Doug Yates, co-owner of Robert Yates Racing, said talks about a merger or partnership with Dale Earnhardt Inc. are part of just once scenario his team is considering.
“We’re trying to do whatever we can do to get our team as strong as we can get it, so we’ve looked at a lot of situations, DEI being one of them,” Yates said. “They’ve talked to us and we’ve talked to them, plus there is other stuff. We haven’t gotten anywhere with that in particular. Actually, we’re getting really close to some things that we think are going to help our team take that next step and make it strong for a long time to come. Hopefully, we can put some of that stuff together.”
Yates said this week’s announcement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave DEI at season’s end changes that potential equation. “I think looking at DEI without Dale Jr. is a different situation,” Yates said. “It doesn’t mean that it’s any better or any worse, it’s just different. …I think it’s going to take a little while for everybody to realize how big a move that was for the sport and what that means to the sport and what that means to DEI and Dale Jr. going forward.”
Yates said that his team is committed to running Fords and he does not see that changing. If DEI would not shift from Chevrolets, he said that “is a deal breaker, I would guess.”
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DEI got rid of jr, i could see them getting rid of chevy as well.
To stupid moves in one year.. Sounds like a dead-beat owner.
It’s funny that Yates can see what Theresa can’t… No Junior? Screw this!
““I think looking at DEI without Dale Jr. is a different situation,” Yates said. “It doesn’t mean that it’s any better or any worse, it’s just different. …I think it’s going to take a little while for everybody to realize how big a move that was for the sport and what that means to the sport and what that means to DEI and Dale Jr. going forward.””
Theresa just FREAKIN RUINED everything that her
husband worked his ass off for!!
Pull your head out of your ass before you set DEI falling
like a house of cards, Theresa!
..”I don’t know what happened but…but if you’re a
team owner, you just don’t let the biggest name
in the sport just walk out the door.”-Elliot Sadler
Why am I NOT suprised at this announcement?
Without Dale JR., DEI does not have the star power or the drivers to be an attractive partner for any top flight team. You might see a grand exodus at DEI at the end of the season.