JUNIOR 'JUST SAYS NO' TO DEI OWNERSHIP

When all of the tumult surrounding the "would he, won't he" drama was shaking out early last year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. made one thing perfectly clear: he and his sister Kelley Earnardt Elledge wanted majority control of Dale Earnhardt Inc. as part of any new contract he would sign with his father's company.

Needless to say, said scenario did not come to pass as Junior moved on to the money-green, victory-laden pasture of Hendrick Motorsports.

Then, earlier this week, rumors surfaced of DEI being on the market and open for bidding. Or, at the very least, being open to bringing in a deep-pocketed investor.

Naturally, the question would be posed to Junior following these latest developments: do you still have an interest in owning DEI?

"I don’t mean this in a bad way, but I would not have any interest in purchasing it," Junior told the media in quotes relayed by Dustin Long in his online blog for the Virginian-Pilot.

(chuckle)

Junior went on to say that the current climate of NASCAR, with even the most well-heeled teams seeking a monetary injection from outside investors, could have his step-mother rethinking her stance of a year-and-half ago.

"I didn’t ever feel like she would be interested in selling the company, and I don’t think that’s in Teresa’s character to give that company up. She feels that strongly about it. She felt that strongly about it a couple of years ago. I would be surprised. But maybe she sees the trend and some of the other things that are happening in the sport with other owners and its changed her mind."

WRITER'S NOTE: The full name of the current owner of DEI will never, ever appear on this blog. Out of respect to the memory of the true force behind the creation of DEI. Just thought I should get that out there and out of the way.

JUNIOR LOSES SPONSOR?

You know economic times are tough when arguably the most popular driver in the history of the sport is losing sponsorships.

Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press is reporting that JR Motorsports was informed last week that the U.S. Navy -- sponsor of the #88 Nationwide entry driven by Brad Keselowski -- will not renew their sponsorship following the end of the 2008 season.

Like all branches of the military involved in the three top levels of NASCAR, the Navy works under one-year sponsorship agreements with the respective teams. Navy has been a primary sponsor for JR Motorsports since 2005, the first year Dale Earnardt Jr. fielded a team in what was then the Busch series.

Even given this economic climate, Earnhardt Jr. and his company should have little or no problem finding a sponsor(s) for 2009. Keselowski is one of the brightest young stars in NASCAR and currently stands second in the Nationwide standings behind Cup regular Clint Bowyer.

Additionally, and arguably most importantly, the Earnardt name and Junior's popularity will likely have potential suitors beating down his Mooresville door in the very near future. If they haven't already, of course.