Posted May 11, 2007
By Bruce Hassy

OK. I waited a day before spouting off on this topic on purpose. I wanted to watch both press conferences myself.

Little E is flying the coop at the end of the season. The cited reason, same goal but differences in the methods to reach that goal. The usual pleasantries were exchanged at the two press conferences but you could just see the hostility underneath. Kelley Earnhardt Elledge botched one of motorsport's biggest contract negotiations.

Let's break it down. Next season will be the first true test of Junior's career. No longer will he have the job security that comes with having your dad's name above the garage door. He is going to have to perform on his own.

Right now he has good equipment, decent aero research, a first rate sponsor and a crew chief he likes. What cards will he be dealt next year are unknown.

There are three early front runners in the biggest free agent run in NASCAR history.

Option One: The obvious favorite is RCR, the team his daddy drove for. The rumors have been flying for weeks to the point that Junior is already on record that if he ends up driving for Richard Childress he will not run in the 3 car. Childress is currently looking for a sponsor to take on a fourth team in the 2008 season regardless who ends up in the seat.

Option Two: Gibbs Racing. Coy Gibbs is interested in adding a fourth team but has a weak driver in the 18 car. The J.J. Yaley experiment has run its course. They need a marquis name to secure future participation by Interstate Batteries.

Option Three: Junior Motorsports goes Nextel Cup racing. While appealing to Vice President and General Manager of JR Motorsports, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge's ego, this would be a monumental blunder bigger than screwing up the contract renegotation with DEI. In the day and age of big money multi-car teams, there is now way Junior could compete from a technology standpoint. Just look at Michael Waltrip Racing's season.

Well Junior... Your sister made your bed and now you get to sleep in it.