Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI
By Jerry Bonkowski, Yahoo! Sports
May 9, 2007
Dale Earnhardt Jr. officially will say goodbye to Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday morning, Yahoo! Sports has learned.
A highly placed source within DEI as well as additional sources familiar with the situation told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday afternoon that both Junior and teammate Martin Truex Jr. will announce Thursday morning that they are leaving the DEI camp at the end of this season and will drive for Earnhardt’s heretofore Busch Series operation, JR Motorsports.
Sirius Radio also reported late Wednesday afternoon that the Earnhardt/Truex split with DEI was a done deal and that the new Cup team entry will field Chevrolet chassis built by Hendrick Motorsports and will use Hendrick engines as well.
Sources tell Yahoo! Sports that Earnhardt Jr.’s primary sponsor, Budweiser, will follow Junior to JR Motorsports. Budweiser’s contract with DEI is due to expire at the end of 2008, but Yahoo! Sports sources believe there are provisions within the contract for an early exit if Earnhardt Jr. does not drive the No. 8 Chevrolet for DEI.
The press conference, which is expected to be televised nationally, will take place at JR Motorsports headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday.
There has been no comment thus far from either DEI president Teresa Earnhardt (Dale Jr.’s stepmother) or company director of global operations Max Siegel.
PING
Okay, so let’s say I’m comfy with the Truex and Jr thing. What do you suppose Teresa’s up to with her team? Where’s the rumor mill on that?
Oh, and BTW, thanks for the updates! I love these threads.