by Lee Spencer

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Well, we'll keep the instances and circumstances throughout the contract and the negotiations and what was proposed and what our opinion was and DEI's opinion was private. I don't think it's really important to really get into that, but I can honestly say that we weren't really close with what we both had in mind. Like I said, they have every intention of running well and doing well. We just have a difference of opinions on how we get there. But we've been pretty honest with the media as far as what we were doing and what our decision was. We stayed positive throughout the negotiations to work toward our goal. This brought us here today.

Lee Spencer: What was missing at DEI from a competition level that you thought perhaps couldn't get to do the job you needed to get done or are there other just better corporations suited competitively for you to use resources to work what you're working at which is championships and winning races?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: When we first decided to move on and start looking at other opportunities, there was never a... I feel like (and) I've said it before. Tony (Eury) Jr. I feel like is going to be one of the best crew chiefs out there. When it's all said and done, he'll go down as one of the best mechanics in the garage. I love my team. I love the guys that work on my team. We have a great camaraderie. We all get along really well. A lot of them have been there for a while, and the camaraderie has just gotten better over the years. I enjoy racing with them and enjoy going to the track and racing with them, and we've run well. We've had fast cars every week.

It really comes down to, not so much today, but where I feel like I need to be and where I feel like what DEI's direction is and what their opinions on how they need to get successful. There was a difference there personally in those opinions. It wasn't so much, "The motors ain't fast enough." Or "the cars ain't good enough." That's not necessarily the case. They've improved the engine shop quite a bit. Our open motors at (the) Atlanta and Charlotte tracks are probably as on par with anybody else.

For me personally, I made this decision to put myself in a better position next year and down the road. I want to contend for championships and win races. That's never been any different than any other year. But also I've got my family to consider as far as my ability to... My mom's sitting here, and I won't feel comfortable telling y'all this in front of her. But there will be a day when I have to take care of her financially and for her to be able to live and have the life she wants. I've got to put myself in a position to take care of the things that are going to need to be taken care of when I'm at that age. And I feel like this is the way to go. I feel like that this is what I need to do personally.

Lee Spencer is a senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com. Talk racing with Lee at her NASCAR blog.