EIGHT IS ONE
No. 8 announcement at Richmond; Smith signed for the No. 01
By Greg Engle, Editor, Cup Scene Daily
The worst kept secret of late concerning Dale Earnhardt Incorporated will finally be revealed at the upcoming Richmond event.
The pieces have come together and the drivers for the No. 8 and No. 01 are in place.
As has been widely reported, Regan Smith will be in the No. 01 Chevy for 2008, while Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will split time in the No. 8 Chevy being vacated by Dale Earnhardt Junior.
The question of who would fill the famous No. 8 car loomed large until DEI acquired Ginn Racing in July. With the addition of Martin, Almirola and Smith to the driver lineup, DEI was able to put together the deal that should allow a smooth transition.
Martin is a veteran driver who enjoys widespread respect among fans and fellow competitors. He will pave the way running perhaps the first five races in 2008 before allowing rookie Almirola behind the wheel.
Smith has campaigned the No. 01 car six times this year, most recently at Watkins Glen. His best finish was a 24th at Talladega.
The 23-year-old Smith is reportedly ‘extremely’ excited to represent the US Army, the primary sponsor on the No. 01, while Martin’s only concern was keeping his current crew including crew chief Ryan Pemberton. Martin and his Pemberton led crew have four top-5 and nine top-10 finishes in just 17 starts so far in 2007. It appears that DEI will swap the crews of the No. 01 and No. 8 giving Martin his wish.
While the sponsorship for the No. 8 isn’t set in stone, talks with Budweiser who have been the primary sponsor for the car since Dale Earnhardt Junior made his Nextel Cup debut in 1999, are still ongoing and the possibility remains that they could stay as the primary sponsor.
No. 8 announcement at Richmond; Smith signed for the No. 01
By Greg Engle, Editor, Cup Scene Daily
The worst kept secret of late concerning Dale Earnhardt Incorporated will finally be revealed at the upcoming Richmond event.
The pieces have come together and the drivers for the No. 8 and No. 01 are in place.
As has been widely reported, Regan Smith will be in the No. 01 Chevy for 2008, while Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will split time in the No. 8 Chevy being vacated by Dale Earnhardt Junior.
The question of who would fill the famous No. 8 car loomed large until DEI acquired Ginn Racing in July. With the addition of Martin, Almirola and Smith to the driver lineup, DEI was able to put together the deal that should allow a smooth transition.
Martin is a veteran driver who enjoys widespread respect among fans and fellow competitors. He will pave the way running perhaps the first five races in 2008 before allowing rookie Almirola behind the wheel.
Smith has campaigned the No. 01 car six times this year, most recently at Watkins Glen. His best finish was a 24th at Talladega.
The 23-year-old Smith is reportedly ‘extremely’ excited to represent the US Army, the primary sponsor on the No. 01, while Martin’s only concern was keeping his current crew including crew chief Ryan Pemberton. Martin and his Pemberton led crew have four top-5 and nine top-10 finishes in just 17 starts so far in 2007. It appears that DEI will swap the crews of the No. 01 and No. 8 giving Martin his wish.
While the sponsorship for the No. 8 isn’t set in stone, talks with Budweiser who have been the primary sponsor for the car since Dale Earnhardt Junior made his Nextel Cup debut in 1999, are still ongoing and the possibility remains that they could stay as the primary sponsor.