Another nail in DEI’s coffin, Army to Newman

UPDATE #2 They haven't replaced engine dynos and chassis bays with statues and paintings just yet, but Tony Stewart's prediction for the future of Dale Earnhardt Inc. is close to becoming dangerously true. Teresa Earnhardt's decision to not give her famous stepson 51 percent controlling interest of the company has resulted in a serious slide for the team the late Dale Earnhardt founded. Last week's decision by Paul Menard to bolt DEI and bring his father's lucrative home improvement store sponsorship with him to Yates Racing is just the latest blow to the beleaguered team that only a year ago looked like it was headed in the right direction. What seemed like a promising foundation has crumbled in a short period of time. Mark Martin will leave at year's end for Hendrick Motorsports with the No. 8's U.S. Army sponsorship headed for Stewart-Haas Racing and Ryan Newman in 2009. While Martin Truex Jr. and sponsor Bass Pro Shops are locked in for 2009, Menard's departure leaves DEI with only Armirola and Smith, neither of whom has a sponsor for next season. It's a situation that has thrown the company's management into a defensive mode of fighting the perception DEI is heading for the extinct list. CBS SportsLine

10/08/08 Another piece of the Stewart-Haas Racing puzzle will be fit into place Thursday when the race team will unveil the U.S. Army as primary sponsor of Ryan Newman's No. 39 car for next season, sources have confirmed to NASCAR.COM.

The announcement is scheduled to be made at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, site of this weekend's Sprint Cup event. The Stewart-Haas organization now has both its Chevrolets sponsored for next season — no small feat in this economy — with Office Depot and Old Spice set to back the car of team co-owner Tony Stewart.

It's another setback for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which had the Army on its No. 8 car this season. DEI driver Paul Menard announced last week that he and his Menard's sponsorship would be moving to Yates Racing for the 2009 campaign.

09/30/08 Sources close to the situation confirmed today that the U.S. Army would not be renewing their sponsorship with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. after the 2008 season. Representatives from the U.S. Army let Dale Earnhardt, Inc. know this afternoon that they would not be returning to the #8 for 2009. Beginning in 2009 the U.S. Army will be the primary sponsor of Ryan Newman in the newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing venture led by two-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart. The formal announcement will be delivered at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Friday October 10th when Stewart-Haas Racing and the U.S. Army unveil Newman’s new #39 racecar. Sources also said that representatives from the U.S. Army have asked Dale Earnhardt, Inc. for permission to make the announcement, and that the U.S. Army did not have an interest in negotiating with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. about future opportunities. Captain Thunder Racing