Write Turn: Still getting to Earnhardt of the matter

Updated Oct. 16

The plight of DEI was on top of our reader's minds this week in the wake of Paul Menard's decision to leave the team for Yates Racing in 2009. Also, the restrictor plate debate rages on, with the new Nationwide Series COT and Formula One also generating interest.

From: jackblick

We all knew last year, except Teresa, that 100 of nothing is nothing. Stubbornness is a bad trait!

You have to wonder what a difference keeping Dale Jr. in the fold would have had on this team. Many people have pointed out exactly what you have, that had management decided to give up an ownership stake -- not unlike what CNC-Haas did to lure Tony Stewart over -- DEI could be in much better shape and have the foundation to build around a marquee name. That's not how it turned out and the company has a challenge ahead.

From: allprohenryw

Exactly what has Max Siegel done for DEI? The Army was Ginn's, Menards is the Menard family, Bass Pro was there before Sr. died. She (Teresa) is a public relations nightmare. She fired the first shot and then went into P.R. hiding. Media people say she is warm and caring, but in the fans' eyes she comes across as cold.

Its true DEI has a long way to go on the sponsorship front and that the core of sponsors was from the "old" regime. As for Teresa Earnhardt and her public perception, there is no doubt her lack of being in the spotlight has hurt the team since she took over. However, by her own admission, she is a shy and private person and standing front and center is not her strong suit. There is a need, though, for her to do that from time to time and if she was in view more often, it would help the team's stature in the business world as well in the public's view.

From: tom91194

Sorry dude, ya got it backwards. If Jr. had not been so greedy he would still be there. Also if you people in the press were not so Jr. oriented and so NASCAR company aligned, you would have written the true story -- spoiled greedy stepson tries to steal family business. Of course the truth would have been very unpopular so we don't expect to see it. NASCAR created Jr. nation and the press keeps it going. Jr. is a good driver not a great driver yet. Teresa was correct when she said he needs to decide whether he wants to be a great driver or a TV personality. Rick Hendrick basically just told him the same thing but no one is sending death threats to him or calling him evil. It would be nice to see the press come down hard on pressing issues rather than trying to kill off teams.

I don't see what Junior was asking for as being greedy. He was in position to try and put together the best business deal he could, and DEI decided not to go along with the request. But the fact that pretty much every other team in NASCAR lined up to see if they could land his services shows what he means to the sport both behind the wheel and from a business standpoint.

From: genrty

Would NASCAR really take a race from Martinsville to give it to Kansas or a new track coming online? I find it hard to believe

If parent company International Speedway Corporation wants to add a second race in Kansas, the date will have to come from somewhere -- and Martinsville is always on the endangered list because of its market size and relatively low seating capacity. As I've said before, I think taking a second race from California is the wiser move; when the time comes, hopefully ISC and NASCAR will agree.

From: cmyak

Yes, there IS another answer to plates racing: v6 engines. Think a little, just a little, and there is a way, usually. but, and this is a big but, the plate races are the only ones worth watching now with the COT, so they should have MORE not less of them. I mean, could the 1½s be any worse? No!

NASCAR ran V-6 engines in the then Busch Series back in the early 1990s. Unfortunately, the wear and expense of those engines forced the sanctioning body to eventually phase them out. While I don't see them returning anytime soon, there could be a smaller engine on the horizon -- but it would still create too much horsepower and speed, so the plates at Talladega and Daytona will stick.

From: kaths

First the U.S. Grand Prix and now the Canadian Grand Prix are gone from the F-1 calendar. Do the people who run that series not know how many fans they have in North America?

Apparently not, and it really doesn't seem like they care, anyway. It's harder and harder for American fans to follow this series and get excited about it without a U.S.-born driver and now, as you point out, a race in either this country or Canada. There are rumblings once again of a splintered series from F-1 because teams, manufacturers and sponsors are so upset with the rule of Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone, so we'll see what happens. But don't look for a U.S. Grand Prix anytime soon. Canada looks like it's kaput for a while, as well.