NASCAR's most popular driver will drive the number 88 in 2008 for Hendrick Motorsports.
Though I would have liked to seen the number 6.7 on the side of Dale Earnhardt Jr's Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, he will sport the number 88. Earnhardt Jr's initial preference was to bring the number 8 with him to Hendrick Motorsports, but that idea was blocked by Teresa Earnhardt and DEI.
The number 88 was recently a number that was feared on the racetrack when Dale Jarrett, driving for Robert Yates Racing, was in his prime. Jarrett won 28 races, including the 1996 and 2000 Daytona 500's, from 1996 to 2006. Moreover, Dale Jarrett flat-out dominated the 1999 Winston Cup season en route to his first and only championship.
But even before Dale Jarrett, the number 88 was a frequent guest in victory lane. NASCAR icons such as Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker, Ricky Rudd, and Rusty Wallace have driven the number 88 for various NASCAR owners.
Dale Earnhardt Jr's grandfather Ralph Earnhardt sported the number 88 for a race at Martinsville in 1957.
As previously speculated, Earnhardt Jr will be sponsored by Pepsi Co. products Mountain Dew and Amp Energy Drink. Additionally, the National Guard will appear on the hood of the 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for select races.
Rick Hendrick noted that the buzz surrounding Dale Earnhardt Jr's car number has been incredible. "I never thought a car number would create this much excitement," he said.
Just a day before the monumental announcement, Dale Earnhardt Jr revealed his new line of candy bars, Dale Jr's Big Mo, in Chicago.
