Earnhardt won't take Bud to Hendrick

Last month, Earnhardt signed to drive for Rick Hendrick from 2008, replacing Kyle Busch in the four-car squad.  Since the announcement was made it has been unclear who would be the main sponsor for Earnhardt's car, but Rick Hendrick stated today that it will not be Budweiser due to previous commitments his team has

"We have agreements in place with sponsors for the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season which prevent us from having a relationship with Budweiser," said team owner Rick Hendrick.

"Honouring our commitments is important to us. The trade-off is missing an opportunity to bring Budweiser, a marquee brand synonymous with NASCAR and its fans, into the fold."

Back in 1995, Budweiser became the main sponsor for the the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports car driven by Ken Schrader.

Dale Earnhardt Jr has driven the Bud car since he made his Nextel Cup debut in 1999 with DEI. He will continue to be sponsored by the beer brand until he sees out his contract with his current team at the end of the year.

"To climb into that red Budweiser car each weekend has always been a privilege," Earnhardt Jr said.

"Although Budweiser and I will be unable to continue our partnership beyond this season, I remain committed to driving for Bud the rest of this year and will continue to make it my beer of choice.

"I'm a racecar driver. All I can do is drive as hard as I can for my fans and sponsorship partners and give my best effort each weekend."

Budweiser is said to be looking for a deal with Evernham Motorsports, to become the primary sponsor of Kasey Kahne's No. 9 car. He is currently sponsored by Dodge Dealers and despite winning six races last year, has not been a contender this season.

"Budweiser has sponsored Dale Jr for nearly a decade, and we wish him the very best," said Tony Ponturo, from Anheuser-Busch Inc.

"Budweiser will remain an active sponsor of NASCAR, and we look forward to building upon the legacy of the iconic Budweiser red car in 2008 and beyond."