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DEI still has racer named Earnhardt

Three days before Dale Earnhardt Jr. made headlines Thursday by announcing he's leaving the family business at the end of the season, Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 17-year-old grandson of the late seven-time NASCAR champion, Dale Sr., arrived at New Hampshire International Speedway to take part in a Busch East Series test session.

By week's end, the third-generation Earnhardt was the last remaining link driving for his grandfather's team, Dale Earnhardt Inc. When asked in February what DEI would be without Dale Jr., Tony Stewart replied, "A museum."

After Dale Jr.'s blockbuster decision to part ways with the team his father and stepmother, Teresa, built, Jeffrey -- Junior's nephew -- doesn't intend to become a museum night watchman any time soon. He stands as the only Earnhardt in DEI's pipeline.

Yet he's not even old enough to vote or rent a car, and, by the looks of the pencil-thin mustache he wore at NHIS, barely old enough to shave.

"If I was to choose anybody, I'd want to be with DEI," Jeffrey said Monday after concluding his NHIS test, which was supervised by his father, Kerry. "That's where I look to spend my future. I think it's going to be great and I'm really looking forward to the next few years I've got signed with 'em at DEI."

Kerry Earnhardt, though, does not want to put his son on the fast track. Not just yet. He is content to have Jeffrey gain valuable seat time in DEI-provided cars fielded by Andy Santerre Motorsports, where Earnhardt will be paired with Sean Caisse of Pelham, N.H., this season.

"He's done pretty good and adapted really well to the new racetracks," Kerry Earnhardt said. "He comes in and picks it right up. Here, I kind of wondered about being at Loudon because I've run here myself and know how difficult it is to figure out the track. The first time out, he ran and kind of got a feel for everything. The second time out, he really picked it up and adapted to the track really quick."

Earnhardt, who attends Mooresville (N.C.) High, gave a glimpse of his potential when he finished sixth in the Busch East Series opener April 28 at Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway. "I knew the equipment was there, but I wasn't real sure about myself, but . . . I was surprised," Jeffrey said. "My main goal was to finish every lap and finish on the lead lap, and I turned out doing a lot better than that, so I was pretty pleased."

Just as surprising was the attention he generated among fans at Greenville-Pickens, where Caisse, who finished second, reported "seeing him get mobbed" by autograph-seekers. Was it a glimpse of the attention his uncle gets at the Nextel Cup level?

"It's tough, but the fans are the biggest part of racing," Jeffrey said. "You got to make the fans happy. Fans are everything, so that's what it's all about. It just took me a little bit by surprise. I didn't think it would be that big."

As for carrying on the Earnhardt name? "It's a little bit of pressure, because a lot of people look at you different," Jeffrey said. "But it's just a last name."

Although his brother opted to drive elsewhere, Kerry Earnhardt felt there was no better place for his son to begin his career than at DEI. Was there another team that came close to making Jeffrey a better offer?

"Well, there were about five of 'em out there trying to get him," Kerry said. "DEI is what he chose to be with; he could've went with [Richard] Childress, [Rick] Hendrick, Dale Jr.'s [team], but we just let him pick. He said he wanted to drive for the team his grandfather built, and that's what made his decision to drive for DEI.

"It's pretty awesome, because I knew he had it in him growing up, because you could see he was really interested in racing."


Rumor-driven
Childress knocked down a report Thursday night on Fox 25's website that cited "a source with direct knowledge of negotiations" saying Richard Childress Racing had finalized a deal with Dale Jr. to drive the famed No. 3 his late father drove for RCR. "No, [there's] nothing to it," Childress said.

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DEI sign Jeffrey Earnhardt to driver stable


Quote selected text Published January 20th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Dale Earnhardt Inc. didn’t have to look very far to find its soon-to-be newest driver. He shares a last name with organization’s founder. Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 17-year-old grandson of Dale Earnhardt, will compete in the NASCAR Busch East Series next season in a Chevrolet prepared by DEI, said Tam Topham, who fielded cars for Earnhardt last year at Motor Mile Speedway. An official announcement about the fourth-generation driver’s future should come next week at the NASCAR preseason media tour in Charlotte, N.C, his stepmother, Rene, confirmed.

The son of Kerry Earnhardt (right) and nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will share time between Busch East, the UARA Late Model touring series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (formerly the Dodge Weekly Series). A handful of Late Model dirt track starts could also be in the cards.

“This week or next week, they’re going to try to have everything finalized,” Topham said. “His mom and dad and DEI and himself — they’re all working out the particulars.” DEI will field the Busch East entry exclusively; Topham will be under contract with Kerry Earnhardt to oversee the Late Model and UARA operations out of his Wytheville-based TAMCO Motorsports shop. Jeffrey Earnhardt’s 2007 schedule will include up to eight races in a Late Model at Motor Mile as well as the Bailey’s 300 at Martinsville Speedway in late September.