Kenny Wallace claims issues with Dale Sr’s third wife cost Dale Earnhardt Jr. a Cup title

Kenny Wallace has driven for DEI part-time in the Cup series.

Kenny Wallace claims issues with Dale Sr’s third wife cost Dale Earnhardt Jr. a Cup title

Kenny Wallace (Credits: news.microsoft.com) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Credits: IMAGO)

Seven times NASCAR Cup champion Dale Earnhardt’s legacy in the premier stock car division is unmatched. But a big part of that legacy, DEI, didn’t survive even for a decade after his unfortunate death after the tragic 2001 Daytona 500 crash. Senior’s Cup Series team, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, lasted only eight years after his death.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had his career-best runs in his father’s team and became the face of the after the Intimidator passed away. But soon after the tragedy, issues sprouted between Dale Jr. and his stepmother, Terresa Earnhardt. Teresa Earnhardt, the third wife of Sr., inherited the team after his death. The infighting forced Dale Jr. to ditch DEI for HMS in 2007.

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But former DEI driver Kenny Wallace believes that if the JRM co-owner stayed at DEI and solved his issues with his stepmother, he would have been a Cup winner.

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In my honest opinion, if Dale Earnhardt Jr. could’ve worked it out with Teresa (Earnhardt), he would’ve went on to win a championship and won it all. That’s my opinion.
Wallace said on his YouTube channel.

DEI debuted NASCAR in 1996, fielding cars for Robby Gordan. Since then, he has given opportunities to sports legends such as Martin Truex Jr., Michael Waltrip, and Mark Martin. But Dale Jr. was their biggest star ever.

Dale Jr. and Michael Waltrip left the team within two years gap, and their big sponsors migrated to the new teams with them. The financial blow was too much for DEI to suffer, and the exit of Junior caused fans to turn on them as well. In 2009 DEI merged with Chip Ganassi Racing, but the team ended with Teresa Earnhardt supposedly abandoning the team.

Kenny Wallace believes Dale Jr’ growth was stunted at DEI

Wallace went on to claim that Dale Jr. had everything to win the championship at DEI, but his issues with Terresa didn’t allow him to grow as a driver enough. The split between him and the Eury’s also played a part. The former driver believes all these issues could have been solved if Junior remained with DEI.

Charlotte Motor Speedway Day 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Credits: countrymusicnation.com)
I believe, my opinion, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s growth was stunted, slowed down because he could not get along with Teresa Earnhardt. That group right there, even though Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the Eurys, kind of split up a little bit, they could’ve got back together if DEI could have stayed going. If Dale Earnhardt Jr. stays at DEI, DEI never ends. It keeps digging.
Kenny Wallace said.

While Dale Jr.’s move to HMS gave him the best shot at winning the title on paper, it didn’t turn out to be the success he envisioned. In HMS career that lasted a decade was able to secure just eight cup race wins. He scored 18 wins with DEI in nine full-time seasons. His best championship finish with HMS P5 in 2013, while he secured a P3 with DEI in 2003.

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