Published reports that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been offered 51 percent of his father's company caught the son off guard.

Earnhardt Jr. is in the middle of a tempestuous negotiation for a new contract with his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt. Part of his demands to remain with the family team is control of the day-to-day operation - which he plans to share with his father's children - and the rights to his own name.

Currently, Dale Earnhardt Inc. owns the marketing rights to Earnhardt Jr.'s name.

Reports surfaced last week the racing company was ready to sell control to Earnhardt Jr., who then plans to share with his sister, half-brother and half-sister.

"If that was the case, I'd know about it," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We still have a lot we need to work out."

Sources at DEI also denied 51-percent has been offered.

STAYING ON: Rockford-Montgomery Labs Inc. and its 360 OTC brand have been removed as the title sponsor to the World of Outlaws. But for now, it doesn't have anything to do with the company's sponsorships in NASCAR.

"We enthusiastically promoted the 360OTC brand and were delivering, and even over delivering, on our obligations in the partnership," said World Racing Group CEO Tom Deery on that organization's Web site. "Unfortunately, Rockford-Montgomery Labs and its 360OTC brand were not able to live up to its responsibilities and obligations and we are effectively ending the sponsorship."

The Athens, Ga.-based company has sponsorships with two trucks, driven by Tyler Walker and Johnny Benson, in the Craftsman Truck Series, as well as Jeremy Mayfield's Toyota in the Nextel Cup Series. All three are scheduled to race this week - the trucks at Kansas, Mayfield at Talladega, Ala.

All three teams will carry the green and black colors of 360OTC, a team spokeswoman said.

GOING TO COURT: Kentucky Speedway, which is suing NASCAR because it can't get a Nextel Cup Series race, is asking a U.S. District Court in Kentucky to force the France family to sell either NASCAR or International Speedway Corp.

Racetrack officials said by owning both, the Frances not only control the majority of the speedways in the sport, they control the schedule.

In papers filed last week, Kentucky cited several examples of the conflict of interest, including pressure by NASCAR to block a proposed $360 million offer to buy New Hampshire International Speedway.