NASCAR owns and assigns car numbers to an owner(s). NASCAR reserves the right to revoke or transfer car numbers to another owner/team at any time. Car numbers are non-assignable and non-transferable, except by NASCAR. NASCAR works with teams and sponsors when a specific number is requested.
DEI does not own the number they do have first rights to the use of the number. What HMS wants from DEI is for DEI to not request the use of the number next year. Then HMS will ask to use it. In return for DEI not asking for the number HMS will “compensate” them for the favor.
So, let the fans have their say. There are about 5 Free The 8 petitions going around including Riki Rachtman who will pass out shirts on Speeds Raceday show.
It CAN be up to DEI to tell Nascar they ARE willing to give it to Hendrick. If they do that and Nascar says NO there will be a horrible fiasco and Nascar doesn’t need any more bad publicity. They are in the same boat as Teresa as far as negative publicity lately.
Jr made the 8 what it is. I have to reiterate once again that his father Dale Earnhardt Sr gave him that number specifically because his grandfather Ralph Earnhardt drove that car number. So in our minds it does belong to him. What would Dale Sr want???? Greg Biffle driving the 8, Joe Schmo? Someone else?.........I don’t think so!
From truckseries.com ... NASCAR announced today that Ted Musgrave, driver of the No. 9 Toyota in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has been suspended from competition until July 3, penalized 50 championship driver points, fined $10,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for a rule violation he committed during the race at the Milwaukee Mile on June 22.
Musgrave was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor’s truck during a caution period) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book.
[During the race Friday night, Musgrave and rookie Kelly Bires were involved in an accident early in the event. Immediately afterward, Musgrave restarted his truck, ran down Bires and drove his truck into the wall in retaliation.]
In addition, Bob Germain, owner of the No. 9, has been penalized 50 championship truck owner points.
LOL They suspend Musgrave for a week, yet they let Kurt Busch race after he nearly ran over a man!
http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/5136.html
What about the long history of the #5? It’sa two-time champion. What about the 25? Both car numbers have significant meaning to the Hendrick family and HMS. What about Alan Gustafson being moved aside for Eury Jr, or maybe Casey Mears’ team being disrupted just when they are really starting to gel together? There are two sides to all of this, but as usual, Earnhardt Nation doesn’t give a fig about anything or anyone else. Believe me when I tell you that there will be some resentment in the ranks at HMS over some of this. The only reason we 24 fans are choking down our resentment is that we’re following Jeff’s lead.
I would say Dale, Sr. wanted someone else to drive the #8 about as much as he wanted to see his son turn his back on DEI and go to HMS.
I would say Dale, Sr. wanted someone else to drive the #8 about as much as he wanted to see his son turn his back on DEI and go to HMS.