Earnhardt Jr narrows options

Earnhardt Jr is in his final year with Dale Earnhardt Inc after announcing last month that he won't renew his contract with the team once it expires at the end of this season. His future is currently the subject of much speculation as NASCAR's most popular driver remains a free agent for 2008 and beyond.

"There's only, within reason, really three or four teams that we're looking at and talking with extensively," Earnhardt Jr said at Dover International Speedway on Friday evening. "Obviously like I said I want to continue driving Chevrolets.

"Chevrolet has been good to me. They've complemented my Busch Series program, they've supported me and complemented me in my career as a driver and just for a couple extra bucks I wouldn't want to drive for another manufacturer. I don't have those relationships with those other manufacturers."

Earnhardt Jr said he and his manager and sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge are positively moving forward with negotiations, revealing he has visited already several shops from teams hoping to secure his services for next year.

"We're trying not to comment too much on how things are going or what's going on until we can really have something to say. But I can tell you that things are positive," he added.

"I'll be excited as heck to be able to tell everybody what I'm gonna do and where I'm gonna be. I think that that's gonna happen within the time schedule that my sister has expressed over the last several weeks. It's looking good."

Earnhardt Jr said that he could be deciding on his future within the next month.