Fans stay loyal

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Eileen Hill was slicing potatoes and onions under the awning of her camper, covered in Dale Earnhardt Jr. garb close to a red chair with a No. 8 – of course.

The Earnhardt fan had a few days to reflect on her favorite driver’s decision to switch allegiances next year and her opinion was absolute.

“I’m not rooting for Jeff Gordon,” she said with a hearty laugh. “But I’ll follow Junior to whatever team he goes to.”

Earnhardt announced last week that he’s joining Hendrick Motorsports next year – leaving his late father’s company – in a move that has been the talk of NASCAR.

On the infield, near the garages and at the souvenir trailers before Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway, Junior’s fans supported his decision – even if it costs them a lot of money.

“I’m going to need a whole, new wardrobe,” Hill said.

Mike Hill, her husband, sighed a few feet away.

“Oh no,” he said.

Then his wife pulled up her left pant leg to proudly show off a “3” tattoo within a red heart on her ankle. It was a tribute to Earnhardt Sr.

“I’m glad I didn’t get the No. 8 tattooed on me, too,” she said.

Since 1999, Junior has driven the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet.

The number and beer synonymous with him that is plastered on his clothing and merchandise might be outdated after this season.

Dale Earnhardt Inc. is willing to entertain offers for Junior to take No. 8 with him, but DEI officials said last week he has not made a formal request for it. Teresa Earnhardt, his stepmother, leases the rights to the number that was also used by his grandfather, Ralph.

NASCAR owns the numbers, but gives first choice to the team that held the number the previous year. Only in rare circumstances does NASCAR not offer the number to the same team that held it the year before.

“It would be great to keep the 8. I’m sure my fans would appreciate that,” Junior said. “You kind of have to keep the mind-set that you might have to change numbers, so you start looking at other numbers.

“There are a lot of numbers out there that I could use or would use or would like to use. It would be kind of cool.”

Anheuser-Busch officials would like to stick with the NASCAR’s iconic driver, but Rick Hendrick has four primary sponsors under contract through next year and he doesn’t plan to alter those deals just to open a spot for Bud.

If Earnhardt is promoting another beer, bottled water or even toothpicks, chances are Rick Kilbride will support the product.

The 50-year-old fan was standing among about 100 people outside Junior’s souvenir trailers on Sunday after adding key chains and a hat to what he called an “extreme” collection.

“I’ve got six or eight leather coats that I bought and just hang on the wall. I’ll buy anything that has Jr. on it – toilet paper, Kleenex,” Kilbride said. “When he goes to Hendrick’s, I’ll keep buying more of his stuff. It doesn’t matter who he’s driving with.”

Souvenir trailers throughout the Irish Hills, located about 75 miles west of Detroit, paid tribute to the fan base known as the “Red Army,” sporting Junior’s name, number or beer of choice on bandanas, hats, T-shirts, jerseys, bikinis, sunglasses and headphones.