88 Is Never Enough: Dale Jr. Merch Still Popular Despite Sales Slip

Earnhardt Jr. Merchandise Still In Hot Demand Among NASCAR Fans

FOCUSING ON THE ROAD: In Charlotte, Tom Sorensen wrote under the header, "Hendrick's Goal: Get Dale Jr. Back On Track." Earnhardt works with his racing team when he is "not with lucky winners or shaking hands with sponsors or promoting a product for a TV or magazine campaign." Hendrick Motorsports Owner Rick Hendrick: "Dale has a lot of sponsor obligations. All you have to do is turn on the TV to see that. We've tried to narrow his responsibilities and eliminate as much as we can." Hendrick added, "All the sponsors want him as much as they can get him. In times like these you do as much as you can for sponsors. But we're trying to see what's more important to him. ... He's got a lot of things that are pulling him in a lot of other directions. He has not been sensitive to recommendations of eating better and working out, which he's (now) doing. And [we're] going to increase all that." Hendrick added Earnhardt is "not responsible for the success of NASCAR, he's not responsible for the legacy of his dad or his dad's company." Hendrick: "He's a young, fun-loving, good kid and he's got a really good heart and he wants to be Dale Jr. and that's what he needs to be. And when he starts winning, the whole world will be happy" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/28).

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