FanHouse MartySmith

People didn't put much stock in the rumor when my internet buddy Greg Engle of Cup Scene Daily wrote the story last week ... maybe they'll pay more attention now that Marty Smith is hearing the same thing from his sources:

Split sponsorship package in works for Earnhardt?

It is widely speculated that PepsiCo. is the leading candidate to sponsor Earnhardt through its Mountain Dew brand, but sources with knowledge of negotiations say National Guard is also a top candidate as part of a split sponsorship package.

Sources say the combined deal will be the richest team sponsorship in NASCAR history, somewhere between $25 million and $30 million annually.

Some fans assumed that a National Guard sponsorship would be out of the question due to Junior's relationship with the NAVY. I don't believe that was ever an issue, though, considering that Junior's relationship with the NAVY is as a car owner, not a driver. Not to mention, it's a different series.

I'm sure if the NAVY was unhappy for whatever reason, that would be taken into consideration, but I don't know that it would be a deal breaker. Unless the NAVY has some kind of clause in their contract with JR Motorsports about who Junior drives for (and why would they?), I don't know what right they would have to complain.

A deal assumes that Kellogg's would move over to the #25 (or #5) car of Casey Mears, but offers no closure on the future of the #8.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you the latest chapter from the As the World of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Turns.

The NASCAR media has again been called to attention. (Had we stopped paying attention?)

Junior will hold a press conference tomorrow at 11:00AM at his JR Motorsports shop to announce ... well, he didn't tell us.

But we have an idea.

So what's it going to be?

Gibbs? Ginn? Officials from both teams say they're not involved in the news conference.

Hendrick? They have no comment.

RCR? Couldn't be reached for comment.

Things that make you go hmmmmm.

Haas/CNC?

Hall of Fame Racing?

JR Motorsports?

Or something we haven't thought of yet?

Got any last minute predictions?

Speed TV will interrupt their regularly scheduled programming to carry the conference live at 11:00AM. Geoffrey Miller will interrupt his regularly schedule life to live blog the conference in the Fanhouse beginning at 10:30AM.

Update: ESPN's Marty Smith is reporting that his sources are saying that Kyle Busch will be out of the #5, as the Fanhouse previously predicted.

I know nothing is for certain 'til we hear it tomorrow, but this is Marty Smith talking, not Jerry Bonkowsi. And Busch's attorney had some very interesting comments:

"A lot of things may or may not occur. Out of respect for Hendrick Motorsports, we're not really sure what's going on yet. But we're trying. I don't think anything's changed yet. I cannot tell you that Kyle is out of the No. 5 for 2008."

T-20.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans and the NASCAR media were up early this morning.

A quick run through my inbox indicates that Junior and sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge were at DEI this morning saying their goodbyes.

Word has it that Dale Jr. and Kelley met with Teresa Earnhardt and Richie Gilmore and then bid the employees adieu.

Junior--in his usual attempt to be a class act--wanted them to hear it from him first.

Er ... Maybe he should have told them yesterday.

Per ESPN's Marty Smith, Junior is not expected to announce who he will drive for next season, only that he is parting ways with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and in the market for a new gig.

Stay tuned...