Dale Jr. Q&A: 'Ain't no turning back'

by Darrell Waltrip

Updated: May 18, 2007, 9:34 AM EST

Darrell Waltrip: Everybody talks about Childress. Would you like to do a deal with Richard? Would you like to do a deal with Hendrick, or would you like to do a deal with somebody like a Bobby Ginn that just showed up all of the sudden? What's going to make you want to do a deal with someone?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: There's positives and negatives to every scenario. What's really easy to do is go, "Alright, these guys run good."

Darrell Waltrip: Yeah, like Hendrick.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Right. Richard's turned his deal around the last couple years, and they've really improved. You see where Richard's team is going and going and moving up there. They put cars in the top 10 every week. I need to go see and talk to these individuals. I need to go see shops, see resources, meet employees, talk with the drivers and see what the interest is in them having me as a teammate.

Darrell Waltrip: I remember you and me talking about you driving the car with the 3 on it. How do you feel about that?

Dale Earnhardt Inc. president of global operations Max Siegel "We're very disappointed. Dale Jr. is a tremendous asset to the company. You'd love to see the family stay together and continue the legacy together. At the same time, it was really refreshing to see everyone bond, support one another and be excited about the future. His success in the future is as important to DEI as DEI's success is." The future of DEI

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: In a perfect world, I would like to do that at the end of my career. I don't want to drive the No. 3 car for the next 15 to 20 years, however long I drive. I don't want to be in that car every year. That was my dad's legacy. That was his number. He made that what it is. It was his. And I don't want to get in it and do anything to change that.

Darrell Waltrip: I always thought the racing world would be right if (you drove the No. 3)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: I can't wrap my mind around that. I can't get comfortable with that.

Darrell Waltrip: You wanted control or more control than you have at DEI. Apparently that couldn't happen.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: For DEI to get to where it needs to be, I think personally to be as successful as it can be, I felt like I needed to have my hands at the controls. I had the idea that my father wanted me to be a part of that company and that he wanted me to have a lot of influence on what the company was doing.

Darrell Waltrip: I know what I think he'd be doing. What do you think he would be telling you right now about this decision?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: If he were still here, things would be way different. He had a way of making things happen and getting things done, and things would be getting done. He would know where the company needed to be, and he would make it happen. He would rather me be at DEI and win races and win championships there. But I think under the circumstances, he would understand my decision. He would support me, for sure. I think he would be more concerned with what I'm going to do next. He would go, "Oh, man!"

Stevie on the '01 Daytona 500 Proverbs 18:10: The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous man will run to it and be safe. "That was the scripture for that day for Dale. He always would give me a hug. We always said we loved each other. That was how I said goodbye although I didn't know I was saying goodbye."

DW's '01 interview with Dale Jr. Column on the interview 'What would Dad do? Part I: 'I don't want to ever forget' Part II: Growing up Earnhardt Part III: 'He was the best' Part IV: Heavenly father Part V: Light helmet, heavy heart?

Darrell Waltrip: "You don't know what you're talking about. Get over here and get back to work."

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Yeah, right. (laughs)

Darrell Waltrip: I know fans miss your dad. I miss your dad. How much do you miss your dad?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Every day, especially times like this. I know if he were here, we wouldn't be doing this and making these decisions and things like this wouldn't be happening to me. This is where I'm at. This is what's going on. This is today. I'd love to have his information.... and what he would tell me to do.

Darrell Waltrip: What is it that Teresa's not doing or doing that's brought it to this point?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: I wasn't happy with who I was driving for. Every driver wants to enjoy the camaraderie with the owners and the other teammates and whatnot. I get along with Martin (Truex Jr.) and those guys great, but there's just a lot of tension there. And it stems down from the top, man.

Darrell Waltrip: All of your fans, the sea of red, how do you think they're going to feel about this?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Probably confused. I think a lot of them will be disappointed obviously. I'm disappointed, but hopefully they'll be as excited as we are about the future, what we can do and what we can accomplish. Some of the exciting things that we can do. A new day.

Darrell Waltrip: Is there any going back?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: There's no going...

Darrell Waltrip: Is there any way...

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: There's no way...

Darrell Waltrip: Teresa, Max come to you and say, "Dale, look, we didn't know you were this serious about this deal, and we didn't have any idea you were going to do this. We're going to fix everything.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: They had their opportunity, and this was a long negotiation. There ain't no turning back.