DEI: Let Junior have No. 8

by Jeff Owens
Now that we know that NASCAR would allow Hendrick Motorsports to acquire the No. 8 from Dale Earnhardt Inc., DEI must do the right thing and give the number up.
Sure, the number is part of DEI’s legacy, having been used by Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt’s father, and made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
But aside from what few souvenir sales it might still be able to glean (too bad greed is not a verb) from the number, it has practically no value to the team.
Plus, it would be entirely unfair to make Kyle Busch, or whoever replaces Earnhardt Jr., drive a race car with the No. 8 on the side.
The overwhelming majority of Earnhardt Jr. fans want to see the number follow him to Hendrick Motorsports. Most other fans also agree that it would be wrong not to let Earnhardt Jr. keep the number.

So, can you imagine how unpopular another driver would be if he is forced to race the No. 8?

Busch is already booed enough. Imagine how much more unpopular he would be if he signed with DEI and had to race the No. 8.

The only thing worse – or more disrespectful – would be Richard Childress making a driver race Earnhardt’s old No. 3, something he would never do.

At this point, it seems the only reason for not letting the number go would be purely for spite.

So, Teresa Earnhardt and officials at DEI need to do the right thing and sell the rights to the No. 8 to Hendrick and Earnhardt Jr. for a reasonable price.