AND from ThatsRacin.com: Richie Gilmore, director of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., downplayed remarks last weekend by Dale Earnhardt Jr. about a possible departure of driver Michael Waltrip from the organization’s #15 Chevrolets. “Michael would probably want to finish his career at DEI, but the chances of that happening I wouldn’t say are 100 percent right now,” Earnhardt Jr. said at Dover, Del. On Friday, Gilmore ÃÂÃÂ who was not at Dover last weekend ÃÂÃÂ said he spoke to Earnhardt Jr. Thursday night about his comments. “The biggest thing he tried to do was protect Martin (Truex Jr.), because there had been a lot of rumors Martin was going into the No. 15,” Gilmore said. Earnhardt Jr. “kind of fired back and really didn’t give the right solution. He was trying to protect Martin, but how it came out it was more aimed at Michael.” Gilmore said DEI did not have any problems with Waltrip, who is 20th in points but has three consecutive top-10 finishes entering Sunday’s Pocono 500. “We’ve had some really bad luck that happened on the race track. It wasn’t like Michael just decided two weeks ago to start driving again,” he said. “Michael’s our driver. He’s signed through 2005. Our driver lineup is pretty much set for next year. I think we’ll even keep (Dale) Jr. now,” Gilmore joked.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-11-2004)
UPDATE: NAPA has exercised its option as the sponsor for next year.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(6-14-2004)