|
|
The empire Dale Earnhardt built to promote his family racing genes and continue the legacy of his racing prowess has now become watered down to become Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.
While rumors have been swirling around both teams for weeks, I am still stunned to see the once powerful DEI merge with anyone.
While DEI and Ganassi have obviously both been struggling as of late, you would have thought DEI was the stronger player with Martin Truex, Jr. still in the fold. But with Mark Martin leaving in 2009 and Aric Almirola as the only other driver in the DEI stable, 20009 had to be looking pretty grim. In fact, DEI has been looking pretty grim ever since Dale Jr. left to join Hendrick.
Ganassi is left with Juan Pablo Montoya as Reed Sorenson leaves at the end of this year and and Franchitti was released earlier this year due to sponsorship woes and his poor finishing.
And just a week ago, Texaco announced it was leaving Ganassi behind in sponsorship as well.
So that leaves at least one car without sponsorship, the 41. Wrigley appears to be on board for half a season for Montoya but some reports show Ganassi claiming that Montoya and the 42 has full sponsorship.
While both teams are winless in 2008, Truex and Montoya have challenged at times only to be caught up in late race wrecks.
The combined team will run Chevys and that may help Montoya challenge more in 2009. But only if the new team can get quickly ramped up to where the top tier teams are at these days. Almirola certainly has not been a shining star this year and who will be driving the 41 has yet to be determined.
On the positive side, DEI gains a tenacious former driver in Ganassi and driver in Montoya. Perhaps some real racing blood back in management might help DEI make some competitive gains.
Perhaps more than anything, this desperate move proves that the fast rising NASCAR star has lost a bit of its luster as of late. From Yates running cars with no sponsorship this year to auto manufacturers pulling from the sport to once full arenas sporting empty seats, the economy has come home to roost in a 200 – 0 braking.
There will be no bailouts in NASCAR. Teams will sink or swim on their own business merits. Tracks will struggle to fill seats.
NASCAR better take this opportunity to re-engage the race fan and focus on better competition on the track and not worry so much about competing with the NFL and MLB. That battle is lost. Having ABC cut its race programming short last week to run America’s Funniset Home Videos in its entirety should be proof enough of that.
Be memorable. Be relevant. Or lose the fans that built the sport. And then I won’t be as stunned to hear about things like a DEI – Ganassi merger.
Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.
Let me know your thoughts at www.chucka@turnleftracing.com, or by leaving me a comment below. All comments are reviewed before being posted to the site.
Allowing Dale Jr. to pack up and leave was the beginning of the end. It was all about control, 2 % that is. All she had to do was let Jr have the 51% control and this company would probably be in great shape. Dale Jr. would still be there along with Big Bad Bud the sponsor. They lost some great talent, sponsors, races and now, reputation. I can imagine “Big E” can’t believe it either.
Teresa’s greed has come home to roost, when Jr. left I no longer purchased any of the tribute items. Dale built his team for his children,now she has even taken his grandson out of a car. I will not feel any pain for her when DEI closes business, the one I feel for is JR. and the other kids, Kelley and Kerry this was to be their legacy. Since when does a Nascar team promote horse shows?
I am not sure if there is any way Jr. and Kelly would come back to the company now. I have not seen anything with Jr. commenting on the merger but that will be interesting when he does.
i doubt he will comment on it…he saw the writing on the wall and he knows that his and his father’s fans will say it all. he will not have to speak a word
AMEN
St. Jr. probably couldn’t have saved DEI either. JR Motorsports is having problems too and probably would be in worse shape if Jr. hadn’t tucked his company in under Daddy Hendricks.
I’m not surprised — when Dale Jr was left to walk away because Teresa didn’t want to let him have control of his Dad’s company, it was only a matter of time before this happened.
I agree, too, with the statement in the article that NASCAR needs to spend more time and energy on getting the fans to enjoy the racing again and quit worrying so much about the other stuff. NASCAR racing has become boring and I would never have thought I would say that a few years ago when I was glued to the TV every time it was on. Now, its record it and maybe make sure I’m around for the last 20 laps when it MIGHT be exciting.
Yes you are right, Dale Sr probably rolling over in his grave, but he did that when Teresa failed to keep Dale Jr at DEI. So I don’t feel sorry for her now. She is just getting back what she did to her own husband’s family…As for me I no longer buy anything at the track from the DEI venders. I just head for the Hendrick verders to get my Dale Jr stuff.
A die hard Dale Sr and Jr fan….:)
This merger is heartbreaking for DEI fans. While economic times are difficult for everyone, this merger must be hard on Dale Jr., Kelly & Kerry.
I attended the Phoenix race last weekend and was very upset to see Taylor Earnhardt barrel racing tshirts and stickers for sell in the Toy Trucks of Dale Earnhardt and DEI – 01 & 8 cars. Just another way for Teresa to try and capitolize on the Earnhardt name. I didn’t see one person by the Taylor shirts or stickers either.
greed does not pay very well