UPDATE: Sources close to Dale Earnhardt, Inc., told NASCAR.com Tuesday that executive vice president Ty Norris has resigned from the team, effective immediately. An announcement from the team is expected Wednesday. Sources said Norris’ decision was made in reaction to Teresa Earnhardt’s decision to restructure the team’s upper management, thus sending Norris to a lesser role. Norris, an employee at DEI since 1996, bore the brunt of the company’s executive responsibility following Dale Earnhardt’s death in February 2001.(NASCAR.com), hearing Richie Gilmore will assume Norris’ position or some of the duties.(1-28-2004 – 12mid)
UPDATE 2: Sources close to Dale Earnhardt Inc., confirmed that a “blow-up” took place at the shop over the weekend, leaving Ty Norris, the organization’s executive vice president, with the option of stepping down or stepping out. Team owner Teresa Earnhardt was expected to meet with teams Tuesday to discuss the developments that include a restructuring of upper management. Richie Gilmore, DEI’s chief engine builder, is expected to move up to the front office. Gilmore told TSN he’s looking forward to the challenge and had not yet been told what his official title would be. The general consensus in the garage during Las Vegas testing was that having “a racer” run the day-to-day business would benefit DEI significantly. Gilmore, a native of Rochester, N.H., began his racing career in Super Modifieds as a teenager. Gilmore met Ron Bouchard and moved to North Carolina in 1988 to work on his Winston Cup team. In 1991, after an apprenticeship with Keith Dorton, Gilmore joined Hendrick Motorsports and began working with Randy Dorton. At Hendrick’s, Gilmore was assigned to the lease program at Joe Gibbs Racing when Dale Jarrett won his first Daytona 500. He continued with Hendrick’s on Terry Labonte’s team in 1995 and 1996 when the No. 5 car won the title. In 1998, he was approached by Dale Earnhardt to build engines for the No. 8 car and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was making his Cup debut the following season. When Gilmore took over the engine shop, DEI had just 19 employees and 21 engines. Gilmore helped to grow the department to 61 employees and 115 engines during his tenure as DEI’s head engine builder.(FoxSports)(1-28-2004)
UPDATE 3: Effective immediately, Richie Gilmore will direct all motorsports functions at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. The position was previously held by Ty Norris, who resigned on Jan. 26, 2004. Teresa Earnhardt, CEO and co-founder of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated stated, “Because of close teamwork at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, Richie Gilmore has prepared to manage all motorsports responsibilities. Looking at programs he has implemented over the years, we’re confident he will continue to develop our success, both on and off the track.” Gilmore, a 38-year-old Rochester, NH native came to DEI in 1998 as Head Engine Builder, after an eight-year stint at Hendrick Motorsports. In addition, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated’s Sponsor Services Division is being strengthened with additional personnel. Earnhardt added,”To develop new marketing strategies and fulfill the needs of our current partners we will be focusing on growth while continuing to direct primary energies toward winning the Nextel Cup and BGN championships; fulfilling the goals established for this company over a decade ago.”(DEI PR)(1-30-2004)