Junior vs. Teresa: A Number Divides

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “She [Teresa Earnhardt] either feels too personal about the number, or the rift between me and her is too personal. I'm not going to sit here and get personal about this. It's upsetting as hell and unfortunate, but that's just what happens sometimes.”

“I'm not really all that surprised. I knew I wasn't going to get the number a long time ago. Max tried his butt off to make it work. He was trying to talk to Teresa and get some sense into her.”

“Just ridiculous kind of requests. We just wanted the number, but I was willing to give the number back when I was done driving. I wouldn't have any use for it personally.”

“I feel like it's an Earnhardt tradition because my grandfather and my dad used it a little bit, too. I'm using it right now, and I figured that we would be able to keep using it. But unfortunately we're not going to be able to.”

“That's just common sense. I want a number that I'm going to like. I'll design the shape and the look. We'll build a new identity with that.”

“Maybe it's for the best. Maybe it's sort of a blessing in disguise to really make a clean break. If I was to get the 8 and allow Teresa to still have control over it, I would still have to deal with it. That is not what I wanted. I have to let it go.”