kelloggs5TLfan
Team Owner
Posted Apr 1st 2008 10:50AM by Geoffrey Miller
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Sprint Cup
Honda Motor Company and Hendrick Motorsports plan to team up to race full-time in the Sprint Cup Series starting at Daytona Int'l Speedway in July, a source close to HMS confirmed in a story exclusive to the AOL NASCAR FanHouse.
A deal has been reached with Chevrolet for Hendrick to get out of its contract with the manufacturer that has helped the team win seven Sprint Cup championships since 1995. That deal is said to be in the "tens of millions of dollars" range.
Additionally, HMS has lost all of its manufacturer support from Chevrolet meaning that until the July race at Daytona, the team will be working nearly on its own and racing the 2007 Chevrolet racing engine.
According to the source, Rick Hendrick has been busy converting at least 25 Chevrolet dealerships he owns into Honda dealerships.
The deal will affect some of the Sprint Cup Series' most well-known drivers immediately, including new Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson. Earnhardt, a longtime Chevrolet supporter, is said to be in discussions with Hendrick to opt out of his newly signed five-year deal. (Click the jump to read more about a possible IndyCar connection)
The plan is for Hendrick to lead a pilot program for Honda in the Sprint Cup Series running Honda Accords with a V6 engine that has secretly been approved by NASCAR. Honda does not offer an eight cylinder engine in its Accord line.
For 2008, more teams are expected to get onboard with program, including one with an IndyCar connection. Michael Andretti and Dario Franchitti -- who both have driven Hondas in their careers -- are expected to help create AF Racing and enter at least two cars with a Honda badge for next year's Daytona 500.
Coincidentally, AF Racing stands for April Fool's Racing.
Credit goes to Dude for posting.
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Sprint Cup
Honda Motor Company and Hendrick Motorsports plan to team up to race full-time in the Sprint Cup Series starting at Daytona Int'l Speedway in July, a source close to HMS confirmed in a story exclusive to the AOL NASCAR FanHouse.
A deal has been reached with Chevrolet for Hendrick to get out of its contract with the manufacturer that has helped the team win seven Sprint Cup championships since 1995. That deal is said to be in the "tens of millions of dollars" range.
Additionally, HMS has lost all of its manufacturer support from Chevrolet meaning that until the July race at Daytona, the team will be working nearly on its own and racing the 2007 Chevrolet racing engine.
According to the source, Rick Hendrick has been busy converting at least 25 Chevrolet dealerships he owns into Honda dealerships.
The deal will affect some of the Sprint Cup Series' most well-known drivers immediately, including new Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson. Earnhardt, a longtime Chevrolet supporter, is said to be in discussions with Hendrick to opt out of his newly signed five-year deal. (Click the jump to read more about a possible IndyCar connection)
The plan is for Hendrick to lead a pilot program for Honda in the Sprint Cup Series running Honda Accords with a V6 engine that has secretly been approved by NASCAR. Honda does not offer an eight cylinder engine in its Accord line.
For 2008, more teams are expected to get onboard with program, including one with an IndyCar connection. Michael Andretti and Dario Franchitti -- who both have driven Hondas in their careers -- are expected to help create AF Racing and enter at least two cars with a Honda badge for next year's Daytona 500.
Coincidentally, AF Racing stands for April Fool's Racing.
Credit goes to Dude for posting.
