NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Says Goodbye to DEI

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spent all nine seasons of his NEXTEL Cup career driving for DEI.

Photo: NASCAR.com

(MOORESVILLE, N.C.) - Months of speculation about Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended Thursday morning, when the veteran driver announced that he is leaving Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. His departure happens at the end of the 2007 season.

Earnhardt Jr and Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, his business manager and sister, had been attempting to negotiate a contract all year with DEI. Earnhardt Junior says that eventually they realized they just weren't in the same ballpark.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was hoping to secure a 51 percent majority in DEI, and a deadline to complete the deal was announced for the end of the month. That was called short though when the parties realized that they weren't getting very far with the negotiations.

"When we first started our talks and negotiations I was anticipating signing a new contract with DEI and we worked pretty hard on it. We've done contracts with DEI before. This was probably 10 times the work. It was really hectic and difficult,'' said Junior. "I think (DEI Director of Global Operations) Max (Seigel) and (DEI President) Teresa (Earnhardt) they worked hard trying to provide something and try and meet in the middle so to speak and we never even got close. It was just not close to anywhere where we felt we were."

Rumors are flying that Earnhardt's teammate, Martin Truex Jr. and their sponsors would go elsewhere next season, but Earnhardt says that is their call and that he would support whatever they do. He says he loves Tony Jr., his cousin, as a brother, and he will support him 100% in whatever he decides to do.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spent all nine seasons of his NEXTEL Cup career driving for DEI and he came close to winning a Cup championship in 2003 when he won two races, scoring 21 top-10 finishes and an overall finish in third in the final points standings.

DEI CEO Teresa Earnhardt made this statement:
"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,"