And Speedweeks Has Only Just Begun...
One week from now, history will be made with another Daytona 500 winner. A new mini Champion will be crowned.
However, with a little less than a week until the big race, there is plenty to talk about.
Last Thursday, Dale Jr. added to the DEI controversy by stating that he will not resign unless he has majority ownership of the team. This is an extremely bold statement and potentially could be the end of DEI. Apparently, Junior will leave the team at the end of this year if Teresa does not hand more than half of it to her stepson. If Teresa agrees to his terms, Dale Jr. remains and Teresa’s arguable “team owner” status will be reduced.
Sometimes I cringe at what Junior tells the media. This was one of those mouth-dropping instances when I wondered immediately after if he’d regret ever saying anything. For his own sake, announcing something this huge right before the biggest week in NASCAR can lead to a lot of media harassment, team focus blurring and – this is Junior we’re talking about – loads of speculation. However, I believe that Dale Jr. has the right to request this. While many would say he is selfish, greedy and spoiled to make such a demand, I’d challenge anyone to declare that Teresa is fit to be an owner of such a big name team. DEI has been snowballing into disaster for quite some time since Dale Earnhardt died. Maybe it’s time for change. Maybe Junior can bring it back to where it was and where it should be. He did great with Chance 2, of which he had half ownership of (Teresa simply provided the car, and took credit for the two championships…HA!). But, I think the big question is: What will happen if Teresa refuses? Bluntly put, DEI will crumble. Why do you think Kerry and his son Jeffrey were suddenly signed, after years of ignoring Dale’s eldest child? Damage control. Last ditch effort to have an Earnhardt, any Earnhardt, in DEI if Junior decided to leave. However, I don’t think it would be enough to hold the team together. The only person in this situation who has everything to lose? Teresa. So she’d better be thinking real hard about it.
The Bud Shootout ran last night and was our first glimpse at how the Toyotas will perform. Brian Vickers and MWR’s Dale Jarrett hoped to prove that they would be a factor. Dale led from the pole…but that first lap, which he unfortunately didn’t even lead, was the closest he was to the front all night. The #44 team struggled all night, finishing higher than only Bill Elliott in the underfunded #37 car of the cars that were still moving at the end. There was some hope that it was simply a test. According to some of DJ’s comments following the race, that was pretty much what they could do. Not very encouraging, considering he even lost the draft at one point. Brian Vickers led some laps and ran respectfully, finishing 8th. So…still some work to do before the Duels on Thursday.
The Shootout was frustrating for Dale Jr. It seemed he had a good car, but was always the helper and never the recipient. To compound all the problems, he caused a massive wreck in the tri-oval coming to the checkers when he ran into the back of Elliott Sadler. Denny Hamlin was hit, went into the grass, came back out on the track and nearly went upside down when Kasey Kahne slammed him on the driver’s side. Meanwhile, reacting to the whole mess, Junior veered left down pit road, collecting Greg Biffle in the process. Everyone was okay and Junior admitted fault for the crash, thankfully.
Tony Stewart won and proceeded to suck up to Kyle Busch after tapping him from the lead in the middle of a turn many laps before. Better suck up. While I don’t think it was maliciously intentional, it was careless and stupid. Or…just typical Tony.
Qualifying was today, but that’s another story.
However, with a little less than a week until the big race, there is plenty to talk about.
Last Thursday, Dale Jr. added to the DEI controversy by stating that he will not resign unless he has majority ownership of the team. This is an extremely bold statement and potentially could be the end of DEI. Apparently, Junior will leave the team at the end of this year if Teresa does not hand more than half of it to her stepson. If Teresa agrees to his terms, Dale Jr. remains and Teresa’s arguable “team owner” status will be reduced.
Sometimes I cringe at what Junior tells the media. This was one of those mouth-dropping instances when I wondered immediately after if he’d regret ever saying anything. For his own sake, announcing something this huge right before the biggest week in NASCAR can lead to a lot of media harassment, team focus blurring and – this is Junior we’re talking about – loads of speculation. However, I believe that Dale Jr. has the right to request this. While many would say he is selfish, greedy and spoiled to make such a demand, I’d challenge anyone to declare that Teresa is fit to be an owner of such a big name team. DEI has been snowballing into disaster for quite some time since Dale Earnhardt died. Maybe it’s time for change. Maybe Junior can bring it back to where it was and where it should be. He did great with Chance 2, of which he had half ownership of (Teresa simply provided the car, and took credit for the two championships…HA!). But, I think the big question is: What will happen if Teresa refuses? Bluntly put, DEI will crumble. Why do you think Kerry and his son Jeffrey were suddenly signed, after years of ignoring Dale’s eldest child? Damage control. Last ditch effort to have an Earnhardt, any Earnhardt, in DEI if Junior decided to leave. However, I don’t think it would be enough to hold the team together. The only person in this situation who has everything to lose? Teresa. So she’d better be thinking real hard about it.
The Bud Shootout ran last night and was our first glimpse at how the Toyotas will perform. Brian Vickers and MWR’s Dale Jarrett hoped to prove that they would be a factor. Dale led from the pole…but that first lap, which he unfortunately didn’t even lead, was the closest he was to the front all night. The #44 team struggled all night, finishing higher than only Bill Elliott in the underfunded #37 car of the cars that were still moving at the end. There was some hope that it was simply a test. According to some of DJ’s comments following the race, that was pretty much what they could do. Not very encouraging, considering he even lost the draft at one point. Brian Vickers led some laps and ran respectfully, finishing 8th. So…still some work to do before the Duels on Thursday.
The Shootout was frustrating for Dale Jr. It seemed he had a good car, but was always the helper and never the recipient. To compound all the problems, he caused a massive wreck in the tri-oval coming to the checkers when he ran into the back of Elliott Sadler. Denny Hamlin was hit, went into the grass, came back out on the track and nearly went upside down when Kasey Kahne slammed him on the driver’s side. Meanwhile, reacting to the whole mess, Junior veered left down pit road, collecting Greg Biffle in the process. Everyone was okay and Junior admitted fault for the crash, thankfully.
Tony Stewart won and proceeded to suck up to Kyle Busch after tapping him from the lead in the middle of a turn many laps before. Better suck up. While I don’t think it was maliciously intentional, it was careless and stupid. Or…just typical Tony.
Qualifying was today, but that’s another story.
