Dale Jarrett receiving backlash from loyal fans

Race fans followed Bill Elliott when he switched from Ford to Dodge late in his career.
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) -- Butch Meyer walked outside Darlington Raceway in his No. 88 hat and UPS racing jersey, testament to a 14-year allegiance to Dale Jarrett, one of NASCAR's most popular drivers.
But what Jarrett did last weekend in moving from his Ford team to one fielded by Japanese automaker Toyota in 2007 was enough to have Meyer cutting his longtime ties with DJ.
"That's it, he's done with me," said Meyer, a fan from Clearwater, Fla.
It's a sentiment Jarrett figures to hear often as he finishes his run at Robert Yates Racing, his home for the past 12 seasons. Jarrett said last Saturday he was joining Michael Waltrip Racing as a second Toyota entry.
Jarrett spoke with his father, championship driver Ned; and wife, Kelley, about the coming storm of change and "what impact it was going to have as far as the way I would be looked at in the circles here, what I had accomplished to this point."
Loyalty response
Jarrett is well aware Ford and Robert Yates Racing helped him win 29 of his 32 races, two of his three Daytona 500s and the 1999 Nextel Cup championship. It also made Jarrett one of Ford's most popular racers, his good looks, wide smile and easy demeanor a hit with fans.
There have "already been people talking about the loyalty side of it, and I think I've been very loyal" to both Ford and RYR, Jarrett said.
Ford Racing Technology public affairs manager Kevin Kennedy said the company is seeing some "very negative reactions among our loyalists" to Jarrett's move, partly because it involves a Japanese company.
"The Toyota thing is a factor," he said. "If he had gone back to Joe Gibbs Racing, I'm not sure the backlash would have been the same."
And current NASCAR teams are concerned about the money they expect Toyota to spend on the Nextel Cup. RYR co-owner Doug Yates said his company matched Jarrett's first offer, so he could stay until retirement, but Jarrett chose to go.
"They made him an offer he couldn't refuse," Yates said. "Toyota's history and background is throwing a lot of money around, and here is one of those examples."
Roush not happy
Car owner Jack Roush, whose five Nextel Cup entries all made the Chase for the championship last season, talked with his manufacturer, Ford, and NASCAR about the imbalance he believes is coming because of Toyota's money.
"Their fingerprints are all over what's happening. They are, in fact, raiding the garage," Roush says, "and that's going to have an impact.
"I'm going to be one of the organizations out there trying to frustrate them," Roush said. "But certainly the money is a big challenge right now."
For the 49-year-old Jarrett, the move solidified his future -- he's been promised a role when his racing days end. But the change jarred Jarrett fans who proudly wear their loyalty on their sleeves -- and caps and T-shirts.
"I know what he said, but I hope he changes his mind," said Eddie Lambert, a 26-year-old construction worker from Anderson, S.C. "I'm a Ford man and I want DJ to be with Ford."
Other Jarrett fans such as Dave Kreischer of Van Wert, Ohio, wish their favorite driver well with his new venture and expect to pull for him just as hard when he takes the track next season in a Toyota Camry.
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter points out that race fans followed Bill Elliott when he switched from Ford to Dodge late in his career.
What if
Meyer said he might have stuck with DJ if he'd moved to U.S. brands Chevrolet or Dodge. "It might have made a difference," he said. "I don't know."
Jarrett says he gets shouts, letters and e-mails from fans -- some of whom have paid $104.99 for a Dale Jarrett jacket or $29.99 for a Jarrett BBQ grill cover, and can't fathom the racer's decision.
"They all think they know what you should do with your future," he said, chuckling.
When he wisecracked recently at Richmond about consulting his dog over the Toyota offer, fans shot back that he should talk to his wife.
"They didn't understand it was a joke," Jarrett said.
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