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Max Siegel: Fiscal fitness top priority at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Sunday, October 05, 2008

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Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR

Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR

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TALLADEGA, Ala. – Happy that four of his NASCAR Sprint Cup cars are starting in the top 10 for today’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, Dale Earnhardt Inc. President Max Siegel knows that people are wondering if his organization will be able to field four teams next season. The organization has only one 2009 sponsor signed as of today.
 
The goal is four cars but what actually happens remains to be seen.
 
 “There are hard costs to run cars and some efficiencies when you run more cars,” Siegel said Sunday morning at Talladega Superspeedway. “We have to raise money to meet a budget.
 
“We’ve been looking for more ways to become more efficient to give us more money to reinvest and we’ve also been looking for ways in the traditional sponsorship realm as well as other revenue-generating sources to invest in motorsports. … We’re just rolling up our sleeves and working as hard as we can to find the funding. We’re going to run a fiscally responsible company.”
 
Siegel touted the new Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies engine program for fixing the team’s engine deficiencies that were prominent a year ago during Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s last season there.
 
He also cited several other performance-related accomplishments for the teams that are looking for sponsors:
 
• Mark Martin has 10 top-10s in 20 starts with the No. 8 team which next year will have Aric Almirola full time. Almirola, who posted a top-10 at Bristol, is starting third today.
 
• Regan Smith leads the rookie of the year standings and has completed nearly 99 percent of the laps in races where he’s competed this year – meeting the goals that Siegel set for him this year.
 
• Paul Menard’s team has made improvement and is solidly in the top 35.
 
“I’m not going to pretend that we’re contending with Roush and Hendrick [overall],” Siegel said. “But I can tell you that probably 75 percent of the other teams are trying to aspire where we are performance-wise.
 
“And I clearly don’t think that our employees and at Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies are getting the credit that they deserve. When we went into the offseason last year, our main objective was to improve our engines.”
 
DEI is not obligated to run a certain number of teams as part of its obligations to the Earnhardt-Childress engine company.
 
Siegel also seemed a little surprised about the rumor 1989 Cup champion Rusty Wallace would drive for his team.
 
“I’ve never had a conversation with Rusty [about driving],” Siegel said.

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Comments

18 responses to "Max Siegel: Fiscal fitness top priority at Dale Earnhardt Inc. "
  1. 1
    Evelyn Montonen said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 8:15 AM

    What he's not saying is that they have ONE sponsor and NO drivers for 2009. But the chickens are coming home to roost. They are getting what they deserve in my humble opinion.

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  2. 2
    Daniel P. Schulz said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 10:28 AM

    Wake up Max. Rusty Wallace is not driving for you or anyone else. Please get a handle on things B/4 all is lost.

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  3. 3
    beth emerson said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 11:14 AM

    mistake one for teresa Max Seigel. Mistake two lost Jr and Kelly mistake three Mark martin leaving. mistake four Mennard leaving no sponsors. Both Max and teresa need to get a life and forget about racing cuz they have almost put DEI under. Oh well what goes around comes around. She deserves whatever she gets. Shame on you Teresa.

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  4. 4
    Owen Roper said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 4:03 PM

    Max is a very savvy businessman that if anyone could turn things around for DEI, it would be Max. Check out his track record.

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  5. 5
    Anonymous said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 4:14 PM

    Teresa listened to the song " It's all about me " to much when Little E left. Now all she soon will have left is #3 royalities. She will take her money and run.

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    George Rice said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 4:44 PM

    Owen Roper please tell us what track record in NASCAR MAX has? He is a recording studio person from MOE TOWNE. My guess is he can"t turn DEI around without Dale Jr. If they can struggle for four more years Jr. might rescue them, but he already has Jr. Motor Sports. So Sorry Teresa........

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  7. 7
    James Malone said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 5:41 PM

    Max Seigel is a typical attorney that sold Teresa a "bill of Goods". Jr. was smart enough to get out before Teresa and Max ruined DEI.

    Report as Abuse
  8. 8
    Henry Bacarisse said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 6:18 PM

    A total reorganization is obviously needed. I doubt that Dale Jr. would consider a change; but if all of Teresa's holding were placed in a "Trust"' and Dale Jr was appointed Trustee with voting rights along with his holdings, he would run the show 100%. Teresa's interests are protected as would be Dale Jr.'s. Sponsorship would flock to DEI and Dale Jr. That could become the most financially sound operation in NASCAR. Too bad that the greed, short-sightedness, and self centered mentality ruled DEI.

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  9. 9
    Marie Edwards said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 9:57 PM

    Since when did Dale Earnhardt Incorporated become Max Siegel's company? Uh, hello, I thought Theresa was in charge. I thought it was her company. Now it's Max Siegel's. Pardon me, but if he wants a race team, he needs to start his own instead of riding on a dead man's coat tails. How sickening. Excuse me I need to puke.

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  10. 10
    Marie Edwards said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 10:10 PM

    I am sorry but either the writer wrote this wrong, in which case, get it right; or it's wrong to call a race team yours when your name isn't on the cars. It's Dale Earnhardt Incorporate. How disrespectful to this legend to imply it's Max Siegel's company ("President Max Siegel knows that people are wondering if his organization will be able to field four teams next season"). He is not Dale Earnhardt and could never fill his shoes. Call it Max Siegel racing or Theresa Earnhardt racing and leave Dale to rest in peace and quit leaving off the dead.

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  11. 11
    Marie Edwards said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 10:11 PM

    Incorporated*

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  12. 12
    Marie Edwards said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 10:15 PM

    Quit "living" off of the dead. They need to start making some of their own legacies and quit merchanding Dale. He is gone, we all miss him. But living off the dead is not going to bring him back. Sorry, but the comments would post if not posted separately.

    Report as Abuse
  13. 13
    Marie Edwards said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 10:15 PM

    not*

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  14. 14
    RICHARD MILLER said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:28 AM

    Marie Edwards, "TAKE A BREATH"

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  15. 15
    Marie Edwards said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:50 AM

    I take pride in not having typos and rather than to have someone jump on them (as some petty individuals so), I do try to correct them. Some sites let you edit your comments after they are posted some do not. I apologize if it seemed like I monopolized the entire comment section, and further apologize if I posted too many do to limited space. I only posted 5 comments, and 2 were corrections.

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  16. 16
    Marie Edwards said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:54 AM

    RICHARD MILLER said: Oct 6, 2008 at 8:28 AM Marie Edwards, "TAKE A BREATH" And how is that comment anything to do with the story?? I have my opinion as do others. Is it because I am a woman who is smart and can see the truth or what seems to be the truth? I would not want someone claiming my family's company as theirs, nor have a writer express as much. If it's Max's company, let him change the name and quit "living off" of Dale. It is time to let Dale rest in peace and quit trying to market him. Some of his fans miss him. We miss seeing the #3 out there.

    Report as Abuse
  17. 17
    Marie Edwards said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:56 AM

    The recent "Man In Black" collection has nothing to do with his career. It has to do with selling him with Johnny Cash & John Wayne. Those items might have been fine when he was alive, but to MARKET them after his death and so LONG afterwards, is a little too greedy. And last time I checked this was America and I am entitled to MY opinion.

    Report as Abuse
  18. 18
    beth emerson said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 5:42 AM

    You go Marie right on agree100%. What about the one with Johnny cash. She is trying to make millions off a man who is not here anymore. She is a poor excuse for a women. JR knew what she would do and got out in time. Thank god he did she makes me sick as does her daughter Taylor. They should be ashamed of what they are doing. Say goodbye to DEI within 2 years they will be no more.

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