Dale Earnhardt Jr. will Leave DEI

Listening to SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Channel 128, The Drivers Seat, they transmitted the press conference from JR Motorsports where Dale Earnhardt Jr announced that he will be leaving DEI at the end of the year.

He thanked the media for the amount of privacy they afforded him during the negotiations, and both sides worked hard at the negotiations, but he found it is time to move on and drive for another team.

Jr. said both he and DEI will come out of this successfully, but at 32, the same age his dad was when he made his biggest, most successful change, he needed to do this.

DEI is all he has ever known, as they have both grown, won and lost together.

Dale Jr. said he does not know what team he will drive for, but will listen to any and all opportunities. He and DEI will continue to work together on many projects, but he feels that his decision to move on would be supported by his father, as his dad taught him to “Be a man, race hard & contend for championships.”

The following is the media question and answer session, posted as asked, and answered:

Was there one specific item that led to his decision?: Basically during the negotiations, they weren’t really close to what either side wanted out of the contract.

Jr. will seek out the opportunities he will be most comfortable with.

Is he open to non-Chevy offers: Jr. said he will listen to all offers presented to him, though he feels Chevy is where he is best suited. (As his cell phone probably started glowing from the moment this press conference started.)

Dale was asked about taking the #8 with him, but he responded by saying that he thinks Teresa would prefer to retain it, (being the number is the race team, not the drivers, number) though he would enjoy keeping the number with himself if he could.

As far as Truex or his crew chief going with him, Dale said Martin is not part of any future consideration or conferences he would have with any team.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is very sad about leaving DEI, and as a team, he hopes they will still work and run as hard as possible each week for DEI.

Is he forming his own CUP team?: Dale will do what is best for JR Motorsports, though his first choice would be to drive for another competitive team.

Dale said that his dad’s vision for Jr. to have a huge role in DEI, but it is obvious to him, that today’s decision was one he had to make, as a driver looking to his future. When negotiations had started, his intent was to sign back on with DEI, but as noted, the two parties never even got close to what the other wanted.

The classic question was thrown out there if DEI has become TEI? DEI today is not where or what his father wanted it to become, and it would be difficult for any person or group to keep with an idea that is in another person’s mind but with Siegel on board, they will be successful.

Jr. will not narrow down any choice or direction he is leaning until he has heard from any and all teams / offers but he did say that once he makes the decision on who to drive for, he will not be changing his mind again.

He was asked what offer would turn his head?: He said that most teams would probably offer close to the same in salary, but it would be the person (?) or team that will allow him to also accomplish his personal goals with this driving, his shop and other aspects of his life.

He said they’ve already communicated their decisions with their sponsors, but have not sat down, one on one with any of them yet, and would not elaborate on any decisions by any sponsor on what they would do.

He was asked if Childress was a logical direction for him to go. Jr. replied there are a few logical assumptions out there, and there are some humorous assumptions out there too. As far as driving the #3, he said that is the number his dad made famous and would be uncomfortable driving it, but maybe near the end of his career, he would consider it for a year or two.

Jr. also said that he would have left DEI sooner than now, but his loyalty to his father’s vision of the company kept him on board.

Dale was asked if he was concerned about his fans not following him if he went to another car brand other than Chevy, and Jr. replied to that question by saying that this would not be an issue for them.

He said there was no one ingredient missing from the DEI team equation, but it was about the direction of the company and where he wants to be.

I had to bug out of the conference at this point, because some questions started to just rehash what was already asked, but the last question I picked up on was:

We (the media) don’t talk to Teresa, but was she surprised?: dale said she was not surprised after everything she saw out there last night.

He indicated that Teresa is now focused on what they need to do to prepare for 2008.

Jr was asked why announce just the exit part of his scenario, and not the whole deal when he finds himself a new contract, and Kelly (His sister, who was there) replied that secrets are hard to keep in this sport and they wanted the to address this as soon as they could for the fans.

He was asked to verify if he is the only part of any package deal, excluding Tony Jr or Martin Truex. Dale said, not necessarily, but these guys have to make up their own mind as to what they want to do.

He also indicated that JR Motorsports will support DEI in other ways, and collaborations, but he will take his job as a racecar driver somewhere else, as he feels he needs to.

A PR statement by Budweiser after the PC: 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.

Happy Mothers Day Teresa!


Bruce Simmons reporting.