for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season, Tony Eury Jr. will be his crew chief.
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Earnhardt Jr. to reporters: Back off with Teresa slurs
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said some of the things he has read on the Internet about current car owner and stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, has got to stop.
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Number a driver's identity but change is imminent
While Junior and his fans would love nothing more than to see him in the No. 8 next year, the owners are the ones who get final say.
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DEI close to naming Junior's replacement
Bud may or may not adorn the car and Junior won't be the one climbing into it but one thing is certain: Someone will drive the 8 for DEI next year.
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Junior: Deal for 8 scuttled by Teresa's bid for control
Dale Earnhardt Jr. tried to get his No. 8 from Teresa Earnhardt, but he knew it was a losing battle. He also said it was probably for the best.
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Numbers game ends: Junior out of the No. 8
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not drive the No. 8 car in 2008, as discussions between DEI and Hendrick Motorsports came to a halt on transferring the number.
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Junior's transformation brings fresh perspective
What does one make of a world where nobody has heard of Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Beau Estes ventures down that road and comes back with a new outlook.
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Bud, Junior to split after season
First it was a new team. Now it's going to be a new sponsor. Rick Hendrick said Budweiser will not be on the hood of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car in '08.
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Junior player or Busch league?
Jack Daniel's Post-Race Show co-host Beau Estes breaks down the statistics to try and settle the debate as to where Dale Earnhardt Jr. ranks all time.
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DEI mates put distractions behind
The partnership between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. will end after this season. But they are making the most of their last year together at DEI.
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Notes: How much is 8 car worth?
DEI has said it would listen if Hendrick Motorsports asked about the availability of the 8 car. But a disinterested party said he would never part with any number.
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Truex steps into spotlight as Earnhardt's exit looms
No. 1 may soon be more than a car number for Martin Truex Jr. as beginning next year DEI's other Junior will become the most-seniored of its drivers.
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Hendrick drivers welcome Junior
Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears expressed excitement about Dale Earnhardt Jr. becoming a teammate next year.
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Childress, Gibbs prepared to move on
Drivers for Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing are ready to focus on the task at hand and not what could've been.
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Caraviello: Ties that bond
It shouldn't be all that surprising. The reality is that there's no better place for Dale Earnhardt Jr. than Hendrick, writes David Caraviello.
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Junior knew HMS is where he wanted to be
At the time Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was leaving DEI, neither Earnhardt or Rick Hendrick saw what ultimately transpired as being much of a possibility.
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Head2Head: Is Junior making the right career move?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be joining Hendrick Motorsports, but is it a good fit for NASCAR's most popular driver? Mark Aumann and Josh Pate debate.
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Earnhardt to join Hendrick Motorsports for '08 season
It's official. As expected, Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced on Wednesday that he will drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008, replacing Kyle Busch.
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Hendrick flirtation brought Junior to the realization
It started at Texas. And now, Dale Earnhardt's likely making the relationship a marriage. We should have seen this courtship coming, writes Joe Menzer.
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For Earnhardt Jr., all signs point to Hendrick in 2008
Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., racing together as teammates -- it's a powerhouse combination of megawatt marketability that will become reality at Hendrick Motorsports next year.
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Souvenir makers hopeful Junior's decision comes in summer
Dale Earnhardt Jr. hasn't set a timetable for his eventual move to another Nextel Cup organization. But the people tasked with preparing merchandise, collectables and apparel in his new team colors would love to see NASCAR's most popular driver make a decision by mid-summer.
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2000 All-Star race proved Junior's coming out party
As much attention as Junior drew that night in 2000 when he became the first rookie to win NASCAR's all-star event, he's now drawing more as the most marketable driver in the sport.
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Childress, DEI partner for engine-building program
In a sense at least, maybe Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't completely done driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. after all when it was announced that Richard Childress Racing and DEI were combining their Chevrolet engine departments.
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Sister begins listening to offers for Junior
Kelley Earnhardt Elledge has spoken to several teams and is prioritizing the options based on the best fit for Earnhardt. He announced May 10 that he is leaving DEI, his late father's company, at the end of the season.
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Caraviello: No scenario is out of bounds
When a driver with the marketing potential and fan base of Dale Earnhardt Jr. announces himself a free agent, nothing is sacred. Anything seems plausible, writes David Caraviello, as NASCAR's most popular driver looks for a new home.
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Weekend That Was: What Junior didn't say
Several have tried, few have had much success. If Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s prime objective for leaving DEI is to have a better chance at winning a title, then he shouldn't even consider starting his own Cup team, writes Joe Menzer.
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For Earnhardt Jr., 3 not the magic number
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has just separated himself from his late father's race company. If he climbed into the No. 3 Chevy, writes David Caraviello, he would be living a legacy he couldn't possibly uphold.
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Gibbs may not pursue Earnhardt, but Ginn will
Joe Gibbs Racing will entertain a conversation with Dale Earnhardt Jr., but that doesn't mean the team is interested. Ginn Racing, however, is ready to talk business. But its owners know they have some convincing to do.
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Earnhardt wants time to ponder his next move
A day after announcing he is leaving DEI, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he would like to take a few weeks to get back to normal.
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Childress to give Junior time
At some point, Richard Childress will sit down and talk with Dale Earnhardt Jr. But the car owner wants to give the driver some space first.
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DEI shifts focus to future without Junior
Retired driver Darrell Waltrip said that Junior's departure from DEI does not bode well for the company bearing his father's name.
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Uncertainty faces licensing industry
Millions of fans wearing No. 8 hats will soon be in the market for new gear after Dale Earnhardt Jr. climbs out of the red Budweiser car for the last time.
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Drivers offer thoughts on Junior's DEI departure
Now that the biggest free agent in NASCAR history is on the market, everyone is wondering where he's going to wind up in 2008. Including other drivers.
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Cross: Earnhardt becoming own man
Dale Earnhardt Jr. embarks on becoming his own man. Not Dale Earnhardt's son. Not the face of DEI. Not Driver 8.
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Junior announces he will leave DEI
In a news conference at his JR Motorsports race shop on Thursday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he will leave DEI at the end of this season.
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Elder Eury takes leadership role at JR Motorsports
Former DEI crew chief Tony Eury, who led Dale Earnhardt Jr. to consecutive Busch titles, has been named director of competition for JR Motorsports.
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