It is official; Dale Earnhardt Jr. is now a free agent.

BobbyFord

BobbyFord

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In a press conference Thursday morning at JR Motorsports headquarters, Earnhardt Jr. stated that he will not re-sign to drive for Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team his father founded, next season.

"I told you all season long that when we have something to announce, we would announce it," said Earnhardt Jr. "After a year of intense negotiations and intense effort on behalf of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and JR Motorsports, that we decided that its time for us to move on and seek new opportunities to drive for a new team in 2008.

"At 32 years of age, the same age as my father was when he made his final and most important career decision, it is the time for me to compete on a consistent basis and contend for championships now."

The announcement comes after months of negotiations between DEI, Earnhardt Jr., and his sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, who negotiated on behalf of her brother.

Earnhardt Elledge also runs the business side of JR Motorsports.

Prior to the beginning of this season, Earnhardt Jr. told reporters that he ‘absolutely’ wanted majority ownership of DEI to be included as part of a new contract. It has been widely reported that he indeed got his wish in a new contract offered to him, but it came with a price tag — a factor that appears to have been a deal breaker.


"We’ll keep the instances and circumstances throughout the contract and the negotiations and what was proposed and whatnot, and what our opinion was and what DEI’s opinion was private. I don’t think it is really important to get into that," said Earnhardt Jr. "I can honestly say that we weren’t really close to what we both had in mind."

Contrary to reports that surfaced Wednesday afternoon, however, the third-generation driver did not announce his plans for 2008 on Thursday. Yesterday, reports swirled that he and teammate Martin Truex Jr. would be driving under the JR Motorsports banner beginning next season.

With today's official statement, Earnhardt Jr. appears to bring to an end his career with DEI, the only team he has ever raced for in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Highlights of their partnership include 17 career NEXTEL Cup victories, including a 2004 Daytona 500 victory, and a career best finish of third in the NEXTEL Cup series championship standings in 2003. Prior to his full-time switch to the NEXTEL Cup in 2000, Earnhardt Jr. drove to back-to-back NASCAR Busch Series titles for DEI beginning in 1998.

It also appears to mark the end of what had become a tenuous business relationship between Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, who took over control of DEI following the death of its founder after an accident in the 2001 Daytona 500. The 32-year-old driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet admitted that the relationship between his stepmother and himself wasn’t "a bed of roses." That comment came about after Teresa Earnhardt told the Wall Street Journal that Earnhardt Jr. had to decide "whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality" in a story published on December 14, 2006.

"While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company’s future," said Teresa Earnhardt in a statement released to the media. "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."

While Earnhardt Jr. has made his intentions known, the future for both himself and the DEI organization is still up in the air as of today. Less than two weeks ago, DEI executives confirmed that they have had preliminary talks with Robert Yates Racing about a possible partnership as well as three of the four car manufacturers that compete in NASCAR.

"Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will win, and we have other extremely talented drivers and hundreds of employees that are dedicated to the programs we founded," said Teresa Earnhardt. "This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity, and commitment."

For his part, Earnhardt Jr. has said repeatedly that "I don't know why I would leave Chevys." If that is true, that would leave only a handful of options for the popular driver which include a move to Richard Childress Racing, where his father last competed, or Joe Gibbs Racing. Hendrick Motorsports also fields Chevrolets, but a move there appears unlikely as they currently have all four of their drivers signed full time and NASCAR only allows four cars per team.

"What team I drive for next season, I don’t know. We’ll see what opportunities I have," said Earnhardt Jr.
 
DW on Dale Jr's. decision...

"I've always thought RCR just because of the Childress-Earnhardt relationship," said Waltrip of Richard Childress Racing, where the elder Earnhardt won six of his seven championships. "I have personally have always thought the racing world would be right if Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the black No. 3 car."

I agree, I'd like to see Jr. at RCR.
 
I wouldn't put too much faith in

what was said at the news conference. In chess there is a call "check" which may be what this conference was all about....
The fat lady ain't sung yet! In all negotiations the best card is not played until the last move.. Today's conference will wake up dei for sure.. and that may be what it was all about.
I will not trust this conference until papers are signed somewhere else.
Betsy :rolleyes:
 
Not to change the subject, but who wants to lay money against DEI going after Villeneuve in one helluva hurry? DEI without a DE in the ranks needs to move fast to get a face for the public. Very fast.
 
Professur said:
Not to change the subject, but who wants to lay money against DEI going after Villeneuve in one helluva hurry? DEI without a DE in the ranks needs to move fast to get a face for the public. Very fast.
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Why not jump the shark and sign DPatrick as well. That would not only put them on the front page but keep them there for quite some time. And as to attracting sponsors the sky would be the limit. And, with Truex there for at least another year he could provide the steadying influence they'd need while they learned the new cars.
 
I didn't know Danicka was looking for a ride. Don't follow her career much. Mediocre driver who only made headlines because of her bustline, IMO. I don't follow Jack's career either, but being in Montreal, you can't avoid getting bombarded with announcements every time he manages to sucessfully wipe his arse.
 
Budweiser Update:

Budweiser Statement: Statement from Tony Ponturo, Vice President, Global Media and Sports Marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Regarding Dale Earnhardt Jr's decision to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the 2007 Nextel Cup season: "Budweiser, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Inc. have enjoyed a great relationship since 1999. Dale Jr., and his father before him, have been excellent and loyal ambassadors for our company and the sport of NASCAR. Budweiser and JR Motorsports have an agreement in place to ensure Dale Jr. will continue to personally represent Budweiser through 2008, and we look forward to discussing our future with Dale Jr. and DEI in the weeks ahead."(fingerprint inc./Bud Racing PR)(5-10-2007)
 
I doubt Teresa will release the #8, but RCR just may release the #3 just for Junion.
IMO, DEI will be in trouble next year.
Junior wants "peace of mind" and he sounded like he has found it, for now.
I WISH HIM WELL!
 
I think we can probably write off a Championship for him this year. And next year too for that matter.
 
barelypure said:
I think we can probably write off a Championship for him this year. And next year too for that matter.
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I might agree with you that we can write one off for this year.....but to write one off for next year...i dunno...we dont even know who he's driving for yet.
 
:D
This Buds For Me said:
I might agree with you that we can write one off for this year.....but to write one off for next year...i dunno...we dont even know who he's driving for yet.
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Unless he's able to take a large part of his team with him haven't we always been told that it takes a better part of a year for the chemistry to blend.

Also, any of you Lil'E fans who has all this #8 stuff that you're looking to get rid of let me give you my mailing address. I'll take it all, for free...you pay the shipping. I know nothing is worse than having discontinued driver merchandise.
Now if you have an 8 tattooed on your body, post us a pic so we can all have a hearty laugh at your expense... :D

Here's mine...
tat004.jpg
 
I thought it was interesting last night on the late news from here. One of our local sports casters is a friend of Childress and one would think has an inside track on what might happen at least at RCR. Richard said that he had hoped that Jr would stick with DEI, but that wasn't gonig to happen. Then he, Richard Childress, said that if that didn't happen, he would hope that Jr. would race for him, and then he said, that won't happen. The report left us thinking that JR would be driving for himself. But after today's news conference, those supposedly in the know said that he would not be driving for himself. They are all saying that only three teams would have any chance of getting him...Hendricks, Gibbs and Childress. Maybe so, but I wouldn't give up on his idea of driving for himself. Remember, he insisted on having 51% of DEI if he were to continue there, and he sure wouldn't have much of any control if he were to drive for any of those three top teams. But if he does go to one of those teams, I would have to give Gibbs and RCR the nod over Hendricks because HMS already has four teams and in a few years, that will be the limit. If Jr doesn't drive for himself, I say that he'll be in the #3 for RCR.
 
I love little E. But in my honest opinion do you think RCR or Jo gibbs is going to give him a partial ownership of the company? Don't get me wrong, I don't think Dale jr is making a bad decision. What I'm worried about is if he's leaving for the right reasons...He wanted atleast to have 51% of DEI. Say RCR takes him on..Do you thinkg they'll give him an rights to the company?? I think its a long shot and in the end if that is the route he takes he's still not acheiving what he is saying he wants to. I am a loyal little E fan but I'm not sure if this was the smartest moves. I think he's better off driving his own JR motorsports car with maybe some support of Hendricks or RCR. That way he has ownership of the company and race at the same time.
 
He wanted ownership of DEI because he did not like the direction that it is going. He is not looking for ownership in his future employer. If that were the case then he would just drive for JR Motosports.
 
N2racin44 said:
He wanted ownership of DEI because he did not like the direction that it is going. He is not looking for ownership in his future employer. If that were the case then he would just drive for JR Motosports.
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Well, I realize he wants to be with a winning team and that is what most of this is about...I guess he'll have to outweigh what's more important...Ownership or a winning team. He goes with his own team it will take awhile until it becomes a winning team...IMHO
 
It's gonna be Jr. in the #3. Merely speculation, but highly probable.
It will be a glorious day in American stock car racing when once again there is a man named Earnhardt driving the famed black #3. It will do wonders to revive the sport. I cannot wait.
 
BobbyFord said:
It's gonna be Jr. in the #3. Merely speculation, but highly probable.
It will be a glorious day in American stock car racing when once again there is a man named Earnhardt driving the famed black #3. It will do wonders to revive the sport. I cannot wait.
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I don't think Jr is up to that yet. Maybe someday before he retires. This is not a Jr bash either.
 
Every morning my wife separates the newspaper and gives me the sports page and she goes to the front page news. In surprise I did not see anything in the sports about Jr. No wonder, it was on the front page of the news section. On local TV last night they reported that it was almost a done deal between Jr and RCR.
 
Jr. isn't going to go anywhere staying at DEI. Theresa has no interest in getting Jr. a championship but thats just my opinion. Jr. needs to move somewhere where he can shine as the driver he is. I like Jr.. He's a throw back to the golden days of racing. Just a racer who likes to tell it like it is.
 
Dale Jr.'s interview with DW was interesting. I got the impression that Teresa still treats Jr. like the 18 year old kid living in her basement and not "Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Superstar." I'm not a Jr fan but not a Jr hater either, I wish him well next year and think he made the only decision he could under the circumstances.
 
ajk, that was a revealing interview, wasn't it. He really put the quash on the idea of ever returning to DEI.

And, REALLY squashed driving the #3. He kept repeating that he just couldn't get his head around that idea --- that was daddy's number and he made it was it is.
 
When Jr. went to the media conference to announce everything Thursday he called DW and asked him to come along.
I think the reason he did the interview tonight with DW is because they are good friends, D-dub was friends with Dale Sr. and Jr. respects Darrell and his opinion.
It was a great interview.
All of us outside-looking-in have always seen the kid side of Jr.
I think tonight we all got a glimpse of Dale Jr., the young man, growing up and not afraid to make decisions for himself.
I was impressed with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
 
Grown up??? I should think so...he's 32 years old for pete's sake.
 
Gibbs: Dale Jr. yes; Budweiser...probably not: J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing [#11,#18,#20], answered questions from members of the media at Darlington Raceway on Saturday afternoon:
ON HIS REACTION TO DALE EARNHARDT, JR.'S ANNOUNCEMENT: "Really from our standpoint we're kind of watching stuff unfold as you guys were. I thought they did a great job on their press conference. I know that was hard for him. I think for us really we're just really focused on what we're doing now, our three cars. Would everyone want a chance to talk to Dale Jr.? Sure. Who wouldn't want a chance to talk to Dale Jr.? Right now it sounds like he and Kelley, whatever decision they come up with will be a good one. They just want a little time to think about it. When the time is right we'd love to sit down and talk to him and see what their plans are but right now we're just focusing on what we're doing."
WOULD YOU HAVE BUDWEISER AS A SPONSOR? "For us it would be hard. It'd be hard. They've been a great partner of the sport and do a lot for us but personally that would be a hard deal for us to do."
WOULD IT BE DEAL BREAKER HARD? "I'll just leave it at that right now. I'm not sure if that would fit for us. Even though we really appreciate what they're doing and they're a great group, it'd be hard for us to do."
WILL TONY STEWART AND DENNY HAMLIN'S CLOSE FRIENDSHIP WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. PLAY INTO THAT AT ALL?
"You know I really don't know. Just from what I heard him say that might but for the most part he just wants to go and run well. I think he'll have a ton of opportunities and when the time is right, hey if the opportunity is there we'd love to sit down and talk to him but right now I think he's just focused on his deal and just we're focused on our deal."
SO YOU DON'T PLAN ON PROACTIVELY SEEKING HIM OUT AND TALKING ABOUT IT?
"I feel like right now he's got enough stuff going on and we'll just let stuff roll where it is. The best thing we can do in any situation is if we run the best we can week in and week out, no matter what happens down the road, I think that's our best plan. There's nothing really interesting. all I have to say is that I'm kind of watching it unfold like you guys are. Sounds like if he and Kelley, they're on the same page they'll make a good decision. I think they'll have a ton of opportunities. If the time is right, we could talk to them about that but right now, I think we're just going to focus on what we're focusing on and let that fall where it may."(in part from a GM Racing PR)(5-13-2007)
 
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