Thursday [Jan 4th] on “The Morning Drive” on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio / channel 128, hosts Marty Snider and David Poole spoke with Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Dale Jr.’s sister and JR Motorsports executive. On Dale Jr.s’ contract: Host, David Poole: “Where does [Dale’s] contract stand? What’s the situation? Obviously he’s got one more year [signed thru 2007] with DEI and beyond that where do we stand?” Kelley Earnhardt Elledge: “Well, we are continuing to negotiate with DEI and it is our hope and intent that we can remain a driver there for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and to carry on what my dad has started in the late 90s but we haven’t come to terms on anything yet. It’s our hope that we have something about mid-year that we can announce our direction and maybe even sooner if we can get things worked out. It’s just a very lengthy process. There are a lot of variables for all of us to contemplate. Obviously they’ve added new staff over there so as the new people come on board, maybe they have some new ideas and changes as we continue down the path and try to negotiate with them. We’ve been negotiating for about four months, I would say, and there’s just a lot to think about on both sides of the plate. So, to date we haven’t come to terms on any kind of agreement but we’re working diligently at it and we hope to be able to announce something in probably mid-year of 2007.” Host, Marty Snider: “Have other car owners called you just to say, ‘Hey, just in case, just want to let you know we’re here and if you’re interested we would be interested?'” [see story/comments on my #8 Team News & Links page] Earnhardt Elledge: “It’s actually pretty interesting. We haven’t had a lot of calls in that regard. I think most everyone in the sport believes and would like to see Dale continue at DEI. It’s obviously the perfect fit in terms of family, in terms of the fans, in terms of the sport and what all that means to the sport. So I think the reason that people haven’t called is because of that, because they automatically think, ‘Hey, that’s the best place for him.’ So if we can work out all the things on the side of competition and our endorsements and sponsors and how we work together and partner with them, that is the best scenario. So it’s just a matter of whether we can come to terms with that.” On Teresa’s comments on Dale Jr. in the Wall Street Journal: In the December 14 article on new DEI executive Max Siegal, Teresa Earnhardt was quoted as saying about Dale Jr., “Right now the ball’s in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality.” Earnhardt Elledge: “I was surprised at the comment. I think Dale was surprised at the comment. But I think most everybody in the industry knows that Dale’s focus has been at its highest. His number one desire and his passion is driving that race car and that’ll never change. He’s not interested in the business and the personality in the way that he is with the race car. And I don’t think any of the drivers are. When you’re a race car driver your passion is the excitement and what you get out of the feel of that race car. I’ve been in the race car and I know how that feels. We have a strong staff here at JR Motorsports that handles the business side so he can concentrate on driving.” “Being a public personality comes with the territory of being a public sports figure and Dale is the most popular driver, voted by the fans for the fourth year in a row. He’s the son of Dale Earnhardt. That, in itself, lends it to being a public personality and it just comes with who he is. He is extremely marketable. He’s extremely popular. He’s very true to himself. He’s very authentic and that’s why the fans, that’s why other entertainers, other music entertainers, that’s why they like him and want him to be a part of things.” “We haven’t been able to speak to Teresa about exactly what she meant with the statement but it is part of who he is and who he is as a race car driver but his number one focus is being competitive in that race car. If he’s not doing that he’s not having fun and the rest of it doesn’t matter to him.” “The Morning Drive” airs weekdays (7-11am/et) exclusively on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio / Channel 128.(Sirius PR)(1-5-2007)
