“Fifty-one is the right number because that gives us control. We’ll take 75 or 95 or whatever we work out, but 51 gives you control. The biggest reason we want ownership in the Cup program is so that we can direct it to where we feel like it needs to go. “It is no secret that that business has not been at its maximum potential. There hasn’t been someone solid in the business putting the resources back into the race team. “The business is not where it could be over the last several years. It’s going to take something to get that back and we’re in a position of time. We want Dale to drive 10 or 12 more years. We’ve got to get on the race track and win and get competitive and win championships. We have to have a situation that provides that for him. “
So if the sticking point is Teresa’s “board” to rule on Junior’s decisions then, yes, this probably is a major sticking point because everyone knows Junior wants total control. And everyone also knows that Junior owns the rights to his name and he is the one fans and sponsors will follow. He has a lot of leverage but the value associated with keeping the DEI brand and organization intact is why he is sitting at the negotiating table.
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