JR Motorsports Tabs Cole Whitt For No. 88 Chevy in 2012

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 4, 2012) – JR Motorsports’ flagship team will compete for a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship with one of the sport’s up-and-coming stars, as Cole Whitt has been tabbed to drive the company’s flagship No. 88 Chevrolet in 2012, team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced today.

Whitt, a 20-year-old native of Alpine, Calif., will also compete for Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year honors. He comes to JR Motorsports from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he finished ninth in last year’s championship standings with one pole, two top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. To date he is the youngest driver ever to win the USAC (United States Auto Club) National Midget championship, as his title-winning effort in 2008 put him alongside esteemed former USAC national champions such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.

Continue reading “Cole Whitt joins JR Motorsports as driver of their 88 Chevy”

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2011) – NASCAR fans today will get a sneak peek at Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s new-look paint scheme for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season.

A partner on Earnhardt’s cars since he joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2008, PepsiCo will feature its Diet Mountain Dew brand on the No. 88 Chevrolets in 2012. AMP Energy will remain as a major associate sponsor, retaining a significant presence with the team next season.
The new No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet will debut at the 2012 Daytona 500.

Photo Credit: HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS MEDIA

“The time is right to put the power of Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind Diet Mountain Dew as our lead brand on the 88 car,” said Brett O’Brien, vice president of marketing for Mountain Dew and AMP Energy. “Diet Dew is one of the fastest-growing carbonated soft drinks in the United States, and

Dale Jr. is the embodiment of the person we’re trying to target with Diet Mountain Dew—it’s a perfect partnership. Additionally, AMP Energy will continue to be a significant part of our sponsorship activity with several AMP Energy paint-outs in 2012.”

Continue reading “Photos: Dale Earnhardt Jr’s 2012 Diet Mountain Dew Paint Scheme”

CONCORD, N.C. – Hendrick Motorsports and driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. have agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep Earnhardt behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolets through the end of the 2017 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

“We’re excited to have everything formalized and announced,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Junior and I had a handshake agreement months ago, and we let other people work out the finer points from there. It was as simple and smooth as it gets.

“My feelings haven’t changed since the day he first signed with us. I’m committed as ever to putting him in the best possible situation to be successful and compete for wins and championships.”

Continue reading “Dale Earnhardt Jr. Signs Contract Extension with Hendrick through 2017”