DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. will lose the No. 8 on his Chevrolet when he drives for Hendrick Motor Sports next season.
He could not come to terms on the number with his stepmother, Teresa, who owns DEI Enterprises, his current team, and all numbers are owned by NASCAR.
"Obviously, he has a tremendous history with that number, and we know how important it is to his fans," said Hendrick Motorsports general manager Marshall Carlson said on NASCAR.com. "Unfortunately, we couldn't reach a point where the terms made sense, and now we have to move forward with other options. There's disappointment, of course, but we look forward to working with Hendrick Motorsports on what will be a great program for Dale Jr. and his fans in 2008."
No timetable has been set for an announcement of Earnhardt's next car number or team sponsor.
He used the No. 8 car since his Nextel Cup debut May 30, 1999, at Charlotte.
