DEI without Junior? That's like Wrigley minus Cubs

Imagine Yankee Stadium without the Bronx Bombers. Wrigley Field without the Cubs. How about Lambeau Field missing the Green Bay Packers?

The NASCAR equivalent might soon become a reality if Dale Earnhardt Inc. loses Dale Earnhardt Jr.

With his contract expiring at the end of '07, Dale Jr. asks for 51 percent stake in DEI as he negotiates. (Getty Images)

Earnhardt Jr. is now asking for a majority ownership in the company, 51 percent to be exact, as part of negotiations to extend his contract, which expires after the 2007 season.

Talk of an ownership stake has surrounded Earnhardt Jr.'s talks in the past, but asking for a majority interest took most as a complete surprise.

Earnhardt Jr., who owns a Busch Series team, had stated several times that being a Nextel Cup team owner/driver wasn't something on his agenda.

"I really don't want the headaches of being a Cup owner," Earnhardt said. "I'd just assume drive, save as much money as I can and retire. I want to race a long, long, long, long time. The older I get, the better I feel better about my ability to compete longer, not run into the burnout part and just wanting to get out of it."

But with negotiations between Earnhardt Jr. and DEI -- run by his stepmother, Teresa -- dragging on, the request for a majority ownership role appears to be a show of strength by Junior as a way to leverage his position as arguably NASCAR's current biggest name.

Several of Earnhardt Jr.'s colleagues believe Junior is doing the right thing and is entitled to the piece of DEI he's seeking.

"He's really probably the only one that's got the bargaining power," Kevin Harvick said Thursday during the annual Media Day gathering at Daytona. "He's got it all on his side, and I think it's deservedly right that he does have it on his side. He's the most popular driver.

"He's been successful, and he deserves the respect of being a grown man and not being treated like he's 15 and somebody's stepson."

The stressful relationship between Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother has seen several rounds of public sniping the last few weeks as contract negotiations continued. Teresa has publicly questioned Junior's dedication as a race car driver, citing his numerous off-track endeavors -- such as radio and television shows, music videos and other extra-curricular activities -- as distractions.

"It was a little like, 'low blow there,' for me," Junior said of the comments.