After DEI's struggles this year with engines, and the announcement that Dale Jr. would be leaving to go to Hendricks after '07, things have gotten even worse for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. This past week Director of Competition Steve Heimel announced he was leaving DEI as well to join Chip Ganassi. 5 years ago, DEI was still considered one of the top teams/companies in NASCAR. How Quickly things have gone bad since the loss of Dale SR, and fankly, the loss of true direction and leadership at DEI.
Today's race showed us Nothing can go right for DEI these days.
Martin Truex had a great car all day running as the leader and hanging around the top 5. With 5 laps to go, after the final pit-stop, Denny Hamlin , who had stayed on the track for postion as everyone else pit, ran out of gas on the restart. Truex, who was boxed in behind him, slammed into the back of Hamlin, and his day was done.
Then Dale Jr who also had a strong car most of the day and had worked hard to fight from a lap down to make it all the way back up to 3rd place behind JJ and Carl Edwards, losses his left rear wheel on the Green/White/checker restart without any contact except the asphalt beneath him.
We've seen blow outs and track bars break, or damage caused from hitting another car cause top 5's all year for Dale Jr. to end up as DNFs, but for the whole wheel, tire, and all to just fall off, is ridiculous. Surely he had all the lugnuts on or NASCAR would have brought him back in after the pit. DEI's engines falling to peices all year, and now the wheels are breaking apart.?
What a mess!
Junior finally released some of his frustration earlier this week about having top 5 cars all year, and so many freak things turning this year into a Big dissapointment.
Here' s the link courtesy of Fox and Associated press to Dale Junior's take on how '07 has gone for his team:
With DEI's luck this year, and obvious issues in the garage, maybe its time to just park the cars, send Teresa to the Antarctic, and rebuild the company from the ground up.. Or better yet, sell it to Richard Childress. DEI is a mess and I only see things getting worse as Junior moves to Hendricks after this season ends. You have to feel bad for Truex. He's stuck in a bad situation now that only looks to get worse.
Cartoon Courtesy of Mike Smith, award-winning editorial cartoonist featured daily in the Las Vegas Sun, L.A. Times, N.Y. Times, USA Today, and many others.
Tough day for "Smoke" and Junior.
It officially A HENDRICK CHAMPIONSHIP now and all that's left to be decided is Jeff or Jimmie and which Hendricks office will hold the trophy.
Last edited by Texascudaguy on October 28th at 3:45 PM.
WTH with Jr's tire (I was much louder and bluer here at home when the tire 'fell off)
'twas an interesting race but.......................DEI has a problem- I dunno what it is though
EEP The Nationwide series may have a version of the COT next year.
OHHHH MAAAAN
Hi to my wonderful Texas friend. I have to agree with you here. Even though DEI and Steve Himel (sp) said they parted ways on good terms, it makes you wonder. The press release I read certainly had Himel saying most of the same things Dale, Jr., said about DEI. Mostly it was the lack of communication with the owner. I also read that Jr., is extremely excited to be able to test Monday and Tuesday in a Hendrick car. Did you see any of the interview on BDSS? It was interesting to hear Jr., talk about the frustration this year. As always, you post excellent thoughts and blogs. Thanks
Yee and Vol-
Always great to see ya. I havent been posting much lately because of some major issues i discovered with the site and was contemplating whethere to just give up, but i decided too many good folks in NASCAR i would miss if i did.
Hemeil leaving really didnt surprise me. Dominoe effect things. It's been obvious all year that people are frustrated with Teresa's lack of leadership. They don't say it publicly because it hurts your credibility when searching for your next job.
The only way I saw DEI getting back to what Dale Sr built it to be was giving Jr and Kelly the majority ownership they asked for and deserved before deciding to leave. It was a major factor for Junior and the main reason he decided to leave. If a man will give up on a company with his name on it, to join a company that all his peers fear, means he didn't feel DEI was going anywhere with step-momma in charge.
Heimel is higly respected by a lot of peoplein NASCAR, and his loss will have another dominoe effect, this time all the way down to the guy that fails to check wheels for hairline cracks or balance, or wheel hubs for inperfections, or whatever part it was that caused Jr's car to dissentigrate this week.
Sr would be rolling in his grave now if he saw what DEI has become.
Texas...glad you stayed around...although clearly something is amiss with the NFL slot! ;)
To quote our fav sportscaster "that is just crazy!" Truex seemed on the ball except for that restart, it really does seem to be primarily Jr's cars. He took a pretty hard lick there. I would think twice about getting into a TEI car from here on out if I were him. Perhaps he would rather watch the last 3 races with me in the comfort of his motorhome! LOL
Thank goodness he didnt let me drive the #8 car today!
Kristen- Apparently my post isn't the only one showing up in the wrong category. Someone else posted a peice asking about this issue 2 days ago and another today, and for several bloggers, it's been going on for a few days.
Spamming categories and intentionally putting something in NFL is one thing.. Fox doing it for you is another...
hottiefoot-
I'm bummed too Lori.. I emailed you earlier when Tony was down 2 laps and Jr down 1. At least you knew then Tony was out of it. I had to suffer through watching Jr. literally drive the wheel(s) off his car and climb back to the front only to end up with another DNF. LOL.. Is it '08 yet?
Last edited by Texascudaguy on October 28th at 8:36 PM.
Cuda -
Another sad day for DEI at Atlanta. Even though I am not a Jr fan, it would have been nice to see him end his drought today. It's seems hard to believe that someone can have so much "bad luck" in one year. Perhaps this is just his year to get the bad stuff out of the way, so he can shine in 2008.
Gerrel. hopefully you are right. I'm sure he' more than ready for this year to be over with and is excited about the much better quality of equipment he will have at Hendricks.
It's just sad that DEI is so far behind now, when they were so far ahead when Sr was still alive.
Cuda- Good points. We'll see if she brings in anyone to replace Tony Sr, Tony Jr and Hmiel. Add in Ty Norris (who's now at Waltrip) and you wonder who else is going to jump ship. Gilmore is ill, so who knows if he'll be able to return to work (or wants to).
From Radio chatter from Jr's car just a fdew laps before the crash:
Dale Jr. complained of a loose wheel under caution on lap 324 - before his hard crash several laps later.
Dale Jr.: "That damn wheel is loose as hell! Is anybody saying my car has a broken rear end? Ask Reed (Sorenson- who was behind the 8 car). The 99 (C. Edwards) passed me on the inside! As far as I know that's against the rules!"
Majors: "NASCAR says the 48, then the 99, then the 8... Reed says it looks fine."
Dale Jr.: "Are you kidding?! It's driving itself like a forklift here! Do you see the car weaving? That's not me! It may be OK at speed.... We'll find out in a second..."
He also losts a crew member temporarily yesterday after a flying lugnut from another pit stall knocked the pit sign holder's front teeth loose and earned him some stitches in his lip.(He came back and finished the race after a quick dentist visit.)
Guess when it rains it pours for the #8 team.
Last edited by Texascudaguy on October 29th at 8:17 AM.
Jamie/Forensic -
Did I miss something here? Are you saying you are related to Photo? Because you b*ear a striking resemblance to his avatar. Of course you appear a wee bit younger. But with age comes wisdom. Oops, did I say that Photo is smarter than you? Better shut my mouth up before I get into any trouble.
Ok. I've discovered that wobbly wheel hub that caused Dale Jr's problems yesterday was purchased by DEI from one of our own at GGW for some "####y smoochy."
####y smoochie? DEI Buying our parts? Forensic related to me?? LMAO. Gerrel you are already in trouble.
Whos is selling our parts for some ####ie smoochie? I haven't been getting any smoochie.
The issues with Dale Jr. and DEI is all a big mistake. Jr. (as Crusty says)is driving his brains out. You gotta go like a rocket. There he goes. These are all code words from Crusty to some one to fix Jr.s car so it wil run better. If you believe that I have some cheap seat tickets in turn 4 at POCONO raceway I will sell you..
Last edited by photogr on October 29th at 5:26 PM.
It's a sad shame to see DEI falling apart and becoming an bottom feeder "also ran" corporation. It's a shame step-mom and junior couldn't build on Sr's empire instead of having a power struggle for control. To the victor goes the spoils... which won't be much, compared to what the old man left behind for them.
DEI aka TEI will be taken over by RCR before 2009. Martin Truex Jr. will still be in the #1 car with Bass Pro Shops still as the sponsor. The #8 and #15 teams will be dissolved. JMHO
Unfortunately the rivalry between Gordon and Earnhardt will be muted now that they're teammates, even if their fans refuse to sign a beer-can ceasefire.
jon-you may be right. If next year gets any worse than 07 has been for DEI, 2 yrs could be all it takes for Teresa to sell the whole tamale and head for the Alps or where ever.
dsd- thanks as always for stopping by. Gerbil power would be lot more cots efficient for DEI. It may be a possibility. LOL
Midnite- Dale Jr at Hendricks should do wonders for Gordon or JJ's public image. His relatability to the fans is something that Hendricks and those guys can learn from.
I'm not a auto racing fan but I am familiar with the situation regarding DEI. What a sad commentary that the mans son will not be involved for the foreseeable future. Since you guys keep your finger on the pulse of NASCAR, how do you think the fans have reacted to all of this?
texasguy: Thanks for dropping by my blog. I've added your blog to my favorites.
Th fans seem happy for Junior for rthe most part because he's doing whats best for his career right now. Sr did the same thing at about Jr's age, and it worked out for him.
Thank for reading Moondog.
Just an average sports fan. Enjoy in order of favorites: NFL, NASCAR, College Football, MLB, College Basketball.
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