DEI

[SmokeyVol]

DEI responds to incident in Coca-Cola 600

Dale Earnhardt Inc. officials said on Saturday that last weekend's crash between teammates Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip was "definitely not intentional."

 
Steve Hmiel

Earnhardt Jr. and Waltrip tangled on Lap 246 at Lowe's Motor Speedway last week, ruining both cars and triggering an angry response from the Waltrip camp.

Earnhardt Jr. went into DEI on Monday and apologized to Waltrip's crew.

Richie Gilmore, Director of Motorsports for DEI, said that the wreck was caused -- in part -- because Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet was so fast.

"That was probably the best that car has been all year," Gilmore said. "Just a mistake. He caught him faster than he thought he was.

"That car hasn't run in contention for awhile."

I still believe that Waltrip will be removed from the 15 car next year. If not before.

 

[checkerboard_charly]

actually they are working on re-signing him. i expect to see him back.

he would replace him? Truex. he is still to young and stupid.

 

[SmokeyVol]

Originally posted by checkerboard_charly@Jun 4, 2005 5:35 PM
actually they are working on re-signing him. i expect to see him back.

he would replace him? Truex. he is still to young and stupid.

[snapback]100859[/snapback]​

young and stupid AND WINNING

 

[checkerboard_charly]

Originally posted by Smokey_Vol@Jun 4, 2005 5:44 PM
young and stupid AND WINNING

[snapback]100861[/snapback]​

lol. not in nextel he isnt winning. hey, i like him and all. but he needs alot of maturity.

 

[#10_Ainge_#10]

Originally posted by checkerboard_charly@Jun 4, 2005 5:45 PM
lol. not in nextel he isnt winning. hey, i like him and all. but he needs alot of maturity.

[snapback]100862[/snapback]​

In every race he's ran in this year other than one he's out ran both the primary DEI cars.....Move him up next year....I'll be looking forward to it

 

[SmokeyVol]

Originally posted by checkerboard_charly@Jun 4, 2005 5:45 PM
lol. not in nextel he isnt winning. hey, i like him and all. but he needs alot of maturity.

[snapback]100862[/snapback]​

Waltrip isnt in Nextel either and matter of fact he is exaclty winning in Busch either. And he runs a very heavy schedule in Busch.

 

[OWB]

I think that Truex will be the next one to drive the 15.

 

[SmokeyVol]

Originally posted by Orangewhiteblood@Jun 4, 2005 9:51 PM
I think that Truex will be the next one to drive the 15.

[snapback]100913[/snapback]​

On second thought.....................

I watched an interview a couple weeks ago and Jr was talking about the future of DEI. I think it was during the prerace show. He made a statement that more than likely Truex would be in the 1 car fulltime next year. He also made a statement that the most successful teams are mutli car teams of 3 or more so the dismissal of Waltrip my not come until the 07 season when I believe the trio will be Jr, Truex, and Menard. I wish DEI would have booted Waltrip one or two season ago when Sadler was available for the picking.

 

[JohnsonCityVol]

The original plan was always jr in the 8, waltrip in the 15, and Truex in the 1 part time in 05 and full time in 06.

Waltrip was told at the start of the year that if he did not make the chase, he would be out of a job. That was probably just motivational talk and DEI can't really be serious about that because: 1- If Waltrip goes, NAPA goes with him and 2- The only other driver on a development contract with DEI is Shane Hmiel, who would eventually replace Waltrip in '07 or '08. Putting Shane into an unsponsored 15 car was not very likely for '06, even before his drug suspension.

Now with Shane gone, Waltrip is almost assured the 15 for at least one more year. Now the 'question' is whether jr will remain at DEI.

Where would he go? There's no way Chevy will let him out of their grasp, so he'll have to end up with a Chevy team. Hendrick has a full stable with several drivers in development.

Gibbs has 3 cars, don't see Bobby or Tony leaving, but renumbering the 11 to an 8 is a possibility, the only catch is Bud will come with jr, and Gibbs would have to break a multi-year deal with FedEx and it's not likely a so-sponsorship (like on the 18 car) could be brokered, too many jokes about the FedEx driver drinking Bud. It would be a PR nightmare.

RCR could replace Harvick and renumber the car 3 from 29. But RCR is on the decline, plus this would displace long time sponsor Goodwrench. It's doubtful he would replace Blaney and the 07 (sponsor conflict with Jack Daniels) or Burton and the 31 (The Nextel deal has Cingular unfairly locked onto the 31 as the only car they can sponsor).

That leaves the "satellite" teams, the 01/10 MBV2 whatevermacallit, which is actually just minor league Hendrick teams, and Cal Wells #32 Tide Chevy (satellite of RCR). Very doubtful he'll end up at any of these teams..... unless he just wants out of DEI so bad that he's willing to take that risk.

This could be interesting.