Teresa Earnhardt Parks 8 Car
Teresa Earnhardt Parks the No. 8
There won’t be a No. 8 car in Saturday night’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix. That will be the first time the No. 8 has not raced since Dale Earnhardt Jr began driving full time in the the NASCAR Sprint Cup series in 2000.
The Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing No. 8 has been driven so far this season by Aric Amirola – but a lack of sponsorship has caused the team to park the car, at least temporarily.
If Teresa Earnhardt had worked with Dale Jr just a little bit when he wanted to buy 51% of his father’s race team in 2007 sponsorship would not be a problem. It would be guaranteed.
Instead Teresa let pride stand in her way when she allowed NASCAR’s most popular driver, and it’s most marketable one, walk away.
Ralph Earnhardt’s Number
Junior wanted the No. 8 because it was the car No. his Grandfather Ralph Earnhardt had driven back in the day.
The Intimidator, Dale Earnhardt, even drove the No. 8 the 1975 World 600 at Charlotte, his first Cup race.
Teresa Refused to Release Number
But Teresa wouldn’t give the number up unless Dale Jr and Rick Hendrick were willing to write some big checks, even though it was Dale Earnhardt Jr who had built up the goodwill that stood behind the No. 8.
If Teresa Earnhardt had done what it took to keep Dale Earnhardt Jr on board she would have a strong race team today. She wouldn’t have to look for sponsors – the sponsors would be looking for her.
So was letting Dale Earnhardt Jr walk away a smart business move for DEI? I don’t think so.
DEI Needs Help now
Inside the building at DEI
Will the Last Person to Leave DEI Please Turn Off the Lights
Tony Stewart once predicted that DEI would be no more than a museum once Dale Earnhardt, Jr. left.
For a while I thought Smoke was wrong. Teresa Earnhardt bought out Bobby Ginn’s operation and collected Mark Martin as the driver for the No. 8 car in the process.
Then she signed Martin Truex Jr. to a one year contract extension – keeping Bass Pro Shops on board as the sponsor.
Suddenly things weren’t looking so bad. Now reality is starting to set in.
DEI has the same number of cars in the Chase as Michael Waltrip racing – zero.
Paul Menard is bolting from the No. 15 car and taking his sponsorship with him to Yates Racing.
Aric Almirola – set to drive the No. 8 car next year — has no sponsor.
Regan Smith – set to drive the No. 01 car next year — has no sponsor.
And I’ll be surprised if Martin Truex Jr. makes it past next year’s July race at Daytona before announcing that he has signed with another team.
4ever3 said he hoped not to see the for sale sign go up in front of DEI, and neither do I. But DEI had better get its house in order before it goes the way of AIG and Lehman Brothers.
What DEI needs is a big name driver to come on board with a big name sponsor – and soon.
Rusty Wallace said that he’s not interested, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Rusty Wallace would certainly change DEI’s fortunes.
Another option would be to merge DEI with another team. If only there were another Chevrolet team out there with a couple of hot shoes driving for them, maybe one of them was a 2 time champion, and the other one was a qualifying ace.
That team could merge with DEI, which already has the infrastructure and business processes in place, and become a powerhouse. Like I said, where there’s Smoke…
