Teresa Earnhardt

[Ryanwb]

I think she is quickly becoming the most hated person in the World

 

[Mulli]

I would hate her, if I knew who she was.

 

[Linderbee]

This is all I could find:

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/05/10/ap/sports/d8p1n4j80.txt

Earnhardt Jr. to Leave DEI After Season

Thursday, May 10, 2007 2:49 PM CDT


By JENNA FRYER

MOORESVILLE, N.C. - 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, intent on going to a more competitive team.

"At 32 years of age, the same age my father was when he made his final and most important career decision, it's time for me to compete on a consistent basis and contend for championships now," Earnhardt said at a news conference. "I believe I'd have my father's blessing."

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.

"We never even got close," Earnhardt said from the JR Motorsports shop in Mooresville.

He stressed money is not the issue.

"It's not the guy who gives me the biggest paycheck. It's the person I feel like will allow me to accomplish what I want to in my career, on the race track, in this shop itself," he said. "There's some things you can't get with money, peace of mind and satisfaction in what you do everyday. ... I'm seeking to have that peace of mind and that comfort to be able to really be an asset to somebody. I want to go somewhere and really make things happen for somebody."

Sitting next to his sister and wearing a T-shirt and an open collared shirt, Earnhardt said he leaves DEI with mixed emotions.

"I'm sad that I have to leave some employees that I got close to, leave some relationships," he said. "We're going to finish this year out, and I told my guys we're going to run hard. I don't want any excuses for us not giving our best effort. I plan on giving everything I've got like I always do, and hopefully that's what I'll get in return."

In a statement, Teresa Earnhardt said DEI will thrive without Junior.

"While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company's future," she said. "Dale and I built this company to be a championship contender, and those principles still apply. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will win. ... This company has a great legacy and a bright future, built on loyalty, integrity and commitment."

Earnhardt said Teresa Earnhardt wasn't surprised when he told her of his decision.

"I think now she's looking around the corner to do what she needs to do to prepare her company and everything there for 2008," he said.

Earnhardt, too, must decide what's best for his future. He said he would like to continue to drive Chevrolets, which will limit his options. It's also likely his primary sponsor, Budweiser, will move with him to the new team.

"I believe our first choice would be to drive for another top, competitive team," Elledge said. "Our last choice would be to form our own Cup team. If that was necessary, that would be what we would do."

"We're going to listen to everybody," Earnhardt added.

One possible suitor is Richard Childress Racing, always considered the most logical place for Junior to go. Childress and Dale Earnhardt Sr. were extremely close, and Junior has maintained a relationship with the car owner.

That makes sense to Darrell Waltrip, one of Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s friendly rivals who traveled from Nashville at Earnhardt's request to join him for Thursday's announcement.

"I've always thought RCR just because of the Childress-Earnhardt relationship," Waltrip said. "I personally have always thought the racing world would be right if Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the black No. 3 car."

RCR can add him as the fourth and final team NASCAR permits each owner. It would team him with Kevin Harvick, who replaced the elder Earnhardt following his 2001 death, and has openly invited Junior to join the organization.

"I've got to do a little soul searching on how I feel driving the No. 3 car," Earnhardt said.

It's also possible that RCR would lease JR Motorsports its engines should Earnhardt field his own team.

So could Hendrick Motorsports.

One of three Chevrolet teams better than DEI, Hendrick Motorsports has no room in its stable for Earnhardt.

Hendrick, winner of seven of the past eight Cup races, is already maxed out with four teams but could assist Earnhardt by leasing him engines. Hendrick already leases motors to Ginn Racing and Haas-CNC Racing, and Earnhardt recently got to feel their horsepower when he jumped into Kyle Busch's car during a race last month.

The wildcard could be Joe Gibbs Racing, another powerful three-car Chevy team that would pair him with buddies Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Earnhardt and Stewart have worked wonderfully together on restrictor plate tracks, and Earnhardt befriended Hamlin early in his career.

Gibbs is coach of the Washington Redskins, and Earnhardt is die-hard fan. He wore a Redskins cap backward Monday during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where he expressed frustration over the NASCAR-mandated Car of Tomorrow and admitted DEI can't keep up with Hendrick's COT program.

"There are a lot of logical scenarios that people are going to put together," Earnhardt said. "We've seen quite a few scenarios over the last couple of days that were kind of amusing. Some right, some not so right."

Earnhardt and Elledge have been adamant their only goal is to help Junior win Cup championships, something he's been unable to do at DEI. He hasn't been a legitimate title contender since 2004. In 2005, he had a horrendous season when Teresa Earnhardt split up his crew, and he failed to make the Chase for the championship.

He rebounded last year by making the Chase, but was never a threat for the title.

"I am a little sad, but I am trying to remind myself to be excited about what's ahead," Earnhardt said.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

 

[Ryanwb]

So Dale Earnhardt starts this company with the idea that his son will one day take over. He dies, his money grubbing wife takes over. She is unwilling to give Dale Earnhardt Jr a share in the company that was promised to him. He decides to cut ties and go somewhere else.

Her company went from being worth ~ 50 million to being worth ~25 million in 1 day

 

[abomb]

Her company went from being worth ~ 50 million to being worth ~25 million in 1 day

I have no doubt he will surpass both of those numbers in the next ten years.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Half of all NASCAR nation totally loves Junior. It is rather sickening actually.

That said, Teresa doesn't seem to be doing right by her late husband. I wouldn't fault Junior for walking away from DEI. It's kinda sad, but you do what you gotta do.

 

[Beaver]

This is huge news for NASCAR. Equivalent to Lebron or Kobe switching teams. DEI is done IMO. Martin Truex and Paul Menard. EHHHH. I am no fan of JR but I don't dislike him. I see him moving to Childress Racing. As long as it isn't Hendrick!

 

[Scott MS]

Latest news is that Hendrick won't take Jr. and now Gibbs is saying the Budweiser sponsor doesn't fit in their "family image" team.

Personally, I hope Toyota opens up the wallet and signs him. They have billions and they can pay them anything they want. That would really shake it all up.

 

[Taco]

I think she is quickly becoming the most hated person in the World

Not Smart

 

[Jersey Girl]

This is huge news for NASCAR. Equivalent to Lebron or Kobe switching teams. DEI is done IMO. Martin Truex and Paul Menard. EHHHH. I am no fan of JR but I don't dislike him. I see him moving to Childress Racing. As long as it isn't Hendrick!

I agree, although it looks like all signs are pointing in that direction. We'll know tomorrow.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

It's kind of weird, but if Junior went to RCR the idea of seeing the black #3 Bud take the track gives me goose bumps...now if only Penske would move Dumbo out of the #2 to make room for Steve Wallace...

 

[Taco]

Hendrick's new Junior partner

/ Associated Press
Posted: 18 minutes ago
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Wednesday he is joining Hendrick Motorsports, moving him one step closer toward the championship that has eluded him while driving for his late father's company.

Rick Hendrick said Earnhardt will replace Kyle Busch on his star-studded roster of drivers. The decision ends five weeks of recruiting for NASCAR's most popular driver, who became a free agent May 10 when he said he would leave DEI at the end of this season.
His criteria for a new team included finding a place he could win championships, and Hendrick is the perfect fit. Hendrick has won six championships, and has 10 wins through 14 points races this season.
"It became apparent to me the man I wanted to drive for," Earnhardt said. "He competes with integrity and most importantly, he wins races."
It was not immediately clear what number car Earnhardt will drive, and who will sponsor the car. Since starting in NASCAR, Earnhardt has driven the No. 8 Chevrolet, and he has long-standing ties to Budweiser. Hendrick also has longtime ties to Earnhardt's family. He fielded a car in 1983 for Dale Earnhardt Sr., who drove it to a Busch Series win at Lowe's Motor Speedway. That entry was co-owned by Robert Gee, who is Junior's maternal grandfather.

Joining Hendrick's stable could anger Earnhardt's followers because it will team him with Jeff Gordon, a driver generally despised by his rabid fans. Following several of his recent wins, Earnhardt's fans have thrown beer cans at Gordon, most notably after career win No. 76 - in April at Talladega Superspeedway. The win tied Gordon with the elder Earnhardt on NASCAR's victory list

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6914572

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Hendrick's new Junior partner

/ Associated Press
Posted: 18 minutes ago
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Wednesday he is joining Hendrick Motorsports, moving him one step closer toward the championship that has eluded him while driving for his late father's company.

Rick Hendrick said Earnhardt will replace Kyle Busch on his star-studded roster of drivers. The decision ends five weeks of recruiting for NASCAR's most popular driver, who became a free agent May 10 when he said he would leave DEI at the end of this season.
His criteria for a new team included finding a place he could win championships, and Hendrick is the perfect fit. Hendrick has won six championships, and has 10 wins through 14 points races this season.
"It became apparent to me the man I wanted to drive for," Earnhardt said. "He competes with integrity and most importantly, he wins races."
It was not immediately clear what number car Earnhardt will drive, and who will sponsor the car. Since starting in NASCAR, Earnhardt has driven the No. 8 Chevrolet, and he has long-standing ties to Budweiser. Hendrick also has longtime ties to Earnhardt's family. He fielded a car in 1983 for Dale Earnhardt Sr., who drove it to a Busch Series win at Lowe's Motor Speedway. That entry was co-owned by Robert Gee, who is Junior's maternal grandfather.

Joining Hendrick's stable could anger Earnhardt's followers because it will team him with Jeff Gordon, a driver generally despised by his rabid fans. Following several of his recent wins, Earnhardt's fans have thrown beer cans at Gordon, most notably after career win No. 76 - in April at Talladega Superspeedway. The win tied Gordon with the elder Earnhardt on NASCAR's victory list

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6914572

Anyone who receives a Presidential pardon from Bill Clinton (Rick Hendrick was convicted of conspiracy and mail fraud charges, the money laundering counts were dropped as part of the plea agreement) is barred from being referred to as having "integrity"!

 

[Gee!]

Jeffie and Jimmy welcome Jr.. I like Jr now.. He picked wisely..

 

[Jersey Girl]

Hendrick's new Junior partner

/ Associated Press
Posted: 18 minutes ago
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Wednesday he is joining Hendrick Motorsports, moving him one step closer toward the championship that has eluded him while driving for his late father's company.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6914572

I don't know how much closer this will put Junior to winning a championship. You know Gordon will get the best equipment and Jimmie will get the second best. That puts Junior at third.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Jeffie and Jimmy welcome Jr.. I like Jr now.. He picked wisely..

I don't know how much closer this will put Junior to winning a championship. You know Gordon will get the best equipment and Jimmie will get the second best. That puts Junior at third.

And Casey mears 4th...

That leaves Gee as the catch-can/pivot man!

 

[Jersey Girl]

That leaves Gee as the catch-can/pivot man!

Sad day for Hendrick then, lol!

 

[Gee!]

I don't know how much closer this will put Junior to winning a championship. You know Gordon will get the best equipment and Jimmie will get the second best. That puts Junior at third.

And Casey mears 4th...

That leaves Gee as the catch-can/pivot man!

Sad day for Hendrick then, lol!

Pure unadulterated dominace over NASCAR! Thats what its all about my friends...

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Pure unadulterated dominace over GUYS BUTTS! Thats what its all about my friends...

 

[Jersey Girl]

LOL!

Wonder how Earnhardt Nation is taking this news. They love to boo the hell outta Gordon.

Wish Junior would have went to Joe Gibbs. He and Tony already work very well on the track together. If they were actual teammates? Wow.

Oh well. This move just makes me hate Hendrick even more.

 

[Gee!]

LOL!

Wonder how Earnhardt Nation is taking this news. They love to boo the hell outta Gordon.

Wish Junior would have went to Joe Gibbs. He and Tony already work very well on the track together. If they were actual teammates? Wow.

Oh well. This move just makes me hate Hendrick even more.

Joe Gibbs didnt want Jr cuz the Budweiser would clash with his "family" team image.. ah well.. Gordons gain..

We are talking years of dominance here..

 

[Jersey Girl]

Joe Gibbs didnt want Jr cuz the Budweiser would clash with his "family" team image.. ah well.. Gordons gain..

Actually, JGR stated after the Hendrick move was discovered that they were disappointed that they couldn't land Junior.

 

[Gee!]

Actually, JGR stated after the Hendrick move was discovered that they were disappointed that they couldn't land Junior.

They can have him, I really dont care.. I all I care about is Jeff and Jimmy..

 

[Jersey Girl]

They can have him, I really dont care.. I all I care about is Jeff and Jimmy..

Why do I like you again?

 

[Beaver]

Well, the move made it easier for me. Now all three of my least favorite drivers are on the same team and one of my favorites is leaving. Hopefully Busch lands with JGR. I don't think him and Stewart get along though.