Starting this post with wholesale replication of a recent post by Charlie Turner:

So, is Dale Jr. getting/going to get second-class treatment at Hendrick because he probably will never get the lifetime deal Jeff Gordon and everything but signed on the dotted line Jimmie Johnson have?

No, and here's why:

Dale Jr. was family to Rick Hendrick long before he was an employee.  That doesn't necessarily trump Hendrick's relationship with Gordon and Johnson, but it definitely ensures he'll never be thought any less of and never be treated as any a lesser.  And Hendrick is no dummy.  He knows if he can lay the foundation for Dale Jr. to win a championship... do I really need to detail how big that would be?

Also, remember when Hendrick signed Dale Jr. he didn't get "just" a driver, even if said driver is the most beloved figure in all of NASCAR bar none.

He also got some Special K.

As in Kelley Earnhardt Elledge.

In addition to a sister's fierce love and protection for her baby brother (which from personal experience I know is a wonderful thing to have), on the business side of things Kelley has her father's horse sense plus the street smarts to know what she doesn't know followed by setting out to learn it.  Add this to discernment on who to trust (i.e. Hendrick -- choke on it, haters), and you have someone you want on your side whenever the business of business is involved.  Plus someone who would never let her brother play second fiddle.  'Nuff said about that.

Another factor not to be discounted is the sad one further uniting Hendrick and the Earnhardts: family loss.  In the latter's case it's meant confronting the unhealed divisions between children and stepmother.  As to Rick Hendrick, it means even greater pain, having lost the son who was the heir to Hendrick Motorsports.

With that all said, consider this possible scenario:

• One year, Dale Jr. announces the following will be his last full season in Cup.
• Hendrick sets it up so he can drive the #3 the year after his last full year in Cup, cherry-picking which races he wants to run (think Mark Martin's current arrangement).
• Dale Jr. is of course with Hendrick throughout, his arrangement with Richard Childress something of a lend-lease program.
• Afterwards, the day comes when Rick Hendrick announces he's stepping back as head of Hendrick Motorsports and handing it off to the best qualified person for the job...
• Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, with Dale Jr. working things in the competition department.  (He's not getting all that seat time running teams at JR Motorsports for nothing, folks.)

Obviously there would be plenty of emotions involved with Dale Jr. and Kelley permanently walking away from DEI.  But while breaking up is hard to do, sometimes it's best for all invoved.

So, as I say at the office possibly even more frequently than "but I digress," let us review.  A different relationship between Hendrick and Dale Jr. than between Hendrick and Gordon/Johnson?   Yes.  However, in this case, different definitely doesn't mean lesser.  It means everyone involved enjoys the benefit of Rick Hendrick recognizing and incorporating talent.  Going forward Casey Mears will have Kellogg's on his car, but everyone at Hendrick will reap the reward of having Special K in the house.