Dale Earnhardt, Jr. met with media members Bristol Motor Speedway and discussed the new Bristol surface, tomorrow night’s race and resolution to not running #8 in 2008 and beyond. Select quotes from driver interview: ON FEELING BAD FOR FANS OVER SITUATION OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE #8 TO NEW TEAM FOR 2008 AT AND BEYOND: “I feel pretty bad. There isn’t much I can do about it. It was pretty much out of my control. I do want to say while I have a couple of media members here that it is about time to give Teresa a break. She makes the decision on the number because she owns it. And as much as I am disappointed and frustrated over the fact that I don’t get to keep driving the #8, the stuff I read that I read on Internet and the stuff that I am hearing that is going on, the remarks about her, directed toward her, I don’t think anybody deserves that. If people just take a step back and look, she hasn’t done anything intentionally that is detrimental to me. I have a good future, I have a good opportunity in my hands, she is doing what she needs to do, what she feels like she needs to do. I think everybody needs to lay off a little bit because she was married to my Daddy and I know he wouldn’t be too happy about it what is going on and what is being said about her. It bothers me a little bit. NASCAR needs Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to be healthy and to be around. I never thought it would fall apart. I think the company will be active and productive. I always thought that. It has never crossed my mind nor have I ever pondered what if DEI doesn’t make it out because it will. It is going to be fine. I am not worried about DEI’s future. Because I think it is right. I hate to see somebody be crucified on the Internet and whatnot like Teresa has. She has a daughter that goes to school, that has friends. She has to put up with that stuff. It is just hard-core man. People have just been really really rude and really over the line, way over the line, on some of the things that have been said. I know Teresa doesn’t know half of it because won’t read it and she won’t put up with it. If anybody in their right mind knew that was going on, they wouldn’t be around it and deal with it. It still gets back to Taylor, maybe it does, I don’t know, but nobody deserves that and it just isn’t fair.(GM Racing PR)(8-25-2007)
