As Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No.88 Hendrick Motorsports team headed to Richmond Saturday night it was with high hopes and the momentum of a second place finish at Talladega the week before.
But alas, a win or even a desperately needed top five wasn’t to be.
Several weeks ago Earnhardt said that the team was working to identify the problems they were having. One of those problems according to Earnhardt has been their starting position.
“You’ve got to start where you’ve got to finish,” he said after starting and finishing 20th at Texas earlier in the season. “It’s so challenging and so hard to pass…starting up front really helps and the cars drive a lot better when they’re up in clean air.”
True to early season form Earnhardt started 25th at Richmond and finished the night in 27th.
And while the pit road problems that have plagued the team of late didn’t seem in evidence Saturday night, an old nemesis reappeared as the team never seemed to get the chassis setup right on Earnhardt’s Chevy. After a brief appearance in the top ten Earnhardt faded, quickly.
His entire night was highlighted by a tangle with Jeff Burton on lap 211. With Burton running just ahead of him, Earnhardt slipped up the track entering turn three. His Chevy got loose, sent the front end into the rear of Burton’s Chevy sending Burton spinning.
Burton would come home 3rd, while Earnhardt continued to slide backwards, losing a lap and at the end of the night falling to 18th in the championship points.
"I'm just frustrated with how our car ran tonight,” was all Earnhardt could say after it was over.
No doubt the frustration is running high across the entire team. Earnhardt said recently that they are trying to right what’s wrong and become contenders. Whatever it is isn’t working.
Something radical needs to be done before the hole that’s been dug gets too deep to crawl out of.
Richard Childress swapped entire teams in an effort to improve performance and while that move may not be practical at Hendrick Motorsports, some kind of sweeping change needs to be done if Earnhardt ever hopes to get rid of the misery he’s had so far this season.
Comments
Nobody has mentioned that Earnhardt was making his way up thorugh the field until he put himself in a bad position and knocked his fender in. None of the announcers mentioned either. Immediately after that incident on track, he started falling back through the field.
"nobody Mentioned" "None of the announcers mentioned". C'mon Wayne,it's not the broadcasters job to cherry pick good news about junior just to keep his fan base happy.I'm sure if he finally wins a race or at least becomes a competitive threat you're boy will get plenty of face time. The point and fact are that Nascar's Most Popular Driver not only is not the best driver but finds new excuses for losing each week. And when he doesn't find new excusesfor losing he trades right back to old ones. Demand more out of your driver before you complain about how the broadcasters coddle, I mean cover him on the track.
I believe it's a problem across the board with the entire team (yes, including the driver). I was listening to the scanner Saturday night and they talked Jr. down pit road to his stall, Tony, Jr, called out adjustments at least twice before he got to the stall and even talked the pit crew through the adjustments during the stop. But, the second adjust went south, like the crew member was asleep. Tony, Jr, had to repeat the adjustment a and then tell somebody to get a wrench over to the guy while the whole time Dale, Jr. was sitting with all 4 tires on the ground and the rest of the stop finished. There are still big problems with some of the pit crew as if they don't want to be there.
I don't think Jr wants a complete team switch for a very simple reason. It wouild reveal where the problem is. I don't think Jr has the drive and determination to dedicate himself to win. He has more money than he can ever spend, fans love him and he doesn't not want to give up his other interests for racins success.
Why all the coverage of the guy who did nothing during a race that had a lot of exciting things going on? The following is for all of Junior Nation: When Hendrick swapped Kyle for Junior, both Hendrick and Gibbs got the benefits they were looking for. Hendrick is a business man. His job is to make money. Junior is a cash cow marketing platform and fits in perfectly. His role is to attract sponsors and attention and he does that job very well. Gibbs, on the other hand, is a people person. A motivator of men. He is the coach that can get the maximum performance from his athletes. Kyle is an extraordinary athlete. Joe Gibbs has enabled Kyle to maximize his potential as an athlete. Kyle has done his job very well.
The bottom line is that if you like racing you should appreciate Kyle. If you like being a part of a marketing program, you will enjoy being a Junior groupie.
I believe he is racing up to his full potential
:-(
I'm afraid Teresa predicted the future when she said, "He needs to decide whether to be a racer, or a T-shirt salesman". It looks like he has decided.
Another great headline...love the Hee Haw reference!
Most feel Jr. is #4 on the Hendrick four car team, but counting Stewart & Newman he became #6 of hendrick cars, and now with Kesolowski's win he is # 7 of 7 hendrick cars.
I like that comment that "most feel" Jr. is the #4 team. Yep must of Jr. nation who are choking on Crow.
"I could win regularly if I had better equipment." Really Jr.? One fuel mileage in 46 races in that "Better equipment"!
The only area where Jr. is #4 at HMS is in the talent department.
And, "Jr. was making his way up through the field"? Yes, due to a few wrecks and cars dropping off the leap lap as a result.
Yes, Teresa did have it right. But, Rick Hendrick saw the $ signs and lured Jr. away from DEI. Yes, lured him away. That whole thing with him wanting 51% of DEI, which he knew wouldn't happen, was nothing more than a con game to make his leaving appear to be the "Evil Step-Mothers" fault rather that his own decision.
One thing I am sure of is.....
We'll keep hearing all of the excuses from Jr.'s fans and keep hearing them and keep hearing them and keep hearing them.
JC and Old Man, both of you missed my point. I wsa saying Dale was at fault because he put himself in a bad position in between cars and bashed in his fender and probably bent something becasue of the way his car handled after that. I wasn't making excuses. I just find it interesting on why he came up through the field and fell back.
Ok wayne I see your point . I Was at Richmond and there was still plenting of racing left before Jr bumped Burton to the wall let me say bumped Burton to the WALL!!. And where did Burton finish 3RD and where did Jr finish. Burton car had damaged in the rear panel Jr had a slight dent. I will say this it is not Jr drving it is the chemistary between Tony and Dale. Tony Eury Jr needs to be REPLACED. If I was Hendrick I would say SORRY JR YOU WORK FOR ME I Do NOT WORK FOR YOU TONY GOTS TO GO.
Junior reached his peak as a driver three years ago! Junior is now "a brand that happens to be a very average NASCAR driver"! Junior will make lots of money for HMS, his corporations and Kelly will be almost as wealthy! IT IS WHAT IT IS!!
I hate to admit it but I was a BIG Jr fan. It is almost embarrassing to wear Jr colors anymore. I have stood by him for YEARS, no more. When he made the comment that he would rather "race" (ya theres a laugh)with his cousin and not win, than race with anybody else he TOLD us all who he is. His old man (I know he isn't even close to being his old man) would have had a new crewchief in there years ago. Remember Jr won with his uncle all but TWO of his wins are because his uncle was on the pit box. No, I say Jr can race with his cousin and have all "the Fun" he wants. Jr. just don't expect US your fans ( I used to be) to foot the bill. I pulled for his Dad from 1980 until his death, I went to Jr to help keep Dale's legacy alive, his boy is blowing it big time. Sign me "Had it with the Rockstar"
Who would have thought that Mark Martin or Kez would have won this season before JR?
I don't know why Rick H hasn't put his foot down by now and traded out Tony JR. We all know Rick H is in it for the wins/championships, as he should be. JR must be an embarrassment to him. What harm could there be to have someone else on the box? At least for one race.
put a fork in him. no chase. He needs to keep his friendship with robby gordon up. he is spending all his time with him.
Glide
I totally agree JC. I'm a Kyle B fan, and as soon as he drops back in a race its like he doesn't exist. Nobody except the driver fan themselves wants to know who's in 20th position, LOL It's the top 10 at any given time who get the face time for the media. It isn't actually some conspiracy to keep Jr. down.
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