Earnhardt Jr. Press Conference 6-13-07

Read it here first, as it's posted while Dale Jr. speaks!!

8:03 am, pacific: I'm watching the web cast from Speed. They're talking about everything rumored, .. still waiting.
8:05 am - Jr is chatting. Jr thanked the fans and the media for their patience.
He also thanked all the team owners for their time.
He introduced his "new boss for 2008, Rick Hendrick".

Rick Hendrick notes that he and Kyle had been in negotiations since the end of last year, and they both realized that Kyle will have better opportunities else where.

So Dale Earnhardt Jr will be taking the slot that Kyle Busch has held and the contract is a 5 year contract.

Sponsorships have not been worked out yet. (IE: Is Budweiser coming along with Jr?)

Jr said he wants to keep the number 8, and that they would have to present that to Teresa (Earnhardt) and see how that pans out. The audience erupted into some entertaining laughter with that statement.

The next couple of months will be worked out as to who will be on his crew, including whether Jr's present crew will come over or not.

When asked about the reports of Jr going to Gibbs or Childress, Jr noted that info came out of thin air.

Hendrick Motorsports have several multi-year contracts with sponsors and they need to look at how these are going to pan out and where they get placed.


-Bruce