Tip to young drivers: if you’re fortunate enough to have both a sponsor and a team willing to give you a ride, don’t screw it up by trying to drive a wedge between the two.
Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 21-year-old grandson of Dale Earnhardt, has lost his truck series ride with Rick Ware Racing, apparently because Earnhardt and his advisors were looking to jump ship and bring his current sponsor along.
RWR announced the severance in a statement. "We have been informed by several team owners that our driver and his management company has been shopping around for another team," Ware said, "alluding that sponsorship was coming with them." Earnhardt had been sponsored by Fuel Doctor, which has been aligned with RWR since 2008.
Earnhardt had been slated to run the entire year with RWR in the Camping World Truck Series. In three races this season, he had three top-20 finishes and currently sits at 10th in the standings.
"It is disheartening that all the effort, time and money spent on Jeffrey have been for nothing, but we have been given no choice but to look for another driver," Ware said. "It’s a disappointment that I have not felt in this sport before."
It’s an ugly story, if true, and now we get to see where other teams’ loyalty lies: to a fellow owner or to Earnhardt’s potential. And it’s a pretty good bet his next contract won’t let him make phone calls without his owner’s permission.
Jeff Earnhardt booted from Truck ride after accusations
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