#8 stays with DEI - Earnhardt nation mourns again.

[James J.]

From Jayski:

No #8 for Earnhardt Jr at Hendrick: Hendrick Motorsports will not have the ability to field #8 entries for Dale Earnhardt Jr. when the Sprint Cup Series driver joins the organization in 2008. "We've been working hard to secure the #8 for Dale Jr.'s car number next season," said Marshall Carlson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. "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. "We appreciate the efforts of Max Siegel and his team (at Dale Earnhardt Inc.), and are excited about unveiling our plans for 2008 in the near future." No timetable has been set for an announcement of Earnhardt's car number or team sponsor.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(8-15-2007)

Guess it's time to start the marketing machine for Jr.'s next season/car #/sponsor.
Will be interesting to see if Hendrick holds onto the #5 or lets it go back to NASCAR. Jr. expressed a desire to have the #81 if not the #8. There is a lot of history with the #5 and Hendrick.  But like Jr., maybe Rick is ready to move on and begin making new history with new driver, team and car number.

[Chris]

hhuummm
Now we see where art meets life...
remember the commercial...
Guess we'll see folks repainting the garage door something beside red, replacing there #8, ....
My question is what do those folks with #8 tatoos do..??

[smyler]

Maybe the tattoo's can end up like some people do with X's, with a line through it and a new one underneath.  Then in 6 years when Jr. goes off and starts his own deal they can cross that one out and put the final one underneath that one, lol.

[James J.]

My question is what do those folks with #8 tatoos do..??

I think they call those "life lessons."

[Dustcloud]

Woof. Just when I thought DEI had used up all its stupid quota for the year, we have this. I pity whoever they try to put that number on...

[James J.]

Yeah Dustcloud, I've mentioned the same thing before.  Can you imagine doing that?   

Show me a driver who's willing to walk into DEI (or RCR) and start driving the #8 or #3 car and I'll show you a driver who will be booed more than all the other drivers combined.  OUCH!

[HUDSON HORNET]

That's IT! 

I've HAD it! 
I can't take no more! 

I'm goin' on a HUNGER strike and my neighbor ain't gonna pluck her eyebrows 'till LillE gets the number eight.

And until then, I refuse to count the number eight when I do math. 

[James J.]

Aw now... don't go to extremes. 
He will still have the #8.
It will likely just have a #1 right beside it.

BTW, how funny is that?  Jr. goes to Hendrick and drives the 81.  KyB goes to JGR and drives the 18.  Someone else goes to DEI and drives the 8 and scores themselves an instant mob of haters.  Theresa just got scratched off a bunch of fans Christmas card list.

Personally, with how Jr. wanted this to be his last move of his career and it be the team and seasons that define his racing career, I think a new number is perfect.  Consider it that we're witnessing the birth of a potential iconic number/team/driver.  What's not to love and cheer for with that?

[HUDSON HORNET]

I agree with you on that Sunkist.
I even mentioned that in another thread.
If LillE wants a clean start to become his OWN man
why NOT start with an entirely different number?

The numbers eight and three have already run their course.
And the number eight without an Earnhardt is just two little circles, one on top of the other.
The number three is just a backwards "E" ---- for Earnhardt. 

[south jersey girl]

I think the only one at DEI who could pull off driving the 8 without getting boo'd is Mark Martin. (even if it's only part time)

[Chris]

well IMO..
If someone gets booed for driving the #8... I just don't get it..??
The car has never been spectacular.  I mean Jr has drove that car ever since he started racing, and he has 17 wins in 8 years.  Thats two wins a year average.  Nothing "special" about that.  He's never won a CUP championship.  In fact best he's ever finished is 3rd.

Now lets just say J Gordon had this happen and someone else got into the #24... He's got 79 wins in 15 years.  Thats an average of 5 wins a years.  Quite a bit of difference there.
NO matter what I don't think fans should CARE what number a driver has,.. or what number he came from.  thats just dumb.

I've been there where my 'favorite' driver went to a different team and changed numbers.  Bill Elliott had drover the #9 for his whole career.  When he went to Jr Johnson he drove the #11 Budweiser Ford.  It was no big deal.. no controvery, it's all part of racing.  Happens all the time.... so I don't see why any eyebrowes should be raised now.

[James J.]

SJG, I think you're 100% right.  I didn't even think about that scenario.

I don't know Chris, I bet there are a lot of drivers in the garage who would love to have a 2 race per year average. 

[Blu]

I personally could care less what number Jr. ran. Whether at DEI, HMS or wherever... it just didnt really matter.

I was ( am) simply ticked about his choice of teams..the number he runs was , and  is irrelevant to me. I will not supprt HMS and sadly since he is affiliated with them..Jr.
I doubt Im alone and, Im guessing many boo's you may hear are for that rather than a change in car numbers itself.

I like Jr.(have gotten a ton of his stuff over the  years) and will still silently pull for him on a personal level, but will refuse to cheer for, or purchase anything that woud also benefit HMS. Right or wrong its my own little "up yours" to HMS that while you may have gotten my favorite driver.. you aint got me attitude I guess.

I dont expect anyone else to sympathize or understand that attitude and ya know what?? Thats OK too. Its just me being me, and  I doubt Rick, Jr. or anyone else will lose much sleep over it.

I agree with the MM in the 8 thing though.

[Chris]

Yeah.. I guess.... If you look at it that way (a previous post above).
Earnhardt is ALMOST as good as Kurt Busch.
Busch has won 16 races in 7 full season.  Thats better than 2 races per year.
Bobby Isaac only run four (mostly) full seasons, and three about 1/2 season.  He got 37 wins in those 8 years. Thats four wins a year.
Kasey Kahne has 7 wins in four season (and EMS has struggled seriously this season)...
Bill Elliott raced 22 full seasons and got 44 wins,.. and had several years with a goose egg.
Even Matt Kenseth won is mostly though of for being 'consistent' and not winning a lot of races has 15 wins in 8 full seasons...  

Yeah O know there are those drivers like T Labonte, B Labonte, M Martin who have driven forver and only have a handful of wins.... But my whole point was this.  Earnhardt's stats don't show he's a "great" driver.  He's ONLY popular because of who his dad was (and probably more important how he died).
IMO no matter who Jr drives for I don't think he'll ever do any better than he has in the past.  
He's a good kid, and I like his 'down on the farm' attitude, and I think he's good for the sport.  I just hate that so many folks expect so much of him.

[James J.]

Chris, I actually do think Jr. will do better at HMS.  I think Gordon (and even Jimmie Johnson) will teach him quite a bit.
Jr. hasn't had high caliber teammates to draw from like he will next year.