updated 9:13 p.m. ET May 10, 2007

DARLINGTON, S.C. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the talk of the NASCAR garage area Thursday. And he wasn’t even at Darlington Raceway.

Earnhardt’s plan to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc., the race team founded by his father, after this season fueled speculation and conversation among his fellow drivers during Busch Series practice.

“When a driver says he’s going to leave, it’s only natural to wonder where he’s going to go,” Jeff Burton said.

Or wonder if Earnhardt might soon become Burton’s teammate at Richard Childress Racing. Many Dale Jr. fans would love nothing better than to see their hero settle in the home of the late “Intimidator.”

“Obviously, if Richard decides to do a fourth team, if that’s what Richard decides to do, Junior would be one of the drivers we’d talk to without a doubt,” Burton said.

Burton and the rest of the Nextel Cup racers are sure to get an earful of questions about what’s next for Earnhardt this weekend at Darlington.

“Dale Junior is a real popular driver. I wasn’t really surprised that he left there,” Matt Kenseth said. “Now is the time if you’re going to try and better yourself and try and win a championship. I totally understand it.”

Kenseth said many people in the Nextel Cup garage saw Earnhardt’s departure coming. Now, they’ll handle the questions from media, fans and each other until Dale Jr. decides what he’ll do.

“The race fan in us all, we’ll always watch the news to see what everybody’s doing,” Kenseth said.

It appears Earnhardt has unlimited options. He could follow in his father’s racing shoes and land at RCR, perhaps even driving Dale Sr.’s famed No. 3 machine.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

Earnhardt could start his own Nextel Cup team, taking sponsor Budweiser and his huge fan base with him.

Or the announcement could simply amount to negotiating gamesmanship, so DEI and stepmother Teresa Earnhardt might agree to Junior’s wish to own 51 percent of his dad’s company.

“If I were Teresa I’d be a little bit concerned,” Bobby Hamilton Jr. said. “Dale Jr. is the biggest name in the sport.”

MORE FROM NASCAR / MOTORS

NASCAR / Motors Section Front

Busch, Tryson continue to race hard Latest NASCAR videos Live odds Matchups/injuries NASCAR RESULTS, SCHEDULE, STANDINGS Slide show: Images of NASCAR wives, girlfriends   Slideshow: Danica becomes sports superstar IRL results, schedule Championship Off Road Racing MORE ON MOTOR SPORTS NASCAR / Motors Section Front   Add NASCAR / Motors headlines to your news reader: