"Get some sense into her": When Dale Earnhardt Jr. berated stepmother Teresa for declining transfer of #8 trademark

Dale Earnhardt Jr. blamed his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt for disallowing the legendary driver from using the iconic #8 trademark at Hendrick Motorsports. The 26-time Cup Series race winner donned the number when he drove for his father Dale Sr.'s team, Dale Earnhardt Inc.(DEI).

It was announced in 2007 that Junior would shift to Rick Hendrick's garage for the 2008 Cup Series season. Since debuting at the 1999 Coca-Cola 600, Dale Jr. always raced with the #8 font on his Chevy and competed in 291 battles with that number, the highest among all users.

Moreover, the NASCAR Hall of Famer etched 17 wins, 76 top-5s, and 121 top-10s in the #8 Chevy and thus, wished to keep the number while racing for HMS.

However, his desire suffered a blow as Teresa declined the transfer of the iconic number. Despite the unwavering efforts of DEI president Max Siegel to convince Teresa to let go of the trademark, the plea was left unheard.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was disappointed by his stepmother's move and criticized her for the "upsetting as hell and unfortunate" fate following her rejection. He said (via ESPN).

"She either feels too personal about the number, or the rift between me and her is too personal. I'm not going to sit here and get personal about this. It's upsetting as hell and unfortunate, but that's just what happens sometimes. I'm not really all that surprised. I knew I wasn't going to get the number a long time ago," Junior said.

"Max (Siegel) tried his butt off to make it work. He was trying to talk to Teresa and get some sense into her," he added.

The two-time Xfinity Series champion then highlighted the significance of #8 as he wished to continue his family's legacy.

"I feel like it's an Earnhardt tradition because my grandfather and my dad used it a little bit, too. I'm using it right now, and I figured that we would be able to keep using it. But unfortunately, we're not going to be able to," he said.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat behind the wheel of the #88 Chevy at Hendrick Motorsports as Teresa was adamant with her take.

"Kelley and I both were interested": Dale Earnhardt Jr. confirmed his move after Teresa didn't renew the #8 logo

In addition to having the #8 trademark, Teresa possessed numbers 15 and 1. A few years back, she decided regarding the trademarks. While Junior's stepmother let go of #15 and #1, she didn't release the #8.

However, tables turned when the #8 logo was up for renewal this year, on June 3, but Teresa didn't file for the same in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Furthermore, Junior had his eyes on the mark as nearly a month before Teresa's rights on the number lapsed, he applied for ownership through Dale Earnhardt Jr. Holdings.

"As far as I know, Teresa hasn’t re-upped for that trademark. And Kelley and I both were interested in acquiring ownership of that. I just want to say that my feelings around this are very plain and basic," Junior said of the trademark via Dale Jr. Download (26:12).

“I either want Teresa to have it, and if she were to come in and re-up, I’d be totally comfortable and happy about that or I would like to have it. I would love it to stay either hers or mine and not end up somewhere else," he added.

It's worth mentioning that even though Dale Earnhardt Jr. was upset with Teresa's decade-old rejection, he wanted the #8 to stay within the Earnhardt household, even if his stepmother was the ultimate owner.