Waltrip to leave DEI.

Michael Waltrip has been told that Dale Earnhardt Incorporated will no longer require his services after the current season, ending a five-year relationship.

Although Waltrip is a favourite with fans, sponsors and TV companies, his #15 NAPA sponsored team has struggled against DEI's sister #8 Budweiser outfit and driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Even though Waltrip has scored a pair of emotional Daytona 500 victories and another pair of Talladega wins, the 42 year-old veteran has been unable to find victory lane at anything other than a restrictor plate track.

Whilst Waltrip has been beset by a string of bad luck for the last year and a half, the arrival of Earnhardt Jr's former crew at the start of 2005 has not translated into a marked increase in performance with Waltrip currently 19th in the Championship standings.

"All of us at DEI want to thank Michael for all his contributions to our organisation and wish him well as he moves on in his career," said Richie Gilmore, DEI's Vice President of Motorsports.

"Dale and Teresa gave me an opportunity with a winning organisation that I have been proud to be an integral part of for the last five years," Waltrip said. "My professional relationship with DEI is ending, but my personal relationships have ties that are deep-rooted. Therefore, my decision to leave DEI is a difficult one. Our individual visions for the future are taking different courses, but our goals are the same- to be successful in the premier division of NASCAR."

With Waltrip and current backers NAPA already being linked to the #0 Haas CNC Racing team, DEI is also trying to persuade NAPA to stay as it looks to add a third car to its Nextel Cup arsenal with rookie Martin Truex Jr next year.

"DEI's NASCAR Nextel Cup focus for 2006," continued Gilmore, "will be to sharpen every entity of our race teams by preparing the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, driven by Martin Truex Jr., and the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., for the championship. Additionally, we are working diligently with our current partner, NAPA, on returning to the #15 car."