[Bob Tanner]

The following is a link to a recent ESPN.com news flash:

ESPN.com - Earnhardt Jr. wants majority stake in DEI

Pay particular attention to the quote:

"Everyone around me is constantly reminding me of the magnitude of me" - Dale Earnhardt Jr.

I hope he and DW are never in the same room. I doubt that there would be room for their heads.

[Lefturn]

Well I don't know him persoally but from the 'written' word in that article it seems to me that Jr. is not fully aware of how big he is in NASCAR right now. He's not the most articulate speaker and I take that comment as him badly saying what others have told him.

I think he deserves ownership and if Teresa won't give it to him then she loses NASCAR's #1 star and likely many other members of the organization who will follow Jr. wherever he goes.

She has no negotiating power now that Jr. finally sees himself as the star that he is. Call it arrogance if you like, but to me its simply the truth.

[LSC9901]

It seems that he may be playing the media card at this point. Legally he has no majority ownership rights to DEI. He, his lawyers and her lawyers may come to some agreement but for right now whether he likes it or not she is the majority owner and all the choices and options are hers. Not signing him could certainly lessen the value of DEI. That is a choice she must make. He undoubtedly could go out on his own but I suspect it would be an expensive venture. I would expect that Budweiser has a contract with DEI at this time. When that expires they might be willing to follow him.

Without question he is at a time in his career where he will need to make some important decisions. I don't see fighting with Teresa the proper path to his future. Positive negotiations will make life easier for everyone involved. I see this as being one of the big media circus issues for this racing season.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

It seems that he may be playing the media card at this point. Legally he has no majority ownership rights to DEI. He, his lawyers and her lawyers may come to some agreement but for right now whether he likes it or not she is the majority owner and all the choices and options are hers. Not signing him could certainly lessen the value of DEI. That is a choice she must make. He undoubtedly could go out on his own but I suspect it would be an expensive venture. I would expect that Budweiser has a contract with DEI at this time. When that expires they might be willing to follow him.

Without question he is at a time in his career where he will need to make some important decisions. I don't see fighting with Teresa the proper path to his future. Positive negotiations will make life easier for everyone involved. I see this as being one of the big media circus issues for this racing season.

I predicted back in December, before all this crap came up, that he'd leave DEI after this year and go where the money takes him. I still feel comfortable with that prophecy.

I have to admit my feelings on this are a bit jaded. I have never found much to like about the kid, and yes, I know. he's the most popular thing in motor sports today, is the best thing to happen to the human race since ****** (hmmm...??? for some reason the forum doesn't like that word, even though it was, until season before last, the sponsor of Mark martin's car. I'll change it to... mini skirts), was instrumental in the invention of the cordless power drill, and will never have to worry about falling into a vat of beer; he can just walk across the surface.

Somehow I just can't get a good grasp on why, being a media darling, loved by DW, and being an above average stock car driver, why all this and a high school diploma instantly makes you a candidate for successfuly having controling interest in an enterprise the size and the scope of DEI?

Let's face it. IF his last name was Schultz and not Earnhardt, he'd probably be working a grease rack at a Jiffy Lube somewhere in the Carolinas.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I predicted back in December, before all this crap came up, that he'd leave DEI after this year and go where the money takes him. I still feel comfortable with that prophecy.

You've got a Ouijia board haven't you Bob :}

[Lefturn]

Well Bob, he is the most sought after person on the circuit right now. He has bargaining POWER and is right now using it. His name may have gotten him into the sport, but he certainly has proven he has what it takes to stay there.

If he drove like his brother I would agree with you, but he has won multiple races, owned the plate tracks and was a contender last year to win the championship.

How many owners do you think are puttin him on speed dial for the day he announces he is leaving DEI? You may not like him, but you are wrong is thinking he aint worth what he's asking.

[Souporscotty]

I like Jr., I really do. I'm just not so sure about what he's thinkin' right now. Yep, there's no doubt in my mind he can get a ride with anybody he wants. And it's not about money. He has all the money he needs right now, and a very good earnig potential. It's about power IMHO. And he may very well deserve it. I think Theresa has done an EXCELLENT job of managing the Company. Love her or hate her, she's a very intellegent buisiness woman. She's a smart woman who has surounded herself with smart people. I think, to take her on, is almost like taking the bull by the horns. INMVVVHO, it might be best for the sport, DEI, Theresa, and Jr. to try to work together. But then again, I've always loved "Demolition Derbies"

[Lefturn]

I think Jr is thinking about his future with this negotiation. The money being made by these drivers now is so much that a 10-15 year career sets you up for life. And, moving from the drivers seat to an owner is a natural progression.

I think he wants that 51% so that when Teresa retires or dies he can take over and not somebody else. I do think it will have negative effects on the team and his season if this drags on.

[LSC9901]

It'll be interesting to see just what it is that he does want. With the secrecy that usually revolves around sports contracts, I suspect we'll never know exactly what he does want.

Bob .. get the Ouijia board out please.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Souporscotty

I like Jr., I really do. I'm just not so sure about what he's thinkin' right now. Yep, there's no doubt in my mind he can get a ride with anybody he wants. And it's not about money. He has all the money he needs right now, and a very good earnig potential. It's about power IMHO. And he may very well deserve it. I think Theresa has done an EXCELLENT job of managing the Company. Love her or hate her, she's a very intellegent buisiness woman. She's a smart woman who has surounded herself with smart people. I think, to take her on, is almost like taking the bull by the horns. INMVVVHO, it might be best for the sport, DEI, Theresa, and Jr. to try to work together. But then again, I've always loved "Demolition Derbies"

Aha! I've found someone else who looks at this from the same perspective I do. I knew when I wrote my feelings in that last post that it was going to get awfully lonely in this thread.

I'd be a fool to disagree that Junior is the most popular driver in NA$CAR today and it would take less than a nanosecond to come up with another competitive ride if he left DEI. That is a fait accompli.

My problem with the scenario is that what is in being America's most loved product representative makes him capable of taking over and running a corporation the size of DEI? That concept just simply amazes me. Yes, I know, he could/ would put people in place who would do it for him. However the bottom line is the kid just hasn't the background to do it himself. Being in that position puts you in a spot where you are at the mercies of the people you are depending on to call the shots for you.

Go on, Red-headed one, ask for a gazillion dollars to validate your worth. Ask for a larger private jet. Demand keys to the executive bathroom at DEI. But, quit trying to become a high-powered CEO. You belong in a driving uniform, not an Armani. Your stepmother (where I believe all the trouble actually lies, her STEP-motherness) has kept DEI together since that day in 2001. Obviously, from the race results, her stepson got the bulk of the benefits. I didn't see Mikey or Truex coming within shouting distance of being in the Playoffs, did you?

Bottom line is that Junior is just hired help and with his feelings of self-importance, this fact is just killing him (and possibly Kelley?).

Besides, from my personal point of view, Junior just hasn't shown me what everyone else apparently sees. He has certainly won some races but it seems to me that they were races where he clearly had the best car in the field. He is an outstanding driver on plate tracks, but those plate races only account for 11% of all the point races. Plus, the kid has an annoying habit of blaming his team whenever things go wrong on race day.

The fact still remains, if his last name was Schultz, we wouldn't be having this conversation because no one except Mrs. Schultz would care.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Lefturn

Well Bob, he is the most sought after person on the circuit right now. He has bargaining POWER and is right now using it. His name may have gotten him into the sport, but he certainly has proven he has what it takes to stay there.

If he drove like his brother I would agree with you, but he has won multiple races, owned the plate tracks and was a contender last year to win the championship.

How many owners do you think are puttin him on speed dial for the day he announces he is leaving DEI? You may not like him, but you are wrong is thinking he aint worth what he's asking.

And all the above makes gives him the qualifications to run a multi-million company how?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Lefturn

I think he wants that 51% so that when Teresa retires or dies he can take over and not somebody else. I do think it will have negative effects on the team and his season if this drags on.

51% would give him the legal right to take over NOW.

AS far as it ensuring him that he would get it all when Teresa goes, that could be handled by a binding legal agreement or even a will.

In Junior's defense, I think the driving force behind this entire fiasco is his sister, Kelley. Her name always seems to pop up whenever this subject is addressed in depth in the media. She stands to increase her standing greatly if Junior should be given control of things.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

The fact still remains, if his last name was Schultz, we wouldn't be having this conversation because no one except Mrs. Schultz would care.

Hmmmmm ... Dale Schultz. It just doesn't have that same flare as Earnhardt

[Lefturn]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

51% would give him the legal right to take over NOW.

In Junior's defense, I think the driving force behind this entire fiasco is his sister, Kelley. Her name always seems to pop up whenever this subject is addressed in depth in the media. She stands to increase her standing greatly if Junior should be given control of things.

WEll, that shows you what kind of business man I am. It could be he just doesn't like Teresa. I can only assume his sister and Teresa do not get along. Seems to me women get into it at times and when the gloves come off .... look out.

If I was one of the elite drivers of NASCAR, putting my life on the line every race I would expect a pretty decent paycheck. Having a share in the company is not unheard of. Rusty Wallace got a chunck of Penske, I think that Mark Martin was the owner of the 99 car.

As I said before, I don't think that Jr. is out of line in wanting to have some of DEI. But, the distraction of this entire fiasco best be put to rest soon, or his season is gonna tank.

[Lefturn]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

And all the above makes gives him the qualifications to run a multi-million company how?

What qualifications did Teresa have? I am asking this question honestly without trying to get into it.

I do not know what kind of background (if any) she had before getting DEI in the wake of Earnhardt's death. Does she have any formal business experience?

From hearing her talk I get the impression that she is dumber than a sack of hammers.