Dale Earnhardt is spinning in his grave.

[Turbo]

I know that interest in NASCAR around here is rather low, but I think that this deserves it's own topic. The race team founded by Dale Earnhardt - DEI - is all but gone. As of today, it is now part of Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. Two mediocre teams merge to produce...one big mediocre team.

Spoiler: The details of the merger and a bit of background.

DEI and Ganassi both have major issues; Ganassi is losing all but one driver (Juan Pablo Montoya), one sponsorship (Target), and one part-time sponsorship (Wrigley's). They may also be losing their manufacturer, Dodge.

On the flip side is DEI, who is losing two drivers, two full-time sponsorships, and several associate sponsorships. One of the full-time sponsorships, provided by John Menard, was reportedly providing the money to keep DEI afloat. They're left with three drivers (Martin Truex, Aric Almirola, Regan Smith), one sponsorship (Bass Pro Shops), and one major part-time sponsorship, maybe (Principal Financial Group).

EGR will include the following lineup:
#1 - Martin Truex, Jr.; Bass Pro Shops
#8 - Aric Almirola; Wrigley's (12 of 36 races)
#41 - No driver; no sponsor
#42 - Juan Pablo Montoya; Target

Oh, and one more thing. Martin Truex, Jr. is very unhappy with his ride and nearly left DEI this year. He and sponsor Bass Pro Shops both have close ties with Tony Stewart, who has just started his own two-car team with Ryan Newman. Truex and BPS are expected to join them as a third team in 2010.

This merger reeks of desperation. It does nothing for either team’s driver or sponsorship problems. Martin Truex and Bass Pro Shops are almost certainly leaving after 2009, so they’re left with only one full-time sponsor after next year.

With all the rumors and stories about Dodge right now (pulling out of the Truck Series, GEM and Robby Gordon looking at Toyota, and now this), they’re probably pulling out of Cup. This at least provides Ganassi with a foot in the door at Chevy.

As for DEI, I don’t see what they get out of it. The Wrigley’s sponsorship? With them laying off so many people, I’m willing to bet that Teresa has finally had enough, and without John Menard’s money, she’s had to find another buyer. Too bad she didn’t swallow her pride and sell to Junior when she could have.

Congratulations, Teresa. You've killed your husband's namesake. Fortunately, his legacy is in the hands of people who actually know what to do with it (Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt, Jr). Kindly take the money you're getting from this deal and leave NASCAR now, before you start tarnishing that, too.

Oh, and one more thing. If Teresa hadn't cut Junior out, they wouldn't be in this position. They would have formed a technical alliance with Hendrick instead of RCR, and Junior would have been able to bring in both sponsorships and drivers.

Spoiler: Speculation on what might have happened

AMP/Mountain Dew would have come to the #8 after Budweiser left, and Smoke probably would have gone to DEI instead of forming his own team. Mark Martin would have stayed on as well, creating this picture for 2008:
#01 - Mark Martin/Aric Almirola; US Army
#1 - Martin Truex, Jr.; Bass Pro Shops
#8 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr.; AMP/Principal Financial
#15 - Paul Menard; Menard's

In 2009, Mark probably would have left for Hendrick to replace Casey Mears, and Smoke and Newman would move to DEI instead of Haas:
#01 - Ryan Newman; US Army
#1 - Martin Truex, Jr.; Bass Pro Shops
#8 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr.; AMP/Principal Financial
#15 - Tony Stewart; Office Depot/Old Spice

Of course, this is probably very similar to what Stewart's team will look like in 2010 anyways, with Brad Keselowski replacing Junior in that lineup.

 

[JonathonWally]

I used to be a big Nascar fan, watched it every sunday with my dad for growing up. Then just stopped about 4-5 years ago. Cookie cutter car, cookie cutter tracks. It's all the same. Not exciting anymore.

 

[ParticleMan]

Truex desperately needs to get out of Earnhardt-Ganassi (man, that sucks to say that) and get to a decent team. The guy has got talent, but the Giant Sucking Black Hole of Suck that DEI has descended into will only hurt him going forward. I'd have liked to have seen him take the 4th car at RCR instead of Mears, but oh well...I bet he joins Stewart-Haas after next season, which would be good for him as well.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

Truex desperately needs to get out of Earnhardt-Ganassi (man, that sucks to say that) and get to a decent team. The guy has got talent, but the Giant Sucking Black Hole of Suck that DEI has descended into will only hurt him going forward. I'd have liked to have seen him take the 4th car at RCR instead of Mears, but oh well...I bet he joins Stewart-Haas after next season, which would be good for him as well.

I'm surprised that Truex has stayed this long without his buddy Jr. I can only imagine that this merger will be nothing but bad news for all involved. Thank goodness Stewart is forming his own partnership with Hass and going back to Chevrolet!

 

[Gil T.Azell]

I used to be a big Nascar fan, watched it every sunday with my dad for growing up. Then just stopped about 4-5 years ago. Cookie cutter car, cookie cutter tracks. It's all the same. Not exciting anymore.

Cookie Cutter Drivers!!!

Sr would never have let Jr. go
The new Name Should be "Chip 'n' Dale"
Teresa has turned DEI into a Museum just as Smoke said it would be come.

I know some one who was hanging Bodies on cars at DEI, but with the 110+ people laid off last week I think he's now un-employed.
I wonder if Teresa evicted him and his wife from the house they rented on the property???

 

[Amaris]

I used to be a big Nascar fan, watched it every sunday with my dad for growing up. Then just stopped about 4-5 years ago. Cookie cutter car, cookie cutter tracks. It's all the same. Not exciting anymore.

Yep. I used to love Nascar, all the way up to about 5 years ago, and then it just became a "meh" sport to me, like Professional Wrestling, and for similar reasons as you listed above.


J.

 

[arch101]

At least Juan Montoya should be able to win now with Chevy and those Childress engines.

 

[Brendan Moody]

Not particularly involved in NASCAR, but I do think it's a bit tacky to claim her dead husband's (entirely theoretical) dissatisfaction to bolster your own argument against this merger.

 

[Turbo]

The problem is that this woman has taken a very successful company and run it straight into the ground. She has not made one single decision that has improved the company since Dale's death.

So, no, I don't think he'd be happy with what's going on right now.

 

[NCC1968]

I grew up in the deep South and never could stand it...........now F1....THAT is some excitment....

 

[Turbo]

F1 is pretty cool; I wish I had the Speed Channel so I could see more of it. The Speed F1 announcers are the best racing broadcast team in the business right now, too.

 

[arch101]

^^ As to F1, EVERY racing series championship should be decided in the last 30 seconds of the season. I'm a big Lewis fan and I went from despair to joy in those 30 seconds. It made the cup finale seem dreadfully dull.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Nascar is now to auto-racing what Ringling is to Circus - it is an over-hyped event that has lost it's connection to what makes it fun.

This season is going to see some major refocus. Cars can't get sponsors, track attendance is down, team support from the manufacturers is going away. We'll see some teams just fold and some races go without 43 cars.

This is directly attributed to the economy but the NASCAR attitude and decision process of the last few years has not helped. Cookie cutter tracks, elimination of tradition short tracks, drivers with no personality and penalties to those that do have one. The COT - nuff' said.

NASCAR fell into the same trap of numerous other sport organizations. They became the hot thing and thought it would last forever. Then in a few years those fans head to the next great thing. It happened to the NHL, NBA, WWA and others. In the meantime they alter the product to please these temporary fans and alienate the traditional fan base.

 

[arch101]

When the most interesting race of the year is the minor league rain race, you got trouble.

 

[JM1776]

One would assume rapidly, to the left.

 

[DanCPA]

DEI might be long gone, but his baby boy is still racing, and it's junior that is carrying seniors legacy

 

[Captain Ice]

DEI might be long gone, but his baby boy is still racing, and it's junior that is carrying seniors legacy

I can agree with this.

Hendrick is gonna be hard to touch in '09.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

I think Jr is over rated, he hasn't impressed me since he started racing. As for Hendricks Racing, I feel Gordon is just about washed up, Jimmy Johnson is on fire but one man does not make a whole team untouchable.

 

[arch101]

I think Jr is over rated, he hasn't impressed me since he started racing. As for Hendricks Racing, I feel Gordon is just about washed up, Jimmy Johnson is on fire but one man does not make a whole team untouchable.

Funny, because I think the reason Jr. doesn't have a record like his Dad's (yet) is because he is a MUCH better driver than Sr. was. Dale Sr. won more than half of his races by bullying and shoving. Dale Jr. is a much cleaner and more technical driver than Sr. Good thing, too because bullying and shoving doesn't work today. I don't think Jr. is in his prime yet. I think he's going to peak late, like a Dale Jarrett. And when he hits his prime years, he'll be fantastic.