Just because Dale Jr. is leaving everyone thinks that DEI is going to go under. Sure it hurts losing the most popular driver in NASCAR, but he isnt the best DRIVER in the sport. Truex just won a race and has been running strong, and Menard is a rookie who they still have to work the kinks out, but as of right now DEI has the 13th place in Truex and 15th in Dale Jr. At the end of the season, they both will probably be in the chase. They only have one win, but winning isnt everything in this sport. Consistency is what you need, and lately they have been getting. They are building consistent cars and are right in the thick of things. What are your opinions?
2007-06-05 11:19:17 · 18 answers · asked by theta342002 3 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
A lot of other teams are surviving without Jr....
2007-06-05 11:35:24 · update #1
Wouldnt you consider jr's driving mediocre the last couple of years?
2007-06-05 11:41:52 · update #2
Most of the Junior fans are just blinded and all google-eyed about him, as if the sun rises and sets in his @ss. DEI will get along just fine after he's gone, maybe even better next year after Junior has moved to Ginn. Then he and Ginn Racing will have all the pressure on them to produce, and Teresa and DEI won't be under so much pressure, and they can get back down to the business of winning races. I just think Junior was a bit too bull headed, leaving a team tat bears his name, instead of working things out. Oh well, Junior's loss, Teresa's gain.......
2007-06-07 16:12:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, as a person that has respect for Dale Earnhardt, I pray DEI is successful and will soldier on without Jr. I am following Jr wherever he goes but I don't wish dismay on the DEI organization. There are great people over there and I have much respect for them. Dale Jr wants them to have all the success in the world and so do I.
I don't agree with the way Teresa runs things but I'm not in her shoes. She is running things the way she likes and we all have to accept that. Hopefully it all works out. Her and Jr's problems, well, that's personal. You add that to them being family, well, that has to be a hard work environment.
I am happy Jr chose what was best for him. I'm glad he finally has started living for himself and not for everyone else. If those two can't get along, why torment each other and work together. This seems best for the situation.
MTJ is a great driver and I think Paul has some talent we just haven't seen. DEI is gonna be ok and Jr is gonna be ok. DEI is always gonna be a special place to me and that will never change, just the same as Jr is a special person to me and that will never change.
2007-06-05 20:22:59 · answer #2 · answered by DaleJr8 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
DEI won't die, it's just that things will be extremely different without Jr. If DEI can get a driver that has the potential, it will keep going strongly, and Truex will be able to fill Jr's shoes once he leaves, that win at Dover could mean a lot for the team, a boost of confidence, that's for sure.
I wouldn't be surprised if DEI gets both the 8 and the 1 into the Chase, both of them just need to step it up and they will be competitive week after week.
2007-06-05 21:16:16 · answer #3 · answered by samwu09 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that DEI is going to be all right, when Martin Truex Jr won his first Nextel Cup race on Monday, not only did it prove that Truex Jr. can win, it also proved that DEI still has the capability to put a car (other than Dale Jrs) car in victory lane.
2007-06-07 16:12:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dale Jr. is DEI's "Cash Cow"; aside from Junior no DEI Driver has finished in the top ten in points for the season. Yes, Truex Jr. won Dover. Waltrip won Daytona twice and even got one at Talladega; but outside of restrictor plate race, Mickey was very mediocre just as Truex Jr. is right now. Steve Park won at the Rock the week after Senior died; and yet at seasons end he was looking for a new ride. Paul Menard....well he's at least locked in to the top 35.
I can see why people think DEI will die after Junior leaves. Junior has almost become DEI's life's blood. However I believe DEI will soldier on; but it will be much like Petty Enterprises; just a mediocre team to fill the field every sunday.
2007-06-05 18:37:44 · answer #5 · answered by Gene L 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think Richard Childress signing an agreement with Teresa probably saved DEI's hide.
Before you jump to conclusions that I am saying that because Jr is leaving- DEI would cease to exist, no. DEI has been going down hill for a long time. About two years after Dale Sr died Teresa's focus changed and so did the direction (or lack there of) of DEI. Teresa stopped going to the races. Teresa hired some hollywood promoter to head up DEI. His main focus was to streamline the operation and the budget. They quit investing in the future. Jr. saw this and tried to point it out to Teresa. She wanted nothing to do with Jr's suggestions and didn't care about his opinions. That was the beginning of the end. Then came Richard....
DEI is not going anywhere. They will be around as long as Richard Childress has influence over Teresa.
What *has* died is what DEI stood for... family and racing... Teresa's vision isn't what Dale Sr intended. All of the NASCAR Nation knows it. Teresa is the only one that either doesn't know it or doesn't care.
2007-06-05 19:06:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Thats a great point, but RCR didn't die after Dale Sr. passed. Maybe they think Teresa isnt smart enough or she doesn't have the resources to keep it going. Maybe some feel it's been slowly dying, and Dale Jr. leaving will be their last stand.
2007-06-05 21:01:12 · answer #7 · answered by Bethany 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Trux winning was a fluke. good luck to Paul Menard but they're not enough to carry DEI with Teresa not willing to spend the money to be competitive with the current big guns. Everyone knows Jr can drive whether or not they'll admit it. Jr is not the problem. His relationship with the ice princess (with all due respect to Dale's widow) is the problem. Dale created DEI for his children, not for Teresa to forget to water the plant and let it wilt.
2007-06-05 21:17:40 · answer #8 · answered by Step into the Freezer 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Ms. Earnhardt has a lot to take care of, old business, licenses, protecting her wealth, replacing Dale Jr.
Now she has a hostile press. Real deal is DEI will always lack leadership ! She stays home, counts Dale Sr.'s long term income contracts.
2007-06-05 18:31:51 · answer #9 · answered by The Advocate 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jr is the big draw at DEI ,they made a fortune in just merchandise sales. The other drivers sales have been mediocre at best. They have the licensing right to Dale Sr. but that will only keep them above water so long. Without Jr ,D E I will D I E !!! The resentment from the Jr fans will be enough to wrap them up !
2007-06-05 19:36:15 · answer #10 · answered by David G, Jeff Gordon Rules !!!!! 7 · 1⤊ 5⤋