Childress, Gibbs ponder the driver who got away

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- NASCAR team owner Richard Childress spent much of this week in New Zealand, gunning for a few species of animal that the noted hunter wanted to add to his collection. Meanwhile, rival Rick Hendrick bagged another type of big game.

That would be Dale Earnhardt Jr., who announced Wednesday that he would drive for Hendrick Motorsports for the next five years. The news conference in Mooresville, N.C., brought an end to a month-long process in which Earnhardt also considered other organizations, including the one that made his late father a star.

But in the end, Earnhardt decided that Richard Childress Racing wasn't the place for him. And Friday, that seemed all right with Childress.

"He made his decision. All I can say is, I'm happy that he's happy," Childress said. "That's all I can say for him. I told him from Day 1, I wanted him to stay at DEI, but if he left there, let's talk. But I said at the end of the day, I want you to make the decision that's the best for Dale Jr. Don't do what the fans want or what everybody thinks is right. Do what's right for Dale Jr."

RCR's drivers weren't quite as open with their feelings. Whatever reaction they had was kept mostly locked behind tight lips and terse words uttered Friday at Michigan International Speedway.

"We've got to focus about what we need to do to make RCR better and beat these guys," driver Clint Bowyer said. "That's what we need to do. I'm not really worried about it. If [Earnhardt] is not going to come to RCR, then I don't care where he goes."

Was there anger, frustration, or disappointment in Earnhardt getting away from the team that fielded six championship cars for his father? It was difficult to tell. In the preseason, when questions over Earnhardt's status with Dale Earnhardt Inc. were rampant, Kevin Harvick talked about how he'd like to have NASCAR's most popular driver as a teammate. But Friday, he had little to say.

"My honest opinion? I could care less," he said.

Even before his split with DEI was complete, Earnhardt had an open invitation to join Childress' three-car operation. It was the choice many of Earnhardt's fans, who longed to see him drive his late father's old No. 3 car, wanted him to make. Instead Earnhardt chose NASCAR's most successful active organization, with 10 race wins this year alone, and an opportunity to mold more of an identity for himself. (Continued)