The 2007 Season So Far - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Jr.’s year began a lot like Martin’s, but after the Daytona wreck and the California engine failure, he made leaps and bounds in points. Going into Darlington he sits 12th, breaking his way into Chase contention.
Though he hasn’t won since Richmond of last year, his performance has been impressive, even if some finishes seem mediocre. Pit strategy has bit the #8 Bud team (Bristol) and wrecks have also harmed them (Texas while running 2nd, Phoenix and Richmond).
While track time has been good in general for Dale Jr., internal affairs at DEI have not gone so well. It was a well-known story that Junior was renegotiating a contract with the wish of owning more than half the team. For months, everyone said that things were going well and it was expected Junior would be staying with the team. However, today Dale Jr. held a much anticipated press conference live on SPEED at JR Motorsports and announced he was a free agent and would not return to DEI in 2008.
It did not surprise me at all, but it crushed me. It relieved me. It angered me and made me proud. I just can’t really see much in DEI’s future without Dale Jr., and that is not said with arrogance. DEI has rollercoastered since Dale Earnhardt’s death and although the cars have been running better, the team as a whole seems to lack focus and consistency, both with drivers and sponsors. Teresa barely shows herself and has a myriad of puppets to speak for the team. It is ridiculous and not what DEI was meant to be. I was hoping that Junior would get his partial ownership and turn the team around. Obviously Teresa did not believe in her own remarks!
“While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company’s future. Our aggressive expansion and diversification plans have not changed. This company has continued to thrive since Dale left us in 2001, and it will thrive following today’s announcement. Dale and I built this company to be a championship-contender, and those principles still apply. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will win, and we have other extremely talented drivers and hundreds of employees that are dedicated to the programs we founded. This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity, and commitment.”
Family business? Isn’t that was Junior was trying to create?
I am beginning to think Michael leaving DEI was the icebreaker.
Now the big question is where Dale Jr. will end up. He stated that he’d prefer to remain with Chevrolet, but I think we all know it is not certain. Obviously the first thought that comes to mind is RCR and I would have no problem whatsoever with that choice, despite people saying it would only keep Junior in his father’s shadow. Hendrick Motorsports would be a doozy and immensely amusing to me (“Junior fans around the globe pass out!”), but all four cars are full and I would NOT want someone fired for Junior’s sake. Ginn Racing would be interesting. Joe Gibbs Racing I would not want. In fact, out of almost every team besides Roush Racing, I would be most unhappy with that choice. It would cause a lot of friction, for Tony Stewart would be threatened from his #1 seat. Plus, JJ Yeley would most surely either be fired or forced to give up his owners points to whatever car Junior would drive.
Dare I say? MWR? Though in my wildest dreams I’d love to see it, I think the possibility of this happening is slim to zero. So many things are against it – Toyota (aah! Sacrilege!), current team struggles, Michael Waltrip as a team owner (noooo they hate each other!)…but…crazier things have happened before.
Dale Jr. says he will listen to any and all offers. If none suit him, he will start his own team. If this were to happen, I would be stunned.
Silly season starts earlier every year! I wish Junior all the luck in his future and hopes he finds a comfortable fit, wherever it may be.
Though he hasn’t won since Richmond of last year, his performance has been impressive, even if some finishes seem mediocre. Pit strategy has bit the #8 Bud team (Bristol) and wrecks have also harmed them (Texas while running 2nd, Phoenix and Richmond).
While track time has been good in general for Dale Jr., internal affairs at DEI have not gone so well. It was a well-known story that Junior was renegotiating a contract with the wish of owning more than half the team. For months, everyone said that things were going well and it was expected Junior would be staying with the team. However, today Dale Jr. held a much anticipated press conference live on SPEED at JR Motorsports and announced he was a free agent and would not return to DEI in 2008.
It did not surprise me at all, but it crushed me. It relieved me. It angered me and made me proud. I just can’t really see much in DEI’s future without Dale Jr., and that is not said with arrogance. DEI has rollercoastered since Dale Earnhardt’s death and although the cars have been running better, the team as a whole seems to lack focus and consistency, both with drivers and sponsors. Teresa barely shows herself and has a myriad of puppets to speak for the team. It is ridiculous and not what DEI was meant to be. I was hoping that Junior would get his partial ownership and turn the team around. Obviously Teresa did not believe in her own remarks!
“While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company’s future. Our aggressive expansion and diversification plans have not changed. This company has continued to thrive since Dale left us in 2001, and it will thrive following today’s announcement. Dale and I built this company to be a championship-contender, and those principles still apply. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will win, and we have other extremely talented drivers and hundreds of employees that are dedicated to the programs we founded. This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity, and commitment.”
Family business? Isn’t that was Junior was trying to create?
I am beginning to think Michael leaving DEI was the icebreaker.
Now the big question is where Dale Jr. will end up. He stated that he’d prefer to remain with Chevrolet, but I think we all know it is not certain. Obviously the first thought that comes to mind is RCR and I would have no problem whatsoever with that choice, despite people saying it would only keep Junior in his father’s shadow. Hendrick Motorsports would be a doozy and immensely amusing to me (“Junior fans around the globe pass out!”), but all four cars are full and I would NOT want someone fired for Junior’s sake. Ginn Racing would be interesting. Joe Gibbs Racing I would not want. In fact, out of almost every team besides Roush Racing, I would be most unhappy with that choice. It would cause a lot of friction, for Tony Stewart would be threatened from his #1 seat. Plus, JJ Yeley would most surely either be fired or forced to give up his owners points to whatever car Junior would drive.
Dare I say? MWR? Though in my wildest dreams I’d love to see it, I think the possibility of this happening is slim to zero. So many things are against it – Toyota (aah! Sacrilege!), current team struggles, Michael Waltrip as a team owner (noooo they hate each other!)…but…crazier things have happened before.
Dale Jr. says he will listen to any and all offers. If none suit him, he will start his own team. If this were to happen, I would be stunned.
Silly season starts earlier every year! I wish Junior all the luck in his future and hopes he finds a comfortable fit, wherever it may be.
