HOF memories

Dale Earnhardt’s legacy as strong as ever

Associated Press

CONCORD, N.C.

Dale Earnhardt’s family was the center of attention during the lead-in to NASCAR’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

They honored the seven-time champion with the unveiling of a Wheaties box, the announcement of two commemorative paint schemes and a heartfelt tribute from Earnhardt’s widow and four children at Sunday’s ceremony.

It was a celebratory time for everyone who loved Earnhardt, and brought back a flood of memories of “The Intimidator” and all of his accomplishments.

One of those memories was of Dale Earnhardt Inc., the race team he built from scratch that is no longer operating as he intended.

“That place was built on people and racing. I’d give anything to have that back,” said Kerry Earnhardt, the eldest of Earnhardt’s four children. “To have a Dale Earnhardt Inc. entry in NASCAR’s circuit would be an awesome feat.”

DEI has not had a car on the track since the 2008 season finale, when sponsorship woes and the economic crisis forced an offseason merger with Chip Ganassi. The present-day team, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, fields cars for Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray out of Ganassi’s shop and under his leadership.

DEI, which let go of most of its employees, is still in the racing business. The company does consulting, builds parts, has an engine alliance with Richard Childress, and keeps Earnhardt’s spirit alive through his foundation.

It’s not the same as racing, though, and his children know that.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. left the team at the end of 2007 to drive for Hendrick Motorsports, citing his desire to compete for a championship that he believed DEI could not achieve. But his decision was equally based on an inability to do business with his stepmother, Teresa, who had run the company since Earnhardt’s 2001 death in a last-lap accident of the season-opening Daytona 500.

The two made a rare public appearance together in April, when they announced Earnhardt Jr. would race a throwback No. 3 Wrangler paint scheme in this summer’s Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Afterward, Earnhardt Jr.’s sister acknowledged things would have been different if their father were still alive.