Notes: DEI mum on Martin, Almirola sharing No. 8 car

FONTANA, Calif. -- On a day when Kyle Busch appeared to spill the news that Joe Gibbs Racing is making the switch from Chevrolets to Toyotas next year, Martin Truex Jr. was asked Friday if he was ready to confirm the 2008 driver lineup for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

It appears that in addition to having Truex in the No. 1 Chevy, DEI also will have veteran Mark Martin and rookie Aric Almirola split time in the No. 8 car being vacated at season's end by Dale Earnhardt Jr.; and another rookie, Regan Smith, driving the No. 01 currently being piloted by Martin and Almirola. But Truex stopped short of confirming that lineup, and only Martin is officially on board for certain -- at least for the time being.

"I really can't spill anything because I ain't got nothin' in my cup," he said, laughing. "We'll just have to see. Whatever they choose to do, we've got a great organization and a great company. Having Mark is going to be great, especially if they bring those young guys in and try to get them up and going. Mark will be a great asset and a great help to them, and to me also.

"I look forward to it. It's cool to see guys like that get their chance; if they get that chance, I'll be there to help them with it any way I can."

Truex added that he believes Almirola and Smith would be good additions to the DEI lineup, if it comes to pass as expected.

"I enjoy working with all those guys," Truex said. "I know Regan a little bit. He's a very nice kid, and he looks like he's got a lot of talent. So, you know, it'll be interesting to see what he can do if he comes over -- and the same with Aric. He kind of got thrown to the wolves here lately, going to Bristol last week. That's a tough place to race anytime, but especially if it's one of your first ones.

"Mark is high on both of them. And if Mark thinks that they've got it, then they probably do. He's a pretty smart guy."

Junior update
Earnhardt was asked on pit road after qualifying Friday at California Speedway when he hopes to announce what car he will be driving next season.

"When we announce the number, it's going to be the same day we announce the sponsor, and that will be at a press conference -- not standing on pit road after qualifying," Earnhardt said.

Earnhardt added that he is looking forward to having a new number and a new sponsor next season, despite the fact that he's always been associated with the red No. 8 Budweiser car.

"It will be fun to have a new number. It will be something different," Earnhardt said. "But I think the attention being placed on it at this point is a little over the top. We're excited about what the sponsor is going to be, and how the car itself is going to look, design-wise, and what our approach will be as far as our marketing environment."

Earnhardt added that he thinks "we're a couple of weeks out" from making it all official. When asked if crew chief Tony Eury Jr. would be following him to Hendrick Motorsports, he also said: "We don't have an announcement, but Tony Jr. is working in that direction." (Continued)