June 12, 2007...2:14 pm
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.
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