Dale Jr. Really Loves Teresa. Really.

Last season, Texas Motor Speedway track president Eddie Gossage took some heat over his marketing campaign involving the IndyCar series race there.

In that instance, Gossage played on the fact that Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon had had a verbal sparring match after the previous race in Texas with a "Dan vs. Danica" theme.

This time around, though, the players are much different.

In anticipation of April's Samsung 500 at Texas for the Sprint Cup series, TMS has been running an ad campaign called "reasons" and includes a picture of a driver and a reason why they want to win.

One of those drivers was Dale Earnhardt Jr. And TMS thought he wanted to win because of the way Junior parted ways in 2007 with his stepmom's team, Dale Earnhardt Inc.

The billboard used to show Junior and read "Reason No. 88: Stepmom".

Not so fast, says the Earnhardt Jr. camp:

TMS president Eddie Gossage said Thursday night that the billboards, part of a series of similar ads to promote the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend at the track in April, will be changed after a request from Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, the driver's sister and business manager.

"The first thing I told her when I answered the phone was if you guys are uncomfortable with it, all you have to do is say the word," Gossage said. "We had a very pleasant talk."

And today, this story is all over the NASCAR world, meaning that Eddie Gossage won't be firing the employee who came up with this scheme. A promotion might be in order, actually.

That's good marketing.

The new schemes will show Earnhardt Jr. and read "Reason No. 88: New Car Smell".

Now that's funny. Dot. Dot. Dot.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-02-2008 @ 5:12AM

MMcmahan said...

Smell funny to me...........but we all know the real truth.......step mommie dearest.

Go Jr Go, 88 or 8 we still love him.....the fans

2-01-2008 @ 3:46PM

ronnie e pannell said...

jr. shows alot of respect not to air all dirty laundry in public, aftr all that was daddys wife. way to go jr. you r on right side of issue, thats the past now move on win in 08

2-01-2008 @ 5:19PM

Cynthia said...

I'm just glad I right clicked and saved a photo taken of the original billboard...

It was so comical!!

2-03-2008 @ 2:27PM

Jim said...

It was a thrill seeing the Dale Earnhardt Musuem in NC this past weekend, but a real shame to notice not a picture of the man that really built the building with his son by his side no where to be seen.

Funny how little people can be when remembering and building things for people to enjoy.

2-03-2008 @ 12:37AM

cliffwizard said...

hey we all know she is a piece of s^&*(). she is still showing her hate not one photo of jr and his dad . dale sr was very proud of jr, that must have been killing that witch.

2-03-2008 @ 5:27AM

John Brooks said...

Every time I see that witch Teresa on TV I at least hit mute if not change the channel. I cannot stand that witch one little bit. She is trying her best to ruin the legacy of Dale, and her relationship with her stepchildren is despicable. There are good stepparents in the world. I am one. Teresa, however, is not. Here's hoping she'll slip in her own slop and just go away.

2-04-2008 @ 1:39AM

Mike Waddell said...

Jr. Is being a real gentleman. However, I think he should put a nice picture of Teresa at his shop, just for throwing darts at........

2-08-2008 @ 9:09PM

IRW said...

Agree w/these comments on stepmother, she's doing her best to destroy DEI & all that Sr. worked for @ the business. To treat your stepchildren so badly is so sad and what a bad business blunder too, losing not only Jr. but his sponsors as well. She truly is a witch i guess, go Jr. in 2008 in #88.

2-09-2008 @ 10:09AM

Kim said...

While I agree that Jr. is a class act as a person, (always have), I have to say, I am so sick of everyone trashing Theresa. The fact is people, we only know what the media has told us in regards to Theresa. No, she may not be the best owner in the world, no she might not be the best step-mother in the world, but she was Dale Earnhardt's wife and he loved her enough to leave her everything. People should at least respect that. I don't think she is trying to destroy DEI.

Now, everyone prepare yourselves because I know you aren't going to like what I am about to say but here goes anyway.....Jr. was unfair asking for the majority of the company. It isn't his to ask for. It was left to Theresa. She shouldn't be expected to "give up" her company and its interests just because her step-son & step-daughter asked her to. She didn't. She didn't have to, he moved on (the best move he could have made in my opinion). The situation is now over. Move on. He is going to have a good year with Hendrick and he is going to become a better driver and will be able to concentrate on his own future now instead of concentrating on everyone else's who worked for and at DEI. I wish him luck!

And a BIG SHOUT OUT to my Girl, Cynthia! I missed you, babe! Love ya!

Kim