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Earnhardt Jr to Dump Eury Jr: Signs May Be Pointing That Way

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by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

March 22, 2009 5:53 pm EDT 6 Comments

Dale Earnhardt Jr and the no. 88 Impala SS finished 14th at Bristol in the Food City 500. I guess there’s no real shame in that. He did manage to finish on the lead lap - though he had help from the “Lucky Dog” rule. The real problem is, that was the goal all day. Instead of contending for the win - as his three Hendrick Motorsports teammates were for 500 laps.

At about the halfway point of the race, when Earnhardt Jr was struggling to stay on the lead lap,  Fox Sports’ analyst Jeff Hammond made this comment - via twitter - about Junior’s car and its state…

Hammond: Time to find out if Tony Jr. can make a difference for Junior now. If they don’t figure this out, they may need to make a change.

That comment shocked me. I’ve talked with Hammond and asked him about Tony Eury Jr and whether Jeff thought Tony could be successful with the no. 88 team. But, thinking back on the last such conversation, all Hammond really said in support of Eury was…

“sic -He’ll be there as long as Dale Earnhardt Jr wants him there”

But, if today’s race was a gauge - and maybe it was for Hammond - the no. 88 team isn’t measuring up. There were no engine problems for the HMS Chevies today. And there were very damn few wrecks to take strong cars out.

Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon had nothing for the Joe Gibbs Racing duo of Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, but they finished 3rd and 4th, right on their bumpers. Mark Martin came off the pole to finish 6th. 

And Tony Eury Jr didn’t make the changes needed to get his driver into contention. Something is wrong.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Bristol Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Mark Martin, NASCAR, NASCAR Rumors 

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Comments

6 Responses to “Earnhardt Jr to Dump Eury Jr: Signs May Be Pointing That Way”

  1. Default NASCAR Guest Avatar okla21fan on March 22nd, 2009 6:08 pm

    Why does it seem that the ‘problem’ points to the CC the majority of the time? I know that ‘My Driver’ goes through CCs like you and I change underwear and he still has a ride. Maybe the problem is not the guy on the pit box, but the guy behind the wheel. just sayin

  2. Art Almond on March 22nd, 2009 10:09 pm

    All I know is… sumthin’s gottah give! Lil’ E ‘n Hendrick… better evaluate everything and everybody … includin’ lil E! KB is on fire….

  3. User Avatar Marc on March 23rd, 2009 3:33 am

    Boy… I HATE sayin’ this but…

    Maybe Mother Teresa was right - (retch!) - when she broke-up that duo a couple years ago.

  4. Brenda on March 23rd, 2009 2:51 pm

    I don’t want to point fingers but I surely thought Jr would of done a lot better with the owner change. I want him to suceed but am beginning to wonder- is it the onwer?- No I don’t think so! The crew chief?- Could be! The driver? He has the BEST money can buy and still is not a contender.

  5. Bruce Simmons (brusimm) on March 23rd, 2009 5:47 pm

    Despite they’re having been together for some time, have they ever really had a consistent winning streak, or spots of win dabbled with sprinklings of reality?

    I think if HMS has someone who they think can mix it up and improve the team, they need to do it. If Jr. hasn’t slid that into his contract somewhere.

    Loyalty is an awesome thing, but sometimes, loyalty can be the rose’s thorn you never see until it’s too late.

  6. Kyle Busch Wins Food City 500–While Earnhardt Fans are left to Wonder | Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie on March 23rd, 2009 8:56 pm

    [...] Earnhardt Jr to Dump Eury Jr: Signs May Be Pointing That Way [...]

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