FanHouse Regan Smith

Let's face it: NASCAR's own rules nearly killed multiple spectators Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway.

The scary last-lap crash in the Aaron's 499 involving Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and first-time winner Brad Keselowski is just the concoction NASCAR has cooked up with their set of rules governing the cans and cannots of racing at restrictor plate tracks.

At issue, primarily, is the much discussed yellow line rule that prohibits a driver from going below to advance a position.

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Now that we've got all of the -- um -- important details out the way, the focus of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s voyage to Hendrick Motorsports has reached a point that matters.

The competitive side. You know -- the side that Dale Earnhardt Jr. actually left Dale Earnhardt Inc. in favor of Hendrick for in the first place?

First off, Earnhardt's current and future crew chief at Hendrick Tony Eury Jr. will be released from his duties at DEI. following the Oct. 7 race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Eury, who has been Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car or crew chief for all but one season since the two broke into the Nextel Cup Series in 2000, will step down after the Oct. 7 race at Talladega Superspeedway.

He will be allowed to take four members of Earnhardt's No. 8 team with him under a deal made by DEI when it agreed to free him contractually to join Earnhardt at HMS in 2008.

According to the article, only one team member has told DEI that they will departing with Eury Jr.

The jump for Eury Jr. will work out nicely as he'll not only get a head start at Hendrick, but Earnhardt Jr. may be in a Hendrick ride following the last October race in Atlanta.

Regan Smith is disappointed that he won't be starting his full-time Nextel Cup career this weekend at Indy, but the young'n is being smart about what he says out loud and that's wise, because all hope is not lost. Yet.

"I'm not worried, I'm not upset, I'm not frustrated. For me, I was extremely disappointed. On Monday, I was planning on going to the Brickyard and starting my full-time Cup career and getting to start it at one of the biggest venues that you could possibly start it at. I was extremely excited about that and looking forward to that. Then on Tuesday, things changed and [I] found out I wouldn't be racing [there]. I was disappointed from a personal standpoint."

I'd be a little more than disappointed--I'd be pissed after getting dissed like that. He's handling things a lot better than some drivers would and way better than I would. DEI hasn't even had the courtesy to sit down with him and discuss his future yet.

When Tony Stewart announced on his radio show in February that without Dale Earnhardt Jr. DEI will become a museum, many race fans agreed.

Others thought he was putting the nail in Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s coffin prematurely.

None--that I'm aware of--thought that DEI headquarters, aka The Garage Mahal, would literally become a museum overnight, but alas that is exactly what is happening.

With the acquisition of Ginn Racing, DEI will move it's Nextel Cup operations down the road to Ginn's shop, leaving the DEI shop to serve as a museum and souvenir shop.

That's the word coming from inside DEI this afternoon.

Tim Packman, former website editor of www.daleearnhardtinc.com, was a guest on Dave Moody's show this afternoon and said that DEI has finalized its merger with Ginn Racing. Under the deal, the #13 team's owner points will be transferred Paul Menard to lock him into the field.

Mark Martin will drive the #01 in Indy as planned and will presumably finish the season splitting with Aric Almirola, who just signed with Ginn.

The #14 team's owner points will reportedly be sold to Furniture Row Racing to lock Kenny Wallace in.

And that leaves Regan Smith where exactly ... ?

Developing ...

Update: No name change for DEI, Ginn to be partner

Previously on Fanhouse
Rubbin' is Racin': Fans v. Ginn Racing
Almirola Bails on Gibbs, Headed to Ginn
DEI Ginn Merger 2007 and Beyond
Junior to Do the Dew and Other Silly Rumors
Ginn Racing Downsizing to One Cup Team?

A merger between Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Ginn Racing would require an immediate reduction from a total of six cars to four in the Nextel Sprint Cup Series. Eliminating Ginn's cash-strapped #13 and #14 teams seems the obvious answer to some, but it's probably not quite that simple.

The current layout/forecast:

Ginn
#01 - Regan Smith/Mark Martin - current plan is for Smith to run Cup full-time in 2008 and Martin to split season again with driver TBD
#13 - Joe Nemechek - car in top 35, driver expendable (sad but true, not attracting enough sponsor $$)
#14 - Sterling Marlin - ditto

DEI
#1 - Martin Truex Jr. - signed through 2008
#8 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - leaving, open driver seat for 2008, currently rumored to be going to Kyle Busch
#15 - As long as Menards is on the hood, Paul Menard is probably behind the wheel

I'm sure both teams recognize the value of the owner points so it's obvious that Menard would take over one of the Ginn cars in the top 35, and they could probably still sell the other to another team.

a.k.a. The Bristol Sweet 16 COT Crapshoot

1. Kurt Busch. Bristol's snow angel has plans for a sixth drive to victory lane--the first on his ears of CORN.
2. Jeff Gordon. Along with Busch, has the most wins in Thunder Valley. This season he's just trying to keep up with the Johnson.
3. Matt Kenseth. He's got three straight top 5s and nine top 10 finishes in 10 starts at Bristol. But nevermind that, he's got his crew chief back.

4. Denny Hamlin. He's got a win under his FedEx timing belt and was among the fastest in COT testing. Plus, his stock is up.

Regan Smith has some big shoes to fill.

Not only is the 23-year-old driver making making his Nextel Cup debut at one of the most unpredictable tracks on the NASCAR circuit, but he also taking over driving duties for a legend--one that has put Smith's owner, Ginn Racing, on the top of the points standings.

He's not letting it get to him:

"No question, I have some really big shoes to fill. But the only pressure I feel is what I have put on myself. Everyone understands the situation and there has been no outside pressure from the ownership, sponsors or the guys. I am only excited and pumped because I'm with a great race team and getting into a great race car."

He's grateful for the opportunity:

"Mark has been a great role model. He has taught me how to carry myself as a driver and how to respect the equipment, the team and the competition. On the track there have been some things I have struggled with in the past and really didn't have anyone to go to for advice. But now I have Mark and there's nobody better. There have been times I was like a duck out of water and he pointed me in the right direction. I feel very fortunate to be in this position."

He's realistic about his debut at Bristol:

"I think everyone would agree that Bristol is not the easiest track. It's a tough place when you're having a good day. The mindset from our end is not to expect a win or a top-10 finish. I want to finish the race, be on the lead lap and have the car in one piece. That's a tall order for Bristol, but with some luck, I think we can deliver that result.

A tall order indeed. Good luck to him.

Rookie David Gilliland, who makes his Daytona debut on the pole tomorrow, won't be eligible for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award in 2007 since he ran 14 races last season. Part-time rookies Brandon Whitt, Regan Smith and Jon Wood are eligible, but unlikely candidates to win.

That leaves five full-time 2007 Nextel Cup ROTY Contenders:

David Ragan (right), #6, Roush Racing
Daytona 500 starting position: 35th
Replaces the legendary Mark Martin in the #6 AAA Ford
* tallglassofmilk's ROTY pick

Juan Pablo Montoya, #42
Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates Racing
Daytona 500 starting position: 36th
Marquee name in this year's class comes to NASCAR from F1
* Diversity ROTY pick

David Reutimann, #00, Michael Waltrip Racing
Daytona 500 starting position: 40th
* Michael Waltrip's ROTY pick

Paul Menard, #15, Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Daytona 500 starting position: DNQ
The son of the team's sponsor (and rumored boyfriend of team owner) starts the season at a points disadvatage due to his failure to qualify for the 500.
* DEI fans ROTY pick

A.J. Allmendinger, #84, Red Bull Racing
Daytona 500 starting position: DNQ
Comes to NASCAR from CHAMP
Toyota's misfortune is good fortune for all ROTY and Chase contenders on the track tomorrow.
* Who picks A.J.?