DEI to fulfil development plan.

Dale Earnhardt's widow, Teresa, has announced that the driver's DEI NASCAR operation would continue with its development plan, despite Earnhardt's death at Daytona earlier this year.

The announcement ends speculation over the future of the team, which ironically added this year's Daytona 500 to last year's Winston in the very event where its founder was killed.

Teresa Earnhardt will remain owner and CEO of the company, and has named Doug Swanson to continue as chief operating officer, Ty Norris as executive vice-president of motorsports, Steve Hmiel as director of motorsports, Joe Hedrick as vice-president of licensing and Judy Queen as director to the office of the CEO.

Hmiel's role as technical director will be merged with his new position, creating the title of director of motorsports and technical development. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day running of the DEI workshop, he will also take charge of all three DEI Winston Cup teams at the track.

"Dale and I had a plan for the long term growth of this company years ago," Teresa Earnhardt said, "As DEI moves ahead, we're placing people in their respective roles to meet the goals that we envisioned. This structuring defines the roles of specific individuals and their responsibilities that will help the company reach our potential. Based on what I've seen from our people, we'll meet our expectations and more in the next few years."