Truex to leave DEI

UPDATE #3 Martin Truex says he was "flattered" by the attention he received regarding his uncertain status for next season. Dale Earnhardt Inc. has not yet signed Truex for 2006, leading to speculation he would leave the organization. His buddy, teammate and owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., spoke with Truex last week and says he's "confident" Truex will drive DEI's #1 Chevrolet as a Nextel Cup rookie next season. FoxSports/Sporting News 04/23/05 Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t concerned teammate Martin Truex Jr. will be driving for any team other than DEI. Truex, who is in contract negotiations with car owner Teresa Earnhardt said at Texas rumors of him looking to go elsewhere are false. Dale Jr. said “I feel real confident he (Truex) means what he says and he wants to be with us. I don’t want Martin to feel slighted in any way or feel unhappy with it (his contract) so I told him to just take your time and it’ll get done." Junior pointed out it took six months to get his current contract worked out. Could Truex be headed for the #15 car replacing Michael Waltrip? Dale Jr. doesn’t think so. “I like working with Michael. If Teresa and Ritchie Gilmore are happy with the way he runs this year I don’t see why we can’t have him back. It isn’t his last year I don’t think…he hasn’t announced his retirement to me. They’ve had good cars…they’ve had some accidents and stuff but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’d win races aside from plate races. They should win every plate race they run and they should have a couple of more here and there because they’re that good a team and I think Michael can get the job done." PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show/Sporting News 04/19/05 We are downgrading this rumor to 'false' today. There have been reports that Martin Truex Jr. might leave DEI, however at Texas he tried to clear up those rumors telling PRN's Garagepass…"I don't know where these people come up with these things. You know we're in negotiations trying to get our contract signed for the next three years and I guess somebody knows about it and thinks we're out there looking for a ride…I think it's pretty stupid." When asked if he could imagine leaving DEI and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Truex said…"No I never even thought about it to be honest with you…it's just people talking." PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show 04/16/05 Reigning NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr., who has been considered a lock as a future Nextel Cup star for Dale Earnhardt Inc., is considering other offers for his Cup career, ThatsRacin.com reports. Over the past several months, Truex, 24, has had contact from several Cup teams, including Robert Yates Racing and Evernham Motorsports, regarding his availability next season, sources confirmed Friday. Truex's current contract with DEI and Chance2 Motorsports, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, expires at the conclusion of the 2005 season. He has not re-signed, team officials confirmed. Truex, through a team spokesman, declined comment on Friday, as did officials with DEI. ThatsRacin.com [Editor's Note: Given DEI's general dismal performance, can you blame him for looking elsewhere?]