Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing PARKS The 8 Car | NASCAR | Dale Earnhardt Jr

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4/9/09

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing PARKS The 8 Car

Should Teresa Have Given the "8" to Dale Jr?

NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Aric Almirola, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Team News / Analysis

JrCanuckFan

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It was first reported on Tuesday, but now it is all over the NASCAR airwaves. The number 8, made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been parked by Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, pending sponsorship.

The sponsorship woes have hit more than one team this year, and this is the second of the Ganassi cars parked in less than a year. Dario Franchitti was in the 40 car last year when sponsorship dried up.

Aric was expecting the news, and really has nothing else planned, anticipating "something" will come together shortly.

Us NASCAR fans who watch every minute of the pre-race shows and follow the sports religiously already know what the next rumor will be. It seems Martin Truex Jr has a clause written into his contract that the EGR operation must be a three car team. Right now it's two cars, he and Juan Pablo Montoya. Apparently, if the team goes below three cars, Martin is free to look for another ride. NASCAR Raceday disputed that rumor last Sunday, stating that the Bass Pro-Shops sponsorship is tight through the end of Martin's contract with EGR. I'm not buying that. I'm betting Bass Pro-Shops will go with Martin Truex Jr., should he decide to move to another team, IF another offer is out there.

Either way, one can uncerstand why a sponsorship for Aric can't be found handily. He's outside of the top 35 in owner points and has no guarantee to start. The way he has qualified and raced isn't exactly a confidence builder or a draw for any sponsor looking for someone to fall in with.

Opinions abound about this latest development in the wreck that Dale Earnhardt Inc. has become since Dale Earnhardt Jr left the family business to join Hendrick Motorsports. Many have said the 8 is "cursed" because Teresa wouldn't let Dale Jr take the number with him. Certainly, the popularity has diminished drastically. It is sad to see the 8 reduced to has been, but truthfully, didn't we all forecast that? I know I've read more than one article predicting their demise.

I sense the end of Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. Hopefully it isn't the end of two promising racing careers. Both Martin Truex Jr and Juan Pablo Montoya deserve a chance to show their stuff in quality equipment with strong teams behind them. Maybe if Jr and Kelley had control, but that's just a dream.

So weigh in, what do you think? Will EGR be here come 2010? Will Dale Jr and Kelley be given an opportunity to take it over?

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4/9/09

DigitalSquire

1	No way Theresa give up control. She makes all her money marketing Dale Sr Stuff. She will park the cars ... sell the race team but keep the Marketing And commemorative Dale Sr business for herself.

4/9/09

lvallanc

1	i think jr should still be driving the #8 car for dei teresa should have giving jr what he wonted to stay at dei ,the name dale earnhardt would mean millions for dei

4/9/09

chicachericola

Jr and Kelly don't want anything to do with that team. It's not even their family team anymore. They are much better off sticking with JR Motorsports than try to resurrect that shell of a team. All they would be doing it for is a name, which Theresa has tarnished anyways.

I don't know why, but I have a feeling JR Motorsports will prosper over this. I think Truex will field their first Sprint Cup car in '10 or '11. He and Jr. work really well together and was mostly the reason he went to DEI to begin with. He has nothing to lose at this point, it's not like he has the equipment or expertise to win where he is at now. Then again, i'm sure a lot of teams are circling like sharks around him. He has talent, he just needs the right team to shine.

4/9/09

formerBuckeye

0	If she ever wanted to speak with him again ... she should have given him the # 8

4/9/09

SweetCleanJaybo

0	What the hell has Dale Jr. done? Besides, he did keep the 8, he just added another.

4/9/09

fremontguy26

0	it doesnt matter no 1 usin the 8, its done and over wit

4/9/09

Raven73

2	Yeah, about that...I have so many photos, die-cast cars, hats & jackets from the old 8...no tattoos but a lot of "Free The 8" stickers. I'll sell 'em to ya cheap.

4/9/09

chicachericola

1	It's just a number. They get cycled through time and time again. If a driver wants to base his fame solely on a number, then they don't want to be that successful in NASCAR. A driver should be able to drive any number and make that number memorable to them.

4/9/09

JrCanuckFan

chicachericola wrote:

I agree that Dale Jr and Kelley don't want DEI, at this point anyway. IF they ever did, it would be because of what their daddy started, and for sentimental reasons. Jr has already said he has moved on from the decision and doesn't want to look back. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Martin with JR or with Stewart-Haas in a third car (of course with the HMS involvement)

4/9/09

snbslugger

1	The #8 goes back three generations to Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Sr.'s father. It's a shame they are parking it. It's so sad to see what DEI has become. I can't imagine he would have wanted the company to end up this way.

4/9/09

chicachericola

snbslugger wrote:

The #8 goes back three generations to Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Sr.'s father. It's a shame they are parking it. It's so sad to see what DEI has become. I can't imagine he would have wanted the company to end up this way.

I'm not really up to date on what personnel changes she has made over the years, but i'm curious to know how exactly she got the company to this point. Sr. had them in a top contention spot when he passed away. Yes, Hendrick and Roush were coming for him but he was generally staying one step ahead, especially when it came to super speedways. Did she go on some firing spree or something? You would think Sr. had a staff in place that could have carried on.

4/9/09

JrCanuckFan

0	The history of the 8 is well known, yes, and it's sad that the history appears to end here. Kerry's son Jeffrey signed with DEI and was coming up through the series as a development driver, but even there has been taken out of the car for other drivers. If I were him, I'd be seeing what kind of developmental stuff "Uncle Jr" has.

4/9/09

JrCanuckFan

She hired Max Seigel in 2006 (I believe - not sure) who had a business background, just like Teresa, but knew nothing about racing. Jr, at that time, was trying, along with Pops and Tony Jr, to let them know what kind of equipment they needed. My understanding is that with the death of Sr, that racing leadership was gone. Teresa didn't want to give up the reins to Jr. Unfortunately, that meant DEI didn't make the moves in the R&D department they should have and they find themselves on the outside looking in . There are plenty of perspectives on this, mine is only one, but I truly believe having two BUSINESS people trying to run a RACE team isn't a move in the right direction.

4/9/09

chicachericola

JrCanuckFan wrote:

It makes perfect sense though. Look at the success of SHR. Tony knows the importance of both sides being he already owns several teams. You can't have it one sided. There has to be a balance.

4/9/09

JrCanuckFan

0	For all of Tony's oustspoken personality, he's showing he can get the job done, obviously on and off the track. He is a LEADER and has shown that time and again. Haas-CNC wasn't nearly the contender they are now without his leadership. That's why I wouldn't be surprised to see Martin end up there.

4/9/09

poohluvs88

0	Dale Jr. driving the 8 car is dead already. Dale Jr. has moved on, I had moved on. It's time for everyone else to move on. It's a dead horse now.

4/9/09

JrCanuckFan

1	We're not talking about Jr driving the 8 car, at least I wasn't, we are talking about EGR and what's becoming of it.

4/9/09

poohluvs88

JrCanuckFan wrote:

We're not talking about Jr driving the 8 car, at least I wasn't, we are talking about EGR and what's becoming of it.

Sorry...I just saw the title and I just went with that because that is all the web is talking about right now.

As far as EGR (or whatever it is) is concerned...as soon as Junior announced that he was leaving, it turned into a museum. I bet Martin is counting down the days when he is out of there at the end of the season.

4/9/09

kantwistaye

1	(Edited by kantwistaye) Ganassi will not let his NASCAR team just die. They might do some more restructuring, but I can't see EGR going anywhere anytime soon.

4/9/09

JrCanuckFan

0	poohluvs88 wrote: Sorry...I just saw the title and I just went with that because that is all the web is talking about right now. As far as EGR (or whatever it is) is concerned...as soon as Junior announced that he was leaving, it turned into a museum. I bet Martin is counting down the days when he is out of there at the end of the season. s'okay :D gotcher attention......and I agree

4/10/09

Bashfulblue

1	Well I have heard that every dog has "her" day and it seems like Teresa is getting hers....I wish Mrs. Earnhardt had given the #8 to Junior...It was his....but #88 is twice as nice...Go Jr

4/10/09

chicachericola

2	kantwistaye wrote: Ganassi will not let his NASCAR team just die. They might do some more restructuring, but I can't see EGR going anywhere anytime soon. Theresa should just cut her losses, sell her shares to Ganassi and put her focus where its always been...making money off of Sr's name.

4/10/09

das3cr

1	Time will tell what happens to EGR. Personally, I don't really want to see another marquee name get parked. (I'm thinking Petty's 'merger') So I hope they make some changes to that organization and become more competitive.