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Earnhardt fights for title shot as his fans face life after No. 8
Joe Wilkinson points with his thumb, like he's trying to hitch a ride. Over there, just over his shoulder, is the ultimate expression of being a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan.
It takes work to really make a statement when you're a fan of the NASCAR driver who leads the circuit in souvenir sales.
Wilkinson can make that statement.
His car is painted to match Earnhardt's No. 8 Budweiser. Sponsor decal for sponsor decal, it's all there. His wife has one, too.
As Earnhardt fights for a spot in NASCAR's championship race -- he needs a top-five finish and plenty of help from other drivers tonight to make the cut -- Wilkinson and countless other fans are fighting their own battle.
Come next season, all that No. 8 gear will be as outdated as Earnhardt's current contract.
The driver is switching teams. And sponsors. And numbers.
Junior behind the wheel of the famous No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet?
Try the No. 81 Mountain Dew Chevy.
"A lot of people tell me not to change it," Wilkinson, a 61-year-old from Belpre, Ohio, said of his car. "Because after this year . . . ."
His voice trailed off momentarily.
"I'm waiting to see what comes out," Wilkinson said. "They say he's going to [No.] 81, they say his sponsor is going to be Mountain Dew. I think if he signed it, I'd just put it away."
Such is the situation in which Earnhardt's sizable fan base finds itself: Earnhardt gear has never been cheaper, but in five months, he'll have a whole new line of collectibles and clothing.
One of Earnhardt's merchandise trailers -- he typically has at least four, more than any other driver -- sat not far from Wilkinson's car. A prominent sign told of the store's half-off sale that included all but a few items; the good deals and the loyal Earnhardt fans were enough to keep Trey Rorie busy.
Rorie, a 32-year-old from Charlotte, N.C., and his wife drive the trailer from track to track.
Fans reach Rorie before they reach the track, and after an extended period of tailgating, he often hears his shoppers' opinions of Earnhardt's move to Hendrick. Some, like Wilkinson, believe it will be a boon to Earnhardt's career. Others are fearful of an affiliation with the driver Junior fans love to hate: Jeff Gordon.
"They're not going to sit there and let each other win, you know what I'm sayin'?" Rorie said while taking a break. "They're still going to be driving against each other, so that's what I try to explain to them. A lot of'em just like to talk. And there's a lot of drinking, so you've got that liquid courage and you just kind of want to spurt out some things."
While Rorie's trailer had steady business, a similar store on the backstretch had less foot traffic. Most passed, a few browsed, but Larry and Maria Inge were enthralled. The West Point residents browsed through every section of the trailer, collecting enough items along the way to run up a $60 tab.
"Usually we spend between $50 and $80," Larry said.
Since they come to both races and have for several years, their closet has filled up quickly. But when February comes and Earnhardt takes the track with a new identity, the Inges won't overhaul their wardrobe.
"Even though this number's going to change, it doesn't matter," Maria said, adding that they'll buy more gear when the new line comes out next year. "I'd wear it again."
They won't have much choice. The most telling sign at Rorie's trailer?
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