JGR Reportedly Emerges As Front-Runner For Earnhardt Jr.
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Fox Analyst Reports JGR Is
Front-Runner To Land Earnhardt Jr. |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will sign with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) "within the next ten days to two weeks," according to sources cited by Fox NASCAR commentator Jeff Hammond. Hammond: “Gibbs and Visa are very, very close to signing a deal (with Earnhardt).” But Fox' Darrell Waltrip said, “My gut tells me it’s more like Rick Hendrick. ... Rick Hendrick makes sense to me. Rick and Dale Jr. can do a partnership together. Dale Jr. can run the team, and Rick could supply all the parts and pieces. ... And a shoe company might even be involved, and I’m not talking about Hush Puppies.” Fox' Chris Myers added, “It could be adidas” (Fox, 6/3). ESPN’s Angelique Chengelis reported, “There seems to be nothing to a national television report today indicating that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is heading to Joe Gibbs Racing with sponsorship from Visa with an announcement coming anywhere between the next ten days and two weeks.” JGR President J.D. Gibbs responded to the report “with mockulation, ‘Awesome!’ and then sped off into the garage area. He also said earlier in the day that he has not spoken with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the past week" (“SportsCenter,” 6/3). Gibbs: "It's news to me that we're getting our information from Jeff Hammond now" (FOXSPORTS.com, 6/3).
TOYOTA: USA TODAY’s Livingstone & Ryan report JGR is “talking about extending its deal with Chevrolet” beyond ’07, but Gibbs “didn't deny reports that Toyota also has approached the team.” Toyota officials did not comment, but Livingstone & Ryan note if JGR signed with Toyota, “its chances of landing [Earnhardt] seemingly would be seriously diminished.” Earnhardt said, “I want to drive a Chevrolet. … For a couple extra bucks I wouldn't want to drive for another manufacturer” (USA TODAY, 6/4). ESPN’s Chengelis said Toyota Racing Development Group VP & GM Lee White “told me that there is absolutely nothing" to reports of Toyota partnering with JGR. Chengelis: "He also said that they would entertain the option of expansion. Obviously, that is a goal of Toyota. The one hint that he offered was he does like owners who have Toyota dealerships, and that would be (Rick) Hendrick and (Roger) Penske” (“NASCAR Now,” ESPN2, 6/3).
PERSONALITY CONFLICT: Earnhardt on Friday "changed his tune a little bit as far as why he left DEI -- insinuating that a conflict with stepmother Teresa over how the company was run was the main reason he left." Earnhardt: "I never really felt like me and crew chief Tony [Eury] Jr. had any trouble being competitive at DEI. The reasons why I left were truly personal and not competition related" (SCENEDAILY.com, 6/2).
FAST SALES: The AP’s Jenna Fryer reported sales of Earnhardt merchandise at racetracks are up 17% since his May 10 announcement that he will leave DEI. At NASCAR.com, where his figures “spiked 107[%] the first week, sales have leveled off but are still slightly above last season’s pace.” Motorsports Authentic Dir of Trackside Sales Chris Williams, whose company manages 60 souvenir trailers at every racetrack, said, “If he should start winning races and get into championship contention this season, his sales are going to be like nothing we’ve ever seen before” (AP, 6/3).
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