[BiscuitMan]

I don't know how many saw this on FoxSports.com or in your local newspaper this morning.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - When Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged with Chip Ganassi Racing last year, the plan was to run four cars in NASCAR's top series.

It could be down to two.

Driver Martin Truex Jr. said Friday night that Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing is planning to field just three cars for next month's Daytona 500 - with him, Juan Pablo Montoya and Aric Almirola behind the wheels. And Almirola said he has no guarantee to drive beyond the season-opening race because of sponsorship woes.

What's also interesting is that FoxSports also had a poll on the same page. The question was "Will Earnhardt-Ganassi Make It Through 2009".



The responce:

39% Yes

61% No

14,350 votes

Wow! I lot of people do not have a much confidence that EGR will make it very long.

[WestCoast]

Pretty sad state of affairs, if 2 prominent racing names like that cant’ make it in this sport.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

I don't know how many saw this on FoxSports.com or in your local newspaper this morning.

What's also interesting is that FoxSports also had a poll on the same page. The question was "Will Earnhardt-Ganassi Make It Through 2009".



The responce:

39% Yes

61% No

14,350 votes

Wow! I lot of people do not have a much confidence that EGR will make it very long.

I dunno, B-Man. I'm more inclined to think what we're seeing is an increasing disenchantment with what's happening NA__AR. Right now I think just about any poll taken involving success by someone other than Gibbs, Hendrick, Roush or Childress would produce a higher than expected negative response.

There are lots of really bad vibes going down out there and I don't think it's just my imagination.

I think NA__AR went for the short-term gain and did not take into consideration the long-term health of the sport, thinking things would go on forever. When the financial bottom began to drop out, the power brokers in Daytona beach were caught with their Bermuda's down around their ankles. There has been no leadership, only management.

The "fad fans" NA__AR pandered to so shamelessly are leaving the ship and the long time fans (The "Old Guard" if you will) are making their feelings known. And NA__AR continues to fiddle while Mooresville burns.

[jks812]

I think they should just stick with 3 cars for this season. Then maybe try 4 next year. I think EGR will get their stuff together and run good again, it's just going to take a season or two for it to happen.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

I don't know how many saw this on FoxSports.com or in your local newspaper this morning.

What's also interesting is that FoxSports also had a poll on the same page. The question was "Will Earnhardt-Ganassi Make It Through 2009".



The responce:

39% Yes

61% No

14,350 votes

Wow! I lot of people do not have a much confidence that EGR will make it very long.

I would say probably about half of the 61% are folks still mad because she "let" Jr leave DEI.

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by jks812

I would say probably about half of the 61% are folks still mad because she "let" Jr leave DEI.

Agreed, lots of resentment there.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by jks812

I would say probably about half of the 61% are folks still mad because she "let" Jr leave DEI.

Originally Posted by WestCoast

Agreed, lots of resentment there.

noooooooo... you wouldn't think Earnhardt fans would be that way would you?

[BiscuitMan]

I think you can put a lot of stock in the fact the Dale Jr. fans voted to "eliminate" what's left of DEI. That is probably why the "negative" vote for the new EGR organization.

However, if Chip Ganassi is really in charge of the new Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing organization, I don't see the EGR cars not performing well in 2009. Chip is a winner in every racing series his is involved.... except NASCAR. I think he has made a commitment to change that.

First of all, he shut down a poor performing team, the #40. Then, he dropped Dodge to opt for Chevrolet engines supplied by Earnhardt-Childress Engines. These engines performed very well in the RCR cars in 2008. Now, with the merger with DEI, he has picked up Martin Truex Jr. and the #1 team. Add that to his primary team #42 with Juan Montoya and they can become the dynamic duo. If they get sponsorship for the #8 past Daytona, that car will be competitive with Aric Almirola driving. He's a keeper.

We're not hearing a lot from the EGR right now. In three weeks we may be talking about how fast those EGR cars were at Daytona. I'm not giving up of them. I'm just shocked that they can't get sponsorship for the #8 and #41. I'm also shocked at the negative reaction to EGR's future by our fellow race fans.

[jks812]

I agree Biscuit Man. I think they are starting to get a good combination. I'm not giving up on them, I believe they will be a front runner again. I'm just waiting for that day to get here. And I do think they have got 3 good drivers now. I'd like to see them concentrate on those 3 this year and maybe try a 4th next year. And it would be awesome if at least one makes the chase this year.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

I'm just shocked that they can't get sponsorship for the #8 and #41. I'm also shocked at the negative reaction to EGR's future by our fellow race fans.

All you said B-man sounds good but the sponsorship issue is one that many teams are suffering with right now. The bucks are just tight and the sponsor has more control now than the teams do. The teams know that the sponsors want exposure and they also know that some drivers/teams can't give them what they want for their dollar.

[GrimlockAutobot]

Originally Posted by jks812

I would say probably about half of the 61% are folks still mad because she "let" Jr leave DEI.

Originally Posted by Quality88

noooooooo... you wouldn't think Earnhardt fans would be that way would you?

I don't know which is worse, the disenchantment that SOME (not all.) Earnhardt fans show or the disenchantment that other fans show towards Earnhardt fans themselves. The stereotyping of Earnhardt fans needs to stop......it's getting old. Not all Earnhardt fans are "this way" or "that way" like some fans are led to believe.

Personally I like Jr. as a person and a driver and as long as he's in a Chevy I'll root for him no matter what team he drives for. I don't have any ill-will towards Teresa Earnhardt or the former DEI (Now EGR.) Nor would I have any ill-will towards Hendrick if Junior jumped to another Chevy team after his contract with them is up. Imagine that?

Lumping all Earnhardt fans into some big illiterate, red-neck, bandwagon jumping "NATION" is getting old and is unfair to some of us who are being judged by words that are being put in our mouths for us.

WTS.....I think the reason for EGR's latest struggles has more to do with a struggling race team (wins are scarce between the Ganassi and Earnhardt race shops.) and a struggling economy than with mismanagement of the race team or how NASCAR fans may be "turned off" by the sport.

Also, if Earnhardt Sr. was alive I don't think EGR would even exist. (DEI would still exist on it's own.) If he was still with us, the #8 team would not be struggling for a sponsor.....the old man would've found a way to get somone's colors on that car. If anything an otherwise struggling corporate sponsor might have taken more of a chance on the #8 car in an otherwise struggling economy just based on his pedigree and past history. That's not a knock on Teresa, it's more of a testament to the will of Earnhardt Sr.

I'm a Junior fan and I'd HATE to see the team started by his great father in 1980 have to close up shop. (Imagine that? an Earnhardt fan that doesn't hate Teresa Earnhardt or DEI or EGR for that matter.) But, this may be the beginning of the end for them.....when I found out that DEI and Ganassi were merging I thought it was a good move for both teams but, now it may be a case of too little, too late for these teams especially with this latest news. DEI had been teetering back and forth on the edge of potential failure for a little while now and this sponsorship news may have pushed them over the edge in the wrong direction.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by GrimlockAutobot

I don't know which is worse, the disenchantment that SOME (not all.) Earnhardt fans show or the disenchantment that other fans show towards Earnhardt fans themselves. The stereotyping of Earnhardt fans needs to stop......it's getting old. Not all Earnhardt fans are "this way" or "that way" like some fans are led to believe.



Lumping all Earnhardt fans into some big illiterate, red-neck, bandwagon jumping "NATION" is getting old and is unfair to some of us who are being judged by words that are being put in our mouths for us.

I didn't say "all" fans, I said half. And I also said "probably".
Never called any fans illiterate, redneck or any other name.
And I'm also a Jr fan.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by GrimlockAutobot

I don't know which is worse, the disenchantment that SOME (not all.) Earnhardt fans show or the disenchantment that other fans show towards Earnhardt fans themselves. The stereotyping of Earnhardt fans needs to stop......it's getting old. Not all Earnhardt fans are "this way" or "that way" like some fans are led to believe.

Personally I like Jr. as a person and a driver and as long as he's in a Chevy I'll root for him no matter what team he drives for. I don't have any ill-will towards Teresa Earnhardt or the former DEI (Now EGR.) Nor would I have any ill-will towards Hendrick if Junior jumped to another Chevy team after his contract with them is up. Imagine that?

Lumping all Earnhardt fans into some big illiterate, red-neck, bandwagon jumping "NATION" is getting old and is unfair to some of us who are being judged by words that are being put in our mouths for us.

WTS.....I think the reason for EGR's latest struggles has more to do with a struggling race team (wins are scarce between the Ganassi and Earnhardt race shops.) and a struggling economy than with mismanagement of the race team or how NASCAR fans may be "turned off" by the sport.

Also, if Earnhardt Sr. was alive I don't think EGR would even exist. (DEI would still exist on it's own.) If he was still with us, the #8 team would not be struggling for a sponsor.....the old man would've found a way to get somone's colors on that car. If anything an otherwise struggling corporate sponsor might have taken more of a chance on the #8 car in an otherwise struggling economy just based on his pedigree and past history. That's not a knock on Teresa, it's more of a testament to the will of Earnhardt Sr.

I'm a Junior fan and I'd HATE to see the team started by his great father in 1980 have to close up shop. (Imagine that? an Earnhardt fan that doesn't hate Teresa Earnhardt or DEI or EGR for that matter.) But, this may be the beginning of the end for them.....when I found out that DEI and Ganassi were merging I thought it was a good move for both teams but, now it may be a case of too little, too late for these teams especially with this latest news. DEI had been teetering back and forth on the edge of potential failure for a little while now and this sponsorship news may have pushed them over the edge in the wrong direction.

Get over it. I'm not bunchin all fans together and for your info I happen to root for Jr which is against my religion since I root against Hendrick. I happen to think DEI would be alive and well if Sr was still with us, but he isn't so DEI is gone. I'm sick and tired of fans that take everything as a personal attack. ☻☻☻☻☻☻ off and grow up.

[GrimlockAutobot]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Get over it. I'm not bunchin all fans together and for your info I happen to root for Jr which is against my religion since I root against Hendrick. I happen to think DEI would be alive and well if Sr was still with us, but he isn't so DEI is gone. I'm sick and tired of fans that take everything as a personal attack. ☻☻☻☻☻☻ off and grow up.

I said everything I needed to say in that first post......and by the way, I don't appreciate the name calling. At least we can agree on something. We're both sick and tired of something.

I'm sick and tired of all of the sterotyping and personal attacks on Earnhardt Jr. fans. I'm sick and tired of fans of other teams thinking that the voice of a few Earnhardt Jr. fans speaks for an entire fanbase. (I DESPISE the use of the word "NATION" when referring to Junior's fanbase.) and you're sick and tired of something that you believe is only percieved and I see as something very real and very disturbing.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by GrimlockAutobot

I said everything I needed to say in that first post......and by the way, I don't appreciate the name calling. At least we can agree on something. We're both sick and tired of something.

I'm sick and tired of all of the sterotyping and personal attacks on Earnhardt Jr. fans. I'm sick and tired of fans of other teams thinking that the voice of a few Earnhardt Jr. fans speaks for an entire fanbase. (I DESPISE the use of the word "NATION" when referring to Junior's fanbase.) and you're sick and tired of something that you believe is only percieved and I see as something very real and very disturbing.

I never did any name callin. You need to read posts better, and not attack people just cause they make some comments. People have their opinions, right or wrong they have them. If you don't like'em, state it and move on.