Twice As Nice: Earnhardt Jr. To Drive No. 88 Cup Entry Next Year

Earnhardt Jr. To Drive No. 88 Car Next Season

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will race in the No. 88 car for Hendrick Motorsports next season, according to sources cited by David Newton of ESPN.com. Sources acknowledged that Robert Yates Racing has agreed to sell the No. 88, in which Dale Jarrett won the '99 Winston Cup Series championship, to Hendrick. Sources also indicated that the car will be sponsored by Mountain Dew and Pepsi's Amp energy drink and will be "revealed for the first time" during a press conference Wednesday. Earnhardt, who owns a No. 88 car in the Busch Series, did not confirm the report (ESPN.com, 9/14). In Charlotte, Jim Utter reported the No. 88 is "trademarked for racing"  through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Earnhardt Jr. and his JR Motorsports. Recently, Hendrick Motorsports has "applied for trademarks for possible car numbers," including Nos. 28, 38, 51, 81 and 82. The most recent was the No. 28 applied for on August 31 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/15).