Earnhardt hated to say no to Gibbs and Childress

In choosing Hendrick Motorsports as what he expects will be the final team in his Nextel Cup career, Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned down offers from a childhood hero (Joe Gibbs) and a life-long friend (Richard Childress).
"The hardest part of the deal was telling Richard and Joe my decision," Earnhardt said. Both owners have three-car teams and could have accommodated him without losing a driver.

Earnhardt looked up to Gibbs long before the Washington Redskins coach became a car owner. "My love for the Redskins is immense," he said. "To talk to (Gibbs) about going to work for him was overwhelming."

The feelings were similar with Childress, who fielded Chevrolets for Dale Earnhardt Sr. for six of his seven championships. "He has been incredible to me," Earnhardt Jr. said.

Earnhardt also has a strong bond with new car owner Rick Hendrick, a longtime family friend. Hendrick's first win in NASCAR came in a car co-owned by Robert Gee, Earnhardt's grandfather.

When Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Earnhardt's sister and business manager, had a cancer scare, Hendrick arranged for a specialist.

Earnhardt also was close with Hendrick's son, Ricky, who died in a 2004 plane crash and once told his father that Earnhardt would drive for Hendrick Motorsports. USA Today