Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI

[stinger608]

That is at least what the media is saying!!! It is to be announced on this coming up Thursday!!!

Here is a story from Yahoo.




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.

ADVERTISEMENT
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.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Was bound to happen eventually. I've been reading about this in AutoWeek.

[Jokerswild]

What difference does it make who he races for? I don't follow NASCAR but really does anyone really give a crap or does this have any effect on the sport?

[OcciferFriendly]

It is a shame, since DEI is the company his father started. Hell, it's got his name on it!

I am pretty certain that Senior would not be happy about this at all.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

What difference does it make who he races for? I don't follow NASCAR but really does anyone really give a crap or does this have any effect on the sport?

Apparently Stinger gives a crap.

I don't know, people make a fuss about anything these days.

[Jokerswild]

I wasn't trying to be a smart Aleck or start trouble. I just don't see the significance of it.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

I wasn't trying to be a smart Aleck or start trouble. I just don't see the significance of it.

Yeah, I know that. That was supposed to be a joke... sort of?

It's really useless. Anyone's gonna take him, so it's not like it matters. He's still gonna race in a month. Just someone else is going to be making money off of him.

[Jokerswild]

I was wondering if there's a lot of animosity between him and his step mom?

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

I was wondering if there's a lot of animosity between him and his step mom?

According to AutoWeek, yes, there's been some fire. I forgot what they were fighting over earlier, but it was something....

I don't even know why I paid attention to this... I just read it while I'm on the crapper.

[Jokerswild]

I saw something on sportcenter but that was it. I like the bathroom reference.