Warner Bros./DC Entertainment join forces with Hendrick (UPDATED) - MotorSportsTalk

Both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson released new “Superhero” illustrated Twitter avatars, rather than their standard ones, Thursday morning.

Here’s what they both look like now.

👈Checkout my avatar: “If I was a super hero”.

— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) May 15, 2014

“@gwdw96: @DaleJr Hmmm @JimmieJohnson has an avatar just like yours. Wonder what that’s about.” Stay tuned. Details just a moment away

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 15, 2014

Dale Jr. gave another tease when someone brought DC Comics into the mix.

“@MetalGamecock: @Hendrick88Team @kaseykahne @JeffGordonWeb @JimmieJohnson @DaleJr is it a thing with @DCComics?” Your gettin really warm

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 15, 2014

For Dale Jr., the avatar wasn’t the only change.

His Twitter bio now reads: “Retired dealership service mechanic. Former backup fullback for the Mooresville Blue Devils varsity soccer team. Aspiring competition BBQ Pitmaster.”

But beyond that, the tease did build up to an announcement that comics and Hendrick Motorsports are coming together.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), in conjunction with DC Entertainment (DCE), Hendrick in a three-year agreement that will allow the team and its partners to develop consumer promotions and original content to engage youth, drive fan excitement and energize licensed merchandise initiatives.

The partnership will see on and off-track programs featuring Earnhardt, Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne, along with characters such as Batman, Superman, The Flash and The Green Lantern. Potential programs include co-developed car paint schemes, comic books and digital content incorporating DC Comics Super Heroes and illustrated likenesses of Hendrick Motorsports drivers.

“Working with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment will make for an innovative and impactful partnership,” Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports team owner, said in a release. “Adding value to sponsor relationships, developing an even stronger retail licensing platform and engaging with young people are high priorities for us. This collaboration will generate many opportunities in those areas.”

Here’s a full-size shot of the DC Entertainment picture unveil:

source: — Photo via Hendrick Motorsports

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Three riders remain locked in a tight battle with 17 points separating the leader Cooper Webb from third-place Chase Sexton and these are only a few Supercross numbers to consider entering Seattle.

Seattle Supercross numbers — *Chase Sexton made a statement in Detroit with his second win of 2023. – Feld Motor Sports*

For the fifth time in 10 rounds. Sexton, Webb, and Eli Tomac shared the podium in Detroit. Between them, the trio has taken 23 podiums, leaving only seven for the remainder of the field. Jason Anderson, Ken Roczen and Justin Barcia have two each with Aaron Plessinger scoring the other.

Webb and Tomac won the last four championships with two apiece in alternating years, but they were not one another’s primary rival for most of those seasons. On the average, however, the past four years show an incredible similarity with average points earned of 21.0 for Webb and 21.3 for Tomac. With five wins so far this season, Tomac (23 wins) leads Webb (19) in victories but Webb (43) edges Tomac (41) in podium finishes during this span.

Tomac has won two of the last three Seattle races and those two wins in this stadium are topped only by James Stewart. Fittingly, if Tomac gets a third win this week, he will tie Stewart for second on the all-time wins’ list. Tomac tied Ricky Carmichael for third with 48 wins at Oakland and took sole possession of that spot with his Daytona win.

Sexton still has a lot to say and after winning last week in Detroit, he is speaking up. The Supercross numbers are against him entering Seattle, however, because a points’ deficit this large after Round 10 has been erased only once. In 1983 David Bailey was 47 points behind Bob Hannah, and like Sexton he was also in third place. Bailey took the points’ lead with one race remaining.

The seven points Sexton was penalized last week for jumping in a red cross flag section in Detroit could prove extremely costly.

In fact, it has been a series of mistakes that has cost Sexton the most. In the last two weeks, he lost 10 points with a 10th-place finish to go with his penalty. Erase those, and all three riders hold their fate in their hands.

Plessinger’s heartbreak in Detroit is still fresh, but the upside of his run is that was his best of the season and could turn his fortunes around. Prior to that race, he led only seven laps in three mains. He was up front for 20 laps in Detroit with five of those being the fastest on the track.

Last week’s win by Hunter Lawrence tied him with his brother Jett Lawrence for 17th on the all-time wins’ list. With the focus shifting to 250 West for the next two rounds, Jett has a great opportunity to pull back ahead. The real test will be at the first East / West Showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 22.

Last Five Seattle Winners

450s
2022: Eli Tomac
2019: Marvin Musquin
2018: Eli Tomac
2017: Marvin Musquin
2014: Ryan Villopoto

250s
2022: Hunter Lawrence
2019: Dylan Ferrandis
2018: Aaron Plessinger
2017: Aaron Plessinger
2014: Cole Seely

By the Numbers

Detroit
Indianapolis
Daytona
Arlington
Oakland
Tampa
Houston
Anaheim 2
San Diego

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How to Watch Seattle Supercross
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Power Rankings after Detroit
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Results and points after Detroit
Chase Sexton wins in Detroit, penalized seven points