Dinner with Dale Earnhardt Incorported (DEI)
First off, a stupid precedent was set when it was announced to us that there would be no one-on-one interviews with the principals of DEI. Instead, there would be the typical press conference format with questions from the audience. Individual interviews (or at least in small groups of media hounds and victim) used to be a mainstay of the Media Tour. The other shops accommodated, why not this one?
 Even though the media was restrained at DEI and there was tension in the air concerning previous comments about owner Theresa (see Kevin Harvick), Dale Jr. was his usual easy-going self despite the pressure-packed re-signing experience he is going through with his stepmother: he wants majority control of DEI, or it is possible he’d leave the team. |
At the dinner, owner Teresa Earnhardt stepped from behind a curtain, introduced DEI’s new President of Global Operations Max Siegel, and declared there would be no questions about contract negotiations as they are ongoing. She also said, "We have a lot of news to update our members of the media with since last season and will cover a lot of information," and then split. Dang, they didn’t even announce that Teresa had left the building.
Someone asked Jr, about Kevin Harvick's comment that Teresa is a “deadbeat” car owner and Jr. stood up for her, “Man you're killing me. That's ridiculous. Teresa, like I've said in the past, she's had a full plate. There are a lot of things she's had to be responsible for like the autopsy photos. [Keeping Dale Sr.’s from being public info – Ed.] She's taken care of things for the family as well as this company."
We did catch this, though. In her brief intro, Teresa said she and Jr. were about three to four weeks from nailing down his contract. Yet, Jr. later said it was three to four months.
From there, the press was invited to a screening of the movie, “Dale” and it will be a true treat for any fan of the Intimidator. Even Jr. said there was footage in there he had neverseen and called it, “Truly amazing. It’s to the point it’s just perfect.”
Day Three
Craftsman Truck Series Breakfast
This was FUN and a great reminder that these guys LOVE to race and are still having fun doing so. Five Champs showed up and remember, there’s never been a repeat champ in this series. Want to know where real NASCAR racing went? Watch the Trucks series and support it. Ironically, it is the last bastion of national “stock car” racing where racing is still more important that entertainment (by a bit).
Roush Racing
Check out General Jack Roush’s spit-fire comments elsewhere in this issue of OvalTracking.com.
Hendrick Motorsports
 Casey Mears takes over the star-crossed #25 at Hendrick Motorsports. Can he bring some consistency to it? |
Owner Rick Hendrick showed how classy he is by saying that we would not get the usual media graft – usually a logoed computer bag or such. Instead, a donation to the charities of Bobby Hamilton and Benny Parsons was made. Rick is approaching win number 150 so what can you say about the shop of the Champ?
This year’s Chase, according to Rick is “…going to be a dogfight.” We talked to one of the Chevy factory guys who let us in on the new Chevy R07 motor that probably won’t be seen until Bristol. Bottom line: Don’t count these guys out. The new Chevy engine will be a contender.