In its heyday, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was a premier NASCAR team winning races and setting the standard for others to follow. Operating out of their “Garage Mahal” in Mooresville, NC, the team founded by seven-time champion and Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt, DEI was the place to race and work.
Garnering two Daytona 500 championships, two O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck Series championships and 24 Cup Series victories further solidified their place in NASCAR history.
Making all that happen were hundreds of dedicated team members inside the hallowed walls of DEI. However, the winning run that started in 1998 came to slow grinding halt in 2009. Even after Earnhardt’s death in the 2001 Daytona 500, wife Teresa kept the team going until its demise.
Even though the team no longer exists, the people who helped make it happen still share a special bond.
Former DEI Team Members Gathered for Reunion
On Saturday, February 7, members of the now-defunct team got together for the annual Hwy 3 Reunion to catch up, reflect on their successful days and ways together. As with any gathering of racers, the stories and funny moments were shared among the attendees.
Rob Lopes was a Tire Specialist for the No. 1 Chevrolet team and driver Steve Park. He has remained in the industry and is currently with Spire Motorsports as a welder and fabricator after being on the road for 30 years.
He echoed a recurring theme when asked what he liked best about his DEI days.
“Everything, I liked everything about working there,” Lopes said. “It was one of the greatest places. And still, with all the different teams I’ve been with, it was the best place to work. It was a great environment.
“The people there were great, the atmosphere was great and the team performance was incredible. Really, there wasn’t anything not to like about being there.”
Cards on a King Air
It might be assumed the greatest memories of the DEI days took place at the racetrack. Not for Lopes, his took place playing cards with Dale Earnhardt and others in an airplane.
“We were flying up to Dover in a King Air,” Lopes said with a laugh. “It was during Dale Jr’s rookie season and the No. 1 team went up there on its own. Dale Sr. flew up with us and we were playing cards during the flight. Steve Park was with us, too.
“At one point during the game, Park was into Dale for $400 already and I was the one who ended up taking everyone’s money. After I took the significant winnings, we were reminded by Dale who said, ‘what happens on the airplane, stays on this airplane boys.’
“When we landed, I couldn’t resist having a little fun with Dale. We were standing outside the plane and as Dale Sr got his bag I jokingly asked if he needed any money to get through the weekend and that he could pay me back on Monday.
“He gave me one of those smirks, reached into his bag and showed me a wad of $100s and said, ‘I appreciate it Lopes, but I think I’m good.’”
From Ice Cream with a President to Pit Road
Tony “Wahoo” Sampson was a hauler driver for DEI making sure the cars and equipment made it to the track and back safely for the testing team. He’s still driving, but now for the NCTS team of Tricon Garage.
“The people were the best part about working at DEI,” Sampson said. “It was a family-oriented operation. My favorite memory of working there was getting my job. Never in a million years did I think I would get to work in NASCAR, especially for the legendary Dale Earnhardt.”
Prior to his NASCAR career, Sampson served in the US Marines and one of his was White House security. A late-night nature call brought him face-to-face with President Ronald Reagan in search of a late-night snack.
“I was doing security at the White House and had a stomach bug one night and had to use the facilities in a bad way,” Sampson said with a smirk. “Unfortunately, the facilities closest to where I was were off limits.
“As I snuck in to use the facilities, President Reagan had snuck into the kitchen area to get some ice cream at the same time. We ran into each other and he said, “well, it looks like we both have a secret to keep now’ and he was right.”
The People of DEI Made it Great
Will Gray was an engine tuner for DEI mainly for the No. 8 Chevrolet team of Martin Truex, Jr. during his two NOAPS Championship years of 2004 and 2005. He would also continue on when Truex went to NCS in 2006.
“The best part about working there was the people,” Gray said emphatically. “The camaraderie was so good that if you were getting hollered at by somebody, you still knew they were your friend and had your best interests at heart.”
Hailing from California, Gray was determined to work for one team, and one team only – DEI.
“People will say I was hired because of my piece of crap car I had at the time,” Gray said. “Honestly, I snuck into Darlington to interview with Richie Gilmore (Head of the Engine Dept).
“I had been playing phone tag with him and finally, I put on someone’s jersey from Joe Gibbs Racing and just walked into the Cup garage like I owned the place.
“Once I found Richie, I walked up to him said, ‘Do I have a job or not?’ and that did it, I was hired.”
Dale Bought My Car
The car Gray referred to was a beat up 1960 Chevrolet that caught the eye of everyone upon his arrival at DEI. When the team owner saw the relic in his employee parking lot, he knew Gray had driven it cross country to work for him and admired his dedication.
“Dale saw my car and knew I was in a bad spot at the time financially,” Gray said. “He asked me how much I wanted for it and I told him $1200. He did that fake shocking response thing he did. Dale gave me $600 and told me to bring him the title.
“The funny part is, he kept asking me when I was going to sell him that car. The problem was, it wasn’t just a 1960 Chevrolet, it was my car and the only way I had to get around. He had tons of cars to use.”
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