MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who announced in May that he would be leaving the team his father established, has revealed that he will move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008.
Earnhardt, Jr., and team owner Rick Hendrick made the announcement at Earnhardt's JR Motorsports, which fields entries in Busch Series, USAR Hooters Pro Cup and short-track late-model competition. The driver, son of the late seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, won back-to-back Busch Series championships and in 2000 moved up to Nextel Cup in Budweiser-sponsored cars fielded by Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Dale, Jr.'s DEI Cup Series cars carried the number 8 that was used by his grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, the 1956 champion of what is now the Busch Series.
But since his father's death in February 2001, the relationship between Earnhardt, Jr. and his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, has eroded. Talks to renew his contract stalled, and Earnhardt, Jr., announced he would seek another ride, triggering a free-agent frenzy never before seen in NASCAR. Teams believed to be in the hunt for his services included Joe Gibbs Racing, Ginn Racing and Richard Childress Racing, which fielded the black No. 3 cars driven by the elder Earnhardt.
Earnhardt, Jr., will replace Kyle Busch in one of the very potent Hendrick Chevrolets, which have won 10 of 14 races this year. The other Hendrick drivers include NASCAR's most accomplished driver, four-time champion Jeff Gordon and reigning Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, plus Casey Mears, who joined the team this year and got his first victory in May in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
One driver had to be released to make room for Earnhardt at Hendrick because of a NASCAR rule that limits teams to four entries. The Associated Press reported that Busch had asked to be released from his contract, which was to run through the end of next season.
The first hint of a connection with Hendrick came in April, when Earnhardt substituted for Busch in the No. 5 Chevy. Both drivers' cars had been damaged in accidents, and Busch left the track while his crew worked to make repairs. When the car was ready to return to action, Busch was not there to drive it, so Earnhardt was asked to substitute.
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