DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Junior Signs With Sony

Now all he needs is a number

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/06/22/sports/pro_sports/doc80ccf03aefebf05b86257302001a2e02.txt

Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs with Sony for Hendrick ride
Friday, June 22, 2007 12:12 AM CDT




By TOM GARDNER
Associated Press Writer

OAKVILLE, Calif. | Junior is setting down the Bud and picking up the remote.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended the uncertainty Thursday about what corporate logo would be on the hood of his new ride with Hendrick Motorsports by announcing his partnership with Sony Electronics.

"I'm a big electronics fan. I'm a big computer guy. It's products I can dig," Earnhardt told reporters at a winery in the heart of California's Napa Valley. He will be competing on Sunday in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in nearby Sonoma.

Earnhardt would not comment on whether his longtime sponsor Budweiser would play any part next season when he leaves the team founded by his late father to join racetrack rivals Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson at Hendrick.

He said a possible alliance with sporting goods manufacturer Adidas was "on the wish list."

Earnhardt's move to Hendrick is expected to clean up his sometimes scruffy image to match that of his teammates, although he appeared at Thursday's news conference in a scraggy beard, an untucked dress shirt and worn jeans -- with Puma athletic shoes.

Earnhardt, who convinced his sister to loan him the money to buy a computer when he was a teenager, said his father never believed the Internet would be a success.

"That's one place he was wrong and I was right. I took a lot of typing classes in high school," he said.

Neither Earnhardt nor Stuart Redsun, Sony's vice president of corporate marketing, would discuss the financial arrangement or the length of the deal.

"We're very happy at Sony to have Dale Junior involved for some time," Redsun said.

Earnhardt said he got a new digital camera out of the deal.

"The cash is great, but the product is good, too," he said.

I can see Junior fans starting to feel a bit alienated.

Most wouldn't think twice about wearing a Jr shirt with Budweiser on it.
How many will run a round with Sony on a T-Shirt? Couple that with him being a mate of Wonderboy and Personality Zero...Jr. Nation is taking a hit.

What are people going to throw at Gordon when he wins under a caution? PS3s?

As a Jr fan I actually hope Kyle Bush goes to DEI. Spices things up a bit.

Exactly. Who wants a prissy pretty boy that makes you feel like he's thinking he's better than everyone? Joe Thomas, Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, just to name a few of the casual joe's.

Nothing says NASCAR like a Budweiser and a handful of Nilla Wafers...

And a Sony HD TV!!!



BTW- I HATE Budweiser! Never could stand the stuff.

Coors or MGD for me!

But I've done one hell of advertising for them anyway wearing all that Earnheardt gear. And Nabisco makes Triscuits too. You might wanna try them with your Budweiser.

Is his car going to be black?

I just don't like the look of a black #5 car for Junior...It's just not him..

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Now all he needs is a number

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And some lessons on driving from a REAL driver . Couldn't resist.

year........races............wins.......top 5's......... top 10's
2000 ....... .. 34 .......... ....2 .........3.................5
2001...........36................3.........9..................15
2002...........36.................2........11................16
2003...........36.................6.........13................21

Yep,he just forgot how..................

Why does your little list stop at 2003 ? I am interested in how many more chances Jr gets and what excuses his fans will have as to why he is still not winning many races after the " bad car" excuses are gone ? We'll see and I will be here to say " I told you so ".

Why? Because his dad died and somebody with no real NASCAR know how took over. The entire DEI team has gone down hill. Pretty basic concept.

But you'll be seeing the evidence soon,very soon.



Appearantly Rick Hendricks can see it. But then he again,he understands the sport and where the talent really is.

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Appearantly Rick Hendricks can see it. But then he again,he understands the sport and where the talent really is.

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C'mon Pit, that's not cynical enough for you.. surely it's because of the marketing and endorsement dollars he stands to make.. you honestly think he cares if Jr. ever wins a race?

Yes I do. Appearantly he does to.

In the presser when it was announced Jr. was going to Hendricks,Hendricks said he realised just how much pressure would be on him to make sure Jr. was given the equipment to make his winning a championship possible. And that he had every intention of giving him that.

And I AM being cynical!



Do you have ANY idea how much MORE it would be worth to Hendicks if Jr. wins a championship in HIS stable!??? So yes,I think Hendricks WILL give him the best and purely for selfish reasons!

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So yes,I think Hendricks WILL give him the best

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On that you and I are in complete agreement . It is only what will happen after Hendricks does that are we in disagreement but again I am taking a wait and see approach.

I have seen just how competative he can be with what was at least "close to" top notch equipment. So I really have nothing to "wait and see" but success.

Look for Budweiser to try real hard to take their sponsorship to Kyle Busch.

To be able to pit Budweiser (Kyle Busch) vs. Miller (Kurt Busch) could be a FIELD DAY for sponsor. The brother rivalry AND the beer rivalry would be delicious for them. It'd be perfect.

The money they could make off of it would be fantastic