In the late-2000s, DEI suffered critical financial difficulties after drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip, and sponsors Anheuser-Busch, National Automotive Parts Association and United States Army left the team; DEI consequently merged with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2009, moving their equipment into the latter's shop, while the former's closed down.

Regan Smith was pinned to fill the remaining 18 races of the season, while driving in the Busch Series for the team as well.

[4] Martin put together more strong finishes, and after the fourth race at Atlanta was leading the points standings in what was supposed to be his first season of semi-retirement.

Resisting the chance to capture his first championship, Martin did step out of the car as scheduled, breaking a streak of 621 consecutive starts.

On July 17, it was announced that Smith would move to the 14 car on a full-time basis, replacing veteran Sterling Marlin.

[7] Principal often ran as a secondary sponsor on the sides of the car, with a DEI logo on the hood in lieu of full sponsorship.

Smith almost won the 2008 AMP Energy 500, passing Tony Stewart on the final lap and crossing the finish line in first.

Smith, however, was found to be passing below the yellow line upon video review, and per NASCAR had his position revoked, leading to an 18th-place finish.

In 1997, sponsored by Burger King, Busch Series standout Steve Park drove the car in four races, with the team failing to qualify in another four.

DEI received sponsorships from Pennzoil and Park and made a bid for NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors.

The following week, Steve suffered a broken femur, collarbone, and shoulder blade in a severe crash during practice at Atlanta.

Ron Hornaday Jr. failed to qualify the car in the following weekend at Darlington before the team brought in 3-time champion Darrell Waltrip.

In 2001, in the first race after Earnhardt's death, he beat Bobby Labonte in a photo finish at North Carolina Speedway.

Park, however, crashed while attempting to pass the lapped car of Stacy Compton, pole sitter Ricky Craven, was also collected during the incident.

[9] This was eventually seen as a sign that Park was still likely suffering from a concussion sustained during the Darlington crash the previous year and exacerbated by further impacts since.

Park struggled to regain his form and was involved in yet another visually stunning accident during the opening lap of a race at Pocono.

Park hit the metal guard rail, and proceeded to flip several times, eventually landing on the driver's side.

Using advantage of this rare opportunity, Fellows almost won the 2003 Dodge Save/Mart 350 in which he controlled the race late in the event and lost when he waited too long for his final pit stop.

Both Green and Pennzoil left DEI when the 2003 season finished and the team moved to a part-time status with Pete Rondeau as the crew chief.

In the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, DEI ran a part-time schedule with Martin Truex Jr. making seven starts in the No.

In 2003, Earnhardt Jr. became a true title contender, scoring a record-breaking fourth consecutive win in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega, after being involved in a 27-car crash on lap 4.

An estatic Waltrip's dream come true soon turned into a nightmare, however, as his win was overshadowed by Dale Earnhardt's death.

81 car sponsored by Kraft Foods for the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in July, with driver Jason Keller failing to qualify for the event.

8 car was run by DEI starting in 1984, with Dale Earnhardt piloting his self-owned Wrangler Pontiac for the first time in the Mello Yello 300 at Charlotte.

Drivers of the car from 1984 to 2000 included Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jody Ridley, Kenny Wallace, Michael Waltrip, Neil Bonnett, David Bonnett, Andy Petree, Jeff Green, Steve Park, and Ron Hornaday Jr. During all six full time seasons (1995–2000), the team finished in the Top 5 in points, occurring with four different drivers.

At the July Daytona race, Kerry's car featured sponsorships from Freightliner and Bass Pro Shops, with him finishing 17th.

During part of 2004 and through all of the 2005 and 2006 NASCAR seasons, Paul Menard made 83 starts in the car, logging 31 Top 10 finishes and collecting one victory at the Milwaukee Mile in June 2006.

The acquisition had the following effects: On November 12, 2008, DEI and Felix Sabates' Chip Ganassi Racing (the latter at the time a Dodge team) merged their NASCAR operations into one organization.

[2] The merger had the following consequences: Earnhardt Technology Group (ETG) was created in August 2009 to assist up-and-coming teams.

Members of Club E have access to Dale Earnhardt footage, personal items, discounts at the DEI retail store, Carowinds, Kings Dominion, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Kannapolis Intimidators games, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet, and Great Wolf Lodge, Inc. as well as member only events.