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closeA Q&A | DEI's Richie Gilmore on Dale Earnhardt Jr., more
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007
Richie Gilmore, Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s director of motorsports, spoke to a handful of reporters early Friday morning about several topics, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr. and the debut of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies' first engine.
Q: Is Martin Truex Jr. filling a void knowing Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be gone?
Gilmore: I think so. I think that's what it takes to be a leader. When people look for a leader or ask for a leader. I think Martin just took that role on by himself. He just stepped up and took it. I think that's a true leader. Someone who doesn't have to ask you to lead the troops. He's in the shop, he's, right now, leading the place with morale. I think maybe we're going to see he is a natural leader.
Q: Can you address the question of the No. 8?
Gilmore: I haven't talked to Teresa. I've been heavily involved in the Childress operation, and I've been up here in Detroit for a day, so I haven't heard her comment or talk to her since.
Q: Are you still on track to debut a Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies engine at Daytona?
Gilmore: We're still trying to get all that done, but the thing we don't want to do, because all our teams are right there trying to fight or are in the Chase, we don't want to anything that would make a mistake. We might shift our goals a little bit to have a common engine when we get to the Chase. So we're going to do what's best for our teams. We'll kind of stamp that in the ground as the race to shoot for, but right now, we're working very close together and trying to find the most power for our engines and RCR together. We work everyday together.
I don't know if it will be 100 percent one way or the other or a common package for Daytona, but it should be very close by the time we get to the Chase and the 10 races. It should be one engine you can take off the 8 truck and put in the 29 or vice versa. That's probably our biggest goal we're trying to achieve – to win a championship with one of the organizations.
Q: Has a permanent facility been chosen?
Gilmore: No. Richard and Teresa are going to get together next week. Richard's been hunting. And they're scheduled next week to get together. We have two sites picked out off of 85. It's up to them to pick it, then we'll get going.
Q: Any reaction about Dale Jr. going to the team that's won the most races this year?
Gilmore: We thought all along that's where he was going. There was no doubt in my mind that that's where Junior was going. Junior's always thought that was a great organization. He's talked about that place a lot. I think everybody thought he would go there or Gibbs from the get-go at our organization. So I think nobody was surprised.
Q: Does this make Hendrick too powerful?
Gilmore: I think we have to look at how it affects it all it on the race track. It's always been a strong organization. Rick is a great car owner. But at the end of the day, you get your points on the race track.
So we'll have to see. I mean, everybody in the garage will step up – Roush, Yates, RCR, DEI – NASCAR does a great job of keeping it level. I think there will be a great race every Sunday or Sunday night. Do I think this will changes the competition on Sundays? No.
Q: Has Truex changed?
Gilmore: He really has. He's stepped up. Like I was saying earlier, he's become the leader and no one's asked him to. He's done it on his own, and I think that shows he's a true leader. When somebody just takes the reins and runs with them. He's been in the shop every day this week that he hasn't been testing. ... That team is as high as they’ve ever been. They're back to where they were when they won the championships in the Busch Series. It's a very exciting time.
Q: Is Kyle Busch appealing?
Gilmore: Yeah. I mean, Kyle has a lot of talent. I think he's one of the most talented drivers in the garage.
We're looking for someone to get in the 8. We're talking to a lot of different drivers, and he has to be right on top of the list, along with a few other drivers. I know we have interest in talking with him. We're looking at two drivers right now. We want a veteran – a cornerstone for our team – and we're looking for a young, talented guy. So he fits. He definitely fits.
Q: Have you talked to him yet?
Gilmore: No we haven't. He probably needs his space. Everything that was read was kind of a shock to him this week. And I think he's been testing a lot this week.
Q: Do you want a young driver for the fourth team?
Gilmore: Whatever comes first. Maybe we could sign both drivers next week. You never know how that all works out. Our goal still is to be at four cars. And one would be with a young guy and one with a veteran.
