First this is a "heads-up" for you NASCAR fans. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is to be announcing his new number and sponsor at 1:30 (Eastern time) today and it will be broadcast (according to different stuff I have seen) on SpeedTV and several ESPN channels (not sure which ones).

In the "NASCAR world," this is a VERY Big deal. It is as big as Alonso going to a new team and announcing a new sponsor, for you F1 fans.

The pre-official announcement rumors are that the main sponsor will be Mountain Dew (which makes me happy, as I LOVE that stuff), with AMP energy drink and National Guard taking partial primary sponsorship duties. The "popular" thing in NASCAR right now is rotating primary sponsors-> one takes 1/2 to 2/3 of the races and another or others divide the rest with reach taking a percentage of the season with their logo and colors on the hood/bonnet and quarter panels/rear fenders and their hues over the whole car.

As for number, in NASCAR each car keeps a number all the times, year after year. Since his rookie year around 2000, Jr. has had the 8 Budweiser car. He now will drive for a new team, with different number and sponsor. He did not get to "take" the 8 with him, so he is getting a "new" number. The present number rumor is that it will be 88.

We will know for certain in 1 hour.
(I'll announce here and link to any appropriate picts.)

That's dandy and all, but i'd like to see him try and take a right-hand corner... ;)

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Originally Posted by Casper

That's dandy and all, but i'd like to see him try and take a right-hand corner... ;)

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Watch the races at Sears Point in California or Watkins Glen in New York.
Soon, the stock car boys should be at Mexico's old F1 track and the track formerly used for the Canadian GP (and named after an F1 champion), as 2 former F1 stars (one of whom's last name matches the Canadian track AND is a former F1 champ) race the stock cars.

But that is neither here nor there.

As for the announcement:
Dale Jr. WILL be racing an car sponsored by Mountain Dew, Amp Energy Drink, and the National Guard. His new number will be 88.

Car images:

http://www.jayski.com/schemes/2008/88cup.htm

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Originally Posted by MacWage

Canadian GP (and named after an F1 champion), as 2 former F1 stars (one of whom's last name matches the Canadian track AND is a former F1 champ) race the stock cars.

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Gilles Villeneuve is whom the track is named after. His son is Jacques Villeneuve, who started in CART before moving to F1. Why he went to NASCAR is still baffling many people....

You are not the only one. May be he is looking for a new challenge?

Isn't that Dale Jarrett's number? And to think I consider myself a redneck... I really gotta pay more attention.

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Originally Posted by emolas

Isn't that Dale Jarrett's number? And to think I consider myself a redneck... I really gotta pay more attention.

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OK, it WAS Robert yates (the car owner of the 38 and 88 cars). When Jarret left to race a Toyota for Michael Waltrip (now a team owner too), he took UPS with him. So, this year Jarret drives the UPS 44 Toyota. The 88 Ford was driven by Ricky Rudd and sponsored by Snickers.
Yates SOLD the 88 to Rick Hendricks (also owner of Jeff Gordon's 24, Johnson's 48, and the 5 car that will be driven by Casey Mears. The 88 will replace the 25 on Rick's fourth team. Now thed OLD timer race fans will remember that 25 was the car Rick had Tim Richmond drive with Harry Hyde as crew chief (the main inspiration of "Days of Thunder").
How much more should I go on?

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Originally Posted by Casper

Why he went to NASCAR is still baffling many people....

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He wants to race w/ REAL RACE CARS on REAL TRACKS not a rigged series like F1 (F stands for FAKE), where they go so slow around a turn that you can see the letters on the tires, and no competetion passes since '97.

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Originally Posted by Casper

Gilles Villeneuve is whom the track is named after. His son is Jacques Villeneuve, who started in CART before moving to F1. Why he went to NASCAR is still baffling many people....

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I purposely left him unnamed, as the people who care most already know.

I'll be curious how he will do. Besides, his mouth already had burnt too many bridges for Jacques in F1. He was probably finished there anyways. The fast teams wouldn't touch him and the rest couldn't afford what he wanted. In F1, the LAST thing to do is to publicly complain about your cars and team.

For Jacques, Sam Hornish and number of other well known open wheel driver looking for NASCAR rides are rampant.
Sam tried to qualify for this weekend's Nextel race, but failed.