Hendrick makes room at inn; now Junior's all out of excuses

When Dale Earnhardt Jr. jumped into the battered No. 5 car in April to finish the Texas race after Kyle Busch had already left the track, it raised speculation that Busch's days with Hendrick Motorsports were numbered and Junior might be in the team's future.

Both parties quickly dismissed the affair and Junior said he just had some buddies on the team he wanted to help out.

But two months later, here's Earnhardt Jr. joining Hendrick to take over Busch's ride, starting in 2008.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was looking for an owner who could help him win a championship. Rick Hendrick fit the profile. (Getty Images)

Only three weeks ago, team owner Rick Hendrick declared himself out of the Junior sweepstakes, saying "there was no room at the inn" since his four-car stable was full with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Busch and Casey Mears.

Hendrick and Busch actually were working on a possible contract extension to keep the 22-year-old with the team beyond next season.

But Hendrick, whose team has won 10 of 14 races this year and six championships since it began in 1984, didn't become the powerhouse owner in NASCAR by sitting still. Sensing an opportunity to create one of the most daunting lineups in the sport's history, he made the decision to release Busch and make the room necessary for Earnhardt Jr. to have a seat.

"It became pretty obvious to both of us that maybe a fresh start might be good for both of us," Hendrick said.

Speculation had grown that Hendrick was becoming disenchanted with Busch, who -- like his older brother, Kurt -- has been the center of controversy more often than not, both on and off the track.

The younger Busch has had problems with a variety of drivers, including Tony Stewart and current Hendrick teammate Mears, because of his aggressive driving style.

Busch was even involved in a crash with his brother last month during the All-Star race in Charlotte, when "Shrub" -- as Kyle is called by many in the garage area -- tried to race three-wide through the first turn of the high-speed Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Busch, who won the first Car of Tomorrow era race for Hendrick at Bristol in March, was said to have been shocked by the Earnhardt development.

"We had been working on a contract extension for me to remain at Hendrick Motorsports, but after prolonged negotiations, we mutually agreed that a fresh start was in order," Busch said in a statement. "I have been granted a release after the 2007 season."

Coincidentally, Busch is believed to be on the short list at DEI in its search to fill Earnhardt's seat in the No. 8 car, which would essentially make this a trade.