[LSC9901]

Dale Earnhardt Jr has announced that he will be driving for HMS in the 2008 season.

Thoughts ???

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Dale Earnhardt Jr has announced that he will be driving for HMS in the 2008 season.

Thoughts ???

My initial reaction is that this event is the same as when George Steinbrenner started spending mega bucks to win. The contracts of drivers and owners will never be the same after today.

[LSC9901]

No official announcement yet as far as a sponsor or car number yet. They are talking to some major sponsors but nothing yet.

[Nascar318is]

Very interesting, but you have to admire that JR wants to go to a team where he can win the Cup, and not the team that spends the most to get him. If he went to RCR, the only thing he would gain is alot of $$$ from his sales and the history of his father being with RCR. I have to give the man 2 thumbs up especially when he knows that 99.5% of JR fans hate all the Hendrick cars. It will be interesting to see in 08. The question is, will there be tons of people jumping off of the JR band wagon, and will he loose a ton of fan base?

[azrael492]

Does he still get to keep budweiser. Does DEI have the rights to #8, or is he looking for a fresh change.

[Farf]

You know what? I like Dale. I like what he does and there's no doubt that he's a great racer. I love Hendrick and all their drivers, Kyle, Jeff, Jimmie, Casey. But I think him going to Hendrick was a bad idea.

I know the switch makes sense in the short run, yeah, maybe he'll win more races, but what about in the long run? To be honest, I think he's had the car to win, but maybe he's not capable. Again, I don't want to offend him and his driving ability, but sometimes, it's not the car you have to blame or the team. Since he's going to be with Hendrick now, there's going to be a lot of pressure on him to win next year, just because he says that he has a better chance to win with them next year. Just look at Denny Hamlin and how he blamed his crew. He completely switched his crew, but he still didn't win. If Dale wants to win, he better live up to his prediction.

I just wonder about the team. With the four team limit, who's the one who's actually going to be let go? I know there's a lot of speculation with Kyle leaving, but I think that's a shame. Kyle's a great talent, and because he's young, he's got a lot to learn. I truly feel that his talent would truly shine with more time with the Hendrick Crew.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Nascar318is

If he went to RCR, the only thing he would gain is alot of $$$ from his sales and the history of his father being with RCR.

not so fast, Harvick has done well there and imo Jr is a better driver then Harvick

he question is, will there be tons of people jumping off of the JR band wagon, and will he loose a ton of fan base?

i think most of them will come around if he runs up front ..... and he will gain a few new ones

[LSC9901]

Budweiser is up for grabs but the #8 belongs to DEI.

I, too, wonder about his abilities. This will be the telling story beginning in Daytona. This may prove to be a blunder for HMS.

I do hope that he goes for a completely fresh start. As much as he may like his cousin, I think he needs to leave the past in the past and start fresh?

Kyle is definitely gone.

[Nascar318is]

Originally Posted by simple simon

not so fast, Harvick has done well there and imo Jr is a better driver then Harvick

Fair enough, but what I meant is the state the Hendrick is dominating right now. And when was the last time RCR won a cup? It just seems like HMS is the way to go "Equipment wise" HMS is winning races this year as RCR is not(but all 3 cars are in the chase as of this week). JR has to start winning races first. Sorry if it didn't come out right.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

As much as he may like his cousin

maybe i havent been paying attention, but who is his cousin ?

[Nascar318is]

Originally Posted by simple simon

maybe i havent been paying attention, but who is his cousin ?

Tony Eury, his Crew Chief

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Nascar318is

Fair enough, but what I meant is the state the Hendrick is dominating right now. And when was the last time RCR won a cup? It just seems like HMS is the way to go "Equipment wise" HMS is winning races this year as RCR is not(but all 3 cars are in the chase as of this week). JR has to start winning races first. Sorry if it didn't come out right.

no problem and i agree ..... i have said all along i think every team should drive Chevy's with HMS engines

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Nascar318is

Tony Eury, his Crew Chief

thanks, i didnt know ...... and i would say it should be up to Jr if Eury comes along or not

[Nascar318is]

Originally Posted by simple simon

thanks, i didnt know ...... and i would say it should be up to Jr if Eury comes along or not

Agreed I mean Rick did that with Jeff and Ray. Originally Jeff was supposed to go and drive for Rousch, but Jack said he couldn't bring Ray with him, so he went to Hendrick. So I could see him going to Hendrick with JR.

[jks812]

Well at first I wasn't to happy about it. Still not happy about it but I can see the good in it. He will be getting good equipment now. So I guess now we'll know if it's the driver or the equipment. I still don't see how I'm gonna be able to pull for a Hendrick car to win, but I guess I'll have to figure it out. At first I thought about abandoning ship, but heck, I can't really do that.