It's offical...Earnhardt to join Gordon, Johnson in Hendrick stable

[Outdoors Junkie]

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s rock-star image doesn't fit the corporate white shirt-and-black pants look that is synonymous with Hendrick Motorsports, but the organization's reputation for winning titles fits his.


NASCAR's most popular driver announced on Wednesday that he is joining the sport's most dominant organization in 2008. Earnhardt will replace Kyle Busch, who has agreed to a release from his contract with Hendrick.

"It became apparent to me the man I wanted to drive for," Earnhardt said at a news conference. "He competes with integrity and most importantly, he wins races."



Busch, who had one year left on his contract, had been in the process of negotiating an extension with HMS. In a statement, Busch said both sides had "mutually agreed that a fresh start was in order" and worked out a release after the 2007 season.

"I kind of feel like I'm graduating," Busch said. "I'm excited about my future, and I know a lot of opportunities await because of what everyone at Hendrick did for me -- on the track and off."


HMS owner Rick Hendrick joined Earnhardt for the news conference at JR Motorsports, where Earnhardt announced last month this would be his last season at Dale Earnhardt Inc.


Earnhardt said at the time of that decision he wanted to seek an organization that would help him win a championship.

He chose an organization that has won six since Jeff Gordon captured the first of his four titles in 1995 (Terry Labonte won in 1996 and Jimmie Johnson walked away with the 2006 championship). He chose an organization that has won 10 of 14 races this season, including last week's rain-shortened victory by points leader Gordon at Pocono.

"When you have a big team like we do, and four winning teams like we do, I think we've had that challenge: Are there too many successful drivers in one place? I think we've already proven, if there is a team that can deal with that, Hendrick Motorsports is one of them," Johnson said Wednesday.

"I think we'll all be helpful to one another, crossing over to different fan bases. ? Junior will learn from Jeff, and we'll learn from Junior."


Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon as teammates will be an interesting mix. Although the two get along, Gordon has been the driver most Earnhardt fans love to hate going back to his rivalry with the late Dale Earnhardt.

"We do have a personal competition. If you want to call it a rivalry, fine," Earnhardt said of his relationship with Gordon. "He's fun to race with, and especially if you beat him, it's a good feeling. ? We can both challenge each other to be better race car drivers."


Where Busch lands becomes the most pressing question. There has been speculation that he may move to Ginn Racing, which is supported by HMS. DEI officials have said they would be interested in the 22-year-old star if he is released from his contract.

"Although we haven't had conversations with Kyle Busch, if speculation is correct that he may become available he's certainly somebody we'd be interested in talking with," DEI president Max Siegel said on Tuesday.


It is not known what number Earnhardt's car will have or whether sponsor Budweiser -- since starting in NASCAR, Earnhardt has driven the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet -- will follow him to Hendrick. Anheuser-Busch has had a relationship with Earnhardt since 1999.


"Dale Jr. is an excellent ambassador for the sport and our company, and we look forward to exploring options with Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports to continue Budweiser's relationship with him as he enters this new stage of his racing career," said Tony Ponturo, the company's vice president of global media and sports marketing.


Hendrick Motorsports does have a history with Budweiser as a sponsor in the 1990s with Ricky Craven and Wally Dallenbach Jr.

David Newton covers Nextel Cup racing for ESPN.com.

[Outdoors Junkie]

MOORESVLLE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was talking about how he and future Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson would bring out the competitive nature in each other but race cleanly when owner Rick Hendrick interjected.


"I'm liking this already," he said.

Earnhardt doesn't expect his new teammates to be jealous over his moniker as NASCAR's most popular driver. He doesn't expect his presence at HMS to be a problem any more than Hendrick or his future teammates.


"He's going to fit in well," defending Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said on Wednesday. "It's really important to make sure all four teammates are pulling in the same direction and that they are willing to work for the same goals.


"Junior has made that commitment to the team. It's something he's looking forward to. He wants that team camaraderie. He wants the opportunity to win. We welcome him."


Johnson said he'd known about Hendrick's intention to sign Earnhardt for some time.


"And I felt we were in a good position to acquire Junior," he said. "There was a lot that needed to happen and a lot that needed to take place, and that stuff has all been going on behind closed doors.


"I'm excited to have him. He's going to be a great teammate and asset for us."




 
 
 
It's really important to make sure all four teammates are pulling in the same direction and that they are willing to work for the same goals. Junior has made that commitment. ... 
Jimmie Johnson


Johnson doesn't believe Hendrick has created a monster with too many stars.


"We've already proven that if there is a team that can deal with it, Hendrick Motorsports would be one of them," he said. "Even though we are teammates and we share everything, that part is set in stone.


"We have four different drivers with four different personalities. We're all able to be who we are and what we are. Rick doesn't regulate us."

Earnhardt said the toughest part about the past few weeks has been keeping Casey Mears, with whom he will share a shop next season, in the dark.


"We all hear the rumors and obviously he had to have some worries as to whether ... he might be moved out," he said. "I haven't been able to talk to him. I wanted so bad to be able to talk to him and tell him it was OK."


Earnhardt finally talked to Mears on Tuesday night.


"He was really as happy and as relieved as I was," he said. "It was really cool just to talk to him as a future teammate. He is excited with what I can bring to the table. Me and him will be able to talk on our terms about our cars during the week and during the weekends."