Posted on 07/16/2005 7:18:41 PM PDT by Panerai
LOUDON, N.H. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. said obliquely Saturday there's no telling what the future holds for Dale Earnhardt Inc.; but his emotions about the upcoming departure of his teammate, Michael Waltrip, were obvious.
"I'm sad because Michael has been my teammate for all my Cup career," Earnhardt said. "He's taught me a lot and he's just a fun guy to be around -- and he's been around, you know?"
Earnhardt and Waltrip's exploits were most known on Cup's restrictor-plate tracks, where they won 10 of 13 races in one stretch, including finishing one-two in the 2001 Daytona races.
"It's going to be weird, I guess," Earnhardt said. "I'm looking forward, I guess, to the rest of this season (but) he'll be missed, you know?"
Waltrip and DEI announced Friday at New Hampshire International Speedway that Waltrip's five-year tenure with DEI -- which opened with the victory in the 2001 Daytona 500 -- would end at the conclusion of this season.
Earnhardt's comments came after he qualified his No. 8 Chevrolet 24th for Sunday's New England 300.
Earnhardt refused to be pinned down on much else, including whether or not he would make the Chase and if Tony Eury Jr. would be with the No. 8 team as crew chief in 2006.
Earnhardt and Waltrip swapped crews -- including crew chiefs -- and cars before this season. The change was made despite Earnhardt having a career year in 2004, with six wins and finishing fifth in the standings.
Earnhardt started the season with Pete Rondeau as his crew chief, but Rondeau was re-assigned within DEI in May and DEI technical director Steve Hmiel has served in the position ever since.
(Excerpt) Read more at nascar.com ...
"It's going to be weird, I guess," Earnhardt said. "I'm looking forward, I guess, to the rest of this season (but) he'll be missed, you know?"
Hmm. Junior didn't "miss" him on the track, if you know what I mean.
Can't say I didn't see it coming.
My guess is Waltrip asked to leave before Jr killed him on the track!
It would be nice to see Waltrip go to a good team. I wouldn't mind seeing him take over after Martin leaves at the end of the season but I believe Roush has picked up Jamie McMurry.
Maybe he will pick up Wallace's ride or Elliot's. He'll wind up with a good ride no matter what. Even though it won't happen I would love to see him take Petty's car and Kyle step aside. That team needs a first rate driver to get something going.
What has Mikey done besides demonstrate that DEI plate cars were great? The guy was know for having the longest stretch of races without a win until Earnhardt gave him a ride.
"until Earnhardt gave him a ride."
Exactly the point of seeing him in a good ride.
Tip somebody into the wall - THAT usually makes you feel better.
Michael wins more than Junior - no?
My point is that Mikey couldn't win anywhere in several rides. RCR and sibsequenty DEI were known for good plate cars, and even Mikey manages 4 plate wins (but no wins anywhere besides the plate tracks were a strong motor and good aero make you practically invincible). Now Hendrick and Gibbs have displaced DEI with better plate packages. Mikey is going from a chance to win four races a year back to nothing - watch.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Waltrip reportedly has said he'd like to keep NAPA as the sponsor of his next Cup car plus he'd really like to have Tony Eury, Jr., as his crew chief, whereever he ends up. DEI folks are saying they are trying to keep the NAPA folks on board with DEI and apparently control Eury's Jr's. contract.
I've long thought that Jr. didn't really want Waltrip on the team especially since Michael didn't bow and scrape whenever Jr. entered the room or track.
Whereever Waltrip ends up, I do hope he can get a good ride on a Cup team.
He usually did end up scraping on the track....the wall.
It has seemed that Mikey has been holding back his comments over the years because he was under contract with DEI. It will be interesting to see if he starts talking now.
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