Earnhardt Jr. to leave DEI after 2007 season (cont'd)

11:26 -- "There's a lot of logical scenarios that people are going to put together. We've seen a lot of scenarios over the last couple days that were amusing, some bright and some not so bright. I have a great relationship with Richard [Childress] and I feel like on his behalf he's stepped his programs up."

11:25 -- "I think there's not one team that's going to lay a dollar figure out there that's going to be different than anyone else. Money is not the issue. It's not about the biggest paycheck. The person that allows me to accomplish what I want to accomplish on the race track and in this race shop is what I'm looking at."

11:24 -- "I'm not going to sit down here today and narrow it down before I hear everything that is out there."

11:23 -- "I think DEI can be a successful race team. It may not be the exact thing my father wanted but it can still be successful."

11:22 -- "My father's vision ... if he was still here I think we would be in a different place right now."

11:21 -- "I think Max [Siegel] and Teresa [Earnhardt] worked really hard at something and I think myself and Kelley worked really hard but I don't think we were even close."

11:18 -- "Obviously I feel like his [Dale Earnhardt] vision -- and he said it himself -- was for me to have a huge role in the company itself. Through the negotiations, Kelley [Earnhardt Elledge] and I felt like that was not in the cards. It may be in the cards 20 years down the road, it may be something that happens. From a driver standpoint, for what I want to do and what I want to accomplish, this is something that I had to do."

11:16 -- "We obviously want to do things that compliment JR Motorsports and the Busch team"

11:15 -- "This decision was based solely on my driving career not my personal thoughts on DEI. We still want that company to succeed."

11:13 -- "It's hard to say what's been the hardest part. We've had a lot of great things happen but we've dealt with a lot of tragedies. I was really sad today. It was hard talking to the employees and the team. I told them I want to run as hard as we can this year. I think we owe it to DEI to give our best effort each week and I hope they feel the same way. I don't expect everyone at DEI to understand how we came to this."

11:12 -- "I'll be happy with whatever decision we make. It would be awesome to continue driving the No. 8 but those numbers are owned by the car owners and I'm sure Teresa [Earnhardt] would love to keep that number at DEI."

11:10 -- "We have a great relationship with Budweiser and those things will be discussed. I enjoy driving Chevrolets and our relationship is very strong and I think I will be best suited driving a Chevrolet."

11:08 -- "I'm split down the middle, I've drove for DEI my entire career and we've done a lot of great things and I believe that company will do a lot of great things. I'm gonna miss a lot of the great relationships and the individuals that work there and they have my full support. The other half of me is very excited about the opportunities that are out there."

11:07 -- "I will say we weren't really close in getting what both sides wanted."

11:06 -- "As for the fans, please know this is a career decision. I want to thank my family members who are here to support me."

11:05 -- "It is important for me that DEI remain successful and to keep my father's legacy alive. It has been a privilege for me to drive for DEI and will continue to be through the rest of this year."

11:03 -- "As far as a team is concerned, we will make that decision at a later date. It depends on what team wants me."

11:03 -- "It is time for me to compete on a consistent basis now."

11:02 -- "Because DEI means so much to me I felt it was important that they come out successfully."

11:02 -- "After a year of intense negotiations we have decided it is time for me to move on."

11:01 -- "We are here today at last about my contract at DEI."

11 a.m. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Elledge are at the podium.