Exclusivity comes at a high price, for both sides. But as long as Bud stays with Jr., he can control his destiny. I wonder when DEI is gonna knuckle under?
In the same interview where Junior first announced he wanted majority ownership, he also said that he believed what would be right was for the four Earnhardt kids to have equal ownership.
It seems to me there are plenty of possible solutions --
1. The least popular with Theresa would be for her to take a buy-out. Junior said that would be feasible for him.
2. Ownership is turned over to the kids, but ownership duties are still ran from inside DEI and not by the kids.
3. Same as #2, except for now the kids receive 12.25% each and Theresa maintains controlling interest of 51%, until her death or retirement when the kids receive the rest of their percentages. I think this would be least popular with Junior.
I am not going to take sides in this whole garbage dump. But Theresa needs to wake up to the fact that what her beloved husband would have wanted was for his kids to get the company in the end. And Junior needs to wake up to the fact that, while indeed he is necessary for the success of the company, if he wants Theresa to play ball, he has to bring himself down a notch.
However, I know EXACTLY what Junior is talking about when he says he wants to feel a part of DEI and not like just another contract driver. And I believe he is totally entitled to that.