Dale Earnhardt Jr To Stay At DEI
Dale Earnhardt Jr Will Likely Remain at DEI
It appears as if NASCAR's most popular Dale Earnhardt Jr driver will remain with the company that his father built.
Last month, Teresa Earnhardt, the widow of the late Dale Earnhardt and the owner of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, stated in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, "Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality." This statement was regarding Dale Earnhardt Jr’s current contract expiring at the end of 2007 and the impending contract negotiations.
The statement was foolhardy and considered quite abrasive considering that Earnhardt Jr was one of NASCAR’s most improved drivers in 2006. After finishing 19th in the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings in 2005, he was able to return to the Chase for the Championship in 2006 and finish 5th in the Nextel Cup standings.
Nevertheless, Teresa Earnhardt felt the need to call out her stepson in that infamous interview.
Monday at Daytona, Earnhardt Jr briefly touched on his stepmother’s annotations.
“I don't know, she might have just been having a bad day or something when she said that…I really didn't appreciate it, whether she was taken out of context or not."
He also stated that he felt it was imperative for a driver to be marketable and somewhat of a TV personality. “I think that it's probably on advantage to have a decent personality as a race car driver, one that can garner to several sponsors that you might have on any given race team. I think is important to be well liked and be marketable.”
As far as his future with Dale Earnhardt Inc., Earnhardt Jr still desires to drive the recognizable red number 8 Budweiser Chevrolet, but acknowledges that his relationship with the car owner is important.
“My relationship with the car owner is definitely going to factor into my decision to drive…You know I like driving the red Bud car with the number 8 on it, and to drive that car…We're working to get through the contract and finish up a new deal.”
Richie Gilmore, the Director of Motorsports for DEI, said that he would like to have a long-term contract finalized by May.
A lot of fans suppose that because of the so-called schism between Earnhardt Jr and his stepmother, he could end up driving the black number 3 for Richard Childress Racing. Sorry guys, but that is just a pipe dream right now. If Earnhardt Jr ever drives for Richard Childress, it will be years down the road. DEI is his domicile and will be for most of his NASCAR Nextel Cup career. His identity is the red number 8, isolated from his father’s identity in the black number 3.
