JR Motorsports President Denies 51% Offer From DEI To Junior
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JR Motorsports President Denies
Junior Offered 51% Ownership In DEI
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JR Motorsports President Kelley Earnhardt Elledge on Friday indicated that despite
reports, “no formal proposal that would give [Dale] Earnhardt Jr. 51[%]
ownership of DEI has been made,” according to David Poole of the CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER. Elledge: “All conversations have been between [DEI President of
Global Operations Max Siegel] and myself in the past few weeks discussing various
ideas and alternatives understanding that [DEI Owner Teresa Earnhardt] is not
willing to give up 51[%] of DEI for nothing” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/21).
STRONG FOLLOWING: In Charlotte, Jim Utter examined Earnhardt
Jr.’s influence in NASCAR, writing under the header, “Earnhardt Jr.’s
Fan Base Has Undeniable Impact On Sport.” Utter: “Almost anytime Earnhardt
Jr. expresses an opinion on an issue in NASCAR, his fans typically seize on the
endorsement with full fervor.” Sprint Nextel Dir of Nextel Cup Series Marketing
Dean Kessel said, “It’s clear as day every Sunday or Saturday at a
race, the ‘sea of red’ stands on its feet and cheers its loudest anytime
Dale Jr. moves forward on the track” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/21).
YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND: Fox NASCAR analyst Darrell
Waltrip downplayed the significance of Earnhardt Jr. finishing last week’s
Samsung 500 in Kyle Busch’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy, saying, “If
you’re outside our sport and don’t follow it that closely, maybe you
wouldn’t understand, but we live in a small community. We’re all friends.
A friend of his, of Dale Jr.’s, came to him, ‘Will you hop in our
car, run those last nine laps for us?’ That’s a [no-brainer]. You
don’t even think about it. … When somebody needs help, you help him”
(Fox, 4/21).
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