Dale Earnhardt Inc News #8, #1, #15

[Woody]

Truex could become new face of DEI
 
May 31, 2007
By Scott Serrano PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

With the recent announcement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season, Martin Truex Jr. is ready to step up and become the new face of the organization.

That also means he will be taking over for the man most responsible for helping him get his start in the top levels of NASCAR racing.
 
 
"He was my teammate and I was able to go to him for information," Truex said. "He kind of helped me along the way with anything I ever needed help with. So, yeah, he was my mentor, more or less."

In addition, Truex faces the challenge of filling the shoes of one of the circuit's most popular drivers.

"Well, I think it will kind of put me a little bit more in the limelight or spotlight, so to speak," Truex said. "I think I'll have more opportunities with some sponsors coming into DEI working with me instead of everybody wanting to come here and work with Dale, Jr.

"It's kind of been a little difficult at times playing second fiddle to him. So in that aspect, it will open some doors for me, give me some new opportunities, which I look forward to."

Along with those opportunities come added leadership responsibilities as the team's top driver.

"I don't think I have to go out there and tell them all how to do their job, tell them if they're doing it right or wrong. We've got people to do that," Truex said. "As we get to running better, I think before the year is out we could maybe win a few races, make the Chase, do a lot of things that are good for the company, good for the people's morale around here."

Success on the track for Truex would go a long way in proving that DEI can still survive and be a contender for the Nextel Cup even after Earnhardt's defection.

"Dale Jr. leaves, but it's not over. People keep saying, 'It's over, what are they going to do?' Dale Jr. is a great asset to the company, obviously, but we can go on, we can thrive, we can win races. To show them that will be a great step in that direction. Just performing on the racetrack is the biggest thing. I think we're gaining on that each week."

That was the case last weekend when Truex finished 16th at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte to move up to 16th place in the point standings. Now he sets his sights on another solid showing at the Autism Speaks 400, presented by Visa at Dover on Sunday.

The good news is that Truex has fared well on the "monster Mile" in the past and hails from Mayetta, New Jersey, which is relatively close to Dover, making it more or less his home track.

"I've always felt really comfortable at it ever since the first time I ran there," Truex said. "I've really enjoyed the track. I don't know exactly why we always run well there."

What Truex does know is that he will be feeding off the added inspiration and momentum to prove that DEI will in fact move on without Earnhardt.

"I think it lights a fire under everybody's butt around here saying, 'Look, we've got something to prove,'" Truex said. "Dale Jr. didn't think we were good enough. We'll just try even harder to do that now, just to prove him wrong and everybody else out there that thinks we can't do it."





Updated on Thursday, May 31, 2007 3:44 pm EDT

 

[Realtree]

Martin Truex Jr won his first Nextel Cup race today at Dover Delaware driving the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevy Impala SS for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

 :rock:

[Woody]

Elder Eury picked to lead dedicated test team for DEI
By Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
June 6, 2007
07:28 PM EDT
   
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Wednesday said it is forming a dedicated team for testing, which Tony Eury will lead.

Eury had been the crew chief for rookie Paul Menard, but is giving up that position to focus on the test team. Dave Charpentier, an engineer on Menard's crew, will take over for Eury beginning with this weekend's race at Pocono Raceway.


Junior leaving DEI
Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of this season.


The top teams in NASCAR have dedicated test teams, which travel to non-Nextel Cup tracks during the week to collect data. Hendrick Motorsports is believed to lead the industry in testing, and rival competitors have complained that Hendrick has spent about 100 days testing this season; Hendrick officials say the number is closer to 30.

But it led Dale Earnhardt Jr. to complain last month that DEI wasn't putting forth a similar effort.

DEI's test team will use Menard, Kerry Earnhardt and developmental drivers for the test team, which is hoping to hit the track June 19-20 at Kentucky Speedway.

"We have to do this," DEI general manager John Story said. "If you want to keep up, or be the best, this is just one element of the things you have to do."

Although Menard has struggled to make races this season -- he's missed five of the 13 Cup events -- Eury is not being moved because of it. Eury spent several years as Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief, then moved into research and development when his son, Tony Eury Jr., took over Earnhardt's crew.

Eury went back to the pit box this season with Menard.

"We needed some veteran leadership to run that program, and instead of looking to the outside to hire someone, Tony accepted the position," Story said.

DEI has made several behind-the-scenes upgrades in the month since Earnhardt said he was leaving the company at the end of the season. The team formed an engine partnership with Richard Childress Racing, and is working on buying a seven-post shaker -- an expensive machine that simulates racing conditions.

And DEI scored its first victory in more a year Monday when Martin Truex Jr. won at Dover International Speedway

[Woody]

Now it seems to me that since Jr. announced his leaving DEI last month, DEI (Teresa) has realized his threats of leaving DEI are VERY real!  I think they didn't totally believe he'd consider leaving.  And now that he has spoke of DEI being behind-it's interesting that they have stepped up things in the last month. 

This is just a theory-but with all the talk of JR. leaving DEI-there is one scenerio that hasn't been discussed.  -JR STAYS AT DEI!  I know it's a longshot, considering the poor relationship he has with his step mother.  Yet-by simply announcing he will leave-has put a fire under DEI's butt and forced them to step up many parts of their program.  So who's to say that JR. might decide to stay afterall?  If you think about it-it makes sense. 

Even if DEI didn't make changes-who in their right mind wouldn't want to hire JR?  He hasn't won a championship-YET, but his popularity is unrivaled and that alone = BIG  $ponsor BUCK$!!  So he wouldn't lose anything by leaving.  He has the drive and desire to win a championship-to win more than one championship! 

Anyhow, that's just some thoughts I've had recently regarding the whole scheme of things.   ::hittingself::