DEI Horses Around With Company Resources

Dale Earnhardt Inc. finally got a win in 2008. It wasn't on the race track, but horsepower was involved.
After earning a reserve championship in barrel racing, 19-year-old Taylor Nicole Earnhardt, the youngest progeny of the late Dale Earnhardt and the only child of DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt, won the "World Championship All-Around" horseback riding title as one of 85 entries at Josey Ranch, a famed equestrian facility in Marshall, Texas. Part of the event was filmed by ESPN. Miss Earnhardt captured Reserve Champion honors in her specialty of barrel racing during Texas competitions in May after competing against more than 500 contestants. She followed that up by bringing home another trophy buckle from the "All American" barrel race in Jackson, Mississippi in June.
Fast hoofs and fast cars seem to run in the family. "The Intimidator" loved horses and other domestic animals, keeping them around for years on his North Carolina farm. Taylor relishes riding the family herd with her dad on the home front, and has been involved with barrel racing since '02, the year after her dad's death. She now travels the country while taking online courses at Mitchell Community College in Statesville.
The Mooresville resident travels with her horse, named Packin Sixes Cowboy. Taylor calls him "Cowboy."
There is now another branch of racing, an equestrian team, tied to DEI to support Taylor's passion, prompting talk that company capital spent on horsemanship could be better used for building up a troubled NASCAR operation. Onlookers wonder aloud whether there are enough resources at DEI to back a non-NASCAR entity after losing the sport's most popular figure barely 13 months ago.
Either money or input is scarce at DEI, which currently supports four full-time Sprint Cup Series cars. One driver, Regan Smith in the No. 01, is having trouble luring a 2009 sponsor. Flagship driver Mark Martin has announced he will join Hendrick Motorsports in '09 to drive full time and compete for a Cup series championship, marking the second straight season the company's No. 8 driver has bolted DEI for the choice organization, and the second time an elite driver said-this time indirectly-that he couldn't win a title on his present team. Martin Truex Jr. is having a disappointing year. He's rumored to be disinterested in returning next year, despite having his contract option picked up for another season at DEI. And Paul Menard is still questionable for long-term success.
In '07, Junior mentioned how the team's mechanics would have to use the pull-down rig at his Busch Series headquarters, JR Motorsports. DEI is now reported to be considering bringing in an outside investment firm to pump money into the beleaguered outfit.
Taylor competed again in last weekend's Southern States Triple Crown Super Show in Perry, Georgia, and has no signs of slowing down. Her mother may have triggered Junior's departure last year with comments questioning his desire to be a champion racer, or a public figure. Where her own heart lies appears to be another query.
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