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Although there’s been speculation that Earnhardt will field his own Nextel Cup team out of JR Motorsports, his sister said it wasn’t ideal.
“I believe our first choice would be to drive for another top, competitive team,” Elledge said. “Our last choice would be to form our own Cup team. If that was necessary, that would be what we would do.”
“We’re going to listen to everybody,” Earnhardt added.
Earnhardt will likely first look inside the Chevrolet camp, which boasts three of the top teams in NASCAR.
Richard Childress Racing, where his father won six of his seven championships, is an obvious suitor. Junior has maintained a close relationship with the car owner, who still holds the rights to Dale Earnhardt’s black No. 3.
“I’ve got to do a little soul searching on how I feel driving the No. 3 car,” Earnhardt said.
RCR could add him as the fourth and final team NASCAR permits each owner, and it would team Earnhardt with Kevin Harvick, who replaced his father and has openly invited Junior to join the organization.
Hendrick would have to shuffle personnel to make room for Junior in its four-car stable, but could farm him out to one of the teams it assists. Ginn Racing has proved to be competitive this season using Hendrick motors, and Ginn general manager Jay Frye’s intrigued.
“Will we be interested in talking to him? Absolutely. And so will everybody else,” Frye said.
The wildcard could be Joe Gibbs Racing, another powerful three-car Chevy team that would pair him with buddies Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Gibbs is coach of the Washington Redskins, and Earnhardt is die-hard fan.
But speaking after practice Thursday, Gibbs didn’t sound as if his team is in the mix.
“I think anybody in the sport would be interested in Junior,” Gibbs said. “It’s just that I’m sure he’s got a game plan and probably has a real good idea where he’s going right now.”
Earnhardt insists he and his sister will choose the team that gives him the best chance to win.
“I’ll just have to see what’s out there for us,” Earnhardt said. “We’re going to listen — it doesn’t cost anything to listen — so we’re going to listen to whoever has a conversation with us, and move from there.”
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