Major Decision for Junior
Pete Pistone
Managing Editor Posted Monday, May 14, 2007
Unless another unsubstantiated television station report has Dale Earnhardt, Jr. signing a contract before this piece is published, Junior is a free agent as I write.
It's been almost a week since Earnhardt, Jr. announced his plans to leave DEI and seek a new home beginning in 2008. And while there has been much speculation, lots of rumors and a ton of guesses, nobody except Junior and his sister Kelly have any idea of what lies ahead.
But let's handicap the possibilities and probabilities of where the most sought-after free agent in NASCAR history winds up:
GINN RACING
Team owner Bobby Ginn threw his hat in the derby last week saying he would go after Earnhardt, Jr. hard to join his golden oldie team of Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek and Mark Martin - thankfully Regan Smith's inclusion on the squad brings the average age down almost a decade.
While Martin has done wonders in the U.S. Army No. 01, the rest of this team has struggled and with Earnhardt, Jr.'s desire to win races and titles immediately, its doubtful Ginn will be able to persuade Junior to come on board. Ginn has the money to open some eyes, but Earnhardt, Jr. isn't worried about dollars and cents at this point in his life.
PROBABILITY: 10 percent
JOE GIBBS RACING
The ingredients are all here...a Chevrolet team, proven capability to win, championships, an open slot to add a fourth car when NASCAR maxes teams out and a lifetime supply of Redskins apparel, Junior's favorite team.
But the devout Gibbs clan is opposed to alcohol sponsorships, and with Budweiser no doubt coming with Junior as a package, that right there is enough of a deal breaker. Even if Anheuser-Busch decided to market its non-alcoholic brew in a deal, that sponsorship partnership won't fly in this camp.
Plus JGR may not be ready or feel it necessary to add a fourth team and stretch its resources.
PROBABILITY: 10 percent
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
There's already four seats filled at Hendrick, although Casey Mears' can't feel too comfortable these days. Obviously Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson aren't going anywhere and Kyle Busch is about as safe as anyone can be. Contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on, so I suppose Mears could get the boot if car owner Rick Hendrick wanted to put this Earnhardt, Jr. deal together.
There has been some talk of moving Busch over to one of Hendrick's "satellite" teams like CNC-Haas, but that seems unlikely to me.
Hendrick is the Yankees of NASCAR and has the scratch to pull the needed strings to get this done. But I think it's still a long shot at best.
PROBABILITY: 25 percent
JR MOTORSPORTS
If Earnhardt, Jr. has any thoughts at all of trying to own and run a NEXTEL Cup team while driving, he should take a ride to Michael Waltrip's RacewWorld and have lunch with Mikey. It's a nearly impossible task and doesn't align with Junior's desire to win while his window of opportunity is still open.
The Hendrick satellite scenario could be part of this deal, giving Junior the equipment needed to compete, but this is the DEI of 2014, not right now.
PROBABILITY: 25 percent
RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
Strip away the emotions and this is still the scenario that makes the most sense. The family history is a given and the marketing dollars generated from another Earnhardt-Childress connection, whether it's the No. 3, No. 33 or No. 133 car, could make a dent in paying off the national debt.
RCR has an open spot to add a fourth team, Chevrolet is in place and solid teammates in Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer would give Earnhardt, Jr. a chance to shine with one of the sport's powerhouse teams.
The stars seem to be aligned for this one to happen - Earnhardt Sr. found his way to RCR at age 32 as well - and for Junior to reach the criteria he laid out in his DEI departure speech; this should be his new home.
PROBABILITY: 75 percent
Pete Pistone
Managing Editor Posted Monday, May 14, 2007
Unless another unsubstantiated television station report has Dale Earnhardt, Jr. signing a contract before this piece is published, Junior is a free agent as I write.
It's been almost a week since Earnhardt, Jr. announced his plans to leave DEI and seek a new home beginning in 2008. And while there has been much speculation, lots of rumors and a ton of guesses, nobody except Junior and his sister Kelly have any idea of what lies ahead.
But let's handicap the possibilities and probabilities of where the most sought-after free agent in NASCAR history winds up:
GINN RACING
Team owner Bobby Ginn threw his hat in the derby last week saying he would go after Earnhardt, Jr. hard to join his golden oldie team of Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek and Mark Martin - thankfully Regan Smith's inclusion on the squad brings the average age down almost a decade.
While Martin has done wonders in the U.S. Army No. 01, the rest of this team has struggled and with Earnhardt, Jr.'s desire to win races and titles immediately, its doubtful Ginn will be able to persuade Junior to come on board. Ginn has the money to open some eyes, but Earnhardt, Jr. isn't worried about dollars and cents at this point in his life.
PROBABILITY: 10 percent
JOE GIBBS RACING
The ingredients are all here...a Chevrolet team, proven capability to win, championships, an open slot to add a fourth car when NASCAR maxes teams out and a lifetime supply of Redskins apparel, Junior's favorite team.
But the devout Gibbs clan is opposed to alcohol sponsorships, and with Budweiser no doubt coming with Junior as a package, that right there is enough of a deal breaker. Even if Anheuser-Busch decided to market its non-alcoholic brew in a deal, that sponsorship partnership won't fly in this camp.
Plus JGR may not be ready or feel it necessary to add a fourth team and stretch its resources.
PROBABILITY: 10 percent
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
There's already four seats filled at Hendrick, although Casey Mears' can't feel too comfortable these days. Obviously Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson aren't going anywhere and Kyle Busch is about as safe as anyone can be. Contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on, so I suppose Mears could get the boot if car owner Rick Hendrick wanted to put this Earnhardt, Jr. deal together.
There has been some talk of moving Busch over to one of Hendrick's "satellite" teams like CNC-Haas, but that seems unlikely to me.
Hendrick is the Yankees of NASCAR and has the scratch to pull the needed strings to get this done. But I think it's still a long shot at best.
PROBABILITY: 25 percent
JR MOTORSPORTS
If Earnhardt, Jr. has any thoughts at all of trying to own and run a NEXTEL Cup team while driving, he should take a ride to Michael Waltrip's RacewWorld and have lunch with Mikey. It's a nearly impossible task and doesn't align with Junior's desire to win while his window of opportunity is still open.
The Hendrick satellite scenario could be part of this deal, giving Junior the equipment needed to compete, but this is the DEI of 2014, not right now.
PROBABILITY: 25 percent
RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
Strip away the emotions and this is still the scenario that makes the most sense. The family history is a given and the marketing dollars generated from another Earnhardt-Childress connection, whether it's the No. 3, No. 33 or No. 133 car, could make a dent in paying off the national debt.
RCR has an open spot to add a fourth team, Chevrolet is in place and solid teammates in Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer would give Earnhardt, Jr. a chance to shine with one of the sport's powerhouse teams.
The stars seem to be aligned for this one to happen - Earnhardt Sr. found his way to RCR at age 32 as well - and for Junior to reach the criteria he laid out in his DEI departure speech; this should be his new home.
PROBABILITY: 75 percent