Let's first make one point that cannot be disputed. There is no more popular driver in NASCAR today than Dale Earnhardt Jr.(although Scott says it's Jeff Gordon).
In a battle with his step-mom, Teresa Earnhardt, for control of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, the company Dale Senior started for his son to someday run, there is no way Junior could lose.
Stay and gain control... Junior could run the team the way he wants.
Leave and become a free agent.. a huge payday and perhaps the chance to someday drive his fathers #3.
The deal is the exact opposite(thanks Captain Obvious) for Teresa.
Cede control of the team to Dale Jr...she no longer has control
Lose Dale to another team...enjoy life with Paul Minard and Martin Truax, Jr.(maybe) as your two drivers. Truax has loads of potential. He could turn into a star. But nowhere near as big a draw as Junior. Maybe Tony Stewart said it best... "Without Dale Junior, DEI is a museum."
So even before he made a move, Junior wins.
But by making the move, in my opinion, he wins even more. Junior is a huge family guy. Teresa is not his family, and while DEI was started for Junior, it's not his Dad's team anymore, so we can dump the loyalty angle. He and Teresa never got along anyway.
Childress gave Dale Senior his opportunity, and by extension, Junior his opportunity to get into racing. That kind of makes Childress more of a family member than Teresa.
FOX25 in Boston says it's already a done deal. Junior will join RCR in 2008 with an announcement coming today. Haven't seen it yet, but qualifying is going on right now, so maybe something after it ends.
No matter what Junior does or how long he takes to make the call, I think leaving DEI was the right call.
