Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI...............

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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 at Hendrick Motorsports reportedly disavowed knowledge of a pending partnership, however.

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 will be televised nationally, will take place at JR Motorsports headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday....................................

Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI - NASCAR - Yahoo! Sports

NASCAR.COM - Report: Junior to drive for JR Motorsports in 2008 - May 9, 2007


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[drchris1024]

Ya had to of kinda see that coming..I don't see it being great for either one.

 

[Scarlet_Nape]

If he does it, and can field a 3rd car, I can see them being very competitive in the coming years. But, we'll see. Still kind of shocking that it couldn't be worked out with DEI.

 

[Got Diesel]

It's a shame, but I could see it coming. Jr. wanted to own and run DEI, and I personally feel that he should have been able too. The company wasn't set up for Teresa to run, it was set up for Jr. to run it. It will be interesting to see what happens next season.

 

[Scarlet_Nape]

It's official: Junior is leaving DEI

 

[02SilverStroke]

It will be interesting to see how many offers come his way later this year. You know that RCR would love to have him, and Kevin Harvick has been trying to get him to go with RCR. If that happens, then you'd probably see him driving the 3 car. There's also rumors (mentioned in previous articles) that he will start his own team and lease engines from Hendrick. He wants to continue racing Chevys, but don't you know that Toyota would give their right arm to have him too. If he left Chevy, I believe he'd go with Ford before any other company.

 

[jharvey]

Is this the end of days for DEI???

I think seeing Jr. in the #3 car for the Daytona 500 would be sweet, but after that race retire the car and number, to me it would be a fitting tribute.



Ohhhh and I don't even like NASCAR

 

[police stroker]

Sad that his mom couldn't work it out with him, after all his dad left this behind for him. Very sad I'm not a chevy man but JR. is very professional and down to earth not some yuppie rainbow racer. Oh well we saw it comin when he finished a race for a hendricks car since their driver ran off thinking the crew couldn't get it fixed.

 

[big_rooster]

Well sr. cant blame him he'd tell him go ahead. The whole point in nascar is to win championships and races if the team yer with cant get that done. Then you need to go where it can get done. From what we've seen this year if they go full time with the COT you'd want as much help from hendrick as you can get. Hendrick is the first one to throw alot at the new motor too, so why wouldn't you wanna be with an engine builder that is movin to tomorrow.

 

[Maxtor]

I know it won't happen, but it would be great to see him drive for Roush.