| Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr. recently announced | | | | 17 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victories and two |
| that he will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), | | | | NASCAR Busch Series championships, all |
| the company founded by his father, to drive | | | | powered by the legendary small-block Chevy |
| for Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2008. | | | | V8. Dale, Jr. has a choice in his future |
| | | | direction. We are proud he chose to stay with |
| It is expected that his primary sponsor, | | | | Team Chevy - the winningest name in |
| Budweiser, will tag on him to his next team, | | | | motorsports with 609 wins and 30 |
| although Budweiser still has a contract with | | | | championships - to pursue his championship |
| DEI. Earnhardt, Jr. will take Kyle Busch's | | | | bid. On behalf of General Motors and |
| spot in Hendrick Motorsports. Busch, | | | | Chevrolet, congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, |
| meanwhile, will leave the organization at the | | | | Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports on the |
| end of the 2007 NEXTEL Cup season. | | | | announcement of their partnership," noted |
| | | | Brent Dewar, General Motors' North America |
| Earnhardt, Jr.'s decision, like a dependable | | | | Vice President of Vehicle Sales, Service and |
| Gibson exhaust, elicited positive feedback | | | | Parts. |
| from the NASCAR community. "Today's | | | | |
| announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s move to | | | | Even the American cable television network |
| Hendrick Motorsports is indeed an important | | | | ESPN is backing the professional American |
| announcement for this season and beyond, and | | | | driver's decision. "I can't think of anything |
| it should be noted that high-profile | | | | at all that's bigger. He hit a home run and |
| partnerships have always been a part of | | | | hit it out of the ballpark. His father always |
| NASCAR's competitive history. There have been | | | | loved Rick Hendrick and had a great |
| so many great partnerships involving people | | | | admiration for him. With Junior finding that |
| of great character and ability. We're proud | | | | he can be in a car with points, he's assured |
| of what they have brought to our sport. Dale | | | | that he's in all the races next year. You'll |
| Earnhardt Jr. has always said that first and | | | | never risk any problems whether it rains or |
| foremost, he wants to win a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup | | | | you have a blown engine that can keep you out |
| Series championship. We wish him the best of | | | | of a race. I think he could have done well at |
| luck," said Brian France, the NASCAR Chairman | | | | Richard Childress next season, but there was |
| and CEO. | | | | one problem - he wouldn't have had points |
| | | | headed into the 2008 season," said Rusty |
| Tony Ponturo, the Vice President of Global | | | | Wallace, an ESPN analyst. |
| Media and Sports Marketing Anheuser-Busch, | | | | |
| Inc., has this to say: "Anheuser-Busch has | | | | Wallace's workmate, Tim Brewer, added: "I |
| enjoyed a remarkable relationship with Dale | | | | think it's a great decision because he wants |
| Earnhardt Jr. since our sponsorship commenced | | | | to go and win races and win championships. |
| back in 1999. Dale Jr. is an excellent | | | | He's going to make the change for himself, |
| ambassador for the sport and our company, and | | | | get in a good race car and he'll get the job |
| we look forward to exploring options with | | | | done. They are proven winners and proven |
| Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports to | | | | champions at Hendrick. The combination he's |
| continue Budweiser's relationship with him as | | | | had hasn't been working, and that's no |
| he enters this new stage of his racing | | | | disrespect to anyone. If I were him I would |
| career." | | | | show up, not even take my helmet, and just |
| | | | ask 'which car do you want me to get in?' If |
| "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has been synonymous with | | | | I'd implemented a change and gone this far, I |
| the modern era of Chevy Motorsports with his | | | | believe I'd make a big change. |