From Jayski.com:

DEI looking for #8 replacement, sponsor, may keep Bud: Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) is working on finding a replacement to Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the #8 Nextel Cup car. "It's hard to say how far along we are," DEI executive board member John Story said Saturday prior to the Nextel All-Star Challenge. "We've had a lot of interest. We've obviously made a few phone calls ourselves. We've had a lot of unsolicited phone calls from some top athletes that are interested in it, but clearly I can't discuss any names. We don't have a template in mind for a driver other than we need a winner, we need another driver to complement our group, somebody that is capable of winning championships, winning races. Whether he's young or old is less important than making sure he's a top athlete that is a winner." DEI would likely need to either extend its current deal with Budweiser (which said it is reviewing its options in light of Earnhardt Jr.'s departure) or find a new sponsor to lock in a top-tier driver. "There will be a sponsor of that car, that's no doubt," Story said. "We won't be able to get a top-name, championship-caliber driver without a solid commitment from a sponsor."(SceneDaily.com)(5-21-2007)