The Rich Get Richer

ESPN’s Marty Smith is reporting that Hendrick Motorsports is the big winner in the Dale Earnhardt Jr., Sweepstakes. According to Smith’s report, Earnhardt Jr., would take over the No. 5 car currently being helmed by 22-year-old Kyle Busch, brother of former champion Kurt Busch.

If the report pans out - and there is no reason currently to believe it wouldn’t - Hendrick Motorsports would become more dominant overnight and would completely change the landscape of stock car racing. Under its massive umbrella would be Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Casey Mears, and then Earnhardt Jr.

So far in 2007, Hendrick Motorsports has dominated races involving the Car of Tomorrow and have won 10 of 14 races with Gordon and Johnson each with four wins. Richard Childress Racing is the only other organization with multiple wins this season with two, one each for Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. Placing Earnhardt Jr., with Hendrick Motorsports, and its quality cars, would only widen the gap between Hendricks and the remainder of the NASCAR world.

The only question that remains in the deal - should it hold out to be true - is sponsorship issues and what happens to Kyle Busch. Currently, the No. 5 car is sponsored by Kellogg’s and has been for some time dating to when Terry Labonte was winning his second Cup title. Is Budweiser coming along for the ride?

Busch would become a potential hot commodity in the fall out, however his attitude on the track could hender his marketability. RCR is looking at a fourth team, but adding Busch to that team may not fit.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see where the chips fall tomorrow morning.

Transitioning in New Journeys

Change is very stressful. You’re moving from the comfortable into the unknown, altering what has been common place among your life (regardless of the change) and bringing on something that offsets that since of normalcy.

Transitioning is the same way, at least it is for me. It brings on some additional stress and stress and me, well, we’re not the best of friends.

The transitioning that I’ve been going through is in large part a being overwhelmed with moving from the world of journalism/public policy to a life in ministry, from the awkwardness of possibly training my replacement to going back to school. In August, I leave the comfortable (North Carolina) to head to the unknown (seminary).

Now, first, I can’t wait to go. I’m excited about what God has been doing in my life and where I’ve been and where I’m going. The thought of being able to proclaim the word of God and help to build relationships in others inspires me each day. The part that scares me is the saying good-bye, man that sounds like a bad country music lyric.

Partly that reason is the community of family (I would say friends but they’ve been more than that to me) that I have here. In every corner and avenue of my life, leaving has meant goodbye.

A friend once told me that it’s not goodbye but being sent off to do God’s work.

There are some good things to this change. I’m excited about the opportunities that will meet me in Kentucky, the new community of friends who will be there for me, and the short drive to Cincinnati to watch WVU play the Bearcats in November. (What, you thought I was going to abandon WVU football?)

Then, I’m excited about learning more about this calling I’ve felt for awhile, more about Christ’s teaching, and learning how to minister to a world that is need of Christ’s love.

I can’t wait to go, there is just about 10 to 20 people I wish I could take with me.