Fans Left Divided Over Dale Jr’s Stepmom Teresa’s Contribution to DEI’s NASCAR Downfall

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s glorious career began under the umbrella of his father’s team, Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI). For nine years, he drove for the family-owned outfit, forming a legacy that would eventually lead him to join Hendrick Motorsports. However, DEI is no longer around and its demise has sparked a certain question among fans.

Dale Jr’s departure from the team was sparked by his disagreements with his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, who took over the reins of the team after his father’s passing. The crux of the issue was that Junior wanted to have 51% of the ownership, but Teresa refused. The fallout made Dale Jr join Hendrick Motorsports, where he enjoyed a successful stint. Meanwhile, DEI’s fortunes dwindled, and the team eventually ceased operations. So, it is natural that fans are wondering if Dale Jr should have had co-ownership of the team. Given his immense popularity, many wonder if his involvement would have ensured the team’s survival.

Should Teresa Earnhardt have let Dale Jr take ownership of DEI?

Dale Earnhardt Inc. shut down in 2009 because of financial difficulties after Dale Jr left. Ironically, Dale Jr’s post-DEI ventures have thrived. His media company, Dirty Mo Media, has become a resounding success, generating millions in revenue. And thus sparking “what ifs” among fans.

One fan put out a post on Reddit after an intense discussion with their father about the whole situation. They asked, ” Was Teresa right or wrong to deny Dale Jr. ownership in DEI?” The fan explained the way that they thought about it, saying, “Had she given Dale ownership and allowed Dale, Kelley, and herself to run the company, Dale Jr. would have never left DEI, and there would likely still be 3-4 DEI cars.”

Because of Dale Jr‘s popularity and influence, they believe that he could have made the team a success and continued the team’s legacy for 20+ years. But, on the other hand, the fan’s father looked at things differently. The fan’s father said, “Dale Jr. wanted something he wasn’t owed, and Teresa should have felt no obligation to give him half the company.”  The fan and their father have been debating about this for a while and have come to a disagreement.

The fan also explained, “If giving Dale Jr. half the company means the company flourishing and still being a Cup powerhouse today, then there should have been no shame in giving him ownership if the alternative is that the company eventually shutters and instead of being a $1B+ company.” So when the fan and their dad could not come to an agreement, the fan took to Reddit to ask other fans for their opinion.

Fans Split on Dale Earnhardt Jr’s DEI Ownership Question

This question intrigued many fans and they all had their strong opinions to share. One fan commented, “I wish Junior would’ve had a chance to be part owner. Although I don’t know if he was ready for that much responsibility.” According to the fan, driving and owning a team would have been too much responsibility for Jr at the time. They then spoke about Teresa, saying, “She definitely got bad advice somewhere because the company was never going to succeed long-term without Dale Jr.. Part of me wishes they could patch things up and Dale reopen DEI one day.” With the hope that Dale Jr restarts the team, they believe that with the face of the team back on board, they would do quite well.

Another fan believes that Dale Jr was crucial for the team to succeed; however, they did consider Teresa’s side. The comment read, “In all honesty, I understand the position Teresa took. DEI and NASCAR were so big at that time, it seemed impossible they would fail.” But, in the end, the team did not make it as fans missed having an Earnhardt behind the wheel. Their comment further said, “Obviously it ended up that DEI needed Dale Jr. and collapsed shortly after, partly due to the economic collapse and partly due to their money maker and face of the company leaving.”

Another fan spoke about the matter at length when they said that Teresa was running the team into the ground. According to them, Dale Jr’s attempted takeover was a desperate bid to prevent DEI’s collapse, not a power grab. Their comment read, “I don’t think it was so much about him owning it as it was getting to the point where Teresa was running the team into the ground and had to do something, but wasn’t. If Teresa kept ownership of DEI but gave up the day-to-day operations of the team to others with the team, I don’t think Dale Jr. would have ever asked for ownership.”

The fan continued to explain how Dale Jr downplayed his ability to manage a team; however, he proved otherwise with JR Motorsports. While he does not take care of everything at JR Motorsports, he has allotted jobs to the right people to succeed, and it’s been working. The rest of the comment said, “He later said he wouldn’t have known himself how to run the team. But as he’s shown with JRM over the years, he doesn’t have much to do with the day-to-day but puts the right people in place to handle it. Which is what DEI needed.”

The fourth fan stood more with the fan’s father and Teresa, saying, “I don’t think she or your dad are wrong. Her mistake was letting it get to that point and hiring inept management. Jr showed then, and has since admitted, he was not capable of running a race team at that time. He messed up his own team when he asked to take the Eury’s off his pit box. I think he knew she’d say no, and that would then make it easier for him to leave.” According to the fan, Dale Jr’s demand for majority ownership (51%) was a strategic move to secure his departure from DEI. By attempting to gain control and being denied, Junior created a legitimate reason to leave the team, paving the way for his successful transition to HMS.

“Legally, she was right, morally? Absolutely not,” said one fan who explained their stance in just a few words. They believe that legally it was Teresa’s right to deny Dale Jr the team, but knowing that it’s his father’s team, she should have let him try his luck with managing it.

Where do you stand on this discussion? Share your thoughts in the comments below.