Marty Smith: Junior to Hendrick, Will Drive 5 Car

[The Voice]

Marty Smith is very reliable and I don't think he'd risk his NASCAR rep on a dicey tip:

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=2901813

Plus, this NASCAR.com story (AP, Jenna Fryer) has a reference to Kyle Busch asking to be released:

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/06/12/dearnhadtjr.future.plans.ap/index.html

[ChromeHorn]

I've talked to a very reliable source who told me it's a done deal with Hendrick. Whether Junior drives the 25 or 5 is not clear. If Junior goes to the 25, Casey will simply change car numbers. (Bud has ties to the 25).

[smyler]

I can just imagine all the number 8 tattoo's being doctored up this next week.  Wow!  Jr. driving for HMS.  I never thought I'd see the day!  Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. all on the same team.  So much for the idea that HMS can't stay at the top.  I can only imagine how well Jr. is going to do now that he has the best cars underneath him.  My next question is who will they get as crew chief?

[south jersey girl]

didn't I hear somewhere that Tony Jr said he was going with Jr...I think that was back when Jr was still in the initial negotiations w/ DEI

...not sure

[Blu]

Marty is a good guy but...Ill believe it when I hear it
Ugh....(shudder)

Ive said it before and I mean it..Im done with Jr. if this happens. I simply cant root for HMS in any way shape or form
I may as well just yell 'Gooo Satan" as that.

It goes against everything I stand for and.... just ..feels...wrong

We shall see...

[Chris]

Yeah... Jr Nation may take a big tumble...

[smyler]

Jr. is still Jr. and when he starts winning again a lot of his fans will return.  Besides, there will be a ton of new fans to take the place of the ones who don't like HMS.  People disliked Jeff for winning so often.  Will they dislike Jr. for the same reason?  I don't think so.  Jr. is old school NASCAR and Jeff was/is more progressive.  Jr. will prosper very nicely in his new Concord home.

[The Voice]

I don't get poeple who say they're a fan of Junior but wouldn't stay a fan based on who signs his paycheck.

Not much loyalty there.

[Chris]

Jr. is still Jr. and when he starts winning again a lot of his fans will return.  Besides, there will be a ton of new fans to take the place of the ones who don't like HMS.  People disliked Jeff for winning so often.  Will they dislike Jr. for the same reason?  I don't think so.  Jr. is old school NASCAR and Jeff was/is more progressive.  Jr. will prosper very nicely in his new Concord home.

well.. you may be right...
FIRST he has to WIN.... let alone worry about "winning so often"
Lets face it... he hasn't won in over a year...  He does have 17 wins,.. but then again it took 8 years to get them....
Not exactly what anyone would call "Star" status..
 

[FS Ren]

I don't get poeple who say they're a fan of Junior but wouldn't stay a fan based on who signs his paycheck.

Not much loyalty there.

Excellent point there Voice.  The Jr Nation has already shown that, as a collective, they are Jr fans first no matter where he goes or who owns the team he drives for.  Of course, they're gonna be real pissed when he doesn't get half-plus ownership of everything Hendrick owns in six or seven years.

Ren

[Chris]

Of course, they're gonna be real pissed when he doesn't get half-plus ownership of everything Hendrick owns in six or seven years.

I'm sure thats all said in jest...
But some folks probably really think that...
For those... I think they'll have to just be pissed.  If Jr don't own part of DEI, I don't think he'll never own anything other than JR Motorsports.

[skool]

I don't get poeple who say they're a fan of Junior but wouldn't stay a fan based on who signs his paycheck.

Not much loyalty there.

I written "Voices" articles on that point Voice. Gotta agree with you on this one!

Im a fan of the man (ie driver. whoever it may be) not the car, number, owner, sponsor etc etc.

[SMOKEN14]

I hope JR Keeps Bud So his fans can throw bud cans at jeff amd jimmie  JUST KIDDING

[Kalani]

I think it would be an awesome thing for Jr. to go to HMS.  He is looking out for this future and no one can expect him to turn down a ride at HMS just b/c the Jr. nation fanbase would get upset.  If they are real Jr. fans, they will stay behind him no matter where he goes.  The way I see it, there are a lot of drivers that actually give fans a reason to dislike them.  Gordon is hated b/c he wins a lot and is not a redneck.  Be honest, when was the last time Gordon did anything worse than what K. Busch or Stewart do all the time?  I defend Gordon a lot with people that bag on him and it never fails that none of them have a "real" reason to dislike him.  JMO

[falcon325]

I'm a long-time 25 fan (I know some folks involved with the 25 team). 

I've got a Ken Schrader Kodiak tee, a Ken Schrader Bud tee and hat, a Ricky Craven Bud Louie-the-Lizard tee, a Jerry Nadeau Michael Holigan hat, a Front-row Joe UAW/Delphi hat, a Vickers GMAC hat and I JUST bought a Casey Mears hat and friggin' GMAC/National Guard flag at the All-Star race. 

Sheesh, this is getting expensive!

Maybe he's going to the 5 car, but I suspect its the 25.  If so, I hope they keep this Junior fella for a while.