At the beginning of the season, Michael Waltrip was pretty much told, if he doesn't make the chase, hes outta the #15. Sooo... what if Michael makes it, but Dale Jr doesnt? What will they do then?
you have got to be kidding me. the #15 was told that for two reasons, one the only thing he's ever won on was plate races and not any of those lately and two, DEI has quite a few development drivers coming up through the ranks (why pay waltrip's salary if he isn't producing)
you can't say the same for Jr. he won six races last year and has finished in the top five the last two years in final standings. He is having a bad year so far, but that does not warrant anything you might suggest.
It wouldn't surprise me if Michael was outta there regardless if he did make the chase. I think they might want to shake up the entire DEI. Jr will always be there he is the face of Nascar and is just having a bad year. They will get this turned around.
Dale Jr. will never be fired by DEI no matter how bad he does. Think about it... his stepmother owns it and half his extended family work for them. You think they would actually let him go?
The only way Jr. would part ways with DEI is if it's his own choice. If he did go anywhere else, I'm sure it would be RCR.
I agree with amazine, Waltrip will be let go soon, if not next season, then possibly the season after that. DEI is starting to get some young talent in its lower ranks and they have been doing a lot of scouting lately. They probably want to get a 4 car team eventually full of young guns. Jr, Truex, Menard... and? Hmiel was rumored to eventually sign with DEI, but that's probably out the window now. Maybe Truex's replacement in the Busch Series, Ryan Moore, might eventually be up there.
