Dale Jr. demands majority stake in DEI...

[Bates2]

http://www.thatsracin.com/247/story/2808.html

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday he wants "majority ownership" in Dale Earnhardt Inc. as a result of his current contract negotiations with the team.

"The main factor is the ownership part," Earnhardt Jr. said at NASCAR's annual preseason media day at Daytona International Speedway. "It has nothing to do with money and nothing else really. ...My father has been gone for almost six years now. I want majority ownership."

Teresa Earnhardt, the widow of the late Dale Earnhardt and the stepmother of Earnhardt Jr., who drives the No. 8 Chevrolets for DEI, took over as chief executive officer of the company after the elder Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500.

Earnhardt Jr. is in the final year of his contract to drive for the team. Talks on a new contract have been the subject of much discussion this offseason.

Earnhardt Jr. and his sister and key business advisor, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, met with new DEI president of global operations Max Siegel and team general manager Richie Gilmore on Wednesday.

Earnhardt Jr. said that meeting was mainly an opportunity for him and his sister to talk to Siegel, who just started his job, at length for the first time.
"It was just lunch," Earnhardt Jr. said.

Earnhardt Jr. said he found Siegel to be impressive and that his role in the talks could provide the opportunity for a "breakthrough" in the negotiations.
"I like how things are going," he said. "Max is going to be great for the company. Everything is on an upswing."

[Don]

i could careless. **** Chevy, and DEI.

[dalesrfan33]

As Tony Stewart said, without Dale Jr, DEI is a museum. We'll figure out what Teresa wanted out of DEI....a successful race team, or a museum honoring Dale Sr.

[Bates2]

Originally Posted by dalesrfan33

As Tony Stewart said, without Dale Jr, DEI is a museum. We'll figure out what Teresa wanted out of DEI....a successful race team, or a museum honoring Dale Sr.

Exactly. Dale Jr. is finally showing some business sense. I'd also request a percentage for the sister and Kerry if I was Jr.

[WarChantFan]

I don't think Theresa should just "give" him majority ownership. If he wants to purchase it, then fine, by all means, I think he deserves to buy a majority share in DEI. Junior has not invested in the company out of his pocket to this point, where as Theresa Earnhardt has invested A LOT of time & resources into this team. I believe they will work something out because she is a smart business woman and realizes that DEI could crumble without Junior as their lead driver.

[dalesrfan33]

Originally Posted by WarChantFan

I don't think Theresa should just "give" him majority ownership. If he wants to purchase it, then fine, by all means, I think he deserves to buy a majority share in DEI. Junior has not invested in the company out of his pocket to this point, where as Theresa Earnhardt has invested A LOT of time & resources into this team. I believe they will work something out because she is a smart business woman and realizes that DEI could crumble without Junior as their lead driver.

I totally agree, I don't think that he should just be handed majority ownership, even if he's the only reason that they're making money.

I was watching Nascar Now on ESPN a couple of days ago, and they asked him this question (whether he was asking to purchase majority or be given it), and he kinda stopped for a few seconds like he was thinking, then he quickly said, either, I guess, like he hadn't even thought about it. I'm guessing he was hoping to be given majority ownership.