See Also: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Biography
June 24, 2007
Eury to Hendrick? FordRacing.com is also reporting.. Tony Eury, Jr. is likely to join Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports next season sources said. (FordRacin.com)
June 23, 2007
Hendrick would like to buy the No. 8 for Earnhardt, Jr.: Car owner Rick Hendrick has let it be known to officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc. that he'd like to purchase the No. 8 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he begins driving for his organization in 2008. "I'm not sure what their position is or what they want for it," Hendrick said Saturday between practices at Infineon Raceway. (ESPN.com)
June 22, 2007
Earnhardt, Jr. confirms Adidas speculation: Earnhardt also said a possible endorsement deal with sporting goods manufacturer Adidas was "on the wish list." Earnhardt, who convinced his sister to loan him the money to buy a computer when he was a teenager, said his father never believed the Internet would be a success. "That's one place he was wrong and I was right. I took a lot of typing classes in high school," he said. Neither Earnhardt nor Stuart Redsun, Sony's vice president of corporate marketing, would discuss the financial arrangement or the length of the deal. Earnhardt said he got a new digital camera out of the deal. "The cash is great, but the product is good, too," he said. (News-Observer)
NASCAR TV guide on newsstands NOW: Junior is shaking things up, the Hendrick boys are unstoppable, and the Car of Tomorrow is here today. The 2007 NASCAR tour has only reached the halfway point, but it’s already the most fascinating season in years. This week TV Guide explains why in its annual NASCAR mid-season issue (June 25 issue, on newsstands June 21), featuring a comprehensive tear-out schedule card and four collectible covers—one each with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. (TV Guide PR)
June 21, 2007
Earnhardt, Jr. signs sponsorship with Sony: In a move that uniquely teams one of America's most admired sports icons with the nation's leading consumer electronics brand, Sony Electronics today announced a personal endorsement deal with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. of Jr Motorsports to participate in the company's upcoming marketing efforts. The multi-year deal provides Sony the use of Earnhardt's name, likeness, image, voice and endorsement for use in advertising, promotions and merchandising for consumer marketing campaigns aimed at driving sales of Sony Electronics products. Among the products Earnhardt will promote are Sony's high definition BRAVIA televisions in which he will appear in Sony's new HD ad campaign. In addition, Earnhardt will participate in major electronics industry events and trade shows and will make personal appearances each year on behalf of Sony as part of the agreement. "By his own admission, Dale is an avid tech enthusiast who demands exceptional technology, superior performance and the latest in style -- both on and off the track. This aligns perfectly with Sony's approach to consumer electronics and makes this partnership especially fitting." said Stuart Redsun, SVP of Corporate Marketing at Sony Electronics. (Sony PR) Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
June 20, 2007
Finalist in Daytona 500 Celebrity drawn tickets chosen: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mario Andretti and comedian Jeff Foxworthy are among the 10 celebrity finalists in the competition to design the 50th anniversary Daytona 500 ticket. To commemorate the milestone of NASCAR's most prestigious race on Feb. 17, 2008, Daytona International Speedway has created "Celebrity Tickets for Charity," asking a long list of celebrities from sports, music, movies and TV to come up with a unique design. (AP/TheSportingNews)
Beverage companies trying to sponsor Earnhardt? Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has been in talks with two beverage sponsors for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s racecar for 2008. One is Pepsi and the other is Monster Energy. (Captain Thunder)
June 19, 2007
Dale Jr. and Adidas sponsorship in the works? While Dale Earnhardt Jr. was choreographing his move to Hendrick Motorsports, his marketing team at JR Motorsports has been working on an apparel deal with Adidas that could put his own line of ClimaCool wear in major sporting goods retailers, a place where NASCAR has had no presence. But Earnhardt’s own endorsement muscle is again evident in the deal with Adidas, which is believed to be a separate agreement from Earnhardt’s new relationship at Hendrick. It’s uncertain if the Adidas relationship might blossom into a team sponsorship deal. NASCAR-related apparel and merchandise has essentially been nonexistent in the top sporting goods chains and Adidas’ relationships in that space could provide a significant distribution push for Earnhardt’s apparel. “This is a very interesting strategy,” said Neil Schwartz, an analyst for SportSCAN Info, a West Palm Beach, Fla., firm that tracks the sporting goods industry. “There is a lot of NASCAR merchandise sold, but a lot of it is online, and the at-track business is monumental. What you haven’t seen is a lot of lifestyle apparel, jerseys [and] golf shirts.” (Sports Business Journal)
June 18, 2007
Jeff Gordon knew of Earnhardt deal in the process; Johnson surprised by signing: Privately he listened to team owner Rick Hendrick agonize over the arduous, closed-door maneuvering to sign Dale Earnhardt Jr. "Rick was going back and forth, back and forth," [Jeff] Gordon said. "He was like, 'Man, I would love to do this,' and at the same time, 'I don't know how I'm going to do it.' And, 'Should we do it?' " Gordon didn't waver. "I was very supportive of it from the beginning," he said, sitting in the lounge of his team transporter during preparations for today's Citizens Bank 400. On the other hand, reigning Nextel Cup Jimmie Johnson, the other resident star at Hendrick, "really was surprised," Johnson said, when he learned of the blockbuster signing just before it was announced Wednesday. (LA Times)
Earnhardt, Jr. on driving the #3: Dale Earnhardt Jr., on TNT Sunday, speculated about whether his late father would have wanted him to inherit his father's No. 3 as he moves to Hendrick Motorsports: "That was his number and not mine. He wouldn't want that -- wouldn't like that at all." (USAToday.com)
June 17, 2007
Earnhardt, Jr. announces new online shop, JR Nation: JR Nation, the first-ever retail store exclusive to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his JR Motorsports brand, is now accessible online at www.shopjrnation.com. The online version of the store officially launched today, allowing visitors to view and purchase merchandise previously only available at JR Nation. The site offers hundreds of items, including shirts, hats and collectibles fashioned less like traditional track gear and more to Earnhardt Jr.’s style. “We’ve had a great reaction to the collection we came out with this spring and wanted to offer it up to fans from across the country,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The shirts and hats are styled in a subtle way that’s cool. It’s all stuff that I would wear myself.” In addition to the JR Motorsports apparel, www.shopjrnation.com will carry Earnhardt Jr.’s Nextel Cup gear. The online store is accessible from www.shopjrnation.com and www.dalejr.com, while the physical JR Nation store is located at 349 Cayuga Dr. in Mooresville, N.C. Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. (JR Motorsports, PR)
June 16, 2007
Max Siegel: DEI willing to discuss transfer of #8 to Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt said Friday after qualifying at Michigan International Speedway that there has not yet been any communication with DEI about obtaining the No. 8. "Obviously, we'll see if there's any interest from [team owner] Teresa [Earnhardt] and [DEI president of global operations] Max [Siegel] to do that, but they've probably got to answer a couple more questions of their own to be able to have a good idea how they feel about that," Earnhardt said. "Whether they feel like they have any interest in talking about it, I'm sure that's something Rick [Hendrick] and my sister [Kelley Earnhardt Elledge] would be interested in doing." Siegel said Friday that he would be willing to discuss a transfer of the number. "We're open to talk about anything," Siegel said. "But in order to consider it, there has to be some formal proposal. No one has contacted me. Other than knowing his desire to have the number, no one has approached me with a formal proposal. I'm not going to talk about it until I get one." (ESPN.com)
June 15, 2007
Earnhardt merchandise sales may push $100 million? Expect sales of Earnhardt products to approach nine digits ($100 million) in the coming year as fans grab the remaining No. 8 items still on store shelves and load up on the new stuff — everything from diecast cars to bumper stickers, hats and jackets. Earnhardt, who announced Wednesday that he is joining Hendrick Motorsports, did not say which number he will run next year. There's speculation he could wind up in the No. 5 that Kyle Busch has been driving or the No. 25 if Casey Mears decides to run the No. 5. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
June 14, 2007
Hendrick and Earnhardt still have details to finalize: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick have agreed for Earnhardt Jr. to drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season. But while they have an agreement, there are many details to work out, from potential sponsorship conflicts to whom the actual sponsor of the car might be. While Hendrick and Earnhardt Jr. have agreed, it's now time for Hendrick Motorsports Executive Vice President Marshall Carlson and JR Motorsports General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Elledge to get to work. "We haven't gotten all the details down," said Earnhardt Elledge, who is the business manager for her brother. "Rick is a man of his word. We've had some high-level discussion on our expectations and what the most important thing for us is, the involvement in terms of sponsors and licensing and marketing in terms of Dale's brand. "Dale knows the competition side and what's important there. ... We still have a long ways to go in putting all the details together." (SceneDaily.com)
Dale Jr. not the highest paid driver at Hendrick: Terms of his [Dale Earnhardt, Jr.] contract were not disclosed, but Hendrick said that Earnhardt would not be the highest-paid driver on his team. “It’s akin to the Yankees signing the best free agent out there,” Marc Ganis, a sports marketing consultant, said in a telephone interview. (New York Times)
Earnhardt, Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports transcript: Find the transcript from Wednesday's news conference, following the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports announcement.
June 13, 2007
Kyle Busch statement regarding his departure from Hendrick Motorsports: Kyle Busch, driver of the #5 Chevy in the Nextel Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports and four-time Nextel Cup race winner, will depart Hendrick Motorsports at the conclusion of the 2007 season. The following is a statement from Busch regarding the decision to leave: "We had been working on a contract extension for me to remain at Hendrick Motorsports, but after prolonged negotiations, we mutually agreed that a fresh start was in order. I have been granted a release after the 2007 season. I have tremendous respect for Mr. Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. It's where I grew up, and I have a lot of great memories. I kind of feel like I'm graduating. I'm excited about my future, and I know a lot of opportunities await because of what everyone at Hendrick did for me - on the track and off. I still have a job to do this year, and will give it my all - just as I've always done - to make sure we put the #5 car in victory lane a few more times before the year is out."(True Speed Communication PR)
Budweiser Statement regarding Dale Earnhardt, Jr. announcement: "Anheuser-Busch has enjoyed a remarkable relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. since our sponsorship commenced back in 1999. Dale Jr. is an excellent ambassador for the sport and our company, and we look forward to exploring options with Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports to continue Budweiser’s relationship with him as he enters this new stage of his racing career." Tony Ponturo, Vice President, Global Media and Sports Marketing Anheuser-Busch, Inc. (Anheuser-Busch PR)
General Motorsports statement regarding Earnhardt/Hendrick announcement: "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has been synonymous with the modern era of Chevy Motorsports with his 17 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victories and two NASCAR Busch Series championships, all powered by the legendary small-block Chevy V8. Dale, Jr. has a choice in his future direction. We are proud he chose to stay with Team Chevy - the winningest name in motorsports with 609 wins and 30 championships - to pursue his championship bid. On behalf of General Motors and Chevrolet, congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports on the announcement of their partnership. They epitomize the Chevy spirit of competition. We wish them success as they embark on their new relationship." Brent Dewar, General Motors North America Vice President of Vehicle Sales, Service and Parts (General Motors PR)
NASCAR Chairman Brian France statement regarding Earnhardt, Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports: “Today’s announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr. ’s move to Hendrick Motorsports is indeed an important announcement for this season and beyond, and it should be noted that high-profile partnerships have always been a part of NASCAR’s competitive history. There have been so many great partnerships involving people of great character and ability. We’re proud of what they have brought to our sport. “Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always said that first and foremost, he wants to win a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship. We wish him the best of luck. ” (NASCAR PR)
Earnhardt, Jr. to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended months of speculation Wednesday, announcing that he will drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 and beyond. Earnhardt Jr., who has never driven a Nextel Cup car for a team other than Dale Earnhardt Inc. -- the team founded by his father Dale Earnhardt Sr. -- said during his job search that "it became apparent to me the man I wanted to drive for." That was team owner Rick Hendrick, someone Earnhardt Jr. has known since childhood. Hendrick said the deal, struck with Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, will run for five years. "I don't feel a whole lot of pressure," said Earnhardt Jr, 32, whose press conference was held at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C., home to the Busch, Hooters and late-model series teams that he owns. "I'm pretty excited to drive Rick's cars. His on-track performance speaks for itself. I hope it ain't that hard to get me to victory lane." Still unresolved is Earnhardt's future with sponsor Anheuser Busch. The driver has become synonymous with the No. 8 Budweiser car which he will continue to drive for the duration of the 2007 season. (More at USAToday.com)
June 12, 2007
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. announcement is planned: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET at his JR Motorsports race shop. (JR Motorsports, PR)
