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?

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