Posted on 05/10/2007 8:22:36 AM PDT by agent_delta
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) -Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR's most popular driver.
He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires.
"We worked really hard, but we were never close,'' Earnhardt said of negotiations with DEI. "I am a little sad, but I am trying to remind myself to be excited about what's ahead.''
Earnhardt had asked for 51 percent ownership of the team now run by his stepmother, Teresa. Negotiations on a contract extension began before the season and have been tense all along. Earnhardt's sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, had set a deadline to get the deal done by the end of the month.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
thats kinda weird. the step-mom has SO much money and losing him will be a PR nightmare. why not just give him 51%?
Good for Junior! Let’s see how well DEI fares without him.
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/05/10/dearnhardtjr.news.conference/index.html
In Jr’s own words.
Perhaps we’ll see him at Childress in the #3 next year.
Jr. is hooked up with Hendricks Motor Sports, the best in the business.
I heard he'll get to keep his Budweiser sponsor but not sure about the # 8.
She will not sell him majority interest which is all he and his sister wants, not everything, just controlling interest.
11:18 -- "Obviously I feel like his vision and he said it himself was for me to have a huge role in the company itself. Through the negotiations, Kelly and I felt like that was not in the cards. It may be in the cards 20 years down the road, it may be something that happens. From a driver standpoint, for what I want to do and what I want to accomplish, this is something that I had to do
Just Damn....
Imagine not being part of a company named after your dad.
I think he has made the right decision. His sister has the brains too to pull this off. What was DEI thinking?
he’s long on marketability, and seemingly a little short on talent. i dont see him winning a championship anytime soon, but his fans will follow him, obviously. god forbid he changes cars. a lot of people will be turning in their chevy’s. i dont see him changing though.
I hope Teresa gets exactly what she deserves.
Good luck to Junior!
Arrogance
Selfishness
Stupidity
I hadn't heard that. If it turns out to be true, then Casey Mears would probably be Odd-Man-Out.
Wow! THAT makes my mind race! LOL!
I don’t know anyone who does. I thought it was hilarious when Harvick called her a deadbeat owner.
“Arrogance
Selfishness
Stupidity”
DEI without Earnhardt Jr. Idiots! Dale Sr. would have done the same d@mn thing!
What was Teresa thinking?
He will be the most sought after sports figure ever!
DW and Richard Childress in attendance for support along with his entire family. He answered every question with grace and dignity.
Teresa is an idiot for letting this happen. In a few years he will probably be able to buy the company back for a lot less than what she wanted him to pay for his 51%.
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