We knew it was coming- Jr forced to leave #8 with DEI

[likearock00]

Tattoo parlors will be busy during the offseason: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not drive the No. 8 in 2008.

"We've been working hard to secure the No. 8 for Dale Jr.'s car number next season," Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson said Tuesday. "Obviously, he has a tremendous history with that number, and we know how important it is to his fans.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't reach a point where the terms made sense, and now we have to move forward with other options."

NASCAR "owns" the car numbers and teams generally keep the same numbers year over year. The rule -- Section 20 - 3.11 -- reads, in part: All NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car numbers are owned by and will be assigned by NASCAR for use by the car owner. Car numbers are not transferable or assignable by the car owner.

"Our hope was to carry the No. 8 with Dale Jr. to his new team, but the last proposal Hendrick Motorsports received from DEI just wasn't viable," said Kelley E. Elledge, vice president and general manager for JR Motorsports.


http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/head...nge/index.html

[Ty_99]

Not really much of a surprise to me. Personally I though with out Bud sponsoring him, he was better off with out the 8, Fresh start with a fresh team and number
Real question will be if Hendrick puts him in the 5 and ultimately who is sponsor will be

[GMusa]

That sucks.. hopfully they find a way to get the #8!!

[61695]

Greed wins again at DEI.

[likearock00]

Originally Posted by 61695

Greed wins again at DEI.

Exactly. I don't know how she can look at herself in the mirror. She has to be the most hated woman in NASCAR.

Basically, after Jr left DEI, all his heritage is gone from his racing. I hope Hendrick can find a number that has some form of 8 in it. I would love to see Jr continually buy DEI stock until he owns a majority share and can buy himself back into DEI.

[61695]

Originally Posted by likearock00

Exactly. I don't know how she can look at herself in the mirror. She has to be the most hated woman in NASCAR.

Basically, after Jr left DEI, all his heritage is gone from his racing. I hope Hendrick can find a number that has some form of 8 in it. I would love to see Jr continually buy DEI stock until he owns a majority share and can buy himself back into DEI.

You mean more that Jeff gordons ex?

[1G6]

Jr. should not rest until DEI is destroyed. The name's continued use there is an insult to his father.

[likearock00]

Originally Posted by 61695

You mean more that Jeff gordons ex?

I don't hate her- she's hot as hell! Not as hot as Shanon Wiseman, but I wouldn't kick her out!

[69Firebird400]

Does DEI also own #3? Sr raced for Childress, right? I don't really follow NASCAR, but wasn't that Jr's long term plan, to drive the #3 car at the end of his career? I'd like to see that if he can't have the 8. Wow, what a big change, though.

The number should stick with the driver, not the team. It's not cool for the fans, IMO.

[Shotgun]

Good. There are plenty of drivers who've left other teams that have a had a whole lot more success than Junior and they didn't take their old numbers with them. Besides, the #8 was the number of Ralph Earnhardt, so it makes more sense for it to stay at DEI instead of letting it be a Hendrick (or any other team) controlled number. RCR has rights to the #3, it will not be sold or transferred to anyone.

[Shotgun]

Read today where Junior said Teresa wanted some licensing rights to the number even if he took it. Kinda hard to tell who really is the more selfish one in this whole deal - Junior or Teresa. Looks like a toss-up.

I truly think that Junior will carry on with results like he's gotten in his career to date and that DEI will carry on and still be competitive and successful. Who knows, it may be Truex and Junior battling for the Cup next year as long as Junior can get some of the "good stuff" they save for Johnson and Gordon.

[RamJet502]

Originally Posted by Shotgun

I truly think that Junior will carry on with results like he's gotten in his career to date and that DEI will carry on and still be competitive and successful. Who knows, it may be Truex and Junior battling for the Cup next year as long as Junior can get some of the "good stuff" they save for Johnson and Gordon.

If Jr can't win with Hendrick, then he can't win at all because they put out the most consistently dominant cars. I personally think Jr will thrive on the new team even though I can't stand his new teammates.

[Shotgun]

Originally Posted by RamJet502

If Jr can't win with Hendrick, then he can't win at all because they put out the most consistently dominant cars. I personally think Jr will thrive on the new team even though I can't stand his new teammates.

That seems to be the sentiment for most of "Junior Nation" and others in general. Many also don't like Rick Hendrick and his crooked ways off the track.

[Shotgun]

Good article on ESPN.com about the #8. Maybe now some will act with some sense of understanding how meaningless a number is.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...s=2&id=2981496

[drew630]

Originally Posted by Shotgun

Good article on ESPN.com about the #8. Maybe now some will act with some sense of understanding how meaningless a number is.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...s=2&id=2981496

The true history of the #8 really has nothing to do with why Jr. not having the number sucks so bad. To Jr. this is like losing another part of his family. That number meant a lot to Sr. and I truly believe Jr. wanted to win a championship with the #8 to not only honor his grandfather but to do something, I believe, Sr. wanted to do the most, thank his dad. And to me, thats what sucks the most.

From a fans prospective, I could care less about the history of a number. Just like Sr. was the #3, Jr. has become the #8. Its apart of their identity. I know as next year moves along, and everyone becomes accustom to Jr.'s new number, we will get over it. But, for now at least, it sucks.