Answer this...

All grown up on the cover of this...

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spent the seven years since his father's death learning how to live without him. In the cover story for ESPN The Magazine, "All Grown Up," Dale Jr. talks in depth publicly for the first time about the pain of losing his dad, who was killed in a crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001. Writer Marty Smith reveals that since Junior left the family business, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (and affiliation with Dale Sr.'s third wife Teresa Earnhardt), for NASCAR juggernaut Hendrick Motorsports this season, he’s finally feeling like himself again.

Quoting this...

On the loss of his father:

"When my dad died, I was numb, blind. I just kept moving. Going. Doing. It was horrible. The further away from it I get, the more I understand how I went through it."

"I didn't talk about it because it wasn't something I wanted to preach. 'Oh, I lost my Daddy, woe is me, and I gotta go through life without him.' I didn't want that message."

On his stepmother:

"I ain't got nothing against her. She might have something against me, I don't know."

On himself:

"I am striving to be the total package. A mature, dedicated, motivated racecar driver."

On finding a "bring-home-to-mama girl":

"I'm looking for that mental connection, somebody who sees and understands me like my sister and my mom do. I want somebody who can read me like a book and is okay with half of it. I'm particular, and I want to be particular. It hasn't struck me yet that I should relax my standards."

FULL STORY

Free the #8 for this...

The Free the #8 campaign was originally launched by Riki Rachtman on Speed TV's "Raceday Built by The Home Depot." The purpose of the campaign is to compel Teresa Earnhardt to release her right to the use of the #8 in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, making it available for stepson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. to use when he departs Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of this season and embarks on the next phase of his racing career with Hendrick Motorsports in 2008.

Official Campaign Site: www.myspace.com/freetheeight. That is the only Official site. They are selling t-shirts for $11.88 with all proceeds benefiting the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

MORE LINKS

History: Dale Jr. and the #8
Sign the Petition
www.freethe8.org

MORE GEAR
www.cafepress.com/free8
www.cafepress.com/freethe8

TGOM Tip: Leave suggested links in the comments.

Darlington: The eligibility FAQtors of this...

The Earnhardts: Typically normal relations between this...

The Charlotte Observer - In her first substantive interview with the Observer since her husband's death in 2001, Teresa Earnhardt commented only briefly about the current situation at Dale Earnhardt Inc., the race team she and her husband established and for which her stepson now drives.

...Teresa Earnhardt brushed aside a question about any family squabbling.

"We're just a typical family with normal relations and we're moving ahead," she said. "And we're fine. As far as DEI goes, we're growing and just trying to make it as big and as good as we can. We're full speed ahead."

In the movie, Teresa Earnhardt said that after her husband's death "I had no choice" but to keep going at DEI, where she is chief executive officer, out of responsibility to those who work there.

"It's business," she said. "I didn't feel like it was a burden. We built a major accomplishment together and I care about all of those people. Like any business owner, you feel responsible for them."

She said that while the process of grieving for her husband is "never-ending," projects like the documentary help with that.

Full story

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CBSSportsline.com - Teresa Earnhardt is willing to discuss a larger role at Dale Earnhardt Inc. with stepson Dale Earnhardt Jr. as part of the ongoing contract negotiations to keep him at his late father's company.   

"We are moving full speed ahead with negotiations, moving ahead as we normally would," Teresa Earnhardt said Thursday night in a telephone interview from Los Angeles, where she was promoting the documentary Dale.

Asked if she was committed to keeping Junior behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet, she didn't waver. "Absolutely."

Full story

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The tallglassofmilk will be checking the "Dale" DVD out this weekend, but, not really being a critic, can't promise to convey coherent thoughts in a review of this... but may attempt a shot.

Earnhardt Jr.: What finally matters to this...

Dale Earnhardt Jr. responds to the comments made last month by his stepmother and CEO of Dale Earnhardt Inc., Teresa Earnhardt, that begged the question "Where's your head at?" and addresses other nagging questions.

Quoting this...

"I was surprised to read that in the article about the new president. I really didn't know if she got taken out of context. I haven't talked to her personally about it. It's quite interesting to read everybody else's take on it.

On their relationship: "We'll go three months without talking, without seeing each other. We're cordial. It's not as people would assume. I think everybody's always had this idea that we were very negative to each other.

"Five or six years ago — when Dad was alive — we didn't really discuss anything business-wise. I talked to Dad about the race teams and racing and talked to Teresa about personal stuff, like 'Hey, I'm going to buy a boat. What does that entail?' She knew about stuff like that. Now, she's the owner and I've got to talk to her about race teams and race cars and what I expect out of her efforts and the company."

On Teresa's priorities: "When you go into her office and there are stacks of paper, most of it is dealing with my father and whatever they're doing with his name and whatnot. So, we don't talk a lot. We don't have a lot of sit-downs about racing and the team and ownership and stuff because that's not at the top of her list."

On driving for Richard Childress: "That keeps coming up. Ever since I started driving under a contract, it's something that would come up every time we get toward the end of a deal. If I get an opportunity to drive for Richard in the twilight of my career, if he's still interested, that would be awesome.

"Right now, I want to drive for my father's company and drive the No. 8 Bud car. That's what I do. That's what I'm known for and how I want things to be."

On the question of his commitment: "As a driver over the last several years, I've faced scrutiny and question marks about my determination and where my true passion lies.  It didn't really bother me that bad. Everybody's always wondered exactly what my dedication level was and how passionate about driving I was.

"My dad had his style. He set a high bar with the way he drove and how he felt about racing. He pretty much wore it on his sleeve. When I first started, it was 'Whatever, man. If this doesn't work out I'll go back to working on cars at the dealership.' ... Each year, that determination and how much it really mattered got more powerful. This last season I feel like (that determination) was equal to anybody in this sport. I finally got to that level where it matters to me as much as anybody else."

USA Today - Jan. 7, 2007