Dale Earnhardt Jr. has finally answered one of the most asked questions in motorsports - what car number he will drive beginning with the historic 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 17.

When Earnhardt Jr. makes his debut with Hendrick Motorsports in "The Great American Race," he'll be behind the No. 88 Chevrolet with sponsor logos from Mountain Dew, AMP Energy and the National Guard.

Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion, made the announcement Wednesday in Dallas.

The No. 88 has a successful history in the Daytona 500, winning NASCAR's most prestigious event three times - once with Bobby Allison (1982) and twice with Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000).

Earnhardt Jr. has spent his entire NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series career driving the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. He began competing on a full-time basis in 2000 and has 10 victories at Daytona International Speedway including the 2004 Daytona 500.

He'll join Hendrick Motorsports, six-time winners of the Daytona 500, beginning next year and serve as teammates with three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon, 2006 Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears.

"Race fans have another reason to be excited about next year's historic 50th running of the Daytona 500," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said. "Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are certainly going to be one of the favorites to win the 50th Daytona 500 and build on the storied history of the No. 88 in NASCAR's signature race."

In addition to the 50th running of the Daytona 500, race fans will also get a chance to witness Earnhardt Jr. in other DIRECTV Speedweeks events including:

• Camping World 300 presented by Chevrolet Busch Series race on Saturday, Feb. 16
• The Gatorade Duel At Daytona 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 14
• Budweiser Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 10
• The 30th annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday Feb. 9, a non-points All-Star race that features the previous season's Bud Pole winners as well as past Budweiser Shootout champions.