The Earnhardt Family Feud: A NASCAR Battle
"Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality." This was the quote by Teresa Earnhardt about her stepson and star driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., that is now being called the shot heard around the world. It didn't really start the battle, it just brought it to light.
What Teresa Needs To Do
Plain and simple, she needs to realize that, without Dale Jr., DEI, which was founded by Teresa's late husband and Dale Jr.'s father Dale Earnhardt, is nothing. They have two other drivers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, but neither bring in the finishes or the money that Dale Jr. does.
There should be no reason for Teresa to keep Dale Jr. from having an ownership stake in DEI. After the checkered flag and all the lights were out at the track, Dale Earnhardt was a family man. He would have wanted his company, in part at least, to be in the hands of his kids. Why didn't he will the company to Dale Jr. in the event of his death you ask. His son wouldn't have been ready six years ago. But he has matured since the time of his father's death, and now he is ready.
What Dale Jr. Should Do
On one hand, I don't want to see him leave DEI. He's an Earnhardt, and that's where he should be. But on the other hand, he should be more than just a driver for the team. As a long time NASCAR fan, I would love to see Dale Jr. go to RCR and drive the #3, and I think one day soon, we will see a #3 Budweiser car on the track with Dale Jr. behind the wheel. Richard Childress himself said that if Dale Jr. leaves DEI, he wants him to come to him first.
Conclusion
Dale Jr. should not have to choose between being a driver and a public personality. Each and every driver on the track must be both. That's today's NASCAR. It's not just racing anymore. It's sponsors, commercials, and money. If a driver isn't in the public eye off the track, then the sponsor won't make as much money.
It is my hope that Teresa's greed doesn't keep Dale Jr. from what is rightfully his. But if it does, he will move on and be just fine. Whether he is at DEI or RCR, he will be doing what he wants and will be continuing his father's legacy.
Published by Robert Rhodes
I am 32 years old and live in Central PA. I have been writing since I was a teen, and have been doing Web Graphics and Web Design for about 10 years. View profile
- Five Years into the Post-Dale Earnhardt Era of NASCARSince Dale Earnhardt's tragic death in 2001, the face of NASCAR has vastly changed.
- Dale Jr. Leaving DEIWith all of the media hype surrounding the announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving DEI at the end of the season, I hope that true fans stop for a moment to consider what is best for Jr.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart Gain Momentum Heading into 2007When the 2007 preview guides hit the shelves in January, you can bet that both Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr will be among the list of favorites.
NASCAR Driver Profile 2010: Dale Earnhardt JrDale Earnhardt Jr after a winless 2009 NASCAR season, is looking to get more involved with Mark Martin's team to have a successful 2010.- Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr at Odds After NASCAR Race at TalladegaEarnhardt Jr and Gordon are NASCAR's two most identifiable figures, and throughout their careers they have seemed to be able to play nice out on the track. Perhaps they were only tolerating each other.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. Says Good-Bye to DEI, Junior to Follow Suit After 2007 Season
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Destined for NASCAR Greatness
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Problems with the NASCAR-Racing Son of a Legend
- NASCAR Sprint Cup's Most Popular Driver Six Years in a Row Not Enough for Dale Ear...
- NASCAR's Most Popular, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Fails to Qualify for the Chase
- Biography: Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. (1951-2001)
- Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr
- Dale Jr. Deserves a stake in his father's company.
- Teresa's only motivation is greed.
16 Comments
Post a Comment2010 will be Jr's. year to shine, & like the Roman empire, Theresa's year to fall! She has it coming to her!
An accident killed Sr., and Theresa is killing D.E.I. Dale Jr. will live on, prosper, & do his Father proud. Theresa has done nothing but turnished her husband's name. SHAME on her!
An accident killed Sr., and Theresa is killing D.E.I. Dale Jr. will live on, prosper, & do his Father proud. Theresa has done nothing but turnished her husband's name. SHAME on her!
DALE JR. is DEI !!!!
I agree with the majority here on this site. Theresa should know she is driving out her golden goose, she will not keep the company going if she does not wake up and treat her husbands kids the way that she should as a step mother. Dale Jr. probably did not think that Jr. was mature enough yet six years ago but today he would have turned atleast part of the company over to his son and I also agree that the NASCAR drivers today have to be public people otherwise how do the fans know that they exist and who they drive for and who they want to root for.... I bet Rick Hendricks is laughing at the fact that he has two of the best drivers comming up and Theresa from DEI Drove one to him.
As a grown man; an adult, no one ever affected my emotion like the ability of Dale Earnhardt. He was the best of the best. Triumphed over all and paid the lonely price of being the best. It is unconcionable that Teresa is doing what she is doing. How much money does she need? Dale Jr. is an Earnhardt. Bottom line.
My comment is to Dawn M. If Dale Sr. really cared about what happened to his children he would've placed his company in the hands of people to help run it, oversee it and work for the benefit of his children if he thought that they were not ready to assume total responsibility of the company and not trust that greedy Teresa, would treat his family fairly. He had to know this woman he married her. He has no reason to roll in his grave he dropped the ball on that one.
I'm a little confused how can you get a great company like DEI and not be around for the bottom line of the business and be AT the races to make sure your company is going to do it's best. Well I guess it shows how much Teresa really cares about racing and DEI. To bad.
It really is sad what greed and selfishness can do to a person. I agree that Dale Jr will be fine but how very sad that he cannot live out the destiny his father really wanted him to have. I am baffled at how Teresa can swear she loved Dale Sr so much and treat his children so badly. Dale Sr loved Dale Jr you could see it in his face anytime he and Jr were together. I hope and pray she has to lock the doors to DEI and walk away, she will have nobody to blame but herself.
DEI was formed in case anything happened to Sr. In an interview he stated DEI was for the wife and kids (KIDS)