Fans Back Earnhardt's Move to Hendrick

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., walks down pit row before the qualifying laps for Sunday's Citizens Bank 400 auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Friday, June 15, 2007. With a pair of superstar drivers and an unbelievable winning percentage this season, Hendrick Motorsports was already the best in NASCAR. The addition of Dale Earnhardt Jr. next season will make the team a Murder's Row on wheels, and make beating them even harder. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Carlos Osorio - AP)

Dale Earnhardt Inc. is willing to entertain offers for Junior to take No. 8 with him, but DEI officials said last week he has not made a formal request for it. Teresa Earnhardt, his stepmother, leases the rights to the number that was also used by his grandfather, Ralph.

NASCAR owns the numbers, but gives first choice to the team that held the number the previous year. Only in rare circumstances does NASCAR not offer the number to the same team that held it the year before.

"It would be great to keep the 8. I'm sure my fans would appreciate that," Junior said. "You kind of have to keep the mind-set that you might have to change numbers, so you start looking at other numbers.

"There are a lot of numbers out there that I could use or would use or would like to use. It would be kind of cool."

Anheuser-Busch officials would like to stick with the NASCAR's iconic driver, but Rick Hendrick has four primary sponsors under contract through next year and he doesn't plan to alter those deals just to open a spot for Bud.

If Earnhardt is promoting another beer, bottled water or even toothpicks, chances are Rick Kilbride will support the product.

The 50-year-old fan was standing among about 100 people outside Junior's souvenir trailers on Sunday after adding key chains and a hat to what he called an "extreme" collection.

"I've got six or eight leather coats that I bought and just hang on the wall. I'll buy anything that has Jr. on it _ toilet paper, Kleenex," Kilbride said. "When he goes to Hendrick's, I'll keep buying more of his stuff. It doesn't matter who he's driving with."

Souvenir trailers throughout the Irish Hills, located about 75 miles west of Detroit, paid tribute to the fan base known as the "Red Army," sporting Junior's name, number or beer of choice on bandanas, hats, T-shirts, jerseys, bikinis, sunglasses and headphones.

Ron Arnold said he's going to save Junior's old merchandise, especially a collection of his diecast cars that includes Busch models from the late 1990s.

"They're going to be collector's items down the road," the 40-year-old fan from Kalamazoo said. "When he makes the move, I'll buy his new stuff. When it comes out, I'll get it."

Arnold's obsession is not unique.