[Tuck4Bama]

Earnhardt can't bring Budweiser to JGR; Ginn emerging as serious player

Earnhardt can't bring Budweiser to JGR; Ginn emerging as serious player
By JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer

May 26, 2007

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- If Dale Earnhardt Jr. ends up at Joe Gibbs Racing, team officials are adamant it won't be with sponsor Budweiser.
Bobby Ginn, however, has no problem with a beer sponsorship and is still hotly pursuing NASCAR's most coveted free agent.
And Richard Childress? He had nothing to say on the subject Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
With Hendrick Motorsports apparently out of the Earnhardt sweepstakes -- Hendrick has four drivers under contract and claims he isn't looking to drop any of them -- three other Chevrolet teams have emerged as the front-runners to sign NASCAR's most popular driver.
JGR could be the leading candidate, but owner Joe Gibbs insisted Saturday night he won't accept a beer sponsorship at his family business. Earnhardt is closely associated with Budweiser, his longtime sponsor, and the company can leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. with him at the end of the season.
``For me personally, and my background and everything that has happened to me, it wouldn't fit me,'' Gibbs said. ``It doesn't mean it's not fine for everybody else.''
Gibbs officials also said they won't be expanding to four teams in 2008. That means they'd have to dump a driver to sign Earnhardt, and J.J. Yeley could be on the hot seat.
JGR fields cars for two-time series champion Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, who finished third in the standings during last year's rookie season. Yeley has yet to find the same success as his teammates, and is in the final year of his contract with Gibbs.
He heads into Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 ranked 20th in the standings, but team president J.D. Gibbs said Yeley controls his own destiny with the team.
``We have invested in J.J. for years, and for him to be successful would be awesome,'' J.D. Gibbs said. ``Nobody wants to see J.J. succeed more than we do. We went to J.J. and said, `No matter what happens, if we go out there and we run well together, you're here forever.' ``
Ginn, meanwhile, has room for Earnhardt and has planned to expand to four teams since taking over majority ownership of the team known as MB2 Motorsports last season.
The Florida-based land developer said several weeks ago he would pursue Earnhardt, and Ginn Racing has emerged as a viable option through on-track performance by Mark Martin and Ginn's desire to field a winner.
Ginn said Saturday he's had ``exploratory conversations'' with Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, but has yet to speak to Earnhardt himself. He said he never would have taken it this far if he didn't think his organization was a perfect fit.
``If I had no ability to do it, I wouldn't have embarrassed myself or wasted his time,'' Ginn said. ``I believe we can support it and I believe he wants to win and I want to win. You put two people together that are damned determined to get there, that's a combination that has generally led to successes.
``I don't want to bring him here, if I had any opportunity to do it, and make him believe he can't win a championship.''
Jay Frye, general manager at Ginn, is a St. Louis native who once worked for Anheuser-Busch, the parent company for Budweiser. Ginn believes Frye's past relationship with A-B, and Ginn's entertainment ties to the resorts he owns and golf tournaments he hosts makes it a perfect fit.
But he firmly believes Earnhardt is the most important part of the puzzle.
``You can build great cars and have great teams, but you've got to have that spark plug that is going to put you in the winning,'' Ginn said. ``To go after a winner, even if we had no chance to get him, it's like asking a pretty girl for a date. You have nothing to lose, you might as well ask. But I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think I could support him.''
Childress, who said Friday he had yet to speak to the Earnhardts, wouldn't give an update Saturday on any discussions. With three cars under the RCR roof, he said he'll be at four in 2008 with or without Earnhardt behind the wheel.
``Our plan was to always be at four next season, that's something we had in the works way before Junior became available,'' Childress said. ``Who knows who will drive it? I might just have to dust off my helmet.''

Updated on Saturday, May 26, 2007 9:51 pm EDT

[jks812]

I think Ginn would be a pretty good choice. They have showed with Mark that they can provide the equipment. And they do have a desire to win. I'd be surprised if he went to RCR now since he has that deal with Teresa. I would like to think he wouldn't drop Bud just to go to Gibbs. I really hope he don't go to Hendrick, but thats just because I can't see myself pulling for a Hendrick car. I still think the option of starting his own team is a good one. Then when Truex's contract is up, he can sign him.

[JG24]

Well i think Jr will only go to a team that has actually won some races and Ginn is a brandnew race team that hasnt really established themselves other than with Mark in a few race

[SpaceCadet]

Ginn is pretty much HMS. The engines are from Hendricks, not sure about the chassis. They even trade drivers. Jr. may well go to Ginn because he wants to be with an "A" level team, as he puts it. Hendrick may not have room, but with Ginn in the picture, he doesn't really need room.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

Ginn is pretty much HMS. The engines are from Hendricks, not sure about the chassis. They even trade drivers. Jr. may well go to Ginn because he wants to be with an "A" level team, as he puts it. Hendrick may not have room, but with Ginn in the picture, he doesn't really need room.

Last I heard the only thing at GINN that wasn't theirs was the motors from Hendrick.... that being said they have actually stepped it up since becoming GINN racing and not MB2. I think given the driver with the talent they will certainly break out. MM has proven that so far with his limited performances.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by jks812

I think Ginn would be a pretty good choice. They have showed with Mark that they can provide the equipment. And they do have a desire to win. I'd be surprised if he went to RCR now since he has that deal with Teresa. I would like to think he wouldn't drop Bud just to go to Gibbs. I really hope he don't go to Hendrick, but thats just because I can't see myself pulling for a Hendrick car. I still think the option of starting his own team is a good one. Then when Truex's contract is up, he can sign him.

Unless Kelly was blowing smoke, starting their own cup operation is not in the cards right now.

Originally Posted by Quality88

Last I heard the only thing at GINN that wasn't theirs was the motors from Hendrick.... that being said they have actually stepped it up since becoming GINN racing and not MB2. I think given the driver with the talent they will certainly break out. MM has proven that so far with his limited performances.

The more I look at the possibilities, the more are eliminated. To me, Ginn is the front runner. But guess I'll have to wait and see what Jr. decides...

[simple simon]

no one has mentioned it here, but incase anyone was wondering if to believe Gibbs is serious i have heard he refused to be interviewed by SI years ago because it would appear in the swimsuit issue so he is a family man that sticks by his standards

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by simple simon

no one has mentioned it here, but incase anyone was wondering if to believe Gibbs is serious i have heard he refused to be interviewed by SI years ago because it would appear in the swimsuit issue so he is a family man that sticks by his standards

He's just sticking to his beliefs and there isn't anything wrong with that. Besides he's been very successful without them so why change now.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

He's just sticking to his beliefs and there isn't anything wrong with that.

im not saying there is anything wrong with that

i just thought there is a chance someone may think he is just blowing smoke or could change his mind and i wanted to show them Gibbs has been this way since he was 1st a coach in the NFL so many years ago

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by simple simon

im not saying there is anything wrong with that

i just thought there is a chance someone may think he is just blowing smoke or could change his mind and i wanted to show them Gibbs has been this way since he was 1st a coach in the NFL so many years ago

Didn't mean to infer that you did. Just stating how I see it and that it is good he sticks to his guns. I admire his values myself although I have no real problem with beer sponsors. I have a lot invested in them !!!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Didn't mean to infer that you did. Just stating how I see it and that it is good he sticks to his guns. I admire his values myself although I have no real problem with beer sponsors. I have a lot invested in them !!!

don't we all....

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I have a lot invested in them !!!

lol me too when i was in the service

and i dont know if with Jr, but i have heard Wal-Mart wants to get into NASCAR sponsorship

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by simple simon

lol me too when i was in the service

and i dont know if with Jr, but i have heard Wal-Mart wants to get into NASCAR sponsorship

A lot of my military brews were foreign in nature and taste. Suntory and Kirin. Some nights are a bit foggy !!

[simple simon]

i think the OB beer i had in Korea was just watered down Bud

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i think the OB beer i had in Korea was just watered down Bud

you should have had some of the formaldahyde-laced stuff they "reserved" for us in Subic Bay during 'Nam. made you want to give up drinking .. which, now that I think about it, may have been their objective. didn't work, though.