Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr, right, answers a question as team owner Rick Hendrick, left, looks on during a news conference in Mooresville, N.C., Wednesday, June 13, 2007. Earnhardt is joining Hendrick Motorsports, hopefully moving one step closer to a championship that has eluded him while driving for his late father's company.

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr pauses as he talks about his future during a news conference at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C., Thursday, May 10, 2007. Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR's most popular driver.

Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr, right, talks with Tony Eury Jr, left, during NASCAR Nextel Cup testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Tuesday, May 8, 2007.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., spins out in Turn 4 during the running of the NASCAR Crown Royal auto race at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Sunday, May 6, 2007.

Jeff Gordon (24) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8) practice for Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup MBNA 400 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., Sept. 25, 2004.

Kurt Busch, right, passes Dale Earnhardt Jr., to take the lead during the Sylvania 300, the first race of NASCAR's new 10-man, 10-race championship playoff, at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H., Sept. 19, 2004. Busch went on to win the race.

Top 10 NASCAR drivers, front row from left, Jeremy Mayfield, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, top row from left, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson Tony Stewart and Elliot Sadler pose for a photo on Sept. 17, 2004 at New Hampshire Internatinal Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. rests on his car during NASCAR Nextel Cup Series weekend at Watkins Glen, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2004. Inclement weather canceled practicing and qualifying for the day. Earnhardt Jr. is back on top of the points standings for the first time in three months.

Emergency crews work to extinguish Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car after he crashed into a barrier during practice for the American Le Mans Series Infineon Grand Prix of Sonoma, July 18, 2004. Medical officials described the injuries as "moderate-sized burns of moderate intensity."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands on pit road awaiting his turn to qualify for the NASCAR Nextel Samsung RadioShack 500 race at Texas Motor Speedway, April 2, 2004, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Chevy, celebrates with his crew at the start/finish line after winning the Daytona 500, Feb. 15, 2004, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., right, leads the field to start the running of the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International

Dale Earnhardt Jr., front, leads the field, including Ryan Newman, left, and Joe Nemechek, right during the close of the NASCAR Checker Auto Parts 500 race, Nov. 2, 2003, at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Earnhardt, Jr. won while Newman finished second.

Rusty Wallace (2) spins out as Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8) drives around him during the NASCAR New England 300, July 20, 2003, in Loudon, N.H.

Members of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team inspect his car, which he crashed during practice on May 31, 2003, at the Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving the infield care center after his crash at the Dura-Lube 400 on Feb. 25, 2001.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. hits the wall in turn three on the first lap of the Dura-Lube 400 at the North Carolina Speedway, on Feb. 25, 2001.

Crew members from the team of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., bow their heads for a moment of silence in memory of Dale Earnhardt, one of the greatest stars in auto racing history. Earnhardt died from injuries in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500, on Feb. 18, 2001.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates winning the 2000 NASCAR Pontiac Excitement 400 race at Richmond International Raceway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8) of Kannapolis, N.C., and Jerry Nadeau (25) of Danbury, Conn., lead the field for the start of the Coca-Cola 600 in 2000.