This news, though not totally unexpected, will be hitting NASCAR fans like, well, a car into the wall.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shake-up certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR’s most popular driver.

He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires.

The negotiations have been quite public. I expect most of the finger pointing, especially from Juniors’ fans, to be in the direction of his sister and stepmother.