No Win For Earnhardt Since Moving To Hendrick Motorsports
Apr 24, 2008
CIA Stock Photo, Inc.
If Dale Earnhardt Jr. is getting frustrated by his long losing streak—next week it will be precisely two years since his last tour win—he’s hiding it well. Maybe that’s because it’s clear he’s probably going to win this season, perhaps several times, and his focus thus is more on consistency, making the Chase for the Sprint Cup and having a good shot at winning the championship.
He turns 34 this year and this is his ninth full-time season on the tour. Talladega is one of his best tracks, but his last win here was in 2004.
“We obviously had a lot of success at Talladega, there is no denying that,” Earnhardt said. “And I feel we’re going to have a good chance this weekend, and I’m motivated by that.
“But I’ve felt that way all year, really.
Earnhardt’s talents are obvious. But what about Tony Eury Jr., his crew chief? How well is his cousin fitting in at Hendrick Motorsports? Eury and Earnhardt have been leading the Hendrick points game all season, and that may make their rivals a bit uneasy.
Earnhardt said it’s been an unusual season for Eury: “It’s sort of been a double-edged sword for Tony Jr. He’s had a lot of praise from within the organization. He’s done a terrific job getting our program where it needs to be for the start of the season. He’s done a great job up to this point getting me cars that are running good, and making good decisions.
“But he has just as many critics as he does people that want to praise him. I feel it’s happening more this year than ever. And I really can’t put my finger on why he’s taken as much heat as he’s taken.
“But he handles it pretty well. He’s pretty tough. It really does motivate him when people question his ability.
“But to be honest with you, Chad (Knaus, Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief) seems to really enjoy working with Tony Jr.
“Everybody understands he has something to bring to the table. When me and Tony Jr. went to work for Rick, our main worry was what could we bring to the table, if anything? Would we be an asset?
“He’s definitely been able to do that. And that satisfies him a lot—to come in and lay some things out he knows they’ll like.”
And this time around, Earnhardt said he’s coming in with a bit of trepidation.
“It’s been a little bit more overwhelming this year than I anticipated,” Earnhardt said of his fans. “I’m pretty happy about taking this car to Talladega for the first time—the new package, the new team, the new number, everything.
