| | | | | | | | |  | | | |  The new paint scheme for the No. 8 U. S. Army Chevrolet was unveiled Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Co-drivers Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will share the ride at Dale Earnhardt Inc. for the 2008 season.
Gone, of course, is the ubiquitous Bud red paint scheme in the wake of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s pending departure. Next year he moves to Hendrick Motorsports, where he'll drive the No. 88 AMP/National Guard car. The two old-school style paint schemes were unveiled in mid-September in Dallas.
The timing of the new No. 8 unveiling -- and the presence of all-around-nice-guys Martin and Almirola -- certainly seemed to soften the blow of the transition, or at least helped make it slip by relatively unnoticed by Dale Jr. fans.
At 48, Martin is one of the older active drivers on the circuit. He's respected in the garage and in the stands. Almirola has his own backstory of earning his keep, especially during the Busch series Milwaukee race, when he won the pole, started the race, but was forced to hand over the wheel to teammate Denny Hamlin.
Buh-bye Joe Gibbs Racing, hello DEI.
New paint scheme, new COT, new year, new drivers. Same No. 8? Nah. Junior fans have already moved on.
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