Why is Dale Earnhardt Jr riding a camel?

The question on everyone’s mind at the 2008 Hendrick Motorsports media day was – Why is Dale Earnhardt Jr riding a camel?

The media event featured appearances by Rick Hendrick, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears.

Hendrick Media Day was held at the new Hendrick Team Center which is housed in the old No. 24 race shop – in fact, Jeff Gordon and his team won 3 championships working out of this building.

The annual event is basically a meet and greet for the media and drivers to get together and talk about the upcoming race season.

Rick Hendrick spoke first and described the Hendrick Motorsports team philosophy in one motto, “Accelerate in ’08.”

It didn’t take Hendrick long to get around to talking about the new additions to his team. “We’re excited to have Dale Earnhardt Jr and Tony Eury Jr here”, Hendrick said. “We’re sort of like family.”

Rick Hendrick didn’t seem content to sit on his laurels after finishing first and second in last year’s championship chase. “We’re tied for last place” Hendrick said, referring to the start of a new season. “We’re focused on coming out of the gate strong in ‘08."

Jeff Gordon made a brief statement, and it didn’t take long for Dale Jr to come up in the conversation. “There was a lot of unknowns concerning Junior,” Gordon said. “He has really stepped up in a way I am really impressed with.”

“You never know how he’s going to mix – I’ve been extremely impressed.”

When it was Dale Jr’s turn at the mic Doug Rice asked him if there was a sense of relief when you finally get to Daytona and start racing.

“I’ll be honest with you, Daytona can get there when it gets here,” said Earnhardt. “I’m enjoying everything – every minute. I couldn’t wait for the sun to come up today so we could get this on.”

“The race cars look amazing when I go into the shop. They look so good from the inside out.”

“The season will be here before we know it,” Earnhardt said confidently.

Then Doug Rice had one final comment for the new driver of the No. 88. “You still didn’t explain why there’s a picture of you on top of a camel here,” Rice said, smiling.

That drew a laugh from Junior and the crowd. “Well yeah, climbing on a camel was fun”, Junior said smiling. “You’d be surprised how much fun all that was – if it gets me in the Superbowl I’ll get on a camel.”

That was all Dale Jr would say about the camel – but I’ll be watching the Superbowl just to see him ride it.

Will you?

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