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Lee Spencer is senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com. She also is a correspondent for “Around the Track” on FOX Sports Net.

Updated: November 16, 2008, 10:42 PM EST 72 comments add

By now, what is left of the original DEI will begin the pilgrimage to their new home, 17 miles across town.

It seems like just yesterday that DEI was moving into the Ginn Racing building, though the merger between the two outfits was actually a year ago. This time, however, the mood will be much different as it won’t include all their co-workers and friends, many of whom have been laid off. This time the move is to unfamiliar territory, with unfamiliar faces and unfamiliar management calling the shots.

But these crews have become accustomed to a nomadic life; it’s the price racers pay to compete at this level.

There were still people like crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion who believed that as long as the Earnhardt name was on the door, they were racing for the Intimidator’s memory. But every year since Dale Earnhardt’s death was another year removed from his vision.

Michael Waltrip’s contract was not renewed at the end of 2005 and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danny Earnhardt (Senior’s brother) and the Eurys (Tony Sr., known throughout the team as “Pops,” and Tony Jr.) left the building last year. Sure, there were still plenty of people in the company that had ties to Dale Sr., including his other brother Randy, but DEI was quickly losing the swagger it held when the seven-time champion graced its halls.

Still, the one thing these racers never lost was heart. That doesn’t mean that there weren’t days of deep discouragement. There have been morose overtones throughout the entire garage — but more so with the DEI crews, especially as the weeks went by without full-time sponsors for the Nos. 01, 8 or 15.

That doesn’t mean there weren’t opportunities for DEI to find funding before the economy tanked. But with an absentee owner who lacks business acumen when it comes to sponsor relations, it’s hard to cultivate backing.

It’s also difficult to build support among the troops.

One long-time DEI employee at Homestead-Miami Speedway pointed to Richard Childress standing on top of the suites above pit road.

“He’s a racer,” said the crewman. “And Richard is here every week. Look at Rick Hendrick. He runs a huge automotive business but he’s here on Sunday. Jack Roush is at the racetrack every weekend. When Ray Evernham owned his race teams, he was here. Same for Robert Yates.

“That’s what it takes to be successful in NASCAR. You have to have an owner that’s invested in the sport.”

The newly named Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing will have an owner at the racetrack — Chip Ganassi. Ganassi entered the NASCAR ranks the same year Earnhardt died on the last lap of the Daytona 500. Ganassi is a racer. Although he’s never won a championship in NASCAR and only has six wins in 724 starts, he is the king of open wheel racing. If he can apply half the passion to NASCAR that he has for the IRL IndyCar Series and Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, the wins will come.

As the move shakes out this week at EGR, the new organization will initially be run by committee with Ganassi President Steve Lauletta rumored to be the point man. Lauletta spent more than a decade at Miller Brewing and was in charge of marketing and special events. His long-time motorsports experience will help both companies get through the months ahead, particularly with the need for additional sponsorship for two of their four race teams.

“It’s going to be a lot of work,” Lauletta said.

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Top stories | Rumors | Video | Photos For the DEI teams, last year’s changes after their merger with Ginn meant removing decals. With the Car of Tomorrow, it’s likely the primary modifications from Dodge to Chevrolet will involve altering the noses, tails and engines. Steve Hmiel, Ganassi’s director of competition is a familiar face in the sea of change. Until last October, Hmiel served as technical director at DEI. Hmiel’s knowledge of both Chevrolet and DEI’s personnel will be instrumental in overseeing the changeover.

With more than 200,000 square-feet between Ganassi’s main shop and the engine shop there will be plenty of room to spread out. There are ongoing meetings to determine the relationship between Ganassi and the Earnhardt Childress Racing engine program, which currently supplies engines to all of the DEI teams. Sources told FOXSports.com that ECR will build engines for the Nos. 1 and 8 while engines for the Nos. 41 and 42 will be built at the Ganassi shop.

Another partnership that will ease the transition is the friendship between Brian Pattie and Manion. Although Pattie, Juan Pablo Montoya’s crew chief, was being courted by Michael Waltrip Racing, he politely declined the offer last week. The No. 42 team’s improvement weighed heavily on Pattie’s decision, as did the possibility of working with his best friend.

“The way we’ve run the last two months I believe we’ll make the Chase (for the Sprint Cup) next year,” Pattie said. “The last 10 races we’ve tested. That’s how we used this Chase. I feel really confident every week that we’ve come to the track.”

“It’s going to be like one team,” Manion said. “Brian and I will be inseparable.”