Dale Jr. Leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., (DEI) Options

[Laura]

Looks like this is pretty much official... people have been speculating for months now. The move isn't surprising to me.

Jr Leaving DEI at the end of 2007

[Wake Up Laughing]

what does this mean? lol..I don't know much about this part of nascar.

[Laura]

It means he's leaving the team he's with now (Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team his father started) and going his own direction. Stupid move, IMO. He seems a bit money hungry right now... but.... oh well.

[RockyStud]

The reason he leaveing is because of his Stepmother...

[Wake Up Laughing]

oh okay. Thanks you guys! I was just wondering cuz he's my favorite driver. And I was worried for a second. haha! Thanks again.

[Jessica]

hmm, I thought I heard somewhere he did get the 51% ownership he wanted, therefore was going to stay? I guess I heard wrong. I thinks it's a good move he's the money maker on the team, and I heard the "stepmom" isn't running the team well. BTW it is a buisness, if he wants more money.. go for it.

[Arlene]

I read this tonight when I logged on the PC. I had just spoke with my sister, but I had to call her back and let her know about the announcement from JR tomorrow at 11 ET.

I am not too surprised about this. Looking back at some of the comments JR has said over the years the business and family looked okay on the surface, but undercurrents were there.

[Laura]

hmm, I thought I heard somewhere he did get the 51% ownership he wanted, therefore was going to stay? I guess I heard wrong. I thinks it's a good move he's the money maker on the team, and I heard the "stepmom" isn't running the team well. BTW it is a buisness, if he wants more money.. go for it.

Speculation... he didn't get it (yet).

[Kristen]

this isn't anything new. I kind of expected that. After all, my dad woke me up this morning to tell me the news and this was at 6:45! I could've slept later, but of course, they had to wake me up.

[GandhiRooney]

I was surprised when I just logged on to see this topic. I figured I'd be the first one to post that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. officially announced his leaving DEI. And actually, I guess I am. Since he just had the press converence a while ago. Then I saw the date and time on the first post; last night, before the official announcement from Jr.

So he's a free agent, and will presumably drive for whomever or whatever team offers the best terms. I don't blame him on bit. Of course, this was always a possibility, but I don't like that it came to this. I'm sad that Mrs. Earnhardt apparently would not give him what he wanted. All this is speculation, since it was all done in private. That's the way they wanted it. But from what has been said, it appears she is the 'Yoko Ono' of DEI. I was hoping Dale, Jr. would get controlling interest in his dad's organization. That's the way it should be, imho. Oh well, life goes on and so does racing. I just wish him the best.

btw, Yahoo music is playing 'How I Feel', from Martina's album "HOW I FEEL" from 2007!! (According to them). Looks like they need to do some investigating to get the title of the CD right! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Darren]

It means he's leaving the team he's with now (Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team his father started) and going his own direction. Stupid move, IMO. He seems a bit money hungry right now... but.... oh well.

I don't believe it's really about money. It's more about being competitive and DEI just hasn't been competitive. He first asked for a controlling interest in the team, which I believe he should have since his father started the team for his kids and not his wife, and once he didn't get that he decided it was time to move on to a better organization. He will be bringing his sponsor Budweiser with him, and that's where a lot of his money comes from, so again I don't see this as much of a money move as a control move.

I think most fans of his father are hoping that Little E winds up at Richard Childress Racing to drive the #3 car. Seems like a very strong possibility. It's a shame that NASCAR has fallen into the state that it's in these days. It made me laugh when Tony Stewart compared the sport to professional wrestling a week or two ago as that's just what I said when I stopped watching it back in '04 or '05.

-Darren

[Laura]

It's official:

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?s...&id=2866102

[GandhiRooney]

Yep, that's why I posted what I did when I did. I came right from Jr's press conference where he officially announced his intentions.

["Money's not really the issue. It's not the guy who gives me the biggest paycheck," he said. "There's some things you can't get with money: peace of mind and satisfaction."


The ability to win races and compete for championships will be equally important factors, said Earnhardt, who has 39 race wins (including 22 Busch Series wins) and one Daytona 500 victory since his 1996 debut -- but only two race wins since 2004.


"I feel like over the last year or two I've shortchanged my fans," he said. "I'm hoping to win some races, win some championships to give [the fans] what they pay all that money to go see us for." ]

I agree with Darren. Money was not the issue, as Dale, Jr. himself said. I also think he should be the 'main man' at DEI, like DALE had planned. I just hope that Junebug (DW's name for him) gets into a competitive team/car and can get to winning races and championships like he should and wants to do. BTW, DW is one of the people he uses as counsel at times, and he was there today at Jr's request. He called DW last night and asked him to be there. He's one of the trusted people that Dale, Jr counts on, since he's been around a long time and was with Dale a lot. \\

Jr's got his head on straight and is a smart dude. He'll do what is the right thing. And he also cares about his fans and the people that work for/with him. I am really impressed with him and wish him the best in all his endeavors.

I too have not watched NNC with as much enthusiasm over the last few years. To me, since Dale Earnhardt was taken from us, it's not been the same. Added to that the bureaucracy of Nascar has made the races not really fun to watch anymore for me. I mean, I'll record them and then later fast forward thru them. But very seldom do I watch them when they are actually on tv. Anyway, I'm sad that Dale, Jr's had to make this decision. But I support him in his efforts. Rock on, Jr!!!!!

[MANDA!!!]

i heard this!! I am really sad that he had to make this decison but GO JR!!

[RockyStud]

It would not surprize me if DEI goes under because of her not letting him Run the compancy which is a Huge mistake on her parts. now I not sure what I want to do with my DEI nascar I have of Dale JR..

[Laura]

DEI and RYR will merge like the rumors say.

[Dr. Tom]

I wonder if now Martin Truex jr. becomes the #1 driver at DEI or will he follow Dale jr. where ever he goes.

[RockyStud]

The way I understood it he going to fellow Dale where ever he goes..

[Laura]

I wonder if now Martin Truex jr. becomes the #1 driver at DEI or will he follow Dale jr. where ever he goes.

From what I've heard he would be going w/ Dale Jr., however sources are already saying his move to RCR is a "done deal" though nothing is official yet.

This story made my local news' #2 TOP STORY last night. Unreal.

[Randy 22]

I agree with several previous posters. I do not believe that money was the primary motive for Junior's move. At age 32, if he is going to ever win a NASCAR season title, he needs to do so soon, as he should be in the prime of his career, and to win a title he needs to be with a top team. Rumors generally expect him to wind up either with his dad's old team, Richard Childress Racing, or with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Given the hatred so many Earnhardt fans have of Jeff Gordon, I think it would be funny if Junior wound up being Gordon's teammate at Hendrick Racing, but that is less likely.
With Junior's departure, DEI will become a backmarker, non-competitive team, as Teresa Earnhardt runs the team into the ground.