08 might just be Dale Jr.'s lucky number

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I'm so excited for Dale Earnhardt Jr., and I'm so proud of Rick Hendrick for pulling this deal together and giving Junior a new home. I've said all along that I thought it was the right place for him to go. When I interviewed him a month ago, and I listened to what he said he wanted and was looking for. I told him then, "You've got to drive for Rick."

In 1980, Cale Yarborough came to me when I was driving for Gatorade. He said, "I'm going to give you some of the best advice that anybody has ever given you. I'm getting ready to leave Junior Johnson's. If you're smart, you'll get over there and get that ride." Man, I went to work on it right away. Cale was right. It was the smartest thing that I ever did, elevating my career to a whole new level. It wasn't like Gatorade/DiGard was a bad team. I just knew that Junior's team would give me an opportunity to win championships — which it did — and a lot races — which it did.

I really feel the same way for Dale Jr. This is a great opportunity. He's 32 years old with a lot of good years ahead of him. If I had stayed with Rick Hendrick instead of starting my own team in 1991, I probably would have won a couple more championships and at least 100 races. The reason I know that's true is Rick reminds me of it occasionally when we're talking about things we've done and mistakes we've made. I will always have to live with that one.

In 1991, Rick provided engines to me when I started my team, and I used his stuff to win twice that year and three times in 1992. I thought that Junior would have a similar deal with Mr. Hendrick and run his own Cup team, but I didn't realize that negotiations with Kyle Busch hadn't progressed very far. So it makes a lot of sense for Junior to slide into that seat with that car and team with whatever the number and sponsor they may run. Those details haven't been decided, and I'm sure they won't be for a while. But Junior told me he wanted to win races and championships and be on a team where he felt like he was cared for, respected and wanted. There's no question in my mind that's Hendrick Motorsports.

You read the article that I wrote about Rick this year. I know people always say, "You're on the Hendrick bandwagon. You're on the Hendrick payroll." Before Hendrick Motorsports became the powerhouse it is today, I won nine races driving for Rick, and I won five on my own with his stuff so I know what the man can do. If anybody came to me right now and asked, "Where should I go, and what should I do?" I'd say, "Go talk to Rick and try to work out something with him because he's the man with the plan right now."

Rick Hendrick is fair, honest, dedicated and passionate, and that's the kind of owner with whom you want to be involved. You want somebody that's going to give you every opportunity to win races and championships. Junior is going to fit in fine with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears. I think about Roush Racing a couple of years ago when Jack had five cars in the Chase and winning races. HMS is the same kind of powerhouse now. Rick has the biggest names in the sport under one roof, and he's got his work cut out for him to maintain the competitiveness of all four teams. He's going to have to control their egos, but he's always been good at keeping people in check and focused on what they're doing. Hendrick teams have learned to work as a unit. It's not just about one guy; it's about the whole operation. That's why he's successful right now, and I don't see any reason for that to change.

A lot of fans may not be thrilled about Junior's decision, but I think you'll be thrilled about it when you see the results. Junior and Rick are excited about it. Jeff, Jimmie and Casey are going to support Junior and embrace him. That's what Junior wants. He wants to be on a team where people work together, play together and pull together. I can't think of a better situation.

I'm happy that the decision has been made, and all of you Junior fans — the Junior Nation — you'll be happy, too, once he gets in one of those cars. You'll start to see results. He'll win Daytona right out of the box. From there, he'll be on his way. And all that in '08. Possibly in 08... if you know what I mean.

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But I would also start preparing for those final 10 races by testing and making sure that I had the right equipment and people in place to cap off this great year. I don't mean to be derogatory or negative. I just know that you don't want to peak too early, and you want to be ready for the Chase. Jimmie Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, could attest to that. Jimmie had a couple of years there where it seemed like they had everything until they got to the final 10. Last year, Chad said that he had a different strategy so I'm sure that Steve Letarte, Chad and those boys will get together and say, "Here's what we did last year to pull off the Nextel Cup championship." It's a big advantage for Jeff to have a teammate that's experienced both sides of the Chase as the No. 48 team has.

Ask DW

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That's the way the Pocono race was run. Teams raced to halfway, looking at where that put you in your fuel window. You pit as soon as you get into that fuel window. Jeff and Casey did that. As a lot of cars came to pit road when it appeared a caution would fall for Jimmie Johnson, Jeff and Casey had already been and stayed on the racetrack because they didn't have to pit for fuel, so it was a great call. It was the right call. And with the Hendrick organization's road racing knowledge and experience, they played their cards exactly right. I'm sure others took note.

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