A former crew chief said Rick Hendrick’s comments about Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s focus “should definitely serve as a wake-up call to Dale.”
While it’s common for drivers to yell on the radio, an emotional driver can hinder a crew chief’s ability to improve the car, said Robbie Loomis, who was Jeff Gordon’s crew chief when Gordon won the 2001 title.
One of the questions about Earnhardt is how his car doesn’t always improve as the race progresses, costing him potential victories. Even Earnhardt said during a rant in Sunday’s race at New Hampshire that he would be a series champion if races were only half as long.
“When a driver loses his control and emotions, especially when he starts to lose how to describe what the car is doing, it’s like trying to be a mind reader ... on how to make the next adjustment,” said Loomis, executive vice president of race operations for Petty Enterprises.
“The drivers going for the championships are the drivers that stay within their emotions all day and give the best feedback all day.”
Hendrick said after Sunday’s race that he wants Earnhardt to become less emotional in the car so he gives better feedback to crew chief Tony Eury Jr. Hendrick has had to calm Earnhardt over the radio the last couple of races.
“It didn’t surprise me at all,” Loomis said of Hendrick’s reaction. “The success of your organization starts at the top with these team owners. I think the whole world got to see this past weekend what I got to live for six years, having Rick Hendrick as a car owner, [and] just what touch he has.”
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