Junior: It's time for me to contend for championships (cont'd)

"They have every intention of running well and doing well; we just had a difference of opinion on how we get there," Earnhardt said.

In a statement released by DEI, Teresa Earnhardt said: "While we are very disappointed that Dale Jr. has chosen to leave the family business, we remain excited about our company's future."

Without question, however, the family business just lost the most important living member of the family. A 17-time winner in the Nextel Cup Series, Earnhardt has been named NASCAR's most popular driver four years running and annually rakes in millions in souvenir sales and endorsement money.

He takes along with him Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, his sister and the president of his JR Motorsports operation who headed up the contract negotiations with DEI. She sat at his side Thursday and also answered questions about those failed negotiations and where her famous brother takes his career from here.

At issue was the publicly stated position of Earnhardt that he wanted at least a 51 percent stake in DEI, so he could control the direction of a racing program that he -- and others -- believe has fallen behind the curve being established by such other top teams as Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.

It has been more than a year since Earnhardt has won a race. He said because of that, he believes he has let down his legions of fans and that, like himself, they deserve the best opportunity that he can find to start winning races again and lessen the disappointment in the future.

Earnhardt repeatedly stated that he fully understands some fans and racing insiders will not understand his desire to leave the company founded by his father, the racing legend who died in a wreck during the 2001 Daytona 500. But he said that he thinks his father would understand his motives.

"I want to say with complete sincerity that it has been a privilege to drive for DEI, and it will continue to be a privilege for the rest of this season," Earnhardt said. "It's really all I've ever known. We've grown together; we've won together; we've lost together.

"It's important to me that my father's legacy continues. I would like nothing more than for DEI to continue building its future around good people, hard work and relentless determination: the same characteristics that were so evident in the man who built the place."

Earnhardt went on to add that "all the while, it is time for me to continue his legacy in the only way I know that I can -- by taking the life lessons that he taught me: be a man, race hard and contend for championships. That is what I plan to do, and I feel strongly that I would have my father's blessing."

In addition to the uncertainty as to where Earnhardt will end up, there is some uncertainty (however slight) regarding whether his long-time main sponsor, Budweiser, will follow him wherever he goes. It also seems likely that after this season, the driver will have to find another number to stencil onto the car he drives, as the No. 8 is owned by DEI and Teresa Earnhardt is not likely to give it up.

"We have a great relationship with Budweiser, and those things definitely will be discussed and dealt with in a timely fashion," Earnhardt said. "It would be awesome to continue driving the No. 8, but numbers obviously are owned by car owners, and that's something Teresa obviously would prefer to have stay at DEI and I'm assuming that that's probably what will be the case." (Continued)