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Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing to merge operations for 2009
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Team owner Teresa Earnhardt (above) will merge Dale Earnhardt Inc. with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Rusty Jarrett
Getty Images
MIAMI – Chip Ganassi Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. will merge operations beginning with the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the teams announced in a news release Wednesday. Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will field the NASCAR-maximum four Sprint cup cars in 2009, thus cutting out two full-time cars that DEI operated in 2008.
The Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing driver lineup will be Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 1 and Aric Almirola in the No. 8 from DEI, Juan Pablo Montoya in the No. 42 from Ganassi and a driver still to be determined for the No. 41.
Truex has previously announced sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops while Montoya has a half-season sponsorship from Wrigley’s. Ganassi executives have been adamant that Montoya would not go to the No. 41 Target-sponsored car, and it is expected that Target will go with Almirola or the driver the team still needs to hire.
“Having a partner like Chip who is heavily involved on the competition side of the business is an ideal situation for DEI,” DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt said. “He has a long history of managing championship teams in the IndyCar and Rolex Grand-Am Series, and I share his passion and goals of winning races and ultimately championships in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
“I think this is a case where we are stronger together than we are apart.”
The merger caps a season in which neither organization could muster a win and both have dealt with dire sponsorship situations.
“In this ultra-competitive era of NASCAR, it is necessary to build and sustain the strongest team possible and our combining with the people and equipment at Dale Earnhardt Inc. will help create a strong four-car program for years to come,” said Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi. “This is a win-win for both organizations as well as all of our partners.”
DEI had operated four teams this year, but Truex was the only full-time driver signed to return. Almirola and Mark Martin had shared the No. 8 car, and Almirola was signed for 2009 while Martin left for Hendrick Motorsports and sponsor U.S. Army left for Ryan Newman at Stewart-Haas Racing. DEI driver Paul Menard is taking his family home improvement store sponsorship with him to Yates Racing. The status of current DEI driver Regan Smith, who had sponsor Principal for some races this year, is unknown.
Chip Ganassi Racing started the season fielding three teams but folded the team of driver Dario Franchitti midway through the year after sponsorship didn’t materialize. Montoya and Reed Sorenson have driven the full season, with Sorenson leaving the Target team to go to Gillett Evernham Motorsports, and Montoya’s half-season sponsor, Texaco/Havoline, having announced it was leaving the sport after 2008.
The news release did not mention a manufacturer. DEI currently fields Chevrolets with engines from Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies. Ganassi has its own engine department for his Dodge program. Although a manufacturer wasn’t announced, Chevy’s NASCAR program manager Pat Suhy said last Friday that none of his teams could have a relationship with a non-Chevrolet organization.
The merger pairs two well-known owners in the sport.
DEI was founded by the late seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt and began full-time Cup racing in 1998. It has been operated by Earnhardt’s widow, Teresa Earnhardt, since Dale Earnhardt’s death in the 2001 Daytona 500. The organization has 24 victories but only three in the last four years.
Ganassi, who already had enjoyed success in open-wheel racing, purchased majority ownership in SABCO Racing from Felix Sabates during the 2001 season. Under Ganassi’s leadership, the organization has only one win in the last six years.
There was no indication in the news release of who would run the team. Both organizations already have presidents – Max Siegel at DEI and Steve Lauletta at Ganassi. Ironically, Ganassi’s competition director, Steve Hmiel, was released from DEI and then landed at Ganassi last year.
Mentioned Drivers: Aric Almirola
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Comments
90 responses to "Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing to merge operations for 2009". Post a Comment.
JLynn F said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 5:37 PMI hate Teresa!
Arthur Trim said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 5:49 PMCould this be the beginning of the end of DEI! This deal reminds me when Priscilla & Lisa Marie Presley sold the ALL of the rights & royalties to Elvis Presley for $100 million dollars. Imagine Chip Ganassi owning the name, rights & royalties to the name Dale Earnhardt and the trade mark 3! Maybe Teresa has milked all there is to be had from Dale's name & the Garage Mahal??
Jeff Kostichka said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 6:10 PMRichard Childress and NASCAR have the rights to the number 3. It's still a sad situation that could have been avoided if Teresa would have done what the whole world wanted and given control of the company to Dale Jr.
James Kormann said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 6:17 PMDale Sr. has to be rolling over in his grave about this. Teresa sucks...wouldn't let Jr. have the company but has no problem merging with Ganassi and basically peeing all over the Earnhardt legacy.
marian mcclain said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 6:45 PMTeresa is a stupid witch. Didn't want Dale Jr. to be involved with DEI but lets someone from the outside have it. Bully for her. Dale Sr. would not be happy.
Shawn Guy said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 7:07 PMThank god Dale Jr escaped DEI when he did. Could you image being with a company that had to sell out while also starring in every commercial break taken during a race. This will make the second greatest move in DEI history. I hope they didn't lay off to many employees because they going to be paying overtime just banging dents out of the sheetmetal of the 42 car.
Linda Tracy said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 7:24 PMJames Kormann is right on the money. I thought I was going to puke when I read about what "she" is doing. Dale Jr. deserved to have that company, his daddy would of wanted that not to mention that he was Sr.'s son long before "she' was his wife. Rest In Peace, Dale. You always be #1 in my mind.
patricia jordan said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 8:24 PMwell maybey she will see now what she tossed aside dale jr is young and i feel he could have been only a plus for dei im sure budweiser would still be sponsoring him.i think she should stay at home and bake cookies.
Grover rickman said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 8:32 PMSTOP BUYING ANYTHING OWNED BY DEI, AND THE #3 AND SHE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING FROM RACING!!! GOOD BYE TEI.
Andrew Briscoe said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 8:40 PMA couple things are surprising about this article. Not that they merged, as that was a terribly kept secret. What's really scary is that Teresa Earnhardt actually held a press conference and gave an interview. I'm still unsure of one thing. How does two teams that are at best mediocre merging help those two teams? I mean, is it really going to make the teams magically better? Probably not. Truex should have jumped ship when he had the option. Mark Martin was smart enough to jump ship when he had a chance to move to a team worth driving for.
Jozef Colomy said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 8:54 PMOh my God stop acting like it's Dale Jr.'s RIGHT to have this company...it's not. Had Dale Earnhardt wanted Jr. to have he would've left it with him instead of Teresa, ever thought of that?? This is a good move, I'll get "Ganassi/Earnhardt with Felix Sabates Shopping At Target Racing Inc." will be a huge force next season
Nancy Hall said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 8:57 PMThis just has to make the Earnhardt family sick. It made me sick. Dale sr is turning in his grave. Theresa is getting what she deserves. Had she let JR have what he was asking for, Patrica is correct, Jr would be there along with Budwiser. That is what greed will do for you. I do belive that this is beginning of the end of DEI. This make me sad.
hazeee proc said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 9:16 PMthe end is near glad the wicked witch from the south is losing sorry for jr. thats what greed does to you wish dale would have left it to jr. but don't think he knew it was his time to go so did not change the will so long tei
Laura Sharp said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 9:44 PMIt is so sad to see Dale Sr.'s legacy to be run into the ground like that. He had always envisioned his children one day taking it over, now that money hungry control freak widow of his is basically letting a stranger have the final say. Sr. has to be spinning in his grave!!!! As much as I feel bad that Jr.,(and Kerry, and Kelly) was denied what was rightfully theirs, I'm really glad that he is happy and content right now! I hope she loses it all!!!
Jozef Colomy said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 10:39 PMI'm glad you all know Dale Earnhardt better than his wife :-/...stop speculating about how Earnhardt is "turning in his grave" or "he'd hate to see his company run like this", or what he "envisioned". It's incredibly disrespectful and is inaccurate speculation at best.
ace racer said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 10:40 PMi would like to see aj almindinger in a full time ride in 2009.in a chevy would sufice
emily bagwell said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 11:16 PMJozef, what is disrespectful is the way Teresa Earnhardt handled DEI after Dale's death---just shows she wasn't the devoted wife she tried to portray. As I said when she let Junior go, she didn't care anything about the racing part of DEI---only the merchandising and selling anything with Dale on it --Dale and Johnny Cash and Dale and John Wayne---GIVE ME A BREAK!!! Everyone knew it was just a matter of time before she went down---well, obviously, everyone but you or maybe you're just stupid. There is absolutely no excuse for the demise of DEI except for the pride and greed of Teresa Earnhardt. She has already detroyed the company that Dale was so proud of so I'll be glad when she is totally out of racing. What a b(!$*
Jennifer Nyari said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 11:19 PMI can't believe that Teresa is doing this to the Earnhardt name 1st she wouldn't give Dale Jr. want he wanted so he moved to Hendrick now she's merging with another team. She should have giving Dale Jr. want he wanted
Jozef Colomy said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:16 AMWell there is a reason the company was left with her and not "JR"...think about that one. It is "rightfully" her company and she's running it as best as she can, despite all the arm-chair and computer-chair experts who seem to know otherwise.
said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:29 AMteresa (the witch) has finaly did it she is going to put dei out of bussiness along will all those employees if i were an enployee i would see the hand writeing on the wall and i would get the hell out while the gittins good and find a job with someone else stupid -itch poor jr
said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:30 AMteresa (the witch) has finaly did it she is going to put dei out of bussiness along will all those employees if i were an enployee i would see the hand writeing on the wall and i would get the hell out while the gittins good and find a job with someone else stupid -itch poor jr
said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:31 AMjozef wake up she only ownes 52%
said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:45 AMjozef scumlomy evadently you don't know what your talking about because if you did you would write a retraction. so until then go back to playing with your match box cars in the back yard and if you don't want to do that then take out your barbie and ken dolls
James Kormann said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 1:11 AMUm, ok Jozef...DEI is rightfully Teresa's? Last I checked, she is an Earnhardt by marriage only unlike Dale Jr who is an Earnhardt by BLOOD...
Amanda Hiatt said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 1:12 AMThis is really sad. I've been disappointed in the way Teresa has handled this company for quite awhile. Everybody can say what they want about Terry, Kelley and Junior getting part of the company (not all, but PART) and if Sr. wanted it that way he would have left it so. I have no idea what his will said, but I do recall hearing that he ultimately wanted Junior to be a part of it, if not leading it. But having said that, she appears to be a bad businesswoman. First, she lets go of her cash cow, because he has the audacity to want a 51 percent stake in the company (I'd give it to him and take 49 percent anyday - I'd know I'd have sponsors chomping at the bit). Next, it always bothered me that she was and is an absentee owner. Hendrick, Rousch and Gibbs are out there almost every race, if not all. Where is she? I think it means a lot to drivers to see their bosses out there. And it bothered me that Junior had such lousy equipment last year. I don't care if you like Junior or not, he had some really lousy equipment. Four or five blown engines is a disgrace. As an owner, I think I would be calling some people on the carpet. They seem to be doing better engine-wise this year, but that's mainly because of Childress. I don't know whether Dale is rolling over in his grave, but I am sure it's a sad day for Richard Childress. He was so close to Dale and to see DEI slowly being whittled away must be very hurtful. Mark Martin, a great driver and a great guy, got out while the getting is good. Truex, you need to get out when your latest contract expires. I've seen things like this happen in other businesses,and in most cases, it has only gotten worse.
Jozef Colomy said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:36 AMYes she is the majority owner, it is rightfully hers...none of you apparently have any knowledge of business or our legal system but just because Jr is a "darn good race-car driver!" or just because he's related to someone who used to own the company(and who left it to Teresa, oh by the way) does not mean it's his God-given right to own DEI. Businesses are not monarchies, to be passed down a blood line. I'm just so sick of hearing the ignorance pour out of peoples' ill-informed mouths. And no-name at 9:45, wow that's really clever insult work there, did you come up with all that by yourself, or did the 5th grader down the block help you?
Kurt B said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 3:53 AMHey, Jozef Colostomy - you need to check your facts again. Dale Sr did hope that his kids would be involved in DEI in the future. DEI was originally formed in 1980, he didn't marry Teresa until 1982 which means it was his before it was hers. It's obvious he did not PLAN on hitting the wall and dying. Since you are so smart and know EVERYTHING about business, would you have left your entire company to a 26 year old that had only been involved in racing for 9 years? Jr was 26 in 2001 and started racing at 17. Not a smart business move. He left it to Teresa in HOPE that she would do the right thing if he were no longer on the earth to do it himself. She had more experience with racing since her dad and uncle were both race car drivers than Jr did at the time. Have a nice day!
beth emerson said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 8:05 AMListen Jozef. Did you ever listen to what Dw said after senior died. Well I did. Sr was suppose to redo his will before the 500 in 2001. He put it off and he died. He was going to leave that company to JR and Kelly not that witch. She can do what she wants there is no help for DEI she has ruined it. The best thing is JR and Kelly are ok. I feel sorry for what Sr did cuz she will put it under. I awill never ever buy anything from them again. Everyone needs to boycott DEI
Fern Sunday said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 8:41 AMBoy what a slap in the face to Dale Sr. and Jr. I am sure Dale Sr. would wonder why he got involve with Teresa in the first place. She doesn't care about racing, all she wants is the money. I hope she falls on her face for what she has done.
Alice Snider said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 9:10 AMI think Dale Sr. would be very unhappy to see what Theresa has done to his name and legacy. The right thing to have done is give controlling interest to Dale Jr. I think under the circumstances Dale Jr. had no choice to go to an organization that would give him the chance to succeed in the sport as did his father. I'm sorry Theresa but you were very wrong this time. I also hope Richard Childress never lets Nascar take the number 3-and is able to preserve its success. A fan of Dale Jr. forever, even if he had to change his number. Alice Snider
Karen Jennings said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 9:25 AMI'll wait to see what Dale Jr. thinks.
Back To The Garden said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 9:50 AMLike Ace said, I'm hoping that AJ Allmendinger gets that 4th ride. I'm not concerned with the politics surrounding the merger, or the events leading up to it. It is what it is, and the best needs to be made of the situation. I just want to see the best team possible around Martin Truex Jr., so he can get back into the winner's circle.
Billie Brooks said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:14 AMI think Dale,Jr., would say "get over it and move on", he has, and is in a better place with Hendricks. All I've read here today are post filled with malice for a woman that you dont even know personally, and it all stems from the notion that you think Jr. should have the Company, if the will says it's her's, then she has the right to build it up or tear it down. I didnt read the will so I cant comment on its content. He tried to gain the controlling interest but failed, so he made a better place for himself.
Anonymous said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:28 AMDale Jr. will say what the media will put in to his "own" words about this. We may never know what he really thinks about it. That may not be a bad thing.
sally whan said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:49 AMI AM SURE WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE TREU FEELINGS FROM JR,KELLY OR KERRY FOR THAT MATTER AND LETS NOT FORGET TAYLER WHO WAS BEHING JR ALL THE WAY WANT HER MOTHER TO GIVE JR THE PERCENT...SHE MADE THE WRONG MOVE AND NOW IS PAYING FOR IT I THINK SHE IS GETTING WENT SHE SO DERSERVES...GREAT GOING AND YOU ARE RIGHT DEI IS GOING DOWNA ND I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE EARNHARDT NAME..SHE IS A B---H AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WHENSHE BROKE UP THE FAMILY...SO LET HER GET FINALLY WHAT SHE DERSERVE AND JR AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY IS GOING TO BE JUST FINE I KNOW THAT....DONT WORRY JR,KELLY AND KERRY AND TAYLOR YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE FINE AND YOUR DADDY IS WATCHING OVER YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE...YOU ALL TAKE CARE NOW AND GOD BE WITH YOU ALL...WE LOVE YA....
Nikki said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:54 AMI'd love to hear what JR has to say just because he's hysterical when it comes to stuff like this. But, I'm sure what he has to say is very similar to the things being said on this page. Teresa is the world's worst business woman and has no respect for SR's wishes. It's a shame she's going to be the downfall of what could've been such a great company. And if that's how she is, then that's just another reason why JR is so much better off without DEI. It's sad when you say he's being treated better at Hendicks then his own father's company. But, it's so true!
Sharon Smith said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:58 AMThe earth rumbled for sure last night. I live near DEI and the end surely started yesterday. That big black limo parked outside DEI yesterday--was it Teresa leaving or Ganassi coming? One thing is for sure, DEI is no more. Truly a sad, sad day.
Earl Abel said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 11:15 AMFOREVER3GODALEJR.!!!
G S said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 11:49 AMFor those of you who are younger and maybe newer fans, you should try to find some of the interviews that Dale Earnhardt did over the years. He loved his wife and kids equally and very much want JR to be INVOLVED with the company. As I remember Dale Jr. offered to purchase 51% of DEI.If Jr. had stayed DEI would have 4 strong cars fully sponsored, and they would never have purchased Ginn racing which also hurt DEI.
Judy Brown said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:04 PMI felt like a part of me died when my beloved Dale #3 died in that horrific accident - had been a fan for 40 years. I hope the wicked witch is happy now, she has ruined everything & Dale Sr. would be SO ashamed of her & probably of himself for not taking the time out to fix the will. She is just all about money, does not care about racing, is never there - must be out shopping for more diamonds & furs. I will tell you that when she did not offer to pay for the Dale Sr. lifesize monument in his hometown of Kannapolis & the little old mill workers had to work & collect money for it - I could have knocked her out!!! That did it for me. I would have said - you provide the spot & I will pay for the most beautiful statue of Dale you have ever seen - but no, she needed more $ for her greedy self!!! DALE SR., RICHARD CHILDRESS, JUNIOR & his sister all deserved better than this!! Teresa - you make us all puke!!
Tracy McKay said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:19 PMI know I will probably get blasted for this, but everyone calling Teresa a homewrecker....Dale Sr is not blameless in that situation. It takes two to Tango. I am by no means trying to defend her. It is a shame that Jr. is not part of the company his father started. How old was Jr when his father married her? If he was over the age of majority then why wasn't it left to him? His Dad obviously had his will re-done when he got married again. Also, on a different note, if the Nascar limit is 4 cars, then why does Jack Roush have 5? Edwards, Biffle, MacMurray,Kenseth & Reagan-correct or am I missing something?
Wayne Powers said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 12:27 PMWhen two do=nothing teams merge as one, what do you get? Four cars that can hardly finish on the lead lap. Truex, it looks as if he will be the driver that keeps the teams going, at least for a while. Maybe Teresa should go Open-Wheel racing with Gnassi instead of Cup. That would make more sense than her trying to run a Cup team. She will just drag both of them down.Its a sad day for everyone who is an Earnhardt fan. Thank God we still have the sane ones(excluding Teresa)Kerry, Kelly, Jr. and Tayler on our side. Good Luck to Jr at Hendrick Motor Sports.
Shawn Fisher said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 1:12 PMTony Stewart was correct. DEI without Dale jr is nothing more than a museum.
Jozef Colomy said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:14 PMBeth, why would anything Darryl Waltrip said have any bearing on what was "supposed" to happen with DEI? None of you have even the slightest grasp on how business or our legal system works, and it shows.
Joshua Lentz said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:24 PMI'm stunned as most of you are about the whole merger. Teresa ruined DEI and lost key sponsors last season and this season. With US Army going to Stewart-Haas and Paul Menard taking his father's company with him to Yates, she is in desperate for new sponsors; which Ganassi has. I respect Ganassi as an owner, but I will never respect Teresa after she treated Dale Jr. and his own family members.
Joshua Lentz said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:29 PMI am as shocked as most of you about this merger. I knew Teresa was going to do something to get sponsors after she lost most of the sponsors last season and this season. I respect Ganassi, but I will never respect Teresa after she treated Dale Jr. and some his family members poorly.
barb mcgee said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 2:42 PMI will agree with most of what is said above, except that said by Jozef. You obviously haven't been around racing for as long as the rest of us have.
Mary Reeson said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 3:40 PMI don't pretend to know what Sr wanted but I'm sure he wanted Earnhardt's to run the business. He wanted his kids involved in the business, that is common knowledge. I wonder what it cost Teresa in the long haul by not letting Jr buy 51% last year? How much of the company does she own now? What will now happen to Kerry? How many of the family will still have jobs in the company?
robert evans said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:03 PMtis a sad day for racing.stuborn witch got mad at dale jr for not allowing her to use his wind tunnel testing building last year so i guess this is her way for payback seeing as she would'nt give him even 30% stock in dei, and now that he's no longer there to attract sponsers, she screwed herself and dei
Kim Palmer said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:10 PMI hate Teresa! RIP DEI!
anonymous said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:10 PMJozef, since you seem to be the "smartest" one on this page, how bout you enlighten all of us "dummies" about "business and the legal system"?????As for DW, he said many times that Dale told him the reason he built DEI was so there was something for the kids. That conversation has been told time and time again. I guess the kids don't get anything. I guess that's how the legal system and business work, right????
Jozef Colomy said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:24 PMNo business works like this: If you own something, it's yours. Not your step-son's. Just because your overhyped does not grant you a right to inheiriting your late father's company. And Barb, I've "been around racing" plenty. I'm just of a clear-mind and I know that talking about how someone feels or what they're doing in their grave is incredibly disrespectful. All of you seem to somehow think that you can channel Dale Sr. and also seem to think that "Jr." is somehow entitled to this company because someone said that someone said they might want him to have it eventually...hmmm, that does NOT hold water and all of you need to go back to school and stop complaining because there is NO basis for your arguments. Go ahead and hate Teresa, but don't insult my intelligence with your stupid "Jr. is the best darn racecar driver and his dad wanted him to have the company!!!!" argument because it's opinion and speculation at best, and downright fallacy at worst.
Jozef Colomy said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:26 PMYes Anonymous, that is how the legal system works. If you want your kids to have something, you put that in your will. Guess what? Had Dale Sr. done that Jr. would be owning DEI today, but he didn't obviously for a reason, so stop trying to say what Dale Sr. "wants" or "intended" because I don't care what anyone says, if it wasn't in his will then you're wrong.
Belle Blevins said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 4:29 PMPeople end their marriages all the time, but Dale Sr. had no respect for his children from his 1st. marriage.Anyone that ever saw the interview with Kerry and Kelly, would not believe how he left them nothing.Teresa, as his wife should have been left the majority of his estate, but the #8 was a legacy that should have been left to Jr.That came down from Ralph, Jr's grandfather. Teresa deserves whatever bad knocks she gets.I think she's just greedy.
Tracy McKay said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 5:35 PMI totally agree Belle! I do think Teresa is greedy,but I also think that Sr. had very little respect for his children, otherwise he would have made sure they would be taken care of. He obviously had his will changed when he married Teresa, so why didn't he make provisions in it then that made sure Jr and his siblings would remain an intrical part of DEI? I feel bad for Jr as that has really got to hurt.
Werner Boehmert said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 5:35 PMnust have been a good reason why DE Sr didn't "give the team to Jr...it was Dale and Teresa built DEI...wasn't she the brains behind the team?...maybe he wanted Jr to go prove himself...on the trak, not by being most popular cause your name is Earnhardt...Kerry doesn't "use" the name...then again marketing does a real good job "selling" Jr...
James E Seiger said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 5:42 PMRalph and Dale Sr are rolling in their graves! She has run his(The Late Dale Earnhardt) company into the ground.She should have learned to stay away cpmpletely like she did when Sr was racing.Tereasa you ARE A LOSER.Next we will start to see cars and parts on ebay so they can make some money.You should have left people who know racing run the company but ya didnt! have a great future LOSER!!!
Betty Reed said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 5:55 PMThe joke of the year goes to Theresa, when she stated she shares the same passion for winning races as Chip Ganassi. She could care less about Nascar or Dale Earnhardt's children. It is just a shame he did not see her greedy side or realize how much she disliked his family. Theresa has one goal in life and that is to make money if she really cared about the sport we would see her there supporting her teams. I really beleive what goes around comes around and she is getting her payback. I quit buying anything that puts money in her pocket when she treated Jr like she did.
Werner Boehmert said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 5:55 PMwow...race fans are a nasty bunch...
Daniel Kelley said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 6:05 PMThis is a sad state of affairs. I remember when a reporter asked Dale, Sr. when was he going to start driving for DEI. His answer was "Never, I built DEI for my kids." From my understanding, even with a will, everything would have gone to HER. It would have been better for her and DEI if she had worked with Junior instead of treating him like a red-hared stepchild. Regan Smith is getting the shaft, hopefully he wins Rookie of the Year and can find a ride with someone else. DEI has already stabbed him in the back twice this year. Menard made a smart move. Hopefully Truex wakes up and goes somewhere else after next year, Bass Pro would probably go with him.
Werner Boehmert said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 6:16 PMDEI is having a hard time getting sponsorship...JR Motorsports can't find sponsorship for it's 2nd car...keeping that in mind, would it be any different if JR owned DEI?...is it possible that the Earnhardt era has reached it's peak?...that maybe the Johnson era is here or maybe the Logano era is on the horizon?...
Pearl Roll said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 6:42 PMoh get over it already. She is a business woman doing what she has to do to save HER company. She needs to look out for herself,just like we all do. Greedy? I think not. If thats the case then what do you call Rick Hendrick. He also is someone looking out for himself isn't he? You people need a life so you can stay out of other peoples and quit being so judgemental of others. In life you gotta do what you gotta do for YOURSELF-cuz who is gonna look after you but YOU!!
Terry Troop said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 7:40 PMGeez already...Jozef, why don't you just chill, and everyone else just ignore his comments for what they are...nonsense. It doesn't matter what Sr wanted, we all know that..it is what it is..the last nail in the coffin of TEI (formally DEI).
Wanda Butler said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 8:45 PMI bet Dale is turning over in his grave time after time with the chooses she is making.First by letting Jr and Kellie go and now this....
wayne lesesne, sr said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 9:20 PMTracy, The 4 car rule doesn't go into effect until '09. Roush will have to drop one car next year, but until then 5 cars are legal.
Patty Smith said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 10:04 PMI have absolutely no respect for Teresa Earnhardt. She did not want Jr, Kerry, or Kelly to have party of their fathers dream, now she has ruined the business, with her selfishness and even Taylor is going to be left without. Not what Dale Earnhardt, a man who truly loved his family and Nascar saw as the future when he built this wonderful business. Shame one Teresa. God bless those children.
Gregory Pope said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 11:01 PMJozef you must be a lawyer. What you don't understand is what the people on this page are talking about. Its whats right and wrong and that my friend you know nothing about.
Kenneth Farley said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 11:10 PMJeez, all you race fans obviously weren't paying attention when Theresa (not Dale Sr.) started the marketing campaign that made the sport (and Dale Earnhardt with it) famous. If it weren't for her, NASCAR marketing would be non-existant. I have never heard a bad word about Theresa's relationship with Dale, and she was always there, win or lose for Dale. And you could tell by the look in their eyes that they were and continued to be madly in love until the day he died. BTW, has she re-married? NO. She is doing what has to be done at this point to keep DEI going. I think that DEI will absorb the partners bit by bit. She is a shrewd business woman, and the love of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. Please, give it a rest, if not for her, but for Dale Sr. Some of you need to read what you write before you post it. It is hateful, hurtful, and does nothing for the sport that Dale, Dale Jr., and Theresa love. Can't we all just get along?
Kirk Grosch said:
Nov 13, 2008 at 11:16 PMSo is this a really good thing or more like two swimmers caught in a rip current. Will they save each other or ultimately cause each other to drown? Teresa has run DEI so poorly in the past few years, this quite honestly is probably her only chance for the company to survive. Bless her heart...
Amanda Hiatt said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 1:20 AMSo far I don't think I have read a comment like "Dale Jr. is the best race-car driver ever!" on this page. Maybe I missed it. If I did, I apologize. I will say, however, that if he was still at DEI, there would likely be little problem attacting sponsors. Like him or not, he is the most popular driver in the sport. That equals big bucks in NASCAR, if that's what you really care about. And as far as sponsorship goes, I will say that Dale Jr. is not the only one having troubles in this poor economy. There are a lot of teams and drivers who are looking for sponsors. JRM's problems may also stem from being in the Nationwide Series, which to sponsors, might not be as big a draw, and if they have to choose, they will likely go with the Sprint Cup series. Having said all this, my main problem with the whole DEI-Teresa thing is her being an absentee owner. It's her choice, yes, but I think an owner being at the track with his or her teams, can be an enormous morale boost, as well as giving them a deeper sense of camaraderie. Just my opinion.
emily bagwell said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 1:49 AMKenneth, there would not have been any marketing with nothing to market. Dale was born to drive and she jumped in on the way to make A DOLLAR. She is obviously not the business mogul she has been portrayed to be, or DEI wouldn't be going to h*!! How do you know who she has on the yacht with her. No, she hasn't married, but wait until she has milked all she can out of Dale's name and the doors are closed on DEI, then see what happens. For those of you worried about Taylor, I'm sure she and Teresa will live very well for the rest of their lives. I, too, am tired of this topic, but some people just have to always blame Junior and he has handled saying anything about Teresa very well considering how she has treated him and that is not just with the business--that was all his life with her. Teresa is not a saint and Jozef, we are not so ignorant that we don't know what a will is. Gregory Pope, you said it so well, but doubt that Josef understands what we have all been trying to say. A piece of paper should not be needed. There is an abstract notion as JUST DOING THE RIGHT THING SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
emily bagwell said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 1:52 AMTerry Troop, you have the best comment, so I am saying nothing else on this subject---now or ever!!!
Millporter said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 2:04 AMWell Terry and Emily, I'm with you except I will wait to hear from Junior and Kelly. Go to the website, folks. Josef, the DEI fans of the old days are very heated over this and when you love and respect a man as Dale Sr, it is a bitter pill to swallow. Am I the only one missing that sea of Budweiser red in the stands?
said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 3:26 AMhey jozef i see you still don't know what your talking about thats all i see in your words is bla bla bla bla and ow ya go play with your match box cars and learn a few things before you open your hideis mouth and as far as the legal system you know nothing...........................
said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 3:29 AMHey millporter as i am new to this what is the website name
mary lou munn said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 6:55 AMAnd you couldn't let Jr. have a controlling interest --- hey Theresa, Bite Me
anonymous said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 8:17 AMMaybe she should do away with the Dale Earnhardt Entertainment Division and the Dale Earnhardt Equestrian Division. Perhaps they are spending precious racing resources on those two entities. For what??????
charles avarello said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 10:02 AMthe merger between dei and ganassi should drive dodges and teresa should bury the hatchet and have her drivers drive them(dodges).
ROY HAIGHT JR. said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 10:44 AMEveryone is saying it....Dale is rolling over in his grave. Better get the landscaping crew over there, it's got to be real messy by now. Poor leadership from Teresa and Max Siegel, letting the company's name-sake leave (a pretty good indicator of where the team was going), the fact that the 2008 stable of "drivers" suck , and now the economy made this nightmare a reality.
Linda Pickering said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 12:57 PMI can't believe all you people that think you know how other people feel and what they wanted. Some of you are just downright mean. Dale Sr. and Teresa are the only ones that really know what the intention was for the business. A lot of you are doing a lot of speculation. No one is perfect that goes for Dale Jr as well as Teresa. I remember an interview Jr. did shortly after his mother came back into his life. He stated he loved both her and Teresa and would not want to hurt either one of them. It does not sound to me by anything he has ever said that Teresa didn't treat him right. DEI belongs to Teresa and maybe her will leaves the business to all the children. She is still a young woman what is she suppose to do give the business to Jr and go sit in a rocking chair? They didn't agree on things and Jr left she didn't getg rid of him. If Jr. still wanted to be a DEI he would be there it was his decision to leave yet everyone is blaming her. That is just ridiculous. Sr. might just be proud of her for doing what it takes to keep the racing end of DEI going in these tough times. Stop being so mean and ignornant you don't knwow what SR really wanted anymore than I do.
G S said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 1:03 PMDale senior was very clear about his wishes for his company. He thought the family would work well together. Mistake. Josef there is no channeling going on. Most of the comments are correct. Listen to all his interviews. Sure Legal Documents prevailed but what has happened is not what he wanted.
Nascar Fan said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 4:13 PMCome on everyone, lighten up, this is great-it's the "Chip N Dale" Racing Team!!!!!
Mr Galvan said:
Nov 14, 2008 at 6:09 PMDEI and Chip Ganassi racing should really race dodges next year, they would be the biggest and best dodge team, with chevy they are just 2nd grade.
Marie said:
Nov 15, 2008 at 6:34 AMI believe Dale Earnhardt himself said, during an interview DEI was for his wife and CHILDREN (which is plural). That seems to speak of INTENT right there. Theresa didn't want Dale Jr to have it, maybe that was a bad mistake on her part, perhaps her pride got the worst of her. Personally, I think because of his popularity he might have been able to secure better sponsorship, he was the most winning driver of the team and had multiple sponsorships & endorsements. He has moved on, good for him. I wish him all the best. However, it is a sad day that DEI is no more, which means Dale's legacy in this sport is truly gone.
oink jackson said:
Nov 15, 2008 at 11:24 AMTheresa Earnhardt probably had more to do with building DEI than Dale did. He furnished the money and the name and she furnished the brains. In fact he might not have made it if not for her connections.
Marie said:
Nov 15, 2008 at 10:00 PMDale was a champion long before he married Theresa (he won in 1980 and they didn't get married until 1982), DEI was founded then after. I would be very interested to know what she was doing at the time she met Dale and what connections she had in the industry in which he was racing in before they met & married. However, he was the face behind DEI when Dale Jr was racing. I believe Dale was the one who secured the sponsors, not Theresa.
Marie said:
Nov 15, 2008 at 10:00 PMDale was a champion long before he married Theresa (he won in 1980 and they didn't get married until 1982), DEI was founded then after. Dale was the face of DEI when Dale Jr was racing. I believe Dale was the one who secured the sponsors, not Theresa.
Marie said:
Nov 15, 2008 at 10:01 PMSorry for the double post, seems this site wasn't working at the time I tried posting.
Marie said:
Nov 15, 2008 at 10:01 PMSorry for the double post, seems this site wasn't working at the time I tried posting.
Kenneth Farley said:
Nov 22, 2008 at 12:59 AMEmily Bagwell you need to get your facts straight. It may have been her idea to market Dale the way she did, but it was not greed that drove her it was love. And without Dale Sr. at the helm of DEI, they lost the man who knew racing better than almost anyone in the sport. Theresa is a good bottom line person, but transfiguring that into a good nuts and bolts person isn't going to happen overnight. Jr. saw that, tried to change it, and got into a family spat. During Jr's. formative years, it was her that was always on his side when Sr. was mad at Jr., so don't tell me that there isn't love between them. Just a little arguement. Theresa had to do this to save the company. She saw the advertising money shrinking and she acted. The best way she could. Sink or swim, you can't fault her. No one will ever be "The Intimidator".