Earnhardt Jr. will no longer be with DEI

[Doomsday101]

I just heard the Jr. will form his own racing team. More info later

 

[sandy007]

DEI without Dale Jr. = bleak future

I hope Teresa Earnhardt's changes her mind. I read a report last year about how Dale Jr. had to wait days for a part and the team members brought their own gear due to DEI's front office.

Good luck, Dale.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I really don't follow nascar so there is much I don't know about this situation.

However I was thinking it was just last week that they were saying that he would gain the majority stock in DEI and stay with them.

I guess that was either bogus reporting or something changed from that time.

I would think the lady would be smart enough just to sale off that stock and move into another venture but it was left to her so I guess it is up to her.

 

[Doomsday101]

DEI without Dale Jr. = bleak future

I hope Teresa Earnhardt's changes her mind. I read a report last year about how Dale Jr. had to wait days for a part and the team members brought their own gear due to DEI's front office.

Good luck, Dale.

I agree. Without Dale Jr. one of the biggest names in NASCAR and now DEI furture looks bleak. I also heard reports of the team not getting the equipment and parts needed to run a top notch racing team

 

[Doomsday101]

MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. has parted ways with DEI, the company his father founded in 1980.

Earnhardt, 32, announced on Thursday that he was leaving DEI, where he started his NASCAR career at 21 in the Busch Series, to become a free agent.
In December, Earnhardt said he hoped to have his contract completed by May. But as the months passed, Earnhardt added he was free to contact other owners on May 1. As that deadline expired, Earnhardt told FOXSports.com on Tuesday, "You'll all know soon what my plans are." Earnhardt and his stepmother Teresa addressed DEI this morning before the press conference at JR Motorsports.

Budweiser's contract with DEI expires at the same time as Earnhardt's does. Earnhardt was expected to speak with Anheuser Busch officials at 10:30 a.m. ET this morning.

Earnhardt has a press conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at JR Motorsports.

Now the question becomes just which owner can present the most attractive offer. For Earnhardt it's not just about the money, but where he can go to win championships.

There have been more than a few Earnhardt sightings with Hendrick Motorsports' principals over the last few months that have fueled rumors that Budweiser would return to NASCAR's top organization, possibly with the No. 3 in tow. But which car would he drive and which driver would be displaced? Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson obviously aren't going anywhere. Kyle Busch, 21, has exhibited a few prickly, uncomfortable moments but factoring in his level of talent along with his age the potential of growth on both accounts is more than promising. Casey Mears has had an unfortunate season so far but it's not like Rick Hendrick to cut the cord this quickly.

Certainly, Earnhardt's relationship with Richard Childress dates back the farthest, although his grandfather Robert Gee was one of Hendrick's first motorsports employees. But since Earnhardt Sr.'s death, Childress has been there for the entire family whether the children needed something or if Earnhardt matriarch Martha needed a flight to Daytona. There's a level of trust between the Earnhardts and Childress dating back almost 30 years. While Hendrick's roster is full, Childress is currently in expansion mode and is adding 90,000 square-feet to the existing building.

"He's a great race car driver," said Mike Dillon, vice president of competition for Richard Childress Racing. "I believe he can win races and championships and we could provide that for him here.

"His fan base and popularity will certainly make any deal attractive with Junior. He's a genuinely nice guy, that's the cool part of the deal. But you have to be concerned with the existing teams here and make sure they're comfortable any situation we would bring in. We'd love to have him but you would have to be prepared. We have championship caliber teams already and have to be careful not to upset the existing situation.

"Certainly, we would love to have him. I hope we're that lucky. I wish we're in the running but if you listen to the rumor mill, I don't see that happening."

A third scenario has Earnhardt becoming a satellite organization with Hendrick Motorsports. Engines and engineering support would come directly from HMS.

Lee Spencer is a senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com. Talk racing with Lee at her NASCAR blog.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

This might be a situation where a upstart racing company would pay a bigger amount of money to get a driver like JR to help their company grow. Also the idea that they would be more dedicated to the driver as opposed to another company that has a number of big name drivers to worry about.

Once again I don't know much about nascar but I wonder if a smaller or newer company would step up to the plate.

I also wonder if he could not find a group of investors so he could start his own company from the ground up.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Hendrick and Earnhardt together

 

[Doomsday101]

Hendrick and Earnhardt together

I was thinking the same thing. I could see Jr racing for Richard Childress next year but Hendrick with Gordon and Johnson seems a bit of a reach. Another team could be Gibbs racing team with Tony Stewart.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I was thinking the same thing. I could see Jr racing for Richard Childress next year but Hendrick with Gordon and Johnson seems a bit of a reach. Another team could be Gibbs racing team with Tony Stewart.

It wouldn't shock me to see him sign with Childress and bring the #3 out of retirement.

But starting next year owners can only field 4 cars per team so it will get interesting.

 

[sandy007]

I just watched Jr.'s news conference. Several members of his family, including his grandmother, mother, and sister, came to support Jr. I wonder if Teresa Earnhardt wouldn't give up 51% of the company due to money. To me, Dale started the company with his wife for his family. Not having an Earnhardt drive for DEI is sad. I hope other owners who drive consider this case when they make their wills.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I just watched Jr.'s news conference. Several members of his family, including his grandmother, mother, and sister, came to support Jr. I wonder if Teresa Earnhardt wouldn't give up 51% of the company due to money. To me, Dale started the company with his wife for his family. Not having an Earnhardt drive for DEI is sad. I hope other owners who drive consider this case when they make their wills.

Or they are trying to force her out. From what I remember she's never been real popular with Dale's other kids.

 

[sandy007]

After Dale died, Teresa rarely goes near a race track. I don't blame her reasons since she watched Dake die racing and has a teen to raise. According to reports, she has been negotiating about a merger with Yates Racing and about the possibility of DEI switching to Ford. It's likely the split may be about money and family and business differences. Or maybe the children want to force her out?

However, if Dale wanted his children to run DEI, why not give up control? If something happens to Teresa, I wonder what she will do. Jr. is close to his sisters, the oldest and the youngest, Teresa's daughter with Dale. I hope Teresa considered what is best for the family when she makes decisions. I wish both sides the best.

 

[gazmc_06]

I'm just hoping Dale get's on a team that gives him a chance to win a championship. He is a great driver but he has never had a car that drives well every week since he started in the Nextel cup - it would be weird seing him in the #3 but if he wants to do that then it would be pretty awesome.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I'm just hoping Dale get's on a team that gives him a chance to win a championship. He is a great driver but he has never had a car that drives well every week since he started in the Nextel cup - it would be weird seing him in the #3 but if he wants to do that then it would be pretty awesome.

I'm not an Earnhardt fan so it doesn't bother me but he'll land on a good team.

 

[Hostile]

Oh boy would I like to see Hall of Fame Racing (Roger Staubach & Troy Aikman) get Jerry Jones behind them and go get this guy to drive for them.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

It wouldn't shock me to see him sign with Childress and bring the #3 out of retirement.

But starting next year owners can only field 4 cars per team so it will get interesting.

Pretty close. It looks like he'll sign with Childress and drive the #33.

 

[Hostile]

Pretty close. It looks like he'll sign with Childress and drive the #33.

I take it DEI owns the #8 then?

 

[Yeagermeister]

I take it DEI owns the #8 then?

That's crazy since it was his grandfather's number.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Pretty close. It looks like he'll sign with Childress and drive the #33.

It would have been fun hearing all the Earnhardt fans backtracking if he had signed with Hendrick. :laugh2:

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I take it DEI owns the #8 then?

Nascar technically "owns" the numbers but the teams "lease" them for a pittance, I seem to recall it being less than a set of tires. As long as a team continues to make the payment on the number, it's theirs in perpetuity. Childress makes the payment to maintain the #3 for example.

I've heard some talk that when Nascar mandates no more than four cars to a team that it will mean only four numbers will be available to each team. If Childress ever went to four cars, he'd be forced to use the #3 or lose it.