An interesting take by Kim Roberson from Insider Racing News…
You know, this week I was all set to lament about Christmas Gifts for NASCAR fans. OK, maybe not so much lamenting as discussing the difficulties of buying a gift for a NASCAR fan who has only been a fan of one driver their entire fan-life, but now that driver (Mark Martin) has defected to another manufacturer (Chevy), and all the plans I had of getting her Mark stuff were tossed out the door when she said she didn’t want anything more of his, because when he left Ford, she left him….and didn’t know who she would root for in the future.
But, just as I was set to put finger to keyboard, I decided to read through the news of the week, and one article made me stop and completely reconsider my original thought for the week.
Now I just have one question. “Teresa Earnhardt, what the heck do you think you are doing?”
No, I’m not talking about her hiring this week of marketing guru Max Siegel to help continue to expand the marketing empire her husband began over a quarter of a century ago. I can even understand her desire to bring someone in from the “outside” who might be able to bring in new ideas to help expand DEI’s already massive marketing appeal.
What I am talking about is her shot at her number one driver, the man voted most popular for the last four years, her stepson. Dale Earnhardt, Junior.
Towards the end of an article about Siegle’s hiring in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, there was one paragraph that now has fans talking about Junior’s future with DEI.
Mother and stepson don’t always see eye to eye: “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,” she (Teresa Earnhardt) says.
Is she actually telling Junior to make a choice between the two? This, from the wife of the man who was the ultimate NASCAR media personality?
I am pretty sure that being a NASCAR driver and a public personality are one in the same in this day and age. They have been for some time.
The article mentions “Mr. Earnhardt Jr., who ranked as the fourth-most popular active U.S. athlete by a phone poll by ESPN last year, could leave the team when his contract ends after the 2007 season. He increasingly has branched into other areas of entertainment, hosting a satellite radio show and appearing in a commercial with rapper Jay-Z.”
More at insiderracingnews.com
Wow, Teresa must be gettign ignorant or this is being blown out of proportion by media. Number one, if this is so it woudl show hardly any respect for Senior since this is his son, for crying out loud. And secoundly if hes puching that hard I say Junior needs to use his 40% ownership of DEI and get an early release from contract and hop in his daddys car. Hell, Im not a Earnhardt fan by a longshot, Im a Gordon man, but I couldn’t take crap liek that and I be proud to see that 3 on the track once again. Besides, Junior even if your reading this right now yourself, imagine how much it would jumpstart things again, with RCRs competiveness now, and resources, you could maybe have yourself a championship.
Just a quick correction to several of the comments made here, DEI does NOT belong to Dale Jr. or any of the other Earnhardt siblings. Dale Sr. and TERESA Earnhardt built and paid the bills to get it going and the Widow Earnhardt still signs the checks. Jr. works for her.
If Teresa follows tradition, DEI will one day be an inheritance to the Earnhardt children. However, at this point, if Jr. wants to be kept on as an employee, he has to meet the expectations of his contact, just like any other driver for any other owner. Many many many Jr. fans insist that Jr. has not been given his ride simply by the wind-fall of his last name, well, think of this as a way to prove that.
The bottom line is, if Jr. is as good as he is rumored to be, he will have no problem getting his contract renewed or if he wants to drive else where, finding a ride. But as for an owner “handing over” a business that she and her late husband built? Not if she’s got any sense at all!
Well, NASCAR Moma is right, but the old witch (Teresa) needs Jr. more than Jr. needs the witch.
If Jr. leaves and takes Budweieser with him what is the witch gonna do..run the show on the money provided by Bass Pro Shops and Menards….NOT!
Menards would own DEI in a year or less!
The witch needs to make nice with Jr and Jr needs to make nice with the witch…they need to keep building that organaization or there won’t be anything left for the “siblings” to buy!
doesn’t she realize that with out dale jr d.e.i would would basically crumble i mean. what other driver does she have with juniors fame and power to keep it going??
Now, think about it….
Where would DEI be without Junior? Like it or not, Teresa: Junior is the icon that the fans indentify DEI with. Besides, young Master Dale has put more than a couple of bucks in her purse, over the years.
Unfortunately, Teresa would be able to afford ANYTHING
Now, think about it….
Where would DEI be without Junior? Like it or not, Teresa: Junior is the icon that the fans indentify DEI with. Besides, young Master Dale has put more than a couple of bucks in her purse, over the years.
Unfortunately, If she were to burn THIS bridge, DEI wouldn’t be DEI anymore.
Ill say it one more time JR has nothing to prove to any one he is not his dad but who is and if she whants to push him out fine Iam sure that RCR OR JGR would love to have him
but if she pushs him out then why does he have to go to another team, get his crew, bud and talk to ryr about the # 88 and run that in JR Motorsports instead, ya it would be a hard start at first but with Dale Jr and Tony Jr with almost unlimited resources and RCR motors JR Motorsports would be theleading exapmle of one car teams!
hell i’d like to see jr. drive the 3 car after he wins a championship for dei
Whats wrong with her? has she possibly always felt some sort of resentment towards jr and now is allowing it to show? jeeze
She’s maniacal.
Teresa who?? That’s what people are going to be saying after the 2007 season because once she basically shoves Dale Jr. out the door there won’t be a D.E.I. left. I’ve lost respect for her. She’s been in the public eye for long enough to know that you should keep your mouth shut when it comes to personal matters. And this seems like a personal issue with her and Dale Jr. and frankly, all of the employees of D.E.I. who will lose there jobs if she keeps running the company into the ground.
This is definitly not a suprise to me at all. Basically since the middle of last years embarassing 2005 season with Jr and DEI rumors began to fly about the begining of the end so to speak. We all know that Jr is not his father but DEI was created by Dale Sr and it woulden’t last more than 2 seasons without an Earnhardt behind the wheel of a DEI car.
I do believe however that there is alot more to it than meets the eye and that although he did fairly well this year compared to last they really need to restructure that entire organization from the ground up. It’s not like they are lacking the capital or financial resources to be in the fight with Hendrick or Roush for a Nextel championship.
Jr is his own person regardless if he stays with DEI at the end of his contract in 07 or moves over to RCR he will always be the most popular driver and if he brings over all of his sponsors I think it would definitly bring RCR to the top.
WHAT? She has lost her mind! Sounds like the typical evil step mother deal to me. Sorry Teresa…If Jr. goes…so will his fans…and you will be left with the difficult job of filling his shoes. You may think that is can be done right now…but you have no clue! Jr. fans are some of the most loyal…as were his dad’s…and although sr. built the empire…the evil witch has taken it over…you better believe the fans would go with Dale Jr. no matter where he goes. Sr would be rolling in his grave if he knew that what he has built is being ran this way. That was certain last year when the teams were shuffled…I don’t care why…Tempers flare…deal with it and get this company back in shape. You will be nothing in a few years if you lose Jr. And so will the company…Think about it!
Jr…run with your freedom and make it your own after your contract is up. You are the most popular driver and that isn’t just a pile of paper…it is fact…the fans are backing YOU all the way!
Sr. is rolling in his grave with her talking like that. I think though that Richard Childress would be a great influence on Jr. and could lead him to a championship.
I think maybe Teresa took a jab at Junior and it got blown way out. Now she needs to give him a public appoligy. Then everyone involved can get past this stupid statement of hers.
She won’t apologize, but she has backtracked. Jr. will end up with a small piece of the pie and life will go on. I’ve really been impressed with the way Jr. has handled this whole thing. Class Act!