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Now that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has announced that he will leave DEI at the end of the 2007 season, there is great speculation as to where he will end up. Will he drive for Richard Childress, his dad's former owner? Will he drive for Rick Hendrick, the top team this year? Will he drive for Joe Gibbs, winner of three championships in recent years? Could Ginn Racing make a bid that would bring him to this longshot team?

I believe as you look at each team, only one make real sense. Since Dale is wanting to step out of his father's shadow, Richard Childress makes the least sense. Joe Gibbs, a devout Christian, most likely would not want the Budweiser sponsorship that will likely follow Dale, plus the bad boy image. Ginn can point to his success with Mark Martin this year to prove his contention, but will Dale see that potential? Rick Hendrick has the team to beat in NASCAR now, and makes the most sense.

Richard Childress and fans alike want Dale in his father's Three car. Yet, if Dale is looking to step out of that shadow, that step would not do that. Add to that the fact that RCR is not showing itself to be a top team this year. Sure, they boast the Daytona 500, but what have they accomplished since then?

Joe Gibbs may be the least interested of the lot. Keep in mind, too, that he already has one "bad boy" in Tony Stewart. Would he want another? Most likely not. He is also saving his fourth team for young driver Aric Almirola, and he and the team are not ready, yet.

Ginn Racing would seem to be a good fit. With Mark Martin at the helm, this new team has made a big splash. Would Dale consider that as pure potential? Most likely not. I think he's looking for established contention. What a shame.

That leaves Hendrick Motorsports. This team is truly unmatched this season, with seven of the first eleven wins and a perfect four for four in Car of Tomorrow races, to date. The only problem here is that they already have the maximum four teams. My guess is that would leave young Casey Mears on the outside looking in. He is struggling this season and has not lived up to expectations. As a matter of fact, he is having trouble keeping the team in the top 35 in owner points. I suspect, Rick would get out of that contract, somehow, to pick up Dale.

I would imagine that in the next two months, we'll all know just where Dale will drive next year. I think it'll be Hendrick. Imagine all those Earnhardt fans at Talladega if Dale and Jeff Gordon are teammates next year!

Learn more about this author, Jim Becker.
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