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CUP: DEI Looking Beyond Budweiser
Written by: Tom Jensen   
07/26/2007 - 07:00 PM
Indianapolis, Ind.
 
DEI's Siegel (left) and Earnhardt Jr. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) MORE NASCAR PHOTOS ยป More Photos


Dale Earnhardt Inc. President of Global Operations Max Siegel said Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that the team hopes to finalize its 2008 driver lineup within two weeks and is preparing for a future that may not include long-time sponsor Budweiser.

"We've had a great relationship and would love to continue with the brand, but at this point, we've had to make contingency plans," Siegel said Friday at the track.

Asked if that meant Budweiser definitely wouldn't be back on the No. 8 DEI Chevy, Siegel said, "No, absolutely not," adding that the team is still talking with Anheuser-Busch, but is no longer dependent on it. "What I can tell you confidently is that we'll have four fully sponsored Cup cars next year," Siegel said.

As for drivers, DEI wants to settle on its full lineup within two weeks. "The absolute drop-dead date is the end of the month," said Siegel. Already confirmed for the team are Martin Truex, Jr., Paul Menard and Mark Martin,
who will drive a third DEI car, splitting seat time with Aric Almirola for the remainder of 2007 and '08.

Earlier this week, DEI announced it was merging with Ginn Racing, which like DEI is based in Mooresville, N.C. In reality, though, the "merger" was really an acquisition, with DEI taking over Ginn's cash-strapped operations. Ginn shut down its Nos. 13 and 14 teams with the owner points from the No. 14 going to Menard, who will now be in the top 35 in owner points and therefore be guaranteed a spot in each race.

Ginn drivers Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin were released and the fates of Ginn development drivers Regan Smith, Ricky Carmichael and Jesus Hernandez is one of a myriad number of topics to be addressed by the DEI-Ginn management transition team in the next week, Siegel said.

Prior to the merger, Ginn shuttered its Busch Series operations and laid off more than 30 people and it's expected additional layoffs will follow in the wake of the merger.