Dale JR leaving DEI?

streicher187 · 05-10-2007, 02:10 AM

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expected to announce Thursday morning that he will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. after this season and possibly form his own Nextel Cup team, sources told ESPN.com on Wednesday night.

Earnhardt will discuss his future during a news conference Thursday at JR Motorsports, the Mooresville, N.C., racing shop that houses the Busch Series team Earnhardt owns.

Sources close to the situation said Wednesday night that Earnhardt may start a new two-car Nextel Cup team next season at JR Motorsports. Martin Truex Jr. would drive one car and Earnhardt could drive the other, but Earnhardt might keep his options open and go to another team.

Reports also stated that JR Motorsports will use engines supplied by Hendrick Motorsports, though sources at Hendrick Motorsports told ESPN.com they were unaware of any partnership with JR Motorsports.

Reached at a sponsor appearance at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Wednesday night, Earnhardt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he planned to talk about "some ideas I've got for the future" but would not elaborate. He also said he didn't want his JR Motorsports team to "grow too fast."

Hendrick, winners of seven of the past Cup eight races this season, already leases engines to Ginn Racing and Haas-CNC Racing. Hendrick officials said Wednesday they have not spoken to Earnhardt about driving for their organization.

Truex and Earnhardt Jr. both drive for Dale Earnhardt Inc., the organization founded by Dale Earnhardt Sr. Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s widow and Earnhardt Jr.'s stepmother, owns DEI.

Earnhardt Jr., who is in the final year of his contract with DEI, has been negotiating a new deal all season with DEI. Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Earnhardt Jr's sister, is his manager and chief negotiator.

Earnhardt Jr., 32, has said he wants controlling interest in DEI (at least 51 percent) so he could make the necessary decisions to help DEI reach the championship level.

He repeatedly has said he thought everything would work out for him to remain at DEI as the driver of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet. Earnhardt has 17 Cup victories in his career

streicher187 · 05-10-2007, 02:11 AM

his father owned the company and he has helped build it and his step mother won't give up control.. I guess if she loses truex and JR that DEI will be no more..

patonyfan · 05-10-2007, 08:13 AM

The DEI team needs a serious turn-around, something just isn't clicking there and it is time for a change. Whether it be new ownership (jr?) or Jr leaving the team and going elsewhere

Mike

streicher187 · 05-10-2007, 01:42 PM

If Jr were to sign with Hendrick signal the end of nascar. I think most fans could not imagine him driving with Gordon and jimmy Johnson.. I would love to see him sign with Richard Childress for a few years till he gets his own team up and running..