The North Carolina News Network

Dale Junior To Childress...Not So Fast

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

(DARLINGTON, SC) -- Just hours after Dale Earnhardt Junior announced that he would leave DEI at the end of this season and begin considering the options for his future, the rumors started that he already had a deal to join Richard Childress Racing. Juniors late father ran the number 3 under the Childress banner.

Friday morning at Darlington, owner Richard Childress said that while he would welcome Earnhart on his team, the two sides have not yet begun negations. "We will sit and talk. I'm hoping he is considering us. I think right now we just give him some time and space to do his own due diligence on the race teams he is looking at," said Childress.

Last Updated ( Friday, 11 May 2007 )

Junior's Decision...Unprecedented

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

(CHARLOTTE) -- Dale Earnhardt Junior's decision to leave the organization created by his late father and become a "free agent" is being called unprecedented by Lowes Motor Speedway President Humpy Wheeler. "This is the first time this happened where a really star driver in modern day has put himself, so to speak, up for grabs," said Wheeler.

After not being able to finish higher than third in the Cup standings, Junior is making the move from DEI with intensions of going after a championship. "Money is not really the issue," said Earnhardt. But Wheeler believes the offers will be huge has some of the top NASCAR organizations go after Junior. "It could be anywhere from $8 to $18 million a year, maybe beyond that. I don't know," said Wheeler.

Junior will consider all offers and they will probably be coming from some of the big boys such as Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. "I am going to want to hear what everybody has to day," said Earnhardt.

(Woody Cain, WBT contributed.)

Last Updated ( Friday, 11 May 2007 )