Dale Earnhardt Junior wasn’t in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2005 and 2007.
And unless drastic measures are taken at the No. 88 team Dale Earnhardt Jr. won’t be in the 2009 version.
Saturday night at Phoenix proved to be another disastrous race in a season of disastrous races for Earnhardt and his Hendrick Motorsports team. It was another round of bad pit stops, missed chassis set-ups and spins that has put NASCAR’s most popular driver deeper in an already deep hole.
The trouble began on the first set of pit stops when Earnhardt’s crew missed a lug nut. He was forced back in and fell to 28th.
Then just before halfway Earnhardt spun his Chevy going into turn 2 and dropped to 36th.
The only bright spots for the team came when the sun went down. His Chevy seemed to come to him and he was able to take the lead on pit strategy. Earnhardt led twice for a total for 63 laps.
In the end though the same thing that’s happened several times this year surfaced again as Earnhardt’s Chevy faded at the end. To add insult to injury, he tangled with Casey Mears late in the going and ended up finishing 31st.
At least Mears took responsibility for the incident.
“I didn't mean to get together with Dale Jr.,” Mears said. “I think he was trying to save fuel and make it to the end without stopping and I wheel- hopped the car getting into the corner and ended up making contact with him.”
Most of the problems and mistakes so far this season have been the No 88 teams or the driver’s fault however. From missed pit stalls to accident causing mistakes on the track, the team has only been able to salvage two top-10 finishes this season.
Whatever the circumstances, the finish Saturday night was the second worst of the season, only a 39th at California was lower.
Earnhardt said before Texas that he had already taken steps to try and figure out what is happening. He met with executives from Hendrick Motorsports prior to Martinsville in an effort to get pointed in the right direction.
Looking at Saturday night, the advice from the Hendrick executives seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
One of the most important elements in NASCAR is chemistry. The chemistry with the No 88 team right now however seems to be more like oil and water.
Whatever is ailing the team needs to be corrected if they hope to become a legitimate contender for this years Chase, something that is a tall order at this point.
Leaving Phoenix Earnhardt is 19th in driver points. That’s the lowest he’s been in points after 8 races since the Chase began in 2004.
If the team can’t turn things around, figure out how to right their wrongs, then 2009 will be the third Chase without NASCAR’s most popular driver.
Comments
Can you imagine the mess that DEI would have been in if Theresa had capitulated and let Jr. have control of the company.
He can't win with the money, and expertise, of NASCAR's premier owner and team.
I wouldn't count Jr. out just yet though. Rick Hendrick is still the owner of that team and, regardless of what Jr. wants, he has the right to, and probably will, make some major changes. IMO, the first change will be Eury Jr.
been a jr. fan since his first race in the busch car, but i'm done, i can't defend him any longer. everyone knows what the problem is, and if he doesn't know maybe it's time to get out from behind the wheel.
He has never been and never will be a top tier driver. He can not drive like Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, or Jeff Gordon, etc. Those guys are the top tier (with a few others of course). He is about a 15th place driver at best...a guy who can win one every once in a while if it's on fuel mileage or if his car is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for the entire race.
I really wish racing fans would please stop with their negativity on Dale Jr's. driving and Tony Jr's performance. I'm sure there is still time for improvement. We can't count anyone out until the lights go out. Do you honestly believe the problem lies with his crew chief who has seen him through his wins in previous years? We all have our ups and downs in our lifetime and I still think positive times are in the near future.
I've been a Junior fan since his first race in a Busch car as well. I'm not giving up on him yet, though. Junior is definitely not the perfect mold for a driver... he has his flaws. He allows his emotions and frustrations to negatively affect his driving and judgement when his car isn't handling well. He's prone to mistakes or miscues when he's lost his focus because of things not going his way. He's argumentative on the radio with Eury Jr. But I'm still going to root for him.
The saving grace for Junior's career, I think, is going to be the lackluster performance that may result in Junior missing the Chase this year. Changes have already begun on the #88 team to try and improve their performance. More will follow. And if they miss the Chase, then expect major changes, up to and including a crew chief change. I do not think that Rick Hendrick will stand idly by if this team misses the Chase. Hopefully he will give Junior the kind of crew chief he needs... I think Junior needs a crew chief who is going to be the boss. Someone who will keep the crew and Junior in line and keep their focus on the task at hand. Someone who will make the calls Junior needs based on his feedback (and if he isn't giving enough feedback, then make him give more information). I think Junior needs a Chad Knaus type of crew chief. Someone with both a calming and take-charge presence who will keep Junior's emotions in check and keep him focused on doing the best job he can.
Come on folks, Jr. has two busch championships and eighteen cup wins. That's a pretty good record. Go and check the nascar wins and see how many familiar names don't have that many wins! No, he isn't Jimmy Johnson or Carl Edwards but he is a decent driver. A lot of his problems are pit road and the inability of his crew chief to make the car better with changing conditions of the track. Until these problems are corrected, the team will struggle.
The Old Guy>> Yeah, Jr. taking over majority interest would have turned out like his Nationwide team. What a mess that is! Oh wait, that #88 is 5th in that series, and has been doing well for the past few years.
I was and still am a fan of Dale Sr. I want so badly for Jr to step up, but I DOUBT it will EVER occur
Jr's problems aren't anybodies, but his own. The people who claim that it is Tony Jr's incompetence are just too blinded by their own to see that Jr himself is what causes it. He says he enjoys racing with his cousin, but he doesn't let his cousin do his job. He didn't talk to Tony Sr the same way for all those other wins. Maybe he does need a new crew chief. But he needs one that he's gonna treat with the respect they deserve. Perhaps if they would just take the microphone out of the car so he couldn't run his mouth like a horse's behind he could get back to driving well.
There will be changes for the 88 team, when JR. fails to make the chase for third time in 6 years. In 2010 Nascar will allow the top 15 cars in the "Farce" for the championship.
Dale Jr the new Klye Petty
Marc, Racing is all about getting to the finish line first. Count ALL points for ALL races. NO gimmicks like the "FARCE" for the championship. Thers's no disputing the real Champions for all points/ all races; GORDON-'04, STEWART-'05, JOHNSOM-'06, GORDON-'07, EDWARDS-'08.
Greg, I read where someone suggested they try co-crewchiefs...?
Marybeth
First, the media loves to get you hyped up jumping on who's down in the ranks. Heaven help them if Jr was in the top 5 right this min., what would they have to write about and attack? Would they write a positive story about Jr, Jr and the 88? OMG, you bet not! People wake up, it's their job..anything for a buck or a buzz. Jr's a money seller for them, no matter what the man does...they are up his butt like vultures. Second, Rick is not a stupid man, he said whatever happens with Jr and the team falls on his shoulders. Will Jr make the Chase...has the DA Sportswriter sang yet? Has he listened to Kurt and his owner on the scanner..hello! Or any of the other drivers comunications, get real!
Finally, Don't let "sportswriters" or "whatever" determine who you cheer for each week.The only sports anyone I listen to is Marty Smith, when he speaks, you believe.I'm sticking to my driver since 2000, Dale Jr. and not letting "writers" sway me. I still believe. Go 88
i agree with joe he never talked to tony sr the way he does tony jr but tony jr is letting him do it jr need to let tony jr do his job and jr do his and maybe he can get back on track i'm a die hard jr fan but it is said to see him run this way
Real fans don't dump their driver because things aren't going as they would like them to go. I am a Jr fan and will be through all of his ups and downs the same way as I'm a Bobby Labonte fan and always will be.
The ones that give up when things are tough are just bandwagon fans and not real fans at all.
Who needs them?
overa88ed - "Marc, Racing is all about getting to the finish line first. Count ALL points for ALL races. NO gimmicks like the "FARCE" for the championship."
Is it safe to assume you hold the same belief for all sports?
Are the playoffs for the MLB, NHL and NBA a "farce" because on any given year the top ranked and winningest team never make it to the super bowl?
You are that consistent in your position right?
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