Was Earnhardt Jr.s ride in Kyle Buschs Chevrolet actually an audition for Hendrick Motorsports?
The decision by NASCAR’s most popular driver to climb into a competitor’s car at Texas Motor Speedway certainly stoked the flames of a story line that might have seemed unthinkable before Teresa Earnhardt publicly questioned her stepson’s commitment five months ago. Sunday’s surprise cameo in Busch’s No. 5 quickly has become the enduring image of NASCAR’s most compelling soap opera. Was Earnhardt, as he claimed, merely helping a buddy on Busch’s crew and relishing a chance to play the role of the old-school ride-hoppers celebrated on his Back in the Day program? Or was the son of a shrewd seven-time champion flexing his business savvy by delivering a veiled threat that no one — not even the team carrying his family name — owns him? There’s much grist to fuel speculation that Hendrick could win a free agency war with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Rick Hendrick’s powerhouse has strong ties to Chevy, allowing Earnhardt to become an instant title contender without switching manufacturers. Budweiser,
