July 10, 2009
By Brian Watkins
Brian Watkins
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As Martin Truex, Jr. moves to Michael Waltrip Racing, it is all but the death nell for DEI.
The legacy of Dale Earnhardt, headed by his wife Theresa is all but gone. His son has left, Mark Martin left, Max Siegel left and now Truex is gone.
This leaves Juan Pablo Montoya as the lone standout at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Montoya, who drives a Lexus for Ganassi should have no trouble making the jump to Toyota should the opportunity arrise -- In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the Ganassi organization unhitched itself from the mess that was DEI and forms a Toyota team, or partners with an existing Toyota crew.
It's interesting to see the story that has unfolded since Dale Junior left DEI for Hendrick Motorsports two seasons ago.
Teresa Earnhardt was confident in her operation, convinced that even without her late husband's namesake, DEI would flourish and dominate the sport. At the same time, Junior made the difficult choice to leave his father's organization, convinced that only by doing so could he finally prove himself to be the driver his fans believed him to be... the driver he was when he won back-to-back Nationwide (then Busch Series) championships in 1998 and 1999.
It turns out both of them were very wrong. While Teresa was certainly "wronger", as evidenced by the near evaporation of DEI as a racing team. Junior was wrong in the fact that after two seasons with one of the best funded and best run teams in NASCAR, he has won but a single race.
ON the upside, with tweaking and coaching, Junior can hopefully become a champion again. However short of a miracle, DEI will soon be nothing more than a Dale Earnhardt, Sr marketing machine and museum. While I've been critical of Junior's fame in many columns, I do hope that he can fulfill his potential -- not only because I think it would be good for him, but also because it would be great for the sport.
Richard Petty has increased speculation that he'll be moving to Toyota next season, as he waits for payment from Chrysler who is reorganizing and trying to reinvent itself after bankruptcy. It is almost certain that next season will be Chrysler free in all 3 major series.
All this shuffling has left three major teams -- Roush-Fenway running Ford's, Hendrick Motorsports running Chevrolet and Joe Gibbs Racing running Toyota. While Ford is on solid ground, GM, owned majoritively by the US Government, is hardly a force to bet on. Their ability to return to profitability is in doubt, let a lone their ability to continue to fund NASCAR teams.
While the Hendrick stable is mostly succesful and should have no trouble funding itself -- turning down manufacturer dollars and staying with one who no longer provides any funding can only continue so long. Imagining Hendrick running Ford's or Toyota's is hard to imagine, but the JGR jump to Toyota back when Toyota was performing miserably was just as unexpected. Stewart-Haas Racing's unexpected success this season should keep them behind the wheel of GM racers unless the manufacturer pulls out completely, but it will be interesting to watch what happens with Hendrick's relationship with Chevrolet.
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