Free-agent options could be limited for Earnhardt Jr.
If the world indeed is his oyster, Dale Earnhardt Jr. could have problems finding the pearl. Landing the perfect ride in 2008 won't be easy for the most sought-after free agent in sports, writes Terry Blount.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. supposedly is the most sought-after free agent in sports at the moment, but it seems many of his options have unwanted consequences.
Most people still expect Earnhardt will end up at Richard Childress Racing, but it isn't as simple as it sounds for RCR to add a fourth car for Junior.
What about Clint Bowyer's sponsor, Jack Daniels? That probably doesn't work if Budweiser goes with Earnhardt.
And signing with RCR means Junior wouldn't completely escape an association with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Stepmother Teresa Earnhardt reached an agreement with Childress last week for DEI and RCR to join engine programs.
They are still two separate teams, but Junior might balk at any organization that makes business agreements with Teresa.
Another option appeared to end over the weekend when Rick Hendrick said his team is full, so he can't add Earnhardt. You have to admire Hendrick's loyalty, but do you really keep Casey Mears or Kyle Busch if you have a chance to sign Earnhardt?
The next best option is Joe Gibbs Racing, but joining JGR also would require ending Earnhardt's relationship with Budweiser. The Gibbs family doesn't accept alcohol sponsorship.
So is Earnhardt willing to sever his ties with Budweiser, or does he stick with Bud and consider options beyond the top three Chevy teams?
Bobby Ginn and Ginn Racing would love to sign Earnhardt, but does Junior risk going to a team that has yet to reach the elite level of Nextel Cup?
Earnhardt always has the option of starting his own Cup team by moving JR Motorsports up to the next level, but new teams do not compete for championships.
If Earnhardt decided to leave Chevrolet, the options would still pose problems. Ford is out. Roush has too many drivers, and the other two Ford teams -- Robert Yates Racing and Wood Brothers -- aren't competitive.
Ray Evernham and Chip Ganassi would love to put Earnhardt in a Dodge, but does Earnhardt believe he could win a title on a Dodge team? Maybe with Roger Penske, but Penske has Miller Lite, so the Budweiser thing gets in the way again.
Toyota? Please. Not unless Earnhardt just wants a big pile of cash to race Dale Jarrett for 40th every week.
Being the biggest free agent in the history of NASCAR sounds great, but it comes with numerous complications.
It's a yin-and-yang deal. Whatever he decides will require some type of sacrifice for Earnhardt and the team that gets him to sign on the dotted line.
Joey Logano watch
It's clear now that Mark Martin is a darn good judge of racing talent.
Two years ago, Martin was asked in a news conference who he thought was the best young driver in NASCAR.
"The best driver I've seen in Joey Logano," Martin said of the teen who was 15 at the time. "You guys don't know about him yet, but I am absolutely 100 percent positive that he can be one of the greatest that ever raced in NASCAR. I'm more sure of it than I was of Matt Kenseth or anyone else I've ever seen behind the wheel."
Almost everyone now knows about Logano, the Joe Gibbs Racing developmental driver who turns 17 on Thursday. The Connecticut native defeated Kevin Harvick Sunday in a Grand National race at Iowa Speedway. Harvick's car was down a cylinder at the end, but the two drivers traded the lead several times during the race.
Busy signal for NASCAR
The days of exclusivity agreements in NASCAR may be ending. And contrary to what we're told, it won't be the beginning of the end for NASCAR.
AT&T's court victory last week, getting its symbol on Jeff Burton's car, means NASCAR can't tell a sponsor such as Nextel that it has exclusive rights to advertise in Cup.
But this is a long way from a done deal. NASCAR and Nextel will continue to fight the ruling in federal court.
If AT&T prevails in the end, advertising in NASCAR will mean the same to sponsors as advertising in the rest of the world. It's a free-market society and you still have to go toe-to-toe with your competitors.
Don't give up on Allmendinger
A.J. Allmendinger is living through a miserable Nextel Cup season as a rookie driver with a rookie manufacturer in Toyota. He has qualified for only four of 11 races.
Don't be fooled. This kid can drive a race car. Allmendinger, 25, almost won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Lowe's Motor Speedway Friday night, finishing a close second to veteran Ron Hornaday.
Moving to Cup this season with Toyota was too much to ask for Allmendinger, who won five races last year in Champ Car. But he can compete at the Cup level if given a fighting chance, something he doesn't have at the moment with the Red Bull Toyota team.
George Foreman … times three
Referring to co-owners of Panther Racing in the IndyCar Series just got much more confusing. Boxing legend George Foreman became a new co-owner of the team on Tuesday, along with two of his sons.
Foreman's sons also are named George. There's George Foreman Jr. and George Foreman III.
George Jr. and brother George III serve as vice presidents of George Foreman Enterprises, a successful marketing company founded by their father.
But the Georges of this family don't end there. George Sr. also has three other sons named George.
"I wanted to keep it simple," George Sr. said. "This way I don't forget anybody's name."
Terry Blount covers motorsports for ESPN.com. He can be reached at terry@blountspeak.com.
