Menard to Yates? and taking his sponsorship

Jayski is reporting this also:
Menard to leave DEI: Paul Menard will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season to drive for Yates Racing, The Associated Press has learned. Menard is expected to announce Tuesday that both he and his sponsorship will move to Yates, a person familiar with Menard's decision told The AP. The person requested anonymity because Menard had yet to make his announcement. DEI officials were not immediately available to comment Monday night. Without Menard, DEI has just one full sponsor in Bass Pro Shops for #1-Martin Truex Jr. He recently agreed to a one-year extension with DEI that takes him through 2009. Sponsorship from the U.S. Army is expected to leave DEI at the end of the year - perhaps for Tony Stewart's new team [#39-Ryan Newmani s runored] - and that leaves DEI without funding for the #8 Chevy that Aric Almirola will pilot. #01-Regan Smith, the fourth driver in DEI's current stable, has had very limited sponsorship all season. Yates has been fielding two cars this year with no full-time sponsorship. Instead, it's pieced together several different limited programs for #38-David Gilliland and #28-Travis Kvapil while receiving support from Roush Fenway Racing.(in part from the Associated Press), hearing an announcement could come later this week.(9-29-2008)
 
Look for DEI to liquidate and its assets assumed by other solvent teams. You heard it here first. ;)
 
PettyBlue said:
Look for DEI to liquidate and its assets assumed by other solvent teams. You heard it here first. ;)
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Very true. Teresa made the ultimate mistake by refusing to give Jr a major stake in the company.
 
Seeing as it's his father footing the bill Menard would be welcomed to any team struggling to find sponsorship. IIRC that's how he got in at DEI. Daddy has a healthy checkbook.:)
 
TexasRaceLady said:
Well, it will make a fine museum. hehehe

Looks like Tony nailed it last year.
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:beerbang: The only ones I feel sorry for are the employees who really have no choice in the matter. As far as Theresa and Max go...... not so much
 
This may seem stupid for most of you guys, but not me because I’m drunk, but why don't Paul Menard and his dad join up with Robby Gordon and build a two car team? Gordon is already half way sponsored by Menards so why not just make it Menard Gordon Racing? Its obvious daddy has the money and wants his kid to be a race car driver or “Retard Menard” would not be in the top ranks of NASCAR.
 
sledge said:
This may seem stupid for most of you guys, but not me because I’m drunk, but why don't Paul Menard and his dad join up with Robby Gordon and build a two car team? Gordon is already half way sponsored by Menards so why not just make it Menard Gordon Racing? Its obvious daddy has the money and wants his kid to be a race car driver or “Retard Menard” would not be in the top ranks of NASCAR.
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retard......there are still 7 drivers worse than him. And yes Robbie is one of them.
 
It is pretty sad to think that someone who can basically pay for their ride is will to switch to another, basically smaller team to go racing. Says tons about the state of DEI. Junior may get more than 51% at the auction later this year.
 
I hate to say it but i think where gonna have to have field fillers again. So many teams shuting down. 3 DEI cars with no future Ganassi cars have no sponsors and only one driver.
 
I think this is just another step towards franchising...........Its' inevitable
 
carsntunes said:
It is pretty sad to think that someone who can basically pay for their ride is will to switch to another, basically smaller team to go racing. Says tons about the state of DEI. Junior may get more than 51% at the auction later this year.
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I seriously doubt Jr will now be interested. I'm sure it will hurt him seeing his fathers dream evaporate but he's got his own dreams now. 5 years from now Teresa will be begging him for a bartender job.:D
 
Man, you guys are harsh on ol Teresa for sure. I remember right after DE died, RCR's teams took a real dive and there was talk that Richard might even get out of the sport. It took him a while, but he was finally able to get his organization back in order and look at them today, all three cars in the chase. Now I can't tell what will happen to DEI in the future, but I do believe that unless someone buys Teresa out, or the market totally crashes, DEI will survive this and continue to be a mainstay in NASCAR.

I believe that this negative treatment towards Teresa is based on one thing, and one thing only, that she didn't give in to Jr's wants to take control of her company. Just as Brook Gordon has taken the bulk of the negative comments on her breakup with Jeff. It's the popularity of the driver that is taking control, not the actual events and what caused them. Teresa Earnhardt built DEI, not Dale Earnhardt Jr. and for that matter, not his father either. Teresa has been the brains behind that company from the gitgo. Yes, she's made plenty of mistakes along the way and her personality doesn't go very far with the fans, but whether or not her company, and yes, it's her company now, makes it doesn't depend on the fact that Dale Earnhardt Jr isn't driving for her.

I am in no way connected with DEI and for that matter, I don't care for Teresa, and I certainly didn't care for her husband. I am a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr though but that doesn't carry any weight as to how I think or feel about a team succeeding or failing. I just wonder how people would feel if Jr. had gone to work for RCR and took the seat of the #3 car. Would they have slammed Teresa in this case, or would they have thought differently?
 
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