Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI

[Drew]

Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI



By Jerry Bonkowski, Yahoo! Sports
May 9, 2007

Dale Earnhardt Jr. officially will say goodbye to Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday morning, Yahoo! Sports has learned.

A highly placed source within DEI as well as additional sources familiar with the situation told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday afternoon that both Junior and teammate Martin Truex Jr. will announce Thursday morning that they are leaving the DEI camp at the end of this season and will drive for Earnhardt's heretofore Busch Series operation, JR Motorsports.

Sirius Radio also reported late Wednesday afternoon that the Earnhardt/Truex split with DEI was a done deal and that the new Cup team entry will field Chevrolet chassis built by Hendrick Motorsports and will use Hendrick engines as well.

Sources tell Yahoo! Sports that Earnhardt Jr.'s primary sponsor, Budweiser, will follow Junior to JR Motorsports. Budweiser's contract with DEI is due to expire at the end of 2008, but Yahoo! Sports sources believe there are provisions within the contract for an early exit if Earnhardt Jr. does not drive the No. 8 Chevrolet for DEI.

The press conference, which is expected to be televised nationally, will take place at JR Motorsports headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday.

There has been no comment thus far from either DEI president Teresa Earnhardt (Dale Jr.'s stepmother) or company director of global operations Max Siegel.

Earnhardt and sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge have been in often contentious negotiations with Teresa Earnhardt that have sparked considerable posturing from both sides in the media.

Both siblings have said that if a deal with DEI was not in place by the end of May, they would consider a variety of options, including Junior leaving DEI. Just last week, DEI confirmed that it was talking with Robert Yates Racing about a possible merger and also a switch from Chevrolet power plants and chassis to Ford engines and chassis.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. began his racing career with DEI in 1996, shortly after the organization was formed by his late father, seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, and Teresa Earnhardt.

Earnhardt Jr. won back-to-back Busch Series championships in 1998 and 1999 before moving full-time to the then-Winston Cup Series in 2000. His first career Cup win was at Texas, with a memorable celebration between father and son in victory lane.

Voted the most popular driver in NASCAR by fans the last four years, Earnhardt Jr. has 17 career Cup wins but has yet to win his first Cup championship. He has gone 36 consecutive races without a win, his last being at Richmond in May 2006.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=jb-juniorleaves050907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Loaded NightraiN]

no suprise there... especially after he drove kyle buschs car...

[C0ma]

DEI should fold in a season or two. He was DEI.

I wish he'd go to Richard Childress and get in his dad's #3.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

I'm glad he's leaving.  Maybe now he can get in some quality equipment and win a bunch of races and championships.

In seven years, he's only won 17 races.  That is clearly not indicative of his talent as a racecar driver.

[C0ma]

I'm glad he's leaving.? Maybe now he can get in some quality equipment and win a bunch of races and championships.

In seven years, he's only won 17 races.? That is clearly not indicative of his talent as a racecar driver.

Look at the span where DEI had the best Restrictor Plate program in NASCAR... He was a lock for top 3 everytime he hit Daytona and Talledega.
If you can get him in a good ride than he will set records.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

I'm glad he's leaving.  Maybe now he can get in some quality equipment and win a bunch of races and championships.

In seven years, he's only won 17 races.  That is clearly not indicative of his talent as a racecar driver.

Look at the span where DEI had the best Restrictor Plate program in NASCAR... He was a lock for top 3 everytime he hit Daytona and Talledega.
If you can get him in a good ride than he will set records.

Yeah, that's all they had, and then they let Hendrick catch them and pass them.  Junior has been SHIT on the plate tracks for years now.  And that was more of a collaboration with Richard Childress and Andy Petree.

[Drew]

Not much of a surprise, but the leading teams in the Dale Jr. free agency race are Rick Hendrick, Joe Gibbs and Richard Childress. Negotitations are set to begin in a few weeks according to Dale Jr.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=AgKfOVyNnKtVcl2ib8F_z_vov7YF?slug=ap-nascar-earnhardt&prov=ap&type=lgns

[C0ma]

Yeah, that's all they had, and then they let Hendrick catch them and pass them.? Junior has been SHIT on the plate tracks for years now.? And that was more of a collaboration with Richard Childress and Andy Petree.

That's what I'm saying... his team was shit. If you put him in a Hendrick, Gibbs, or RCR car he will be his dad all over again.

[Drew]

I believe this is the biggest and closest possiblity ever for Dale Jr. to drive the #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet.

Or would it be the #3 Budweiser Chevrolet? 

[C0ma]

I believe this is the biggest and closest possiblity ever for Dale Jr. to drive the #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet.

Or would it be the #3 Budweiser Chevrolet??

Bud is following him where ever he goes.

[cotis]

Not sure if he'd want to take on his fathers legacy so soon. On ESPN they were saying how he commented and said he wasn't quite worthy yet, but would in the future drive #3. I see him going to Hendrick or starting a new team w/ Hendrick's help.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

I believe this is the biggest and closest possiblity ever for Dale Jr. to drive the #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet.

Or would it be the #3 Budweiser Chevrolet? 

Bud is following him where ever he goes.

I remember in 2001, there was talk of a split sponsorship between Bud and Goodwrench.

He probably won't drive the #3 until later in his career.  Junior is a very humble guy.  I DO believe Childress owns the #33, so anything can happen really.

I just hope he doesn't run for his own team.  That would be disastrous.

See: Robby Gordon and Michael Waltrip.

[Drew]

Hey Garry, you mention that Childress possibly owns the #33 car. I guess this means that DEI owns the #8 car, right? 

Makes me wonder what number he'll choose next season. 

[C0ma]

I believe this is the biggest and closest possiblity ever for Dale Jr. to drive the #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet.

Or would it be the #3 Budweiser Chevrolet??

Bud is following him where ever he goes.

I remember in 2001, there was talk of a split sponsorship between Bud and Goodwrench.

He probably won't drive the #3 until later in his career.? Junior is a very humble guy.? I DO believe Childress owns the #33, so anything can happen really.

I just hope he doesn't run for his own team.? That would be disastrous.

See: Robby Gordon and Michael Waltrip.

They own the #3, #29, #31, and #07

If he goes to RCR he will be in the #3, it is the only open number.... and you can only have 4 cars. Plus Junior has the Bud sponsorship not DEI. Bud follows him, he will be in a #3 Bud car if he goes to RCR...

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Childress has the 33.  Skinner and Kerry Earnhardt have used it in the past.

I bet Teresa will hang on to the 8.  Unless Budweiser/Childress/Earnhardt Jr. offer A LOT of dough for it.

[Drew]

I like Dale Jr. having the #8 car and hope somehow he can keep it but I would bet it won't happen unfortunately.

But I could easily forget about the #8 car if he was to drive the #3 car.

[C0ma]

Childress has the 33.? Skinner and Kerry Earnhardt have used it in the past.

I bet Teresa will hang on to the 8.? Unless Budweiser/Childress/Earnhardt Jr. offer A LOT of dough for it.

UPDATE: FOX8 News has confirmed Junior is negotiating late Thursday night with Richard Childress to join Richard Childress Racing. An announcement could come as early as Friday. Childress has scheduled a news conference Friday at Darlington Raceway, the site of Saturday's Nextel Nextel Cup race. Sports Director Rich Brenner has also confirmed the talks between Junior and Childress include plans for Earnhardt driving the #33 Chevrolet for RCR. Budweiser, the primary sponsor for Junior's #8 car with DEI, will follow him to his new race team. (FOX8 News)(5-11-2007)

Last guy I remember driving the #33 was Harry Gant in the Skoal car.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Nemechek ran the 33 when he was driving for Andy Petree. 

Gawsh, that Jeff Gordon is on FIRE.  And yes, you CAN be an Earnhardt fan and like Jeff Gordon.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Junior was struck down with a hundred point penalty, and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. has been suspended for six races.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Hendrick-OUT
Gibbs-OUT

The only logical choice is Childress, but he hasn't even spoken to Junior about it.