[Lefty Noob]

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has called a Thursday morning press conference where he will announced his future plans.

According to the Associated Press, "Earnhardt called a Thursday morning news conference amid speculation he would announce he's leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company founded by his late father and now run by his stepmother, Teresa... He released no details, and when approached at a Wednesday evening sponsor event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Earnhardt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he planned to 'talk about some ideas I've got for the future' but would not elaborate."

However, Sportsticker is reporting that he will announce he is leaving DEI, but not starting his own Nextel Cup team: "The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday reported that Earnhardt will leave DEI, but he will not be starting a Nextel Cup team at JR Motorsports, a Busch Series team owned by Earnhardt... Various reports Wednesday night indicated Earnhardt would start his own Cup operation at JR Motorsports, but the Observer, citing sources, refuted those accounts... Sources told The Observer that the sport's most popular driver will not announce Thursday where he will drive in 2008, but it will not be with a JR Motorsports Cup team."

The press conference is scheduled for 11am today and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

[Tuck4Bama]

Think he will be driving for Childress?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

Think he will be driving for Childress?

I really don't know. All that seems certain at this point is that he's leaving DEI.

[funnycar]

sorry to see him leave DEI if he does.

Think childress would be a good move, him and harvick would make a very strong team

[Mike24]

This is interesting. The only 2 teams I can see Jr going to is HMS or Childress. It will be interesting to see where Jr goes.

[oncea3fan]

I can't see him driving for another team, other his JR motorsports team.

why would he ask for controling interest in DEI and not get and be just a driver at another team, it would make sense. he has to have alot of pull at DEI, he would have the same pull at another team, and if things didn't work it would be see ya!.

I really think he will eirther annouce that he is stepping up JR M or that he has worked thing out at DEI.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

I really think he will eirther annouce that he is stepping up JR M or that he has worked thing out at DEI.

Yeah, my guess is JRM's going to open a Cup team. I don't buy that Sportsticker report.

Leaving DEI seems to be a given, though, at least the way it's being reported. We'll know for certain in about an hour.

[LSC9901]

With about 10 minutes before air time does anyone think that this might be a ploy to put pressure on Teresa ??? Maybe he'll start his own cup team but stay driving for DEI. Sorta like what Sr. did.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

With about 10 minutes before air time does anyone think that this might be a ploy to put pressure on Teresa ??? Maybe he'll start his own cup team but stay driving for DEI. Sorta like what Sr. did.

Considering the press conference is happening at JR Motorsports, I have to figure they're involved somehow.

Is he just putting pressure on Teresa? I doubt it. Seems to me that's what the past month has been all about. Look's like Junior's done playing games.

[Lefty Noob]

Junior just announced it - he is officially leaving DEI at the end of the 2007 season. Reactions?

[Tuck4Bama]

I think he ha made a good move. I think he will doo well with Childress.

Who actually owns the number 8

I hope he doesn't have to change numbers but the Budweiser Number 3 would be fine

[Lefty Noob]

DEI owns the #8, Junior said. He's hoping to acquire it from what it sounds like, but he didn't sound all too focused on what number he would be driving. It also sounds like he's still open to having his own team, and while they brought up how he said he wants to stay with Chevy, he also went out and said "we're going to listen to everyone" and that "we're not going to narrow it down before we know what's out there."

[Tuck4Bama]

NASCAR.COM has continuous updates.
11:18 -- "Obviously I feel like his vision and he said it himself was for me to have a huge role in the company itself. Through the negotiations, Kelly and I felt like that was not in the cards. It may be in the cards 20 years down the road, it may be something that happens. From a driver standpoint, for what I want to do and what I want to accomplish, this is something that I had to do."
11:16 -- "We obviously want to do things that compliment JR Motorsports and the Busch team"
11:15 -- "This decision was based soley on my driving career not my personal thoughts on DEI. We still want that company to succeed."
11:13 -- "It's hard to say whats been the hardest part. Weve had a lot of great things happen but weve dealt with alot of tragedies. I was really sad today. It was hard talking to the employees and the team. I told them I want to run as hard as we can this year. I think we owe it to DEI to give our best effort each week and I hope they feel the same way. I don't expect everyone at DEI to understand how we came to this."
11:12 -- "I'll be happy with whatever decision we make. It would be awesome to continue driving the No. 8 but those numbers are owned by the car owners and I'm sure Teresa would love to keep that number at DEI."
11:10 -- "We have a great relationship with Budweiser and those things will be discussed. I enjoy driving Chevrolets and our relationship is very strong and I think I will be best suited driving a Chevrolet."
11:08 -- "I'm split down the middle, I've drove for DEI my entire career and we've done a lot of great things and I believe that company will do a lot of great things. I'm gonna miss a lot of the great relationships and the individuals that work there and they have my full support. the other half of me is very excited about the opportunities that are out there."
11:07 -- "I will say we weren't really close in getting what both sides wanted."
11:06 -- "As for the fans, please know this is a career decision. I want to thank my family members who are here to support me."
11:05 -- "It is important for me that DEI remain successful and to keep my father's legacy alive. It has been a privilege for me to drive for DEI and will continue to be through the rest of this year."
11:03 -- "As far as a team is concerned, we will make that decision at a later date. It depends on what team wants me."
11:03 -- "It is time for me to compete on a consistent basis now"
11:04 -- "Because DEI means so much to me I felt it was important that they come out successfully"
11:02 -- "After a year of intense negotiations we have decided it is time for me to move on"
11:01 -- "We are here today at last about my contract at DEI."
11 a.m. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is at the podium.

[Nascar318is]

I just listened, that is horrible. The rise and fall of DEI. It'll make a nice Museum, it's sad to say but I see DEI going in that direction...So who will drive the 8 and where will Junior go? And Bud will follow more then likely...


My Predictions..Richard Childress Racing...

[Tuck4Bama]

Updated: May 10, 2007, 11:14 AM ET
Earnhardt: 'We were never close' to deal with DEI


ESPN.com news services





MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR's most popular driver.

Matt Slocum/AP Photo
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will command millions from a new racing team.





He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires.


"We worked really hard, but we were never close," Earnhardt told The Associated Press of negotiations with DEI. "I am a little sad, but I am trying to remind myself to be excited about what's ahead."
"After a year of intense negotiations and intesnse effort on behalf of DEI and JR Motorsports, we have decided it is time for us to move on," Earnhardt Jr. said at a news conference.

While both sides worked hard to find common ground, he said, "As negotiations continued one thing became evident -- we both wanted to be in and get to the same place, but we had different visions of how to get there."


Earnhardt Jr. said he remained supportive of DEI and expressed confidence the team his father founded will be a success.
And to his fans and his late father's fans, Earnhardt Jr. said "Please understand my decision is one I make for my career -- I make it with the utmost respect for your loyalty and support."

Earnhardt had asked for 51 percent ownership of the team now run by his stepmother, Teresa. Negotiations on a contract extension began before the season and have been tense all along. Earnhardt's sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, had set a deadline to get the deal done by the end of the month.


Earnhardt has made it clear he wants to be in a Chevrolet, but that loyalty could limit his options next season.



It's also possible that Earnhardt will field his own Nextel Cup team from JR Motorsports, where he runs a Busch Series program and several late model cars out of a brand new shop in Mooresville. Earnhardt held his news conference at that facility.


Although he said at last month's grand opening that he'd like to eventually expand JRM into the Cup series, his sister was taken aback by the remarks. Elledge, who runs JRM and has handled his contract negotiations, later said the duo had no immediate plans for expansion.


At a sponsor appearance Wednesday night, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Earnhardt told fans his priority as a team owner is promoting young drivers and mechanics.


"I don't want the company to get too big," he said. "I've got about 70 employees now, and I don't want to get too many more."


There are three Chevrolet teams better than DEI, but Hendrick Motorsports has no room in its stable for Earnhardt.


Hendrick, winner of seven of the past eight Cup races, is already maxed out with four teams but could assist Earnhardt by leasing him engines. Hendrick already leases motors to Ginn Racing and Haas-CNC Racing, and Earnhardt recently got to feel their horsepower when he jumped into Kyle Busch's car during a race last month.


Richard Childress Racing, where the elder Earnhardt won six of his seven championships, always has been considered the most logical place for Junior to go. Childress and Dale Earnhardt were extremely close, and Junior has maintained a relationship with the car owner.


RCR, which owns the No. 3 should Junior ever want to drive it, can add him as the fourth and final team NASCAR permits each owner. It would team him with Kevin Harvick, who replaced the elder Earnhardt following his 2001 death, and has openly invited Junior to join the organization.


It's also possible that RCR would lease JR Motorsports its engines should Earnhardt field his own team. RCR already gives JRM its motors.


The wildcard could be Joe Gibbs Racing, another powerful three-car Chevy team that would pair him with buddies Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Earnhardt and Stewart have worked wonderfully together on restrictor plate tracks, and Earnhardt befriended Hamlin early in his career.


Gibbs is coach of the Washington Redskins, and Earnhardt is die-hard fan. He wore a Redskins cap backward Monday during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where he expressed frustration over the NASCAR-mandated Car of Tomorrow and admitted DEI can't keep up with Hendrick's COT program.


Earnhardt and Elledge have been adamant their only goal is to help Junior win Cup championships, something he's been unable to do at DEI. He hasn't been a legitimate title contender since 2004. In 2005, he had a horrendous season when Teresa Earnhardt split up his crew, and he failed to make the Chase for the championship.

He rebounded last year by making the Chase, but was never a threat for the title.