Posted at 8:26 a.m., Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Autos: Earnhardt's new car: No. 88, Pepsi sponsorship
Associated Press
DALLAS — Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have two 8s on his new car.NASCAR's most popular driver will be in the No. 88 Chevrolet when he moves to Hendrick Motorsports next season, the team announced today. Earnhardt's car will be sponsored by Pepsi, with the company's Mountain Dew soft drink and Amp Energy drink featured on the car. The National Guard will also be involved in the sponsorship.
Earnhardt has driven the No. 8 Chevrolet for DEI since 2000 with Budweiser's sponsorship. He tried to take the No. 8 with him to Hendrick, but stepmother Teresa Earnhadt refused to give up her rights to it. Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will co-drive that car next year and it will be sponsored by the U.S. Army.
Budweiser will become the primary sponsor next season for the No. 9 Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne.
The new number and sponsor are another step in the rebranding of Earnhardt from party boy into a serious corporate pitchman, one that now can be heavily marketed to the under-21 crowd.
The driver unveiled his line of candy bars, "Dale Jr.'s Big Mo'," at a candy expo in Chicago yesterday.
Earnhardt had already signed personal services contracts with international companies Adidas and Sony. Earnhardt became the fourth athlete to receive a clothing line from Adidas, joining soccer's David Beckham, football's Reggie Bush and basketball's Tracy McGrady.
