DEI signs development driver

Dale Earnhardt Inc. didn't have to look very far to find its soon-to-be newest driver. He shares a last name with organization's founder. Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 17-year-old grandson of Dale Earnhardt, will compete in the NASCAR Busch East Series next season in a Chevrolet prepared by DEI, said Tam Topham, who fielded cars for Earnhardt last year at Motor Mile Speedway. An official announcement about the fourth-generation driver's future should come next week at the NASCAR preseason media tour in Charlotte, N.C, his stepmother, Rene, confirmed. The son of Kerry Earnhardt and nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will share time between Busch East, the UARA Late Model touring series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (formerly the Dodge Weekly Series). A handful of Late Model dirt track starts could also be in the cards. "This week or next week, they're going to try to have everything finalized," Topham said. "His mom and dad and DEI and himself — they're all working out the particulars." DEI will field the Busch East entry exclusively; Topham will be under contract with Kerry Earnhardt to oversee the Late Model and UARA operations out of his Wytheville-based TAMCO Motorsports shop. Jeffrey Earnhardt's 2007 schedule will include up to eight races in a Late Model at Motor Mile as well as the Bailey's 300 at Martinsville Speedway in late September. Busch East, along with the NASCAR AutoZone West Series, is a regional feeder division for NASCAR's three national series — Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck. Jeffrey Earnhardt's Late Model Stock car will have #01. The news of Earnhardt's deal with DEI comes just days after Kerry Earnhardt took a full-time position with the company. The elder Earnhardt will serve as a liaison between the organization's Cup and Busch programs and make cameo driving appearances. Roanoke Times