NCAAbbs

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been offered ownership in the company his father built, the president of global operations at Dale Earnhardt Inc. said on Thursday.

A source close to the negotiations said the offer is 51 percent.

"I'm not going to discuss percentages,'' said Max Siegel, the chief negotiator for DEI.

But Siegel said he has worked hard to address everything that Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, have asked for to re-sign NASCAR's most popular driver.

That includes putting both on a board of directors through which all major decisions will be resolved.

"It would not be fair to say we have an agreement, but it would be fair to say we've come a long way,'' Siegel said. "We all have the common goal, which is long-term success for this company.''

Earnhardt Jr. said no deal has been reached and he declined to discuss whether 51 percent would give him the type of control he wants.

"That's a long way down the road,'' he said during qualifying for Saturday night's race at Phoenix International Raceway. "We still have some other things in the contract to work out.''


Later on Thursday, Earnhardt was quoted by The Associated Press as saying "as far as I know, there's been nothing new in the last week or more."

Earnhardt, in the final year of his current contract with DEI, said he isn't worried about the negotiations.



"I just want to get some wins and some good finishes and concentrate of what we're doing on the track,'' he said.


Elledge said last week that she hoped to have a new deal within 30-45 days. One of her concerns was that DEI hasn't committed the resources it takes to be one of the top teams.

Siegel said management is doing everything it can to ensure those resources are there, noting Earnhardt Jr. has had a strong car most of the season and that the programs of Martin Truex Jr. and Paul Menard are improving based on recent results.

Truex Jr. was seventh and Menard 15th last week at Texas. Earnhardt Jr. led 96 laps before a late crash not of his doing.

"Look at the performance of our cars,'' Siegel said. "No way do we lack resources. We are always trying to get the strongest people in every aspect of the business.

"We are committed to winning.''

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said an online report that he has been offered ownership in DEI is "news to me." After qualifying, he was asked about the story that he has been offered 51% ownership of the company started by his late father. "I don't know anything about that," Junior said, raising his eyebrows. "As far as I know, there's been nothing new in the last week or more." Earnhardt, in the final year of his current contract with DEI, said he isn't worried about the negotiations. "I just want to get some wins and some good finishes and concentrate of what we're doing on the track," he said. A story on ESPN.com Thursday said Max Siegel, president of global operations at DEI and the team's chief negotiator, said Earnhardt has been offered ownership in the company but would not say what percentage. Siegel could not be reached Thursday for comment

Taking control of DEI, his late father's company, might come at too high a price for #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. Last week, it was reported DEI offered Dale Earnhardt Jr. 51% ownership, which NASCAR's most popular driver quickly denied. That's not to say there weren't informal discussions, rather it could be Junior simply stopped listening once he heard the asking price. Several people familiar with the contract negotiations told The Associated Press that DEI has not made a formal offer and that any discussions centered around the 51% ownership share came with a steep asking price - $55 million or more - that the Earnhardt Jr. camp didn't take seriously. That number would be in line with the going rate for a stake in a NASCAR team. Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is believed to have spent about $60 million in February for a minority stake in Roush Fenway Racing. Those familiar with the negotiations requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak. When reached Monday, Junior's sister Kelley Earnhardt Elledge declined comment, citing the reporting of inaccurate information over the weekend in her desire to refrain from commenting until a formal announcement.

I hope he goes to Childress.

This would look great with the 3 on it. I guarantee you Budweiser goes with him.