Track Rants: Why Dale Earnhardt Jr Won't Make The Chase This Year

by 4ever3 on May 5, 2009 7:00 AM EDT

This is the second installment in a new monthly feature. I’m partnering with fellow NASCAR blogger, Jaynelle Ramon from the Track Talk blog, for a little friendly he said/she said debate. She’s a diehard Jeff Gordon fan. I’m a diehard Dale Earnhardt fan. She’s American. I'm Canadian. We’re a perfect match for a friendly rivalry. We call it "Track Rants."

GARY W. GREEN, ORLANDO SENTINEL / February 11, 2009

Here is the reason why Dale Jr will not make The Chase this year, brace yourselves: Communication!

Yep communication.

Other teams have it and the 88 team doesn't.

Does that make Dale Jr a bad driver? Nope.

Does that make Tony Eury Jr a bad Crew Chief? Nope.

If Hendrick does not mix things up a bit this year with Dale and Tony then the year will be lost and the 88 will be running for 13th instead of 1st.

Dale Jr needs to be taken out of his comfort zone and forced to work with someone else so that he can work at getting better communication skills between himself and the team.

When Dale Jr moved over to Hendrick I thought he'd be great with Alan Gustafson, who worked well with Kyle Busch, and that Gustafson would be able to get Jr to talk about the car better and so on than he ever did at DEI.

Look at how many Crew Chiefs Jeff Gordon has had over the last few years and look how well he has done with them.

Why has he done so well?

Because he can talk with them about the car and they can work together on it to make it better.

That is something that I don't see going on with Dale and Tony.

Maybe its because they have been together so long that they each think the other understands what is being said and implied in their conversations but it isn't.

I don't know, but what I do know is if there isn't a shake up with the 88 before long then Hendrick can kiss his chances goodbye of having all 4 of his cars in the Chase.

I wonder if Ray Evernham is doing anything over the next 6 or so months?

________________________________________

Now read why Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make the Chase. Click here for Jaynelle's take.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Oh No! We Agree!

For whatever reason the two Juniors have not learned how to finish. They’re having the same problem at Hendricks as they did at DEI. It’s always the same – they figure it out at some points during a race and run up front, however it never seems to be at the end of the race when it really counts.
When Dale Jr. made the switch Tim Brewer on ESPN said he should have change everything including Tony Jr. – it appears that he was correct.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell

by phastphil on May 5, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions

Oh No! What Will We Ever Do?

Honestly this is a no-brainer. Everyone can see it, but I wonder if it is a symptom of something bigger going on with that team.

by 4ever3 on May 5, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

So we kind of agree

OK, so we’re basically on the same page here, kind of, sort of. There has to be some changes to the team. Dale Jr. and Tony Jr. just spend too much time arguing with each other.

But Ray Evernham crew chiefs for Jeff Gordon or he crew chiefs for no one! ;-)

by Jaynelle on May 5, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

The Jrs have to

figure out how to finish races. I suggest study what Chad K and Jimmy J do. 3 Championships indicate they have figured it out. Regardless anything negative that happens to the 48 team they seem to be able to get over it and finish strong.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell

by phastphil on May 5, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

But,

that is the problem, the Jrs can’t seem to get over that hurdle. It seems that whenever the 48 team gets a flat they fix it and move on, but when the 88 team gets a flat all the wheels come off and they can’t get it back together. You can study what the 48 does but if there is no communication there is no communication.

by 4ever3 on May 5, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Kind of

When I read your post last night I thought the same thing, but I wasn’t going to change mine for the sake of the arguement because this is what I really do think is wrong witht he team. I still think Ray would be a good choice. I don’t think you’ll ever see Ray and Jeff team up again, but then again you never know.

by 4ever3 on May 5, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

We Do Agree

As I stated the 88 team needs to learn how to finish. I don’t see any indication that they will.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell

by phastphil on May 6, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Multi car teams are a joke

Before you all call for my head let me qualify my statement. When looking at teams with more than 2 cars running and sometimes with only 2, the owner tends to show favoritism to one team (car) in particular. You see it with Gibbs, Rousch and even Hendrick. I am not saying the owners don’t want there cars to win but sometimes it just seems like one car or team in particular does much better than those of his “teammates”.

by chipthejackass on May 5, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

You are on to something here but,

I don’t think it is favourtism I think its a case of not enough of good people out there. If you have the best people working on the 24 and 48 cars in one shop then what is left for the other two cars (5 & 88) in the other shop down the street?

by 4ever3 on May 6, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

It could be that he’s just not that good.

by 69 on May 9, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

Point taken

but he did pretty good at DEI when DEI was at the top of their game, so why hasn’t he carried that over to Hendrick where they are apparently at the top of their game? Problems with the team.

by 4ever3 on May 12, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions