Dale Earnhardt Jr. Finally Takes Down His Wicked Stepmother, But What Comes Next Is Even Better

For the first time in a long time, there is an actual light at the end of the Dale Earnhardt Jr./Teresa Earnhardt tunnel. 

And hey … it ain't a train barreling towards us NASCAR folks getting ready to flatten us once again. This time, it's actual sunshine. Real light!

As of today, Teresa – who also goes by the Wicked Witch of NASCAR (probably not by choice, though) – no longer holds the trademark for Junior's famous DEI No. 8. After two decades of holding the most popular font in NASCAR hostage, it appears she's moved on to bigger and better things. 

Better yet, in about six months, it'll belong to DEJ Holdings. That would be Dale Earnhardt Jr., for those who don't speak corporate: 

How did Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR get here with Teresa Earnhardt?

What a day for NASCAR Twitter. Place has been throwing a virtual party all morning. Budweisers for everyone!

Before we move any further, I reckon we better catch everyone up who's been asleep at the wheel over the past month. 

So … buckle up. 

Teresa Earnhardt, affectionately known to NASCAR fans as the Wicked Witch of the South, has been judge, jury and executioner of DEI (Dale Earnhardt Incorportated) ever since Dale Earnhardt Sr. died back in 2001. Because of that, the Earnhardt Clan has turned into the biggest soap opera in NASCAR. 

I'm talking major fallouts, yelling, finger-pointing, and petty moves – like holding the iconic No. 8 trademark hostage for the better part of two decades. Not great!

You see, Junior and Teresa had a big 'ol blowup back in 2008 because Earnhardt and siblings Kerry and Kelly wanted equal ownership rights to DEI. That didn't work out, Dale left for Hendrick, and Teresa instantly became public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of NASCAR fans. 

See? Nuts. 

The battle over DEI has simmered a bit in recent years, but there have still been little nuggets here and there that make you raise an eyebrow. 

For starters, Teresa apparently once said that DEI would simply "make another Dale Jr." if he ever left the team. That would be like OutKick saying they'd just find another Nightcaps writer if I left the company. Come on! Silliness. 

Then there was Dale not being allowed to take the No. 8 with him to Hendrick, Teresa reportedly stopping Kerry Earnhardt – Dale Earnhardt's oldest son – from launching a line of homes called the "Earnhardt Collection," and the Kannapolis Intimidators changing their name in 2019. 

Why? The minor league team – now known as the Cannon Ballers – cited their inability to market the team due to trademark rights held by Earnhardt’s estate. 

Just recently, you had the famous Intimidator rollercoaster in Carolina go through a name change. It's now the Thunder Striker because …. you guessed it, the licensing agreement with DEI expired last December. 

Anyway, Teresa and DEI still held the trademarks for the 1 and the 8 up until a few days ago. They obviously don't own the numbers, which are currently being run over at Richard Childress (Kyle Busch) and Trackhouse (Ross Chastain), but they owned the rights to sell any Steve Park or Dale Earnhardt Jr. merchandise from those DEI years. 

Until now. Apparently, the beef – whatever was left of it – has been squashed, especially if you listen to Junior's comments in that above video. Is he being held hostage in that clip? Maybe. Who's to say? 

But, if he's being genuine – and Dale Earnhardt Jr. usually tells it pretty straight – then this chapter is just about over. He's got his trademark back – or will in the next few months – and he's free to do whatever the hell he'd like with it. 

Sell some shirts and hats, slap it on a coffee mug, put it back on the track where it belongs – whatever he wants! 

Hell, maybe he'll get really crazy and start up his own NASCAR Cup Series team …

You wanna see NASCAR Twitter really explode? Let that happen next season. It would be mayhem. Obviously, I'm here for it all. 

And hey! Maybe Teresa Earnhardt is, too.