Following NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s much-publicized split last year from Dale Earnhardt Inc., the racing team founded by his late father, both sides have done a pretty decent job of keeping the drama down to a dull roar. So when DEI abruptly purged all of the departing driver’s almost-obsolete No. 8 merchandise from its online store last week, Junior shrugged it off with no hard feelings—until he had a chance to think about it. DEI’s "you are dead to us" treatment basically amounts to eliminating virtually any trace that he ever even raced for them, Junior says. And while the gesture only "sort of hurts [his] feelings," he considers it a massive diss to the rest of the team who worked hard on the No. 8 car, many of whom are still with DEI. Still, Junior has confirmed that he isn’t going to lose much time crying about the slight; he’ll be racing for Hendrick Motorsports under his new No. 88 colors at the Daytona 500 in just a couple of weeks!

Every day is race day with this Dale Earnhardt Jr.-themed school bus conversion. It’s got electricity and running water, checkered-flag flooring, two sets of bunk beds, an Alpine sound system, and NASCAR decor throughout—including a tasteful No. 8 printed curtain on the door to the privy. Just browsing through the pics of this rig is enough to make you blow Bud Light through your nose! It can probably be had for a bargain, too, especially since Junior will soon be ditching both the No. 8 and the Budweiser colors: he’ll be flying under the 88 next season with Hendrick Motorsports. But with less than 2 days left on the auction, the reserve still hasn’t been met. So pony up some dough already, and let’s go racin’!

The long-awaited announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s new number, following a split from Dale Earnhardt Inc. earlier this season which forced him to abandon his longstanding No. 8, comes as a huge relief to fans who’ve already had the famous ’8′ inked into their flesh. Junior reports that the number uncertainty has been a source of some anxiety for his fan base, and he’s often been asked whether his new number "would have an ’8′ in it."  The No. 88 is sure to satisfy on many levels: Junior, apparently underestimating the mathematical ability of his followers, claimed in a recent interview that the 88 should make them "twice as happy." And as numerous smart-alecks have pointed out, including new teammate Jimmie Johnson, it shouldn’t be any big thing to add an extra ’8′ to the body art of tattooed admirers. Finally, as if Junior fans needed any further reason to whip out their charge cards, the racer’s official website is already stocked with the revised No. 88 merchandise: check it out!