Dale Earnhardt Jr. appears set to join Hendrick Motorsports, creating a super team that would feature NASCAR's most popular driver, defending series champ Jimmie Johnson and four-time champ Jeff Gordon.

Earnhardt will announce his intentions at an 11 a.m. press conference at his Busch team's race shop. Speed Channel will broadcast the announcement. XM and Sirius Satellite radio also will carry the press conference live.

Various reports, all citing unidentified sources, point to Earnhardt joining Hendrick's team, which also includes Casey Mears and Kyle Busch. Busch is expected to be the odd man out and become a free agent.

One option for Busch might be to join his older brother, Kurt, at Penske Racing, although other opportunities exist. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will need to fill Earnhardt's spot, and car owners Richard Childress and Ray Evernham have expressed a desire to add fourth teams for next season.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that six people familiar with the negotiations said Hendrick officials have been working for the past three weeks to sign Earnhardt. Also, representatives for Joe Gibbs Racing and Ginn Racing said they would not be a part of today's announcement. Childress remains out of the country on a family hunting trip.

A Hendrick deal would come a few weeks after car owner Rick Hendrick said "there's no room at the inn" for Earnhardt, noting that his four drivers and sponsors are signed beyond this season.

Although talented, Kyle Busch has been a handful at times for Hendrick.

Busch sparred on the track and later threw his Hans device at Mears after a few incidents last spring.

At Texas in April, Busch hit the wall and brought the car into the garage for repairs. He left the track but his team repaired the car.

With Busch not around, Earnhardt was asked to drive the car and ran a few laps in it before the race's end.

Earnhardt joining Hendrick would fulfill what Earnhardt is seeking in his next ride.

He wants to drive for a Chevrolet team, continuing the loyalty his late father had for the manufacturer. Earnhardt also says he wants to be with a team that could win a championship.

"At 32 years of age ... it is time for me to compete on a consistent basis and contend for championships now," Earnhardt said last month when he announced he was leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. after this season when his contract expires.

Earnhardt has 17 Cup wins but has not won a Cup event since Richmond in May 2006. It's the longest winless drought in his Cup career.

Hendrick Motorsports has won six Cup championships since 1995. Hendrick cars have won 10 of the season's first 14 races.

Gordon leads the points standings with Johnson third and Busch 10th.

Another key factor is Hendrick's close relationships with his team, especially the drivers. That would be a stark contrast for Earnhardt, whose relationship with his stepmother, DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt, was bitter and grew worse as negotiations continued.

"The reasons why I left were truly personal and not competition related," Earnhardt told reporters earlier this month at Dover about his departure from DEI after this season.

There is no word if Earnhardt's sponsor, Budweiser, will follow him or remain at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Budweiser was with Hendrick Motorsports before moving to DEI.