No Gibbs for Earnhardt
Junior Can't Bring Budweiser to Gibbs Team: If Dale Earnhardt Jr. ends up at Joe Gibbs Racing, team officials are adamant it won't be with sponsor Budweiser. Bobby Ginn, however, has no problem with a beer sponsorship and is still hotly pursuing NASCAR's most coveted free agent. And Richard Childress? He had nothing to say on the subject Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With Hendrick Motorsports apparently out of the Earnhardt sweepstakes – Hendrick has four drivers under contract and claims he isn't looking to drop any of them – three other Chevrolet teams have emerged as the front-runners to sign NASCAR's most popular driver. JGR could be the leading candidate, but owner Joe Gibbs insisted Saturday night he won't accept a beer sponsorship at his family business. Earnhardt is closely associated with Budweiser, his longtime sponsor, and the company can leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. with him at the end of the season. "For me personally, and my background and everything that has happened to me, it wouldn't fit me," Gibbs said. "It doesn't mean it's not fine for everybody else." Gibbs officials also said they won't be expanding to four teams in 2008. That means they'd have to dump a driver to sign Earnhardt, and #18-J.J. Yeley could be on the hot seat. Ginn, meanwhile, has room for Earnhardt and has planned to expand to four teams since taking over majority ownership of the team known as MB2 Motorsports last season. Ginn said Saturday he's had "exploratory conversations" with Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, but has yet to speak to Earnhardt himself. He said he never would have taken it this far if he didn't think his organization was a perfect fit. Childress, who said Friday he had yet to speak to the Earnhardts, wouldn't give an update Saturday on any discussions. With three cars under the RCR roof, he said he'll be at four in 2008 with or without Earnhardt behind the wheel. Associated Press