Dale Earnhardt Inc. News/Rumors
Martin Truex, Jr, Mark Martin, Regan Smith, Paul Menard
#01 |
Regan Smith - Driver of Principal Financial Group Chevrolet |
#1 |
Martin Truex, Jr. - Driver of Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet |
#8 |
Mark Martin - Driver of US Army Chevrolet |
#15 |
Paul Menard - Driver of Menards Chevrolet |
June 26, 2007
NASCAR: DEI can't sell the No. 8 to Hendrick: Hendrick Motorsports may have Dale Earnhardt in their stable, but they won't be able to buy his trademark No. 8. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will not be allowed to sell the No. 8 to Hendrick or any other team, according to a report on the Charlotte Observer Web site. According to the report, spokesman Ramsey Poston reiterated that NASCAR owns and assigns all car numbers and said a team cannot sell numbers on their own accord. "NASCAR owns the numbers and licenses them to teams on an annual basis," Poston said in the report. "A team may allow another team to use the number for that year pending NASCAR's approval." (FOXSports.com)
Bass Pro Shops resigns with DEI and Truex: Dale Earnhardt Inc. has re-signed Bass Pro Shops to sponsor the No. 1 Chevrolet and driver Martin Truex Jr. in 2008. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Truex, who turned 27 last week, has enjoyed a breakout sophomore season behind the wheel of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. Truex's contract with DEI runs through next year. DEI is remains in discussions with Anheuser-Busch and has a short list of potential drivers to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr., who announced earlier this month he was moving to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. "We are having conversations with Budweiser daily," said DEI VP John Story. (FOXSports.com)
June 23, 2007
Hendrick would like to buy the No. 8 for Earnhardt, Jr.: Car owner Rick Hendrick has let it be known to officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc. that he'd like to purchase the No. 8 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he begins driving for his organization in 2008. "I'm not sure what their position is or what they want for it," Hendrick said Saturday between practices at Infineon Raceway. (ESPN.com)
June 16, 2007
Max Siegel: DEI willing to discuss transfer of #8 to Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt said Friday after qualifying at Michigan International Speedway that there has not yet been any communication with DEI about obtaining the No. 8. "Obviously, we'll see if there's any interest from [team owner] Teresa [Earnhardt] and [DEI president of global operations] Max [Siegel] to do that, but they've probably got to answer a couple more questions of their own to be able to have a good idea how they feel about that," Earnhardt said. "Whether they feel like they have any interest in talking about it, I'm sure that's something Rick [Hendrick] and my sister [Kelley Earnhardt Elledge] would be interested in doing." Siegel said Friday that he would be willing to discuss a transfer of the number. "We're open to talk about anything," Siegel said. "But in order to consider it, there has to be some formal proposal. No one has contacted me. Other than knowing his desire to have the number, no one has approached me with a formal proposal. I'm not going to talk about it until I get one." (ESPN.com)
June 15, 2007
Busch: I never talked to other team: Kyle Busch says he hasn't talked with any race team about where he'll drive next season after leaving Hendrick Motorsports. "This is all brand new," Busch said Thursday in an interview on "The Driver's Seat" on Sirius Satellite Radio. "I haven't talked or discussed or done anything with any other team." Busch will leave his No. 5 Chevrolet ride with Hendrick at season's end, a move that makes room for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to join the four-car team for 2008 and beyond. Busch said one reason he left a developmental deal with Roush Racing to sign with Hendrick in the first place was to get out of the shadow of his older brother, Kurt, who was then at Roush. (Charlotte Observer)
Earnhardt merchandise sales may push $100 million? Expect sales of Earnhardt products to approach nine digits ($100 million) in the coming year as fans grab the remaining No. 8 items still on store shelves and load up on the new stuff — everything from diecast cars to bumper stickers, hats and jackets. Earnhardt, who announced Wednesday that he is joining Hendrick Motorsports, did not say which number he will run next year. There's speculation he could wind up in the No. 5 that Kyle Busch has been driving or the No. 25 if Casey Mears decides to run the No. 5. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
June 14, 2007
Busch may replace Earnhardt at DEI., Maybe fourth RCR or Ginn team?: When asked by moderator Winston Kelley how there was room for Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick explained he had been pursuing a contract extension with Busch and discovered the four-time Nextel Cup winner was being approached by other teams. "It became pretty obvious to both of us that maybe a fresh start might be good for both of us," Hendrick said. Busch was unavailable Wednesday, testing at the Milwaukee Mile, and Hendrick officials said he would not address the media until Friday at Michigan International Speedway. There appears to be plenty of available quality rides, including Earnhardt Jr.'s soon-to-be-empty ride at Dale Earnhardt Inc. Also, Richard Childress Racing and Ginn Racing have both stated their intentions to start fourth teams. (Charlotte Observer)
June 13, 2007
Budweiser Statement regarding Dale Earnhardt, Jr. announcement: "Anheuser-Busch has enjoyed a remarkable relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. since our sponsorship commenced back in 1999. Dale Jr. is an excellent ambassador for the sport and our company, and we look forward to exploring options with Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports to continue Budweiser’s relationship with him as he enters this new stage of his racing career." Tony Ponturo, Vice President, Global Media and Sports Marketing Anheuser-Busch, Inc. (Anheuser-Busch PR)
General Motorsports statement regarding Earnhardt/Hendrick announcement: "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has been synonymous with the modern era of Chevy Motorsports with his 17 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victories and two NASCAR Busch Series championships, all powered by the legendary small-block Chevy V8. Dale, Jr. has a choice in his future direction. We are proud he chose to stay with Team Chevy - the winningest name in motorsports with 609 wins and 30 championships - to pursue his championship bid. On behalf of General Motors and Chevrolet, congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports on the announcement of their partnership. They epitomize the Chevy spirit of competition. We wish them success as they embark on their new relationship." Brent Dewar, General Motors North America Vice President of Vehicle Sales, Service and Parts (General Motors PR)
NASCAR Chairman Brian France statement regarding Earnhardt, Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports: “Today’s announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr. ’s move to Hendrick Motorsports is indeed an important announcement for this season and beyond, and it should be noted that high-profile partnerships have always been a part of NASCAR’s competitive history. There have been so many great partnerships involving people of great character and ability. We’re proud of what they have brought to our sport. “Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always said that first and foremost, he wants to win a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship. We wish him the best of luck. ” (NASCAR PR)
Earnhardt, Jr. to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr. ended months of speculation Wednesday, announcing that he will drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 and beyond. Earnhardt Jr., who has never driven a Nextel Cup car for a team other than Dale Earnhardt Inc. -- the team founded by his father Dale Earnhardt Sr. -- said during his job search that "it became apparent to me the man I wanted to drive for." That was team owner Rick Hendrick, someone Earnhardt Jr. has known since childhood. Hendrick said the deal, struck with Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, will run for five years. "I don't feel a whole lot of pressure," said Earnhardt Jr, 32, whose press conference was held at JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C., home to the Busch, Hooters and late-model series teams that he owns. "I'm pretty excited to drive Rick's cars. His on-track performance speaks for itself. I hope it ain't that hard to get me to victory lane." Still unresolved is Earnhardt's future with sponsor Anheuser Busch. The driver has become synonymous with the No. 8 Budweiser car which he will continue to drive for the duration of the 2007 season. (More at USAToday.com)
July 5, 2006
Earnhardt's death among top auto stories of the last decade: Pain at the pump is the No. 1 automotive story of the last decade, according to a list released today by SPEED in conjunction with the motor sports and automotive lifestyle network's 10th Anniversary. U.S. gas prices soaring above $3 a gallon, and the corresponding fallout -- an influx of "hybrid" vehicles, declining sales of monster-sized SUVs and a growing interest in fuel alternatives -- was the top response from a group of automotive journalists and SPEED on-air automotive personalities, when asked about the most memorable consumer automotive stories of the last 10 years. And with all of the recent improvements in consumer automotive safety, it took the tragic death of NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt in 2001 to focus the world's attention on safety at the race track. The result -- more safety equipment, safer race cars and safer race tracks for fans in attendance. "Dale Earnhardt's death sent shock waves through the entire racing world, but especially NASCAR, where he was both the sport's biggest star and a man regarded as the toughest ever to strap on a helmet," said Jensen. "It was the kind of brutal wake-up call that forced NASCAR to redouble its safety efforts." (Business Wire) 1. Gasoline tops $3 a gallon 2. Fall of domestic dominance 3. Dale Earnhardt crash at Daytona
July 2, 2006
DEI looking to expand? Dale Earnhardt Inc. will field three Nextel Cup teams next season but could expand to a fourth car. DEI will have cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex and rookie Paul Menard next season, but Richie Gilmore, vice president of motorsports, says the organization is looking to add a fourth team. Gilmore says the team wants to decide by the end of this month how many teams it will have next season. NASCAR rules limit organizations to four Cup teams, although Roush Racing has been grandfathered in with its five teams. No date has been set on when Roush must comply with the rule. Earnhardt says it makes sense for DEI to expand to four teams. "I think that every team should strive to own that many,'' he said after his Busch series victory Friday night. "You're more successful if you own more cars.'' Also, Gilmore says that the team is looking at some sort of merger with MB2 Motorsports, whether it's sharing resources or having one of MB2 Motorsports' teams move under the DEI banner. Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin drive for MB2 Motorsports. "We're looking at all our options,'' Gilmore said. (Roanoke Times)
June 18, 2006:
Earnhardt, Jr. and DEI agree to trademark terms: Earnhardt told NASCAR.COM on Saturday that he and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. had agreed to terms Friday evening that awarded him sole ownership of the trademark rights to his lucrative name. Amazingly, it won't affect the earning potential of an asset estimated at some $5 million annually. Earnhardt said the current agreements between he and DEI won't change. (NASCAR.com
June 16, 2006:
Budweiser/Earnhardt Legacy ads
June 14, 2006:
Truex, to race truck race at MI.: #1-Martin Truex, Jr. will be competing in both the Craftsman Truck Series event on Saturday, as well Sunday's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Truex's weekend starts with Saturday's Con-way Freight 200. The two-time defending Busch Series champion will be competing in the Billy Ballew Motorsports #51 Chevy truck. (DEI PR)
June 7, 2006:
MB and DEI Partnership possible, buyout unlikely: MB2 Motorsports general manager Jay Frye said his two-car team is in discussions about forming a partnership with Dale Earnhardt Inc. The teams might share the burden of building cars next year when NASCAR begins phasing in the "Car of Tomorrow" while still keeping the current model for more than half the races. "There's lots of things going on, and the sport is changing in many ways," Frye said. "So how can we become more efficient? That's really how our conversation started with them. It's just ideas on how to make things more efficient for both companies. Maybe we build the Car of Tomorrow cars, or maybe combine forces, or maybe there might be nothing." Frye said DEI buying MB2 was unlikely but also said anything was possible. (USA Today)
June 5, 2006:
Frye: DEI/MB2 rumors just speculation: Jay Frye, the general manager and part-owner of the MB2 team, said that much of the speculation about a DEI-MB2 merger is just that, speculation. "Everyone's got this four-team program idea, but we're like two and they're like two.... so how do we both do things more efficiently together," Frye said. "That's how this all got started. Our buildings are four minutes apart. So we're trying to work together on this car of tomorrow. It's not about engines; it's about car-building. Everything beyond that is purely speculation." (Salem-Journal)
June 3, 2006:
DEI rumormill: There's more speculation that Teresa Earnhardt is planning to buy MB2 Motorsports, with drivers Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin, in addition to the ongoing speculation that she may be planning to sell DEI to John Menard, a home-improvements czar who has long been involved in racing. Marlin, who drives for the Jay Frye-run MB2 Chevy operation, said he has heard the sale talk, but that he doesn't know what's going on. Ryan Pemberton, the crew chief for Nemechek, said he has talked with Frye about it, but he's not sure, either, what might be going on behind the scenes. Earnhardt doesn't grant interviews, and Frye isn't due here until today. So yesterday it was up to Richie Gilmore, the general manager at DEI, to try to explain the situation. "We're not selling out," Gilmore said. "Our plans right now are to go to a three-car operation next year with Paul Menard (John's son). John is a great sponsor for us, and we do a lot with Menard's, engines, and he's at our company a lot, and I guess people speculate when they see him around." (Salem-Journal)
Earnhardt, Jr. doesn't like sponsor limitations
Gilmore says GM needs to centralize engine program
June 1, 2006:
Earnhardt, Jr. Father's Day paint scheme, honors 3 generations of Earnhardt's
May 24, 2006:
Menard to attempt Coca-Cola 600 in 3rd DEI car: Paul Menard will attempt this weekends Coca-Cola 600, piloting the No. 15 Johns Manville/Menards Chevrolet. “The Cup car is #038,” Crew Chief Dan Stillman said of the car Menard will pilot in the longest Nextel Cup race of the year. “It ran Atlanta. This car crashed during the Charlotte test. We rebuilt it and wanted to take it back to Charlotte because it ran so good at Atlanta.” Menard drove car #038 to a seventh place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March. The Coca-Cola 600’s distance alone demands pacing, preparation and concentration. Coupled with the 300-mile Busch Series race on Saturday, physically conditioned drivers like Menard will have an edge up on the competition since endurance is a key to success this weekend. “I’ve been on a pretty severe diet exercise regiment for about a year,” Menard said. “With my schedule becoming more demanding on and off the track, it’s really important to be physically fit.” Interesting to note, Dale Earnhardt made his Cup series debut in the 1975 Coca-Cola 600. With Menard scheduled to run the No. 15 Chevrolet, DEI will field three cars in the race. (Co-Pilott Motorsports Marketing PR)
May 18, 2006:
#1 Bass Pro Shops team wins Pit Crew Challenge: Martin Truex Jr.'s rookie team won the Nextel Pit Crew Challenge, an event aimed at showcasing the skills of NASCAR's behind-the-scenes players, by beating Kasey Kahne's defending champion team in the final round Wednesday night. Truex's crew changed four tires, filled the tank with fuel and pushed the car 40-yards across a finish line in 25.44 seconds to pocket the $70,000 grand prize. It was somewhat of a surprising win for a team that is in its first year of Nextel Cup competition and is a distant 22nd in points. But many of the crew members have been with Dale Earnhardt Inc. several years and a handful were on Truex's two Busch Series championship teams. "When your car is not up to snuff and running up front, nobody recognizes the underdog," crew chief Kevin Manion said. "Tonight we came in as the underdog, and left as the winner." (Daytona News Journal)
Truex to sport the National Wild Turkey Federation paint scheme: The National Wild Turkey Federation’s flying turkey logo will appear on the DEI, Bass Pro Shops sponsored #1 race car, driven by 2-time Busch Series Champion Martin Truex Jr., at the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge on May 20 th at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bass Pro Shops salute to the NWTF is a part of the Conservation Fund’s “Racing for America’s Wildlife” program. The program is designed to engage the NASCAR community in conserving America’s hunting and fishing heritage through habitat protection, restoration, education, and outreach. “We are very proud to partner with the NWTF and their work in conservation, helping special needs hunters, getting women involved in the outdoors, and youth education,” said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “This is our way of thanking the NWTF and their thousands of grassroots volunteers, who are also NASCAR fans, for all they do.” (Bass Pro Shops PR)
April 14, 2006:
DEI Foundation logos placed on all DEI cars: The logo of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation is making the rounds, literally, at NASCAR races this season one lap at a time. The familiar "victory" silhouette of racing legend Dale Earnhardt is now part of the official paint scheme on all Dale Earnhardt, Inc. race cars in both the Busch and Nextel Cup series races. The logo made its debut this past week during races at Texas Motor Speedway. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation logo will be visible on the right rear "taillight" of all DEI cars, just above the car number decal. "We're very pleased that the DEI race teams are showing their support for the Foundation and its charitable efforts in such a visible manner," said Dick Baker, Executive Director of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. "This is a creative idea that will help us to expand awareness and recognition for the Foundation with race fans and the general public alike." Dale Earnhardt, Inc. races the #11 Menard's Chevrolet driven by Paul Menard in the Busch Series. In the Nextel Cup Series, the team races the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet driven by Martin Truex, Jr. and the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Founded in 2002 by Teresa Earnhardt, The Dale Earnhardt Foundation was established to carry on Dale's name and good works through charitable causes that support Children, Education and Wildlife Preservation. For more information please visit thedaleearnhardfoundation.org. (DEI PR)
March 29, 2006:
Glitch occurred the reason behind language, Manion not fined: FOX Sports used the same excuse for profanity creeping into Sunday's broadcast of the Nextel Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway as CBS did for Janet Jackson's breast being exposed during halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII. Equipment malfunction. "We've talked to FOX Sports and they told us there was a malfunction, that it wasn't deliberate,'' NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Tuesday. "They told us there's some sort of system in play where there's a delay. For whatever reason, it didn't work. They assured us they're looking at ways to make sure that doesn't reoccur.'' The incident occurred when the in-car radio conversation between crew chief Kevin Manion and his driver, Martin Truex., Jr., was broadcast. Manion was caught using the same word that earned driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. a $10,000 fine and the loss of 25 points two years ago at Talladega Superspeedway. Hunter said Manion was not fined because "this was a glitch that occurred.''(NASCAR.com)
March 23, 2006:
Former American Idol visits DEI: "American Idol" Bo Bice and his band, Sugarland Money, paid a visit to Dale Earnhardt, Inc. on Tuesday afternoon to check out where their favorite race team builds the cars for their favorite drivers. They were en route to a gig in Spartanburg, SC on Wednesday night. Having just left Columbia, SC earlier in the day with Charlotte radio interviews on tap for Wednesday morning, Bice and his band realized DEI in Mooresville was a doable stop on the way. They pulled up in their tour bus and took a behind-the-scenes view of our facility. Joining in the tour was Taylor Earnhardt, herself. She and Bice had their picture taken by a #8 car with a large photo of her dad, Dale, in the background. She offered interesting insights about the buildings and different aspects of DEI. During his tour, Bice was easily recognized by most of the employees. He gladly stopped, talked to everyone, posed for pictures and signed autographs. Even some fans who were outside the large glass doors of the Interior Showroom recognized Bice and got his attention. During his tour, Bice and the band stopped into the #8 Budweiser shop. There, Brian Cram (Shop Foreman) talked to them in more depth about race cars, how much they weigh and how many cars the team works on at one time. He even put Bice in the primary car for the upcoming Martinsville Speedway. (Dale Earnhardt Inc PR)
March 14, 2006:
Menard to attempt Atlanta: Dale Earnhardt Inc. will enter a car for Busch Series driver Paul Menard in this weekend's Golden Corral 500 Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Menard was scheduled to drive in seven Cup races in 2006 but failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 after blowing a tire in his Gatorade Duel event. If Menard makes the field, it will be his first oval race in Nextel Cup. Menard's previous two Cup races were at Watkins Glen. Menard is 17th in the Busch Series points standings. (NASCAR Scene Daily)
March 9, 2006:
Snap-On signs multi-year extension with DEI: Snap-on is proud to announce they have extended their sponsorship commitment with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. - one of NASCAR's premier teams. With this multi-year contract renewal, Snap-on will serve as an associate sponsor to DEI. "Snap-on has played an important role in our team's success through the years," said Teresa Earnhardt, president and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. "This long-term renewal reaffirms the strong relationship that Snap-on and DEI enjoy. We look forward to our continued partnership with Snap-on and its quality tools." "Snap-on Tools has been a part of the DEI family since my father began racing," said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. "Their products have been in our shops for decades and we rely on them to help us win races. They've been a solid partner through the years, and it's great we can continue working with them well into the future." DEI is currently comprised of four teams - the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops, No. 8 Budweiser and the No. 15 Menard's Chevrolet teams which compete in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. They also field the No. 11 Menard's Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series. In 2005, DEI celebrated 25 years of intimidation with its 100th NASCAR win (No 8 Busch Series win at Indianapolis Raceway Park). Through 2005, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has won 16 Nextel Cup Series in DEI-built racecars. Dale Jr. was named NASCAR's Most Popular Driver for the third consecutive year, making him one of only four drivers to win the award that many years in-a-row. (Ogilvy Public Relations)
Dec. 16, 2005:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. loses out
Dec..15, 2005:
Dale Jr. to test at Daytona
Dec.. 13, 2005:
Earnhardt, Jr. & NASCAR among top searched terms and athletes
Earnhardt at Sound & Speed Fest
Dec.. 11, 2005:
Earnhardt, Jr. fine after minor surgery
Dec.. 7, 2005:
NASCAR disappointed with Earnhardt, Gordon and others
Earnhardt, Jr. and Fantasy Racing
Dec. 3, 2005
Surprise Earnhardt, Jr. wins most popular driver of the year award again
Dec. 1, 2005:
Earnhardt, Jr. cousin dies
Nov. 15, 2005:
Dale Jr. on CNBC
Robby gets some help this weekend: This coming weekend, #7-Robby Gordon will run the Baja 1000 in Mexico, a race he's won twice. He'll have Busch Series regular (and DEI driver) Paul Menard practice and qualify his #7 Chevy on Saturday for Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Homestead with Gordon racing in the race in on Sunday. Gordon now is running DEI engines. (Yahoo Sports)
Dale Jr. weighs in on Busch
Nov. 4, 2005:
Earnhardt, Jr. still thinks about driving #3
Earnhardt, Jr. wins Wix award
DEI News Page 1 - 2
