Harvick calls Teresa Earnhardt "deadbeat owner"

MRM said:
Sounds like we're about to have a fight on our hands.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=jb-nascarnotes012307&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Click to expand...



During Tuesday's NASCAR Media Tour stop at Richard Childress Racing in Welcome, N.C., Kevin Harvick did a bit of lobbying for rival Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his on-going, drawn-out contract negotiations to remain at Dale Earnhardt Inc., after this season, taking a direct shot at Little E's stepmother and primary DEI owner.

"I think it's hard when you have what I call a deadbeat owner that doesn't come to the racetrack," Harvick said. "You always see Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress, Chip Ganassi and all these other owners, and they all come to the racetrack.

"It's not just a money bit, where someone says, 'Well, I can make money off Dale Jr. or off Dale Earnhardt.' You can't run these race teams away from the racetrack. You have to be at the race track, you have to play the politics of the sport, you have to be part of your team and you have to understand what's going on. Me, from the outside looking in, it just doesn't look like that's happening."

ADVERTISEMENT


Tuesday evening, prior to the debut of the Paul Newman-narrated biography of his late father, "Dale," the younger Earnhardt had little to say when asked by Yahoo! Sports to comment directly to what Harvick said.

"Man, you're killing me," Earnhardt replied. "That's (Harvick's comments) ridiculous. I don't really think there's a comment for Kevin's remarks."

Yahoo! Sports also asked Junior whether he would like his stepmother at races to support him, as owners of other Cup teams do to their drivers. While not making excuses for her absences, Junior alluded to some of the things Teresa Earnhardt has gone through since the death of Dale Sr.

"With everything that's happened, not just to the company but to the family over the last five years, she's had a full plate," Junior said. "The things she's been responsible for willingly and openly are very important for a long time, the battle over the autopsy photos (of her late husband), all these things."

"That's just the tip of the iceberg of the stuff that she's been responsible for, and had to take care of and had to deal with. That's probably been the sole reason why she hasn't been as visible at the race track and what not. But she's taken [care of] things that are much important when it comes to the family."

Whether Teresa Earnhardt's presence and theoretical moral support at races might improve the success of the entire organization, the younger Earnhardt seemed to be willing to cut his stepmother some slack.

"I've got guys and DEI has great people in great positions for us to be successful on the race track," he said. "We've got (DEI director of motorsports) Richie Gilmore and Max (new director of global operations Max Siegel) coming in. We've got people in the right places. I like everybody that works there. I love our team and all the guys on our team. That's all you really need is good people around you. She (Teresa) delegates real well. I get along with Richie and he does a great job running the motorsports side of it."

Despite Harvick's comments, Earnhardt said contract negotiations are continuing to potentially keep him at DEI, but added he didn't expect anything to be completed – if at all – for at least "a couple more months."

For what it's worth, Harvick, whose nickname is Happy, said he most certainly would live up to that moniker if Junior became his teammate next season.
 
I guess Harvick has as much right to speak his piece as anyone. We all do it here by badmouthing those we dislike and offer rounds of applause for those we do.
But for the most part, on this forum, we not directly involved and our opinions make little difference when we discuss Ms. Earnhardt. Seems like she is taking more than her share of lumps these days and whether or not they are deserved none of us know for sure, but most likely will have an opinion. My guess is, people are being hard on her because Junior is so popular and his fans are frustrated. Some want him to drive a black #3 for Childress and others want him to stay at DEI.

But Harvick has a personal agenda. He flat out wants Junior to join up with RCR and it has been reported for over a year, Earnhardt, Jr and Childress have been in communication. Doubtful Childress put Harvick up to making stupid comments about DEI and Teresa as Harvick needs no invitation or encouragement to make an ass of himself ot to speak out of turn.

Surprising Harvick thinks he can tell Teresa how to run DEI after so many years of success. DEI has been successful in its own right and will remain so whether Junior goes or stays.

My guess is, Teresa will offer Junior a percentage of stock in DEI making him a part owner, Junior will stay with DEI at a high price, and whether Teresa attends the races or not things will continue to be good for DEI.

The above is merely a prediction, an opinion if you will. There is no inside information, no off beat rumors, nothing from the garage or "sources in the know" to back it up. Just an opinion. Worth about the same price as anyone elses here, so go ahead, say what is on your mind. :)
 
I just don't understand why Harvick would want Lil'E at RCR. That would take the limelight away from Harvick. He would be an after thought and Burton would be the invisible man.
 
Here's the problem i have....Jr and Teresa can say whatever they want to about each other...they are a part of the same organization and family....but its not cool for someone else to take a jab at your step mom.

thats like me saying something bad about my sister.....but if you say something about her......then we are probably going to have a throw down.

Harvick didnt have a right to say anything......no other driver does but the ones that are a part of DEI.

but what burns me the most out of what harvick said is the fact that he's where he is today

I sure as hell would love to be a fly on the wall when RC gets a hold of him for that comment.

Harvick had a huge shot of taking a lot of Sr fans with him when Sr passed away.....i was pulling for jr and sr when sr died...and i tried to pull for harvick because of the car he drove. He lost me a long time ago..but i still had a little bit of respect for him....as of yesterday...i have zero respect for him.
 
Professur said:
And that's about the only thing of any real interest to Earnhardt fans. Next they'll want him to grow a mustache.
Click to expand...

Actually the next thing i want him to do is to win a championship.
 
barelypure said:
I just don't understand why Harvick would want Lil'E at RCR. That would take the limelight away from Harvick.
Click to expand...

You just nailed it. If he struggles, not many will notice. If he tears it up, he can sneak up on some people because the attention will always be on Junior.
 
But, if he starts showing up Lil'E, and they're team mates, Harvick will be even more hated by the fans. And I have no doubt some of the ninnies will be crying that Harvick was getting all the good cars and Lil'E was getting junk as to why he was doing worse than Happy.
 
I don't think he cares about that. I think he likes not being liked.
 
Memo to Harvick: Put your foot on the pedal, not in your mouth
By Pete Pistone/The Sports Xchange/SportsLine.com


It may still be winter, but Kevin Harvick's mouth is in midseason form.

Harvick has a knack for saying things that are controversial, taking swipes at most everything and everyone.

Harvick's latest musings on the current contract negotiations going on between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and DEI president Teresa Earnhardt created a mini-firestorm.

There is some speculation that should Earnhardt Jr. not stay with DEI, he could find his way to Richard Childress Racing, where his famous father, Dale Sr., enjoyed so much success during his career. Such a move would team Harvick with Junior.

"It's hard when you have what I call a deadbeat owner that doesn't come to the race track," Harvick said to the assembled media mass during the RCR stop of the tour.

"Richard is one of the best owners in the garage. You always see Richard Childress. You always see Chip Ganassi. All these owners, they all come to the race track. You have to be at the race track and you have to play the politics of the sport and you have to be a part of your team and you have to understand what's going on. To me, from the outside looking in, it doesn't look like that's happening."

That, of course, added fuel to the DEI-Earnhardt Jr. contract fire.

When asked about Harvick's comment, Junior supported his boss-stepmother.

"You're killing me," Junior responded. "That's ridiculous. I don't think there is a comment for that remark. With everything that's happened, not just to the company but to the family over the last five years, she's had a full plate. That's just the tip of the iceberg of the stuff that she's been responsible for and had to take care of and had to deal with.

"That's probably been the sole reason why she hasn't been as visible at the race track and what not. But she's taken care of things that are much important when it comes to the family."

It's not the first time Harvick's mouth has started trouble. Last March at Bristol, Harvick had a verbal war with Kurt Busch.

"Good day for us," Harvick said after finishing second to Busch, whom he earlier had ridiculed for having plastic surgery on his ears, "but I hate to see Kurt Busch win. He's a big whiner. But what do I know?"

Busch, like Junior, took the high road.

"He likes to talk a lot, we like to race," Busch said. "We turn our attitudes around to make them positive and to put them in place, and that's to win races."

These kinds of scraps have been part of Harvick's character since he burst on to the NASCAR scene with his win at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the late Dale Earnhardt's replacement in 2001.

Harvick is a talented driver who may be coming into his own after his breakout season in 2006, in which he won five Nextel Cup races and completely dominated the Busch Series on his way to the championship.

Before signing his three-year extension with RCR last season, Harvick was one of the most sought-after drivers in the Nextel Cup garage.

"Kevin is someone who I know can help our organization for the long haul, and that's why we wanted to continue our relationship," said Childress, who is no slouch for recognizing driving talent. "When we brought him in after Dale's death, it was an important move for the future of RCR, and we wouldn't have done that if we didn't think it was the right thing to do. I think in the five-plus years we've been together, he's proved that."

But it's time for Harvick to stop the seemingly constant complaining, ridicule and just plain meanness. While I'm all for drivers showing emotions and personality and not just becoming robots reciting sponsor plugs on television, there is also a line of taste that should at least be upheld.

In this day and age of the politically correct NASCAR driver, it's somewhat refreshing for one to speak his mind. But Harvick has consistently gone too far.

It's time he puts a restrictor plate on his mouth and fulfills the promise behind the wheel many in the sport saw in him.
 
Maybe Theresa doesn't feel she has to be there all the time to baby-sit her driver.

Considering that comment by Harvick, maybe Childress does.
 
Patrick9999 said:
Maybe Theresa doesn't feel she has to be there all the time to baby-sit her driver.

Considering that comment by Harvick, maybe Childress does.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking.
clapping.gif
 
Jr sucks anyway. Maby step mommy is getting tired of no results
 
I wonder what kind of engines Happy will get next year from the DEI/RCR engine program. I bet Teresa will remember this.:growl:
 
From a reliable source, I hear that Childress has no problems with Kevin and though he might put his foot in his mouth now and then, Richard still stands by his man.
 
Yeah, I saw that. I was just saying that Richard seems to really like Kev and it doesn't look like Kev is going to go anywhere else soon. And, while many fans may like the idea that DEI will give Harv nothing but junk, believe me, that isn't going to happen. If it does, the union will split at once. There is one thing in racing that doesn't seem to happen many other places and that is the cooperation amoung the teams with each other. While they will keep secrets from one another, if they are working together, it's a total cooperation type of deal, and it isn't unusual to see bitter enemies on the track, helping each other out on and off the track. If Teresa has a problem with Kev, she'll deal with it the way she's always dealt with problems, and we'll probably never hear about it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom