DEI would also have to look
and see what drivers are available. Most teams have contracts on drivers and although Kurt Busch is proof contracts can be
broken or should I say bought out, in NASCAR, it is not the norm.
So who are some drivers that
could end up at DEI?
1.) Greg Biffle - This could
be the most likely option. He does not have the following that Junior has but he is disposable at Roush Racing. His sponsor
has said they want out of there current deal and Roush Racing has to get down to the four car team limit. Biffle is a veteran
that has shown he can compete for wins and championships and that is what DEI needs behind the wheel.
2.) Ward Burton – If
DEI is looking for a driver with a fan following then Ward Burton would be a better choice than Biffle. Burton has a huge fan
following and he also has a Daytona 500 win. He has proven that in the past he can get the most out of any equipment that
he is driving. Burton has said in the past, (before he returned to NASCAR), that he wanted to be on a competitive team, so
you know right now Burton can not be happy at Morgan-McClure Motorsports as he is struggling to make a race. If he could jump
ship to DEI he would be locked in the field in 2008. This would be a win-win for both DEI and Burton
as they both would be getting a nice return on each other.
3.) Frank Kimmel - A veteran
driver does not have to mean a veteran of Nextel Cup, it could just be a driver that proves he can win week in and week out.
No one can be described as more of a winner than ARCA veteran Frank Kimmel. His eight ARCA RE/MAX Series Championships speak
for themselves. Yes he has said in the past he is happy where he is, but what else does he have to prove in the ARCA RE/MAX
Series? A chance to drive for a team with Earnhardt in the name could be what Kimmel needs to get him to make the jump to
NASCAR’s top series. An eight time series champion driving for a team named after a seven time series champion, imagine
the marketing possibilities.
4.) What Dale Jr. does –
This might be far fetched but it could happen. It all could depend on who Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs with. If Junior ends up with a team such as Hendrick Motorsports that would make one of his four current drivers
disposable, and someone like Kyle Busch might be willing to make the jump to DEI. This would get Busch out from behind four
time series champion Jeff Gordon or current series champion Jimmie Johnson. It would let Busch be a lead driver on a pretty
good team, something that he would have to really think about. Yes he is under contract with Hendrick Motorsports but if cuts
had to be made and the price was right for Rick Hendrick from DEI Busch could make that jump. That is not to say Busch would
make the jump but he would be more valuable to DEI than Casey Mears.
Although we don’t know
who will drive for DEI in 2008, one thing is for sure it will not be Dale Earnhardt Jr.
So we know DEI has to hire a driver, merge with another team (which has been rumored), or shut down one of its current
teams; and that is pretty much a sure bet of something that will not happen.
Questions, Comments;
Email Matt
The views and opinions
in this article are that of the writer(s) and not necessarily that of SCR
2006 StockCar Review.
