In honor of our new teammate. :)
Posted on 06/13/2007 3:28:09 PM PDT by glock rocks
Thanks!
In honor of our new teammate. :)
Sorry, Missed it. I was otherwise occupied.
Roush Racing has announced a deal with Aflac to sponsor 4 Cup races with Greg Biffle (July New Hampshire, Chicago, fall California and Kansas), 2 Busch races with Jamie McMurray (summer Bristol/fall Richmond), and 1 Busch race each with Matt Kenseth (Watkins Glen) and Carl Edwards (summer Daytona).
That’s why you use Firefox. You just click on Tools > Page Info, go to the Media tab, find the pic you want, and click the “Save As” box. Works like a charm.
Thanks Steve, I missed that post. :)
I was pointing the Budman to them.
Firefox? I’ll give it a try on the backup confuser.
WCG, there's good and bad people in every walk of life. I know there are good Junior fans, such as yourself. But a great many JG fans are very skeptical about all the sudden lovey-dovey from Junior fans. Too much bad water under the bridge if you know what I mean. I belong to the official JG site and to a private JG fan site. While most people are pleased about this because Jeff, Rick and JJ are happy, most also just don't trust Junior's fans.
You know I'm honest with you, and that I called this quite awhile ago. So trust me when I say all the welcomes and such are an inch-deep. In any case, here's part of Jeff's interview today, as it was published on his official fan site. This is the HMS management side of Jeff that fans of other drivers rarely get to see:
After Qualifying 6th Jeff talks with media about Dale Jr. joining Hendrick, his impending fatherhood and road course racing
6/15/07 7:42
Behind the Hauler Chat Citizens Bank 400, Michigan International SpeedwayJEFF TALKED WITH MEDIA ABOUT DALE EARNHARDT JR JOINING HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, HIS IMPENDING FATHERHOOD, AND ROAD COURSE RACING AT SONOMA
ON DALE EARNHARDT JR JOINING HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS: "I'm excited. I hate that we haven't been able to say anything or to talk about it. I tried not to get too involved with it because we're obviously focused here to drive this DuPont Chevrolet and win this championship this year. But just knowing behind the scenes, things that have been going on, it's been very exciting and I'm happy for Junior and for Hendrick Motorsports. I think he's a great talent and he obviously brings a lot to the table besides just his talent and I think it's a great opportunity for him as well. I'm looking forward to having him as a teammate. It doesn't mean that I expect people to not continue to boo me in full force, but I think it's going to be pretty cool to see him out there in the type of equipment I think we're capable of giving him."
WHEN RICK HENDRICK SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING JUNIOR JOIN THE ORGANIZATION, HOW DID THAT CONVERSATION GO? "I think it was an opportunity of a lifetime that's only going to come around once however many years in this sport and how could you not consider it? I think the toughest part through it all was Rick trying to put his hands around it because it's been a real challenge. It's like on one side it's something very exciting and a great opportunity. He's had a great relationship with Junior and his family for a number of years. And Ricky's involvement and his relationship with Junior goes way back, so there's some history there. But trying to figure out what to do because you've got existing sponsors and drivers and everything else. From the beginning, actually Rick thought it would be great, but it's just not going to be possible. And then along the way, things transpired that made it a potential possibility and as time went by, made it a reality."
SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS IS THE DREAM TEAM. DO YOU VIEW IT THAT WAY? "Oh, well I felt that way before Junior was coming. I feel like we have a great organization. I will put this on the record: I'm pretty sure this will be the last person he ever drives for, because I know what kind of person Rick Hendrick is and what kind of organization we have and once you come here, you don't want to go anywhere else. It's just that good of an organization and that good of people. I think that he's making a great move and I think he's going to be extremely happy with it. He's not making this just for financial reasons. He's making for this for how to be treated and how to be competitive and for his future and I think its' a great move."
WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT IT ALL WORKED OUT? "Yes and no. I think that where there's a will, there's a way. There were a lot of different scenarios that were being played out where maybe he did something else for a year or two you know before he could come there. I didn't think that was going to be something that Junior was going to be interested in. And we have a great driver line-up with Kyle (Busch) who is extremely talented. And I think we pretty much knew that me and Jimmie (Johnson) weren't going anywhere and Casey (Mears) is new to the team and we need to give him a shot. I know it was a very difficult thing to make those decisions. But the way I heard it played out was fairly mutual. And I think that really, this is going to be best for Hendrick and for Kyle. I think that Kyle is a tremendous talent but the chemistry never seemed to be there at Hendrick and he's just had to fight through some things. I'm excited to see how he pulls himself together through the rest of this year because I think he's got a lot to offer to teams out there. I think he's actually going to find out that when he makes this move and goes forward that he's actually happier with himself and is more comfortable with wherever he goes."
WILL TONY EURY JR COME OVER TO BE DALE JR'S CREW CHIEF OR WILL IT BE ALAN GUSTAFSON OR WHO? "That's not anything that we're really ready to discuss. I'm going to give Rick my best advice that I possibly can from the 15 years that I've been there. He and that team are going to make that decision. The goal is to get the best people and the best team in place to support Junior and give him what he needs. That's the bottom line."
HOW WILL DALE JR'S PERSONALITY FIT WITH THE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS GROUP? "I love the differences in personalities on a race team. You don't expect everyone to be the same but I think it's all about how you communicate. I'm just thinking of it from a teammate standpoint. I look at Casey and Jimmie and myself and I think about Junior in the future and I think as long as he's committed, which I think he is or he wouldn't have made this bold of a move, that we're going to be able to communicate and get along well. Every driver has a different style and a different personality and you've got to mesh those together and we've done an excellent job with it over the years. But I really think he's going to fit in well."
HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO JUNIOR AND IF SO, WHAT DID YOU SAY? "I spoke to him before the final decisions were made and just told him that we'd love to have him and how our organization works and that I think that could be a very good move for him. And he seemed to be pretty excited. He was like a nervous little kid. It was really strange to see him in that situation because you know, here you've got all these teams and sponsors and everything else wanted him to sign with them and it seemed like he was the one that was kind of shy and stand-offish about the whole thing. That's why he's going to fit in so well because he's very humble and appreciative and excited. He's not this guy who's got this big ego and that just feels like he's going to come in and take over the place. He wants to come in and fit. So I was kind of feeling where he was coming from and I think he wanted to see how I felt about being teammates and I was supportive of it from the beginning."
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME DALE JR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE OF A FAMILY ORGANIZATION. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR HIM AS HIS OWN MAN TO GO OUT THERE AND WORK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE? "Well, I think he said it in the press conference that's he's kind of had it easy. He's been able to kind of come and go and do what he pleases there at DEI. And to an extent, we want him to be comfortable with being at Hendrick, but at the same time there are certain stipulations and guidelines that we all live under - whether it be team meetings and just being professional and I think that he wants to be here and he's going to do a great job."
SO WILL YOU GET INVITATIONS TO CLUB E JR NOW? "I've been to Club E before. I've only gotten maybe one invite. I went up and did his radio show last year. I love to see how he lives. Because I think the perception from the outside that a lot people have about all of us is one that comes from behind the camera that you don't really get to see and touch and feel. And when you go there and you experience it, it's really cool to see a guy in his position that seems to have the world in the palm of his hand who is just very down to earth and humble and who is just a good guy who enjoys life. I think that most of us have that in us when you go to our homes and see us in our own comfortable atmosphere."
DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, DALE JUNIOR SEEMED TO BE KEEPING THAT MINI RIVALRY GOING BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU "Yeah, I'm confused why people think that's going to stop because we're teammates. You know, Jimmie Johnson and I are very competitive with one another but we're good friends. We have a lot of respect for one another. We showed at Martinsville and at other times this year and several years that we know what kind of equipment we have and that gathering information and sharing information is to benefit all of us. But when it comes down to the race and who is going to win, we want it really, really bad. And we're willing to trade a little paint for that. Nothing's going to change with Dale Earnhardt Jr. coming to our organization either. The bottom line is that it's going to come down to this: The fans right now can speculate and say what they want and say oh, we're not going to pull for him now because he's at Hendrick or we'll still be committed to him; or say I hope Jeff Gordon doesn't think he's going to gain us as fans. The bottom line is this: When he goes out there and he starts being competitive week in and week out on a consistent basis and battling for championships and hopefully one day wins the championship for Hendrick Motorsports, all the fans are going to be following him and they're still going to be booing me (laughs)."
Jeff does not intend to be driving 10 years from now. In fact, he's suggested he may retire five years from now when he turns 40 and his latest DuPont contract expires. Rick is hoping Jeff decides to move into executive management at HMS, although it's way too soon for such decisions to be made. I think from Jeff's point of view, bringing Junior to HMS is an investment in the future of HMS. Whatever Jeff decides to do when he hangs up his helmet, he'll know the future of the organization is secure.
I don't think many people on the outside realize just how much all the abuse and disrespect Jeff and his fans have had to put up with all these years, mostly from the so-called Earnhardt Nation, impacted those of us who love Jeff. It may all be papered over now, but it won't ever go away.
As for Junior, he'll get whatever he wants at HMS, assuming there are no contractual impediments from sponsors and such. I hope he doesn't start out by demanding to bring over Eury Jr. and his old team from DEI, thereby displacing long-time HMS employees. It breaks my heart that Alan felt he had to say he's staying at HMS no matter what, even if he has to take a different role. Alan is a brilliant young crew chief who's paid his dues. The thought of him and other folks on either the 5 or 25 teams being shunted aside so Junior can bring in his own people disappoints me a lot.
As for the car numbers and sponsors, Kellogg has been on the #5 car for many years. They won two championships with Terry Labonte in that car. Are they also supposed to just walk away from all of that because Junior wants the #8 and probably a red Bud car?
You're not going to like this question, but its a fair one to ask. When does Junior stop taking and start giving?
Good lord I am so glad to see Mikey make a race. I may not be a Mikey fan per se but I do think he is a hell of a guy and needs to get some forward progress!
Not to mention he cracks me up on his talk shows :)
Let me know how well it works.
We were all actually wondering why he was wearing a bandage on his hand. In the last paragraph it mentions he had poison ivy.
Whatever happens with the sponsors and the numbers is fine with me.
I DO take exception to your....last sentence.
"You're not going to like this question, but its a fair one to ask. When does Junior stop taking and start giving?"
I cannot even figure how you can come up with that. What exactly is he taking? He gives so much of himself to everyone. Team, family, fans, sponsors, employees. He does shows for us and he doesn't need the money! He put up a website for us. He sends us notes, he took time today to send a note before practice. How many drivers out there spend that much of their time thinking of their fans? Particularly at a time he has been under so much stress. He is constantly doing charity events. He flew a bunch of drivers to Ona WV tonight so they could drive a race where he can only wave the flag. He went to sign autographs for his fans. I really feel your statement was completely unfair. As everyone here knows, and whether they like it or not, I will defend him when I feel someone states something that is so far out in left field it's a foul.
Have you read what other drivers have said of him? Other team owners? His integrity is without question in their book and mine. I will answer my own question - he doesn't have time to take anything because it's all spent giving!
“Someone obviously forgot to tell Truex he doesn’t have a car to contend or win with.”
Exactly, I’d like to see what Biff would do at DEI. I bet pretty good.
“Truex is going to be carrying the ball at DEI,”
Unless Biff moves to DEI. Biff and Truex would be a good combo.
http://www.wsaz.com/sports/headlines/8035612.html
Video right side of that page. Looks like he was treating some of the Make A Wish kids to some fun.
No one watching the Busch race?
Watching on and off. Too bad for Flipper.
Don’t miss the finish. This is turning into a good one!
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