I think he made it clear that he will not drive under his own team, and that he will be in a Chevy. I hope that reigns true. I think his best opportunity to succeed is to go to an established team with the best equipment. It's obvious this year, that Hendrick has the best equipment, but I'm not sure if there's room for Jr., JJ and Jeff on one team. I would love to see him at Gibbs or RCR. However, I will stick with him wherever he goes. Contrary to popular belief, not all Jr. fans hate Jeff Gordan. I won't be upset if he ends up at HMS.

In the press conference today he said he will drive under his own team, but that is the last option, and I don't see things going that far, and you're right he will be much better off going to an established team. DEI doesn't have the best equipment and they've been at it for a while, you've seen how toyota has ran so far so it's pretty clear his best bet is Hendrick, RCR, or Gibbs.

He will be driving the 3 car.

http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/Sports/Detail?contentId=3171381&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=6.1.1

 

Dale Jr. to RCR? done deal? FOX25(Boston's FOX affiliate) is reporting.......Dale Earnhardt Jr. will soon be racing under the same legendary #3 Chevy that his dad used to race in. A source with direct knowledge of negotiations tells FOX25 that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has finalized a deal with Richard Childress Racing Thursday night and an official announcement will be coming soon. At a press conference today to announce that he was leaving the company his late dad built, Dale Jr. said he would have mixed emotions about driving his dad's #3 Chevy, but again, FOX25 has learned that this is a done deal.(FOX25)(5-10-2007)

 

More on the story I posted earlier

http://www.jayski.com

FOX8 News has confirmed Junior is negotiating late Thursday night with Richard Childress to join Richard Childress Racing. An announcement could come as early as Friday. Childress has scheduled a news conference Friday at Darlington Raceway, the site of Saturday's Nextel Nextel Cup race. Sports Director Rich Brenner has also confirmed the talks between Junior and Childress include plans for Earnhardt driving the #33 Chevrolet for RCR. Budweiser, the primary sponsor for Junior's #8 car with DEI, will follow him to his new race team. (FOX8 News)(5-11-2007)

I think, as a whole, Childress is the best place for him. I hope these rumors are true, but the words "done deal" are hard to swallow these days.

I think, as a whole, Childress is the best place for him. I hope these rumors are true, but the words "done deal" are hard to swallow these days.

 

I agree. :thumb:

That sounds great, I'd love to see that, hope it's all true.

I think you are confusing hatred for jealousy.

 

Nope. Not confused at all. I like Kyle Busch. Great driver and not so good team mate.

 

RCR would be a good fit for Jr. I just hope that it is the #33 car and not the 3. Because that would give all those Jr. naysayers fuel for the "trying to be like his daddy" topic.

Nope. Not confused at all. I like Kyle Busch. Great driver and not so good team mate.

 

RCR would be a good fit for Jr. I just hope that it is the #33 car and not the 3. Because that would give all those Jr. naysayers fuel for the "trying to be like his daddy" topic.

If he does go to RCR I'd say he will drive the 33, Jr. has me convinced he doesn't want to drive the 3 car.

I don't buy what Toyota is saying about not being interested. What if they say.....Junior start your own team and bring Budweiser with you. We'll make you our number one Toyota team with a two car operation. We'll give you 100 million to start your operation !!!! How could he turn that down? :cry:

They told the same thing to Michael Waltrip and you see how thats working out for him. Toyota doesnt want to take the chance of taking a HUGE public relations hit if JR went there and didnt make even one race. That would be a PR disaster for Toyota, NASCAR, and JR.

He will be driving the 3 car.

 

I agree, I don't think it'll be black though.

On Friday, in brief comments to assembled media before the start of practice for Saturday night's Nextel Cup event at Darlington Raceway, Childress' interest in pursuing Earnhardt Jr. was clear. But he added that he had yet to speak to the driver on his future, and that contrary to some broadcast reports, no deal had been done.

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/05/11/dearnhardtjr.rchildress.future/index.html

If he does go to RCR I'd say he will drive the 33, Jr. has me convinced he doesn't want to drive the 3 car.

JR said hed have to do some "Soul Searchng" about whether or not he would be comfortable

driving the 3 car. In professional sports terms that means "if the price is right Ill do it". Its very simple. Everyone from Richard Childress,JRs sponsors(Bud and Wrangler especially),the vast majority of fans,TV networks, and if the truth was known, NASCAR want JR to drive that 3 car. When all those powerful forces want something 99.9% of the time they get it.

JR said hed have to do some "Soul Searchng" about whether or not he would be comfortable

driving the 3 car. In professional sports terms that means "if the price is right Ill do it". Its very simple. Everyone from Richard Childress,JRs sponsors(Bud and Wrangler especially),the vast majority of fans,TV networks, and if the truth was known, NASCAR want JR to drive that 3 car. When all those powerful forces want something 99.9% of the time they get it.

 

Not in this situation, IMO. You can't compare this to any other situation. Jr will have to decide if he is comfortable sitting in a car with the number on the door that his dad made famous...and died in. Those are big shoes that I don't think he will want to fill at this time, no matter how much money is involved. Additionally, I don't think that Childress will put the pressure on him to do so.

I expect to see Junior driving the red, #3, Budweiser car for Richard Childress Racing next year...

 

...and it will make for some interesting All-Star cars...different paint schemes and such.

 

I could be wrong, but that's my guess right now. Childress as bounced back from a few down years, and the addition of Junior to go along with Harvick and Burton would put them right up there with any team in the series, IMO.

I think that he will drive for Childress, but not the #3...yet.