European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 23, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 34 stars and stripes june 2007 fans support Earnhardt even if it is costly move to Hendrick Means new merchandise by Larry Lage the associated press Eileen Hill was slicing potatoes and on ions under the awning of her covered in Dale earn Hardt garb close to a red chair with a 8 of the Earnhardt fan had a few Days to reflect on her favorite Drivers decision to switch allegiances next year and her opinion was in not rooting for Jeff Gor she said with a Hearty but ill follow Junior to whatever team he goes Earnhardt announced last week that Hes joining Hendrick motor sports next year leaving his late fathers company in a move that has been the talk of on the near the garages and at the souvenir trailers be fore sundays race at Michigan International juniors fans supported his decision even if it costs them a lot of in going to need a new Hill Mike her sighed a few feet of he then his wife pulled up her left Pant leg to proudly show off a 3 Tattoo within a red heart on her it was a tribute to the late Dale in glad i didst get the 8 tattooed on she since Junior has driven the 8 Budweiser the number and Beer synonymous with him that is plastered on his clothing and merchandise might be outdated after this Dale Earnhardt is willing to entertain offers for Junior to take 8 with but Dei officials said last week he has not made a formal request for Teresa his leases the rights to the number that was also used by his grandma Lascar owns the but gives first Choice to the team that held the number the Previ Ous Only in rare Circum stances does Lascar not offer the number to the same team that held it the year it would be great to keep the in sure my fans would appreciate Junior you kind of have to keep the mindset that you might have to change num so you Start looking at other Anheuser Busch would like to stick with the Nastars iconic but Rick Hendrick has four primary sponsors under con tract through next year and he Doest plan to alter those deals just to open a spot for if Earnhardt is promoting an other bottled water or even chances Are Rick Kil Bride will support the the 50yearold fan was stand ing among about 100 people out Side juniors souvenir trailers on sunday after adding key chains and a hat to what he called an extreme Ive got six or eight leather Coats that i bought and just hang on the ill buy anything that has on it toilet Kleen Kilbride when he goes to ill keep buying More of his it Doest mat Ter who Hes driving souvenir trailers throughout the Irish located about 75 Miles West of paid tribute to the fan base known As the red sporting juniors number or Beer of Choice on ban Bike sunglasses and Ron Arnold said Hes going to save juniors old especially a collection of his die cast cars that includes Busch models from the late there going to be collectors items Down the the 40yearold fan from Kalamazoo when he makes the ill buy his new when it comes ill get Arnolds obsession is not Junior related Merchan Dise accounts for about 30 per cent of Nastars Earnhardt makes an estimated million half of which is believed to come from merchandise Carlos Dale Earnhardt fan Ron Arnold holds up Earnhardt number before the Start of the citizens Bank 400 at Michigan International Speedway in on june Arnold said Hes going to save juniors old especially a collection of his die cast cars that includes Busch models from the late there going to be collectors items Down the the 40yearold fan when he makes the ill buy his new when it comes ill get Junior signs with Sony buds status unclear by Tom Gardner the associated press Dale Earnhardt has signed an endorsement Deal with Sony but he still int saying what role longtime sponsor Budweiser will have with him when he joins Hendrick motor sports next in a big electronics in a big com Puter its products i can Earnhardt told reporters thursday at a winery in the heart of californian Napa he will be competing on sunday in the Mart 350 at inf Neon raceway in nearby his Deal with Sony is a personal services contract that gives the company use of his likeness and voice for he also has a similar Deal with Budweiser that will continue next regardless of whats on his Budweiser has been Earnhardt primary sponsor since and the Beer manufacturer wants to continue its relationship with him at but car owner Rick Hendrick int actively pursuing new and its possible Bud could get shut Earnhardt also said a possible endorse ment Deal with sporting goods manufacturer Adidas was on the wish Earnhardt move to Hendrick is expected to clean up his scruffy image to match that of his Jeff Gordon Earnhardt and Jimmie although he appeared at thursdays news conference in a craggy an a tucked dress shirt and worn Puma athletic who convinced his sister to loan him the Money to buy a computer when he was a said his father never believed the internet would be a that s one place he was wrong and i was i took a lot of typing classes in High he neither Earnhardt nor Stuart so nys vice president of corporate would discuss the financial arrangement or the length of the were very Happy at Sony to have Dale Junior involved for some Redsun Earnhardt said he got a new digital Cam Era out of the the Cash is but the product is he motorcycles could be headed Back to Indianapolis by Michael Marot the associated press Indianapolis motorcycles could be racing at Indianapolis motor Speedway next track president Joie Chitwood is in negotiations with to top of if a Deal is it would Mark the first time in de Cades motorcycles have competed at the famed i have had some conversations with them this and were working hard to put some thing on the Chitwood told the associated press on but i have not signed Speed a television Rac ing reported earlier in the Day a Deal already had been completed for a fall race in motorcycles were the first vehicles to race at the in two years before the first Indianapolis Chitwood would like them Back for the tracks Cen Tennial but he said the two sides Are still trying to work out a Chitwood would prefer a sum Mer race an International appears to prefer the a summer race would create an even More compact schedule for indy who have run three major races the girls Indianapolis formula ones grand prix and Nastars Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Over about a two month Span each year since its the worlds Only track to Host All three which it has been doing since the negotiations with to top come amid dealings with formula one Boss Bernie Ecclestone to keep americas Only Al race in last Speedway chief executive Tony George and Ecclestone signed a oneyear Extension to continue racing on Indi Anapolis Road Chitwood wants a Lon term contract this last Ecclestone appeared to be posturing for lever age when he said for the second straight year that it was not Essen tial for Al to continue racing in the he made similar com ments throughout the weekend despite multiple meetings with Ecclestone has also expressed interest in running on the streets of a bigger such As Las vegas or new George appeared confident the two sides could make a Deal before a july 12 deadline imposed last weekend by race Orga and Chitwood said thurs Day that a motorcycle race would not interfere with a return of