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Earnhardt Jr.changing teams?


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January 8, 2007 12:00 am EDT

Shifting gears?

By Jerry Bonkowski, Yahoo! Sports

Could Junior leave DEI? (AP)

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 2007 NASCAR season unofficially kicked off with preseason testing here on Monday, and it didn't take long for one driver to stir things up.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. admitted Monday that his relationship with stepmother and team owner Teresa Earnhardt "ain't a bed of roses."

 

And with negotiations over a new long-term contract being oftentimes contentious and moving at a snail-like pace, the relationship between the Earnhardts may be becoming more like "The War of the Roses."

 

Three weeks ago, Teresa Earnhardt publicly questioned Junior's desire and motivation in a story that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. At the time, her stepson held his tongue.

 

But during Monday's test session at Daytona, Earnhardt the driver fired a huge salvo back at Earnhardt the team owner, even subtly threatening that he might jump ship and potentially take prized big-bucks sponsor Budweiser with him.

 

"Absolutely, my relationship with the car owner is definitely going to factor into my decision to drive there," Junior said. "I haven't talked to Teresa about what she said in the paper. I figured if anything needed to be said, she'd call me up and say it. But you know, my and her relationship definitely factor into my decision to drive there."

 

On the surface, Earnhardt's comments could be construed as posturing to speed up the pace of contract negotiations, as well as an attempt to force Teresa into giving him a piece of the ownership of Dale Earnhardt Inc. – which may be the biggest stumbling block in the negotiations.

 

But for a guy who for years has refused to comment at length about the relationship he has with his father's widow, his words Monday were quite enlightening.

 

"I don't want to really get too personal, but Teresa is my stepmother, and I have a mother at home that I have a very good relationship with," Junior said. "Mine and Teresa's relationship has always been very black and white, very strict and in your face. It is what it is."

 

And what it is would appear to be not very pretty, judging from the sarcasm seemingly dripping from Junior's words.

 

"The relationship that we have today is the same relationship we had when I was six years old when I moved into that house with Dad and her," Junior said. "It's always been the same. It hasn't gotten worse over the last couple years or last couple months. It's always been the same, the way I felt about her then is the way I feel about her now."

 

Since the death of her husband on the final lap of the 2001 season-opening Daytona 500, Teresa Earnhardt has become one of the most reclusive owners in Nextel Cup, prompting some critics to call her the Howard Hughes of NASCAR. She attends few races in person and rarely gives media interviews.

 

But there's no denying that she's one of the most powerful women in the sport.

 

Meanwhile, Junior is well aware that DEI's contracts with him and Budweiser both expire at the end of the upcoming 2007 season. Trying to pry Budweiser away could be a formidable task, and Junior may have to resign himself to staying with DEI if he wants to continue driving his world-famous ride.

 

"I like driving the red Bud car with the No. 8 on it," Junior said. "To drive that car, I basically have to drive at DEI."

 

Still, Junior left himself an out, adding, "To get this new deal done is going to be very difficult."

 

At times during Monday's media session, Junior seemingly channeled the spirit of his father. Instead of being the laidback, good ol' boy that the NASCAR world has come to love, Junior showed some of the spit and vinegar that his oftentimes cantankerous old man was known for.

 

"What's important to me is give me a good race car, don't give me any mess other than that," he proclaimed. "Just give me a good race car, make it run fast, give me guys I enjoy working with and going to the race track [with].

 

"I'll do whatever you need me to do with the sponsors and everything else, just don't make everything a hassle and don't make everything a pain and you'll have my dedication and everything else you need as far as my being a driver goes."

 

Junior wasn't afraid to say what was on his mind, just like his old man. Perhaps his theme for the upcoming season will be No More Mr. Nice Guy, and maybe this seemingly new attitude is the one ingredient he has been missing in his quest to become a Nextel Cup champion.

 

"I don't want to come here and [not] compete well and run well," said Junior, who did return to the Chase in 2006 after a one-year absence. "I don't want to just get by. I want the best – the best cars, the best people."

 

In other words, he wants from DEI what the Jimmie Johnsons, Tony Stewarts and Matt Kenseths get from teams like Hendrick, Gibbs and Roush – and Richard Childress Racing, where his father drove and where the rumor mill often has Junior eventually landing.

 

"We see other companies and teams doing what it takes and making the right moves, and I just want to be at the same situation as I see other drivers in," Junior said. "I know I'm a good enough race car driver and I deserve it. I'm just trying to get it all settled and make it right."

 

He took a big step toward that on Monday. Now, if only Teresa was listening … or even cared.

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Two things he has to ponder here.

 

1) Does he stay with the company his dad created, but is controlled by his step-mom?

 

2) Does he go to Childress and bring back the #3 his dad made famous?

 

I foresee his leaving DEI to go to Childress and bring out a black #3. I could care less, but just a thought.

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It will be a DISGRACE if Childress signs JUNIOR an puts him in a BLACK # 3 .

 

I am not saying signing Junior on Childress part would be a DISGRACE I am saying it would be a DISGRACE to put him in a BLACK # 3 . If they wanna run the # 3 with Junior in it that is ok in my book BUT NEVER BRING OUT A BLACK # 3 !

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I don't think Jr. will leave DEI voluntarily until he wins a championship for DEI, and if he does I see a nasty battle over DEI between him and his step-mom.

 

I see nothing wrong with Jr. driving the black #3... if that happened you would see a big rift in the Earnhardt faithful. Those thinking it is a dishonor to Dale and those that actually like Jr., not just because his last name is Earnhardt. If you could ask Dale Sr. who he would want to drive his car... I bet he would say, "None other than Jr."

 

In reality, I believe, Jr. will either drive the #8 for a long time or sign with someone other than RCR. Just to stand on his own, perhaps a Cup team is not too far in the future for Jr., his busch team has done well.

 

I am ready for NASCAR :yay: hope to see #24 with another championship this year. ;)

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if junior leaves he probably will land with childress. driving the black goodwrench #3 is very unlikely though. first junior doesnt want to be in his fathers shadow anymore. and second goodwrench cant even afford to be a primary sponsor anymore. it is still on harvicks car but it isnt the primary, shell is.

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Originally posted by Ladypanthers3dad

When I said "but the kid needs to stand on his own"

I mean't Jr. needs to be known for Jr., not because he is Dale Sr.s kid.

 

This kind of crapola just floors me. The only stat that you can possibly say Jr falls short in is championships. And trust me, 7 championships in the 70's and 80's was MUCH easier than it is today. There was practically NO technology back then--you run what ya brung! Windtunnel testing didn't become mainstream until the late 80's--long after the #3 had peaked.

 

Dale Jr can stand on his own as a race car driver. In the past 3 years, he has two top-5 finishes in the Cup standings. He won two Busch Series championships before he started in Cup. He won two races his rookie year in Cup. HE'S WON THE DAYTONA 500!!! In Cup racing. he has 17 wins, 69 top-5's and 109 Top-10s in his career.

 

Add to these driving stats, he's been voted Most Popular Driver for the past 3 or 4 years in a row--by the 20-something crowd--not the #3 Faithful. The guy is hip--he's a nice looking batchelor--he drives the most recognizable car in racing--and he just tells it like it is--there is no screen. He doesn't pretend to be somebody that he isn't. He is just Jr.

 

What in the Wide Wide World of Sports else does this cat have to do to prove that he's not where he is in life today because is is Big E's kid? Big E gave him the opportunity to succeed--Dale Jr seized the day!

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Well, Teresa, my dear ..... if it's a choice between backing you or Jr. in this argument ... it's Jr. all the way. You just happened to be married to the company, and got it when Sr. "unfortunately" died doing what he loved .. racing.

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