With a new crew chief in the fold, is Dale Jr.’s season going any better?
by Jeffrey Reynolds Sports Editor
2 years ago | 1087 views | 1 1 comments | 23 23 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Recently, this scribe, along with hundreds of others across the country, called for, in this very column, an end to the Tony Eury Jr. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. teaming at Hendrick Motorsports.

Rick Hendrick finally had enough and brought in Lance McGrew as the No. 88 team’s new crew chief.

That was six weeks ago. In the five races since that change, Earnhardt has finished, in order, 12th, 27th, 14th, 26th and 13th. He as started in those races in 22nd, 18th, 30th, 35th and 20th. The team has slipped to it’s current 19th place in the Sprint Cup point standings. Not the most spectacular numbers from a Hendrick driver or one named Earnhardt.

What’s worse is that, judging by his comments following last Sunday’s race at New Hampshire, Earnhardt appears to think these results have been good.

"We ran good today," said Earnhardt, in only his sixth race with crew chief Lance McGrew. "I want to thank Lance and the team. They did good, man, giving me a good car. I had fun today. I hope we can keep this up.

"We are inching so slowly up back in to where we need to run," he said. "It is taking a while but, hopefully, we keep moving forward."

Now, I don’t know what races he’s been watching, but he couldn’t be talking about the Lenox Tools 301 last Sunday, could he? This was a race he got as high as second - only to plummet like a rock to finish 13th. How that could be termed as a “good day” is beyond me.

This continued losing is not giving any signs of improvement soon. And it wouldn’t be so noticeable except for the fact that about a kazillion or so fans show up at the tracks each week adorned in green and white or blue and white with the number’s 88 tattooed on various body parts.

Therefore, it stands to reason that Rick Hendrick’s work is not done.

When a 50-year old driver can take over the fourth Hendrick car such as Mark Martin has and tie for the most series win this season with three, then Earnhardt Jr should be rolling off top 5 or 10’s every week.But he’s not. And that’s a problem for not only Hendrick - but NASCAR as well.

Maybe Hendrick needs to switch Steve Letarte form the 24 to the 88. Or maybe even bring in Pops Eury.

I only know this. Something has to give - and fast- or Junior’s legacy is going to be forever tarnished.

That’s how I see it from the other side of the desk. See you at the racetrack!
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macob8
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July 02, 2009
I'm not sure how you can say dale earnhardt jr's season has not improved since the crew cheif swap. look at dover when mcgrew first came in he got dale jr as high as third at one point, infineon he charged all the way to seventh only to get collected in some other driver bad move (carl edwards). and at michigan dale jr was solidly in the top ten only at the end he faded slightly to fourteenth so the only race dale jr as not been competitive was pocono where he finish twentyseventh so yes dale earnhardt jr's season is still not been incredable but it is doing nothing but improving its alot better than running last in the coke sixhundred with tony jr on the pit box. dont get me wrong tony jr is still a good crew chief he and jr just didnt match at the end. but this weekend is daytona and at the end of the night i expect that 88 national guard chevy to be up there contending for the win
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