Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s latest guest talks about his exit from his father’s DEI team 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s podcast guest Paul Andrews recently shared his views on working at his father's Dale Earnhardt Inc. [DEI] team. Andrews mentioned that while he enjoyed working there and got along with everyone, there came a time when DEI felt it was time for him to leave, and that's what he did.

Paul Andrews is known for serving as the crew chief of Alan Kulwicki. He continued in his role with Kulwicki until the latter tragically died in an airplane crash on April 1, 1993. Andrews stayed on even after Geoffrey Bodine bought the team. Later, he served as the crew chief for notable drivers like Bobby Labonte and Steve Park during the 1990s.

In 1999, Andrews moved to Dale Earnhardt, Inc., taking over from Philippe Lopez to lead the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet team with driver Steve Park, guiding them to two victories. He remained there until 2006, after which he took on the role of crew chief for Bobby Labonte. When he recently appeared on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s "The Dale Jr. Download" podcast, the former DEI driver wanted to know about Andrews's experience working there.

"I loved it really. It was good. I got along good with everybody was able to help build through you know build it. [...] You know [Steve] Park was there, we won races one of those two races. And then Park got hurt. And then we brought Kenny in. It was my suggestion to bring Kenny in."

"Park was coming back. We all did the testing went to Charlotte and thought he was good but things didn’t go good when we got back. [...] And then things started going downhill some more. And they thought it was time for me to go ahead and go, so, that’s what I did," Andrews responded.

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Paul Andrews grows emotional in front of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he reminisces about Alan Kulwicki

While discussing his time with Alan Kulwicki, Paul Andrews revealed that he was supposed to be on the same plane that crashed, resulting in Kulwicki's death. He chose to stay behind with the pit crew group instead.

"I guess what started was Alan had to do this appearance in Knoxville. We decided, and that was our plane. [...] We decided as a group, as a pit crew group to go ahead and just hang back, get there late anyway," Paul Andrews said via Dale Earnhardt Jr's 'The Dale Jr. Download' podcast [at 38:00].

During the episode, while talking to Dale Earnhardt Jr., Andrews also discussed the unconventional way in which Alan Kulwicki won the championship in 1992, emphasizing Kulwicki's hands-on approach:

"He ran it all you know. He liked setting up his own cars too you know. He set up most of his cars. He was right there doing the whole time, that's just what you did back then you know. And again, small budget," he added [at 35:51]

Currently, Paul Andrews is overseeing his property investments and occasionally steps in to serve as a crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports' late-model stock program.