The EGR No. 8 Is No More

Lack of performance has driven the final nail in the coffin of the ill-fated No. 8 Chevy of EGR and operations have been suspended.

The No. 8 had one heck of a legacy.

The No. 8 legacy is one we will all remember as it started out under the driving guidance of Dale Earnhardt Jr and team owner vision of Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Since Sr's passing things have changed. The team is no longer what it was and has been absorbed into another team. (I don't care what order the names are in, if you need to join up with another entity to survive, you have been absorbed.)

Last Monday operations of the No. 8 under EGR were suspended.

NBaP is sad for Almirola and the team. Whether Almirola needed to do better, or he needed better equipment, it's moot now. So is pointing fingers at who or what helped precipitated it. For the moment, the shop is quiet while EGR attempts to stir up a sponsor.

Despite this, EGR says there are no changes planned for the No. 42 or No 1 cars.

No 8 on-track Image Cr: Getty Images for NASCAR, Red No. 8: ActionDiecast. (Though diecasts are from ACTION, I get all my non-Elite diecasts from Racing USA.)

HMS Sues DEI, Ginn Racing

DEI says that Bobby Ginn is on the hook for pay any termination fees from Ginn Racing’s engine leasing contract with Hendrick Motorsports.

See my updated post at my updated site at NASCAR Bits And Pieces.com.

What's Come Of That HMS - DEI Lawsuit?

DEI Ganassi - An Interesting Scramble

DEI and Ganassi are now one.
Fans who have been with this sport for many years are just plumb shocked to see what has become of DEI. Emotionally, we all think this would never have happened if "Sr" were around, but Dale made practical business decisions and this economy probably would have forced this situation anyway.

Will this merger act like a real math problem?
In math, when two negatives are multiplied together, they create a positive result. But will conjoining two teams that are struggling on their own actually help them create a positive

Who's got the pull?
Obviously we see who had more pull between the two organizations today. I mean face it, Teresa has never backed down for anyone and I'm not surprised to see the DEI moniker first in the name plate. Unless they were just listing it alphabetically.

Dude, we merged. Oh, we still need sponsors!
These two teams come together, losing staff and dropping cars, and still not having sponsors for their entire garage. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (Eh? That's one long team name.) and will field cars for Martin Truex, Aric Almirola, Juan Pablo Montoya and one unnamed driver yet.

They bring together a sponsored car with no driver, a driver with a full sponsorship (Truex), a driver with 1/2 a sponsorship (Montoya) and ??. This sounds like another ill-conceived bail-out package that will be drawing funds and sponsors from a turnip that will not give up any blood.

Some sarcastically or humorously predicted that DEI will become a museum. After DEI took over the GINN facilities, the original DEI garage has become a museum.

But more importantly, you need to take a peak at my Top 35 Race Update post. The DEI merger impacts this scenario more than you think!!

What Needs to Change to Close the Deal with the No. 88 Team?

Over on the Inside Racing News. com site, Allen Madding points out a fascinating and keen observation about the crew chiefs for the No. 1 of Martin Truex Jr., and Dale Earnhardt Jr..

Both crew chiefs might be able to start out with an excellent set-up, but their ability to keep up with changing track conditions leaves something to be desired.

From Dale Jr. having harsh words with Tony Eury Jr. a few weeks back to this last weekend when Martin Truex Jr. was asking for some changes, and being told to shut up and drive by his own crew chief, Kevin Manion.

Allen says Manion needs to be swapped out for someone who will respect the driver more and expects Dale Jr.'s chief to be able to adapt, much like their garage mates do repeatedly every weekend.

What I see is a common denominator between the two teams: Despite their present teams, they both come from the DEI stable where I suspect they've develop this way from exposure to certain attitudes that have trickled down from the business end of the deal.

DEI has alienated everyone around them from the garage and in their own shop and they just don't see it. Rather than understand the problem and work it, they hire new blood from outside. As if that can still help the core of the issue.

Yes, I've been saying for a long time that Tony Eury isn't a bad crew chief. They've managed to get in the chase and stay in the top 5 most of the season. But they can't close the deal. I think it's a learned mentality that needs to be fixed because the old school system isn't working in the closing laps anymore.

As far as Manion goes, he needs to understand who breads his butter and who he needs to communicate with. Shut up and drive is not an acceptable adjustment for a changing track condition and sounds like he doesn't think it's his fault or his problem.

That's all I've got to say for the moment.

Menard Takes His Sponsor Elsewhere, DEI Left to Look For New Sponsors

The slow, inevitable trickle continues.

Paul Menard has up and taken his sponsor, Menards and headed over the Yates Racing beginning in the 2009 season.

With Menards going with Paul, the Army expected to head to Tony Stewart's team, that leaves DEI with Bass Pro Shops with Martin Truex Jr.. The once mighty DEI garage, who could pad their sponsors coffers with appearances of their ex-driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is now finding themselves scrambling to find themselves more sponsors.

As it is, Almirola has no sponsor yet for the No. 8 car either.

Not looking so good, not giving Jr 51%, huh?

Well, let's see what happens and how many cars they really will be fielding in 2009!

To be fair to DEI, I'm not sure if this would not have happened anyway. Other shops are struggling with sponsorship issues too in this silly-season of economic down turns.

source

DEI: When Does Five = Four?

So NASCAR has for some time said there will be a four car limit per team. It ain't new news. Right? There are some exceptions to the rule, then you need to let DEI know that!

DEI had to withdraw it's No 81 Regan Smith entry from Watkins Glen cause NASCAR smacked their hand for a technicality regarding a 5th car for any team.

Teams are permitted to enter a fifth car for a maximum of seven races for a rookie to get the driver familiar with Sprint Cup competition but Smith has 20 starts this year. NASCAR said he did not fit the criteria for the fifth-car exception.

Bad DEI, bad! Sit! Stay!

Source: Scene Daily

Is Martin Truex Jr. Loose In Turn 3 At DEI???

Martin Truex Jr. is Staying With DEI.

Is there something on the horizon Truex knows that I don't? Or does he truly not have better offers out there? Or did the offer that might have been floating out there that he was waiting on not materialize?

I don't believe this is the best decision Martin Truex Jr. could have made for himself, but he's staying with DEI through the 2009 season.

There has got to be a compelling reason for him to do so, but I'm in the dark.

Loose In Turn Three:
With that in mind, I asked my peers within our Loose In Turn Three quorum what they thought.

Do they have any other insight or fortune telling skills I don't have that can shed light on the issue?

Because I surely am baffled!


Tim Zaegel of Do You NASCAR?: I don't think it has anything to do with him not having viable offers from other organizations - particularly RCR and Penske - but, it probably has more to do with the fact that neither of those organizations is where he wants to wind up at in the long run. Signing an '09 extension didn't surprise me in the least, but I don't expect him to hang around in 2010. I think he's holding out for either Stewart-Haas to field a third Cup team down the road, or possibly even a run with JR Motorsports should they decide to field a Cup entry.


Charlie Turner of On Pit Row: When in doubt, look for the cash. I suspect that

1. DEI threw more money at Martin than anyone else
2. He will be the lead driver at DEI and that will look good on the resume if he decides to move on
3. There were no openings at Gibbs, Hendrick or Stewart-Haas for 2009
4. The #33 RCR ride is without owner's points. Business decision.

News Source: Fox Sports
Image Source: Screen shot from MartinTruexJr.com
(With a little modification from me!)
~

With that being said, Tim and Charlie fired off their own questions and I had to think... ug...


Tim asked:
Did Goodyear finally clear their name in NASCAR with the success of their rain tires in Montreal?

Charlie asked:
Who is the best crew chief in the Sprint Cup garage right now?

Earnhardt Jr is Sad for his Father

Dale Earnhardt Jr is closing out his DEI career at Homestead this Sunday.
This also closes out his on-track association with Budweiser.

But Dale Jr. is sad. Sad for the dream his father originally had for him and DEI. The hopes of Dale Jr. winning a championship at DEI is gone, and so is his tenure at his dad's place.

People blame Teresa Earnhardt. They blame the system. But really, fate had a hand in this and with Dale Jr. being the same age his dad was when Dale Sr started at RCR - so maybe this is fate waiting to happen.

We'll see. But we need to give it this first year for him to gel with the HMS system.. then, for me, all bets are off.

scenedaily.com

The New DEI Amry Car is Introduced

The new #8 car for the 2008 series was shown off today.

Officials with Dale Earnhardt Inc. unveiled the paint scheme of its No. 8 Chevrolet on Friday in Victory Lane of Lowe's Motor Speedway. The car keeps the traditional black and gold colors of the U.S. Army sponsorship, but maintains the No. 8, which is being used this season by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

DEI Takes over Ginn Shops - Renames it DEI West

Max Siegel, president of Global Operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc., said the facility DEI inherited in the merger with Ginn Racing has been renamed DEI West.

Siegel said Sunday that the No. 15 Chevrolet team and the No. 01 Chevy operation already have moved to the DEI West building. The No. 8 team and the No. 1 operation will stay at DEI headquarters until the end of the season.

See the rest of the article at sports.espn.go.com

On the same page, they touch on Hall of Fame Racing partnership with Gibbs shop.
Chip Ganassi's contract status with Dario Franchitti.
And the HMS manifold issue discovered on Kyle Busch's car Saturday after the race.

DEI Announces 2008 Lineup

Dale Earnhardt, Inc.’s four-car lineup has been settled for the 2008 season, with Regan Smith being the latest driver to join the organization. Smith is the final piece to the driver corps that includes Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard, Mark Martin and Aric Almirola.

Many more words (and details) at paddocktalk.com

DEI Driver Lineup for 2008

First the conjecture, then who is in the 8 car, then they are being denied, then more "sources" say it is going to happen, then the tarot cards said something else. Arg!!

In keeping with the tangible state of denial, Dale Earnhardt Inc. most likely will announce its driver lineup - car numbers, drivers and crew chiefs - during the Sept. 7-8 race weekend at Richmond, DEI President Max Siegel said Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Siegel does seem to confirm Mark Martin and Aric Amirola in the car during the article, and also touches on crew chiefs: Siegel also said that he should have a decision about a crew chief for the No. 8 team as well. Tony Eury Jr. has expressed an interest of following Earnhardt Jr. to Hendrick.

At least I think that's what they think they heard him say he was going to say, maybe in a few weeks, or so, possibly, but then, maybe not, if they do, or can't but could.

When they announce it, that is when it will be. Sources or not, then the conjecture and the race to be the first one to "BREAK" the news to everyone will be over and we can get on with our plans to buy next years diecasts, shirts, trading cards, or what not. Sheesh.

Here's the article that got me going! scenedaily.com

DEI Merger & Dale Earnhardt Jr

For those of us wondering, Earlier merger wouldn't have changed anything, Junior says.

Even if the merger had occurred two months ago, Junior insisted he might not have stayed.

“I didn’t leave because I didn’t have the seven post (shaker machine), and it didn’t have anything to do with whether it was a two-car, three-car or four-car team,” Earnhardt Jr. said.

“The things that are happening now, I believe, are good things for the company, but I don’t think any of that would have changed my decision.”

http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/5660.html

Does DEI now become a Museum?

by Bruce Simmons

I jokingly stipulated in a previous post that with Dale Earnhardt Jr. gone, DEI would become a museum.

It was a sound bite that Jeff Gordon had tossed out in an interview and I conjectured on it a bit. Now, with DEI and Ginn Racing merging, and DEI looking to move their operation into Ginn's existing, (and apparently superior?) shop, (As I heard on Sirius Radio this morning) what becomes of the original DEI shop that Dale Earnhardt Sr. worked so hard to build?

Snippets and quotes:
"There are three huge benefits to us - the real estate, Mark Martin and an ability to work with Bobby Ginn on strategic development projects that Teresa has been planning for years," Max Siegel said.

DEI's teams will continue to operate in the DEI shop as well as the nearly 180,000-square-foot facility that houses Ginn's teams. The buildings are less than five miles apart in Mooresville, N.C.

As David Poole of Thatsracin.com observes, "If the “new” Dale Earnhardt Inc. moves most of its Cup operations to the former Ginn Racing shop, could what’s now the DEI headquarters become a sort of interactive Dale Earnhardt museum/attraction? If so, I’ve got the absolutely perfect name – “3 Flags Over Mooresville.” "

http://www.thatsracin.com/247/story/5626.html

What do I always say? Time will be the telling ingredient here.

DEI / Ginn Merge

DEI officials on Wednesday said that it has merged with Ginn Racing and will immediately become a four-car team for Sunday's race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Now it's been reported.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=2948742

DEI and Ginn

According to Lee Spencer on Fox Sports.com, the merger between Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Ginn Racing has been completed.

Here's how it's going to pan out: 4 cars will run as DEI entries, the No 1, No 8, No 15 & No 01.
Bobby Ginn will be listed as the owner of the Nos. 01 and 15 cars.

With Ginn as the 15 car's owner, the 15 car acquired the points of the 13 car, making the 15 car in the top 25 in owners points.

Also, DEI acquires the Ginn Racing properties in Mooresville, N.C., that include a state-of-the-art shop and 7-post machine. All four teams will work out of the facilities formerly known as Ginn Racing.

Gee, wouldn't that have been nice when Jr was there?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/7056284

DEI & Ginn Merger

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Ginn Racing are working on a merger agreement that, if finalized, would meld the two NASCAR organizations into a single company, multiple sources close to negotiations told ESPN.com on Monday.

The deal is not done, but a decision will be made soon. Both organizations hope, sources said, to firm up outstanding details and announce a partnership immediately.

See the rest of the story at espn

DEI's New Driver

During the USG Sheetrock 400, TNT reported that DEI will be announcing in the next week and half or so, their new driver.

DEI, the #8, Number Legacy

By Bruce Simmons, July 8, 2007

Over on NASCAR.com, there's an article stating that DEI has re-signed Bass Pro Shops to the #1 car, and later on in the article, it touches on the number 8 scenario.

Max Siegel says the issue isn't a simple one. "It's more complicated than people give it credit for."

"There's a lot of history, there's a legacy, there's emotion, there's commercial value to everyone involved. The one thing that I know is that, throughout every process we've had, everyone's been committed to doing the right thing."

Maybe I'm winding up over nothing, but the history of the number is that is was used by an Earnhardt driving it. Jr has driven in the #8 for DEI, but his father drove the eight under a different car owner, and so did his grandfather. And Siegel, I hope isn't counting when Joe Weatherly used the number.

The legacy Siegel quotes is what I just noted. It's been driven by the family, known by fans as the number on the Earnhardt side. But it's an emotional legacy. The number 8 legacy has been on the side of multiple drivers through the years.

2000 - 2007: Dale Earnhardt Jr.;
1998: Morgan Shepherd, Buckshot Jones & Hut Stricklin;
1996-7: Hut Stricklin;
1994-5: Jeff Burton;
1993: Sterling Marlin;
1992: Dick Trickle & Rick Wilson;
1991: Rick Wilson;
1983 - 1990: Bobby Hillin, Jr;
1982: Dick Brooks & Bobby Hillin, Jr;
1981: Jimmy Means, Dick May, Rick O'Dell & Kirk Shelmerdine;
1980: Kevin Housby & James Hylton;
1979: Ed Negre;
1978: Ferrel Harris, Ed Negre, Skip Manning, Dick May;
1977: Ed Negre;
1976: Ed Negre & Gary Matthews;
1975: Ed Negre, Dale Earnhardt, Dick May & Dean Dalton;

What legacy are we talking about Max?

Here's where I get spinning up: "there's emotion, there's commercial value to everyone involved." The commercial value I see is the strong association of the number to the color red, to the sponsor Budweiser, and to the driver, Dale Earnahrdt Jr. with the fans.

Now mind you, I'm no marketing guru or image spin master, but I'm thinking the only imaginable commercial value to DEI the number would hold, would be to draw new fans who have heard of the #, to the teams fan base, or as a commodity to be bartered for with Hendrcik Motorsports. If DEI retains the 8, it will be a cost value for them while it's still a flash in the pan, but it will fade, and with it, any form of appreciation of the team known as DEI.

Like I said, there may be more to it, but that's what I'm seeing as I read the article I came across. Here's the article: nascar

DEI, the #8, Hendrick Motorsports

With the opinion about the numbers and the little dance the story took over the last few weeks, it got me to thinking.

At first, we were all thinking the number 8 was a potential sale item between race teams. Then we heard it was out of their hands, and then this last week, NASCAR declared it could be bartered between teams. A most exciting prospect indeed, for teams and fans alike.

But there is one hurtle that needs to be dealt with in this whole number 8 scheme, and that, may very well be Teresa Earnhardt.

It goes without saying that the fans want to see Budweiser and the number 8 go to Hendrick Motorsports. What Budweiser does is something unto themselves and will do what they need to do to position themselves best within the industry.

What Teresa needs to do is consider the idea of letting the number go. The number is DEI's to use for the moment, and it does have marketing appeal to retain it. A smart team would retain it. But a smarter team may ponder the very idea of making a gesture to the fans and letting the number go.

I'm not saying for them to give it away, but for them to make whatever financial arrangement that would be amicable to everyone, without making it a prohibitive maneuver.

Teresa's image is mediocre at best with the fans. Not being at races, making the hard business decisions that the fandom didn't agree with, and having her public differences with Jr, to the parting of ways that I'm sure some might believe to be her fault entrely. Business decisions, based on a business basis and not an emotional or public pressured one, are tough all around.

Here's hoping the 8 ends up where it truly belongs.

Bruce Simmons, the Fan Reporter.