Earnhardt to join Gordon, Johnson at Hendrick

Earnhardt to join Gordon, Johnson at Hendrick Motorsports

Well, it looks like Dale Earnhardt Jr. will replace Kyle Busch in the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports!

In choosing Hendrick's, Earnhardt chose an organization that has won 10 of 14 races this season, including last week's rain-shortened victory by points leader Gordon at Pocono.

Earnhardt and Gordon as teammates will be an interesting mix. Although the two get along, Gordon has been the driver most Earnhardt fans love to hate going back to his rivalry with the late Dale Earnhardt.

It is unknown whether sponsor Budweiser will follow Earnhardt to Hendrick. Budweiser officials are expected to release a statement Wednesday saying the company wishes Earnhardt well and that it will begin exploring its relationship with Earnhardt after the announcement. Hendrick Motorsports does have a history with Budweiser as a sponsor in the 1990s with Ricky Craven and Wally Dallenbach Jr.

Busch Slapped Hard by NASCAR - Drops to 17th Place

Kurt Busch was docked 100 driver points Friday, fined $100,000 and placed on probation until the end of the year for reckless driving and endangering a crew member on pit road.

Car owner Roger Penske also was penalized 100 owner points because of Busch's infraction.

"We felt like we got everybody's attention," said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition. "We felt like the 100-point penalty, the $100,000 was substantial."

NASCAR placed Busch on probation until Dec. 31. With the penalty, Busch fell from 11th to 17th in the Chase standings. The top 12 drivers are in the final 10 races for the title.

Busch apologized on Monday and said he regrets his behavior on the track.

"It's a bit surprising, but safety on pit road can't be compromised," Busch said outside his hauler. "I understand that. To me, it's a matter of making sure everyone is safe on pit road."

Busch and Tony Stewart were both running in the top 10 in Monday's race at Dover International Speedway when Busch clipped Stewart as he went to make a pass in lap 271. Busch nosed into the wall and Stewart was sent hard into the SAFER barrier on the outside retaining wall.

While Stewart's team checked out the damage to the No. 20 Chevrolet in the pit stall, Busch pulled next to Stewart's car, forcing jackman Jason Lee to jump back and onto the hood.

NASCAR parked Busch and he finished 42nd. Pemberton said there was some consideration to parking Busch for Sunday's Pocono 500, but that NASCAR was "fairly happy" with its decision.

"Safety is one of our big issues," Pemberton said. "Accidents do happen, and we don't want to put ourselves in a position to allow an accident to happen like that."

Busch said he didn't deserve to be parked for another race because his car never touched Lee.

"I had my car under control when I stopped next to Tony's car next to pit road," he said.

Busch reached out to Lee and Joe Gibbs racing team president J.D. Gibbs, though he had yet to talk to Stewart. Busch told Lee it was never his intention to put him in danger and that his beef was strictly with Stewart.

Stewart called Busch a "bad apple" after the Dover race.

"The incident between Tony and I still needs to be discussed," Busch said. "The guy thought I didn't race him with enough room and I felt like he didn't race me with enough room and it hurt us both in points, so that's the tough part."

"We each need to give each other a bit more room on the track," Busch said.