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Dale Earnhardt Inc. still actively involved in NASCAR; plans to help Jeffrey Earnhardt race
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Monday, May 25, 2009
Jeffrey Earnhardt is preparing to attempt his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Dover International Speedway.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
Dale Earnhardt Inc. has a piece of both an engine business and a NASCAR Sprint Cup team. But there’s nothing on the race track that DEI can truly call its own.
But there are plans for DEI to get back to racing.
The first step in that plan is for 19-year-old Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt and son of Kerry Earnhardt, to attempt to make his Nationwide Series debut in the May 30 race at Dover International Speedway in a DEI-prepared car.
He will have to qualify on speed in the Rick Ware Racing entry, and the goal is to eventually put the Earnhardt name back on the track full time with Jeffrey Earnhardt in a DEI entry with DEI-built cars, said DEI Executive Vice President and General Manager Jeffrey Steiner.
“With Jeffrey’s career emerging and looking at him as he makes his way into Nationwide and perhaps even some Truck races, it’s important to us that it is a DEI team and that’s our goal,” Steiner said May 23. “We’re putting our plans together for 2010 and beyond. This year, we’re working with some affiliate teams. It’s our hope to have him in DEI [equipment], and the car he’s racing at Dover was built at DEI.”
Steiner, who took over the day-to-day operations at DEI in April, said he has three priorities for the company.
“Making sure we are good stewards of Dale’s legacy is probably first and foremost,” Steiner said. “We’re looking at doing different special events and philanthropic activities through the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.
“The second is making sure we’re managing all of our businesses in a profitable manner. … The third piece is finding unique opportunities for the Earnhardt family – Jeffrey, making sure we give him the best opportunities we can as well as with Taylor Earnhardt on the equestrian side.”
Among the companies that Steiner oversees is Champion Air and Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet. The team currently is involved with two racing programs with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and the engine company, Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies.
Steiner said that about 50 people currently work in the DEI shop that used to be considered the mecca of auto-racing shops. Many of that is administration for the various DEI ventures and people who help take care of the museum.
DEI also still owns the race shop where it housed and worked on its cars last year. The shop, which DEI acquired when it bought Ginn Racing, has a seven-post shaker rig in it.
Steiner said DEI plans to sell the shop and then possibly lease the seven-post from whomever buys the building.
But if DEI can, it certainly would want to use the seven-post, which tests how a car will handle at various tracks. It is key in the development of race cars, and DEI apparently is getting ready to get back in the racing business with Jeffrey Earnhardt.
Earnhardt has competed in the NASCAR Camping World East Series the last two years. The plan is for him to run seven Nationwide races this year to preserve his rookie status for 2010.
“Certainly [Dover] is big,” Steiner said. “I think there probably will be some bigger events for Jeffrey down the road for his career. We’re excited for him. ... We’re very excited.”
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6492 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -108 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -169 |
| 4 | Kurt Busch | -211 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -285 |
| 6 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -289 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -321 |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | -352 |
| 9 | Ryan Newman | -411 |
| 10 | Kasey Kahne | -476 |
| 11 | Carl Edwards | -520 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -666 |
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Comments
6 responses to "Dale Earnhardt Inc. still actively involved in NASCAR; plans to help Jeffrey Earnhardt race". Post a Comment.
gwen_susie71 said:
May 25, 2009 at 11:13 AMI'm glad to see DEI coming back! I am glad an Earnhardt will be racing there, hince the name DEI. I wish Jeffrey Earnhardt the best! I am a little comfused and I am not trying to start anything here.... but will this be the same DEI as before or like a whole new DEI since Dale, Sr. has no say over this! Someone explain, please!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrichardclower said:
May 25, 2009 at 7:23 PMDale Sr. left the company to Teresa. She decides what happens with DEI. Just because Dale Jr. isn't there it doesn't mean it's a different company other than Ganassi buying half of it.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportthereesons said:
May 26, 2009 at 6:04 AMI'm a bit confused here. Is she starting all over with DEI so there will be a place for Jeffery?
Report as AbuseShe is also very involved with Taylors barrel racing and of course the Earnhardt Foundation.
Is she going to be an absentee owner for Jeffrey as well because she will certainly not give up Taylor for Jeffery and barrel racing is another weekend activity isn't it just as racing is? Can she manage both? At least we know Kerry will be there for his son!
All in all I wish Jeffery the best and can only hope she does more for the grandson of Dale Sr. than she ever did for his children.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbad_medicine2 said:
May 26, 2009 at 6:56 AMPersonally I don't think she has the abilities to manage a dog house, let alone a race team.
Report as AbuseNice kick in the butt to Dale Jr, to not work with him and his sister, only to bring in grandkids.. you have to wonder how much of this she is doing just to untimately rub Dale's nose in it.
I was always a Dale sr, DEI fan until his death, Now it seem the wicked witch does what she can to grab what she wants now that sr is gone. I think he would be rolling over if he knew what his company had become under her absentee leadership.
Teresa is all about the money, no matter who she has to walk over to get it.
While I am glad there is an Earnhardt coming into the organization, I will never root for them until she is long gone, that cancer in DEI needs to be removed so DEI can recover.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbr0412 said:
May 26, 2009 at 7:18 AMIt sounds like a new part of and old company. I wish Jeffery all the luck in the world. He will need it working with Theresa. She did not like Sr's children, lets hope she treats Jeffery better.
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» Confirm Abuse Reporttampabbay99 said:
May 26, 2009 at 7:14 PMWaaaaa....Teresa did this. Teresa did that. get a grip. She is running it the way she has every right to run that place.
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