Dale Jr's Crew Chief IS fired!

[JMH714]

Updated - Eury Jr's out!

Source: NASCAR - Eury Jr. out as Earnhardt's crew chief - FOX Sports on MSN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have a new crew chief starting with this weekend's race at Dover.

The team said Thursday that Tony Eury Jr. was replaced as crew chief of Earnhardt's No. 88 team. The two are cousins and have worked together Earnhardt's entire career.

They left Dale Earnhardt Inc. last season to drive for Hendrick Motorsports, but they've yet to find consistency despite driving for NASCAR's top team.

They have one win in 48 races with Hendrick and are 19th in points. They hit rock bottom with Monday's 40th-place finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Team manager Brian Whitesell will be the crew chief this weekend. Lance McGrew will take over next week on an interim basis as team owner Rick Hendrick figures out a long-term plan for NASCAR's most popular driver.

After Monday's rain-shortened race, Hendrick's commitment to the pair had clearly waned. Following months of steadfast support, he was noncommittal about Eury's future with Earnhardt.

Earnhardt and Eury spent Tuesday and Wednesday testing on the road course at Virginia International Raceway. Hendrick told them he was splitting the pair upon their return.

Whatever route Hendrick takes, he's giving Earnhardt the full-time use of Whitesell and Rex Stump, the lead chassis engineer.


Earnhardt and Eury - first cousins and the grandsons of Robert Gee, one of Hendrick's first employees - have worked together in some capacity for Earnhardt's entire career. The two went through a rough patch that led to constant bickering at the end of the 2004 season when they raced for the championship at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Earnhardt's stepmother, Teresa, separated them at the start of 2005, a move that led Earnhardt to finish a career-worst 19th in the standings. They were back together before the end of the season, but won just one race together in 2006 as Earnhardt's relationship with his stepmother rapidly deteriorated.

The next year, Earnhardt wrestled with the decision to leave DEI, then embarked on one of the most high-profile free agencies in NASCAR history. He settled on Hendrick Motorsports, and Eury went with him.

Although they opened their first season at Hendrick by winning the exhibition Budweiser Shootout and a Daytona 500 qualifying race, Earnhardt didn't win a points race until the 15th event of the year. That was at Michigan, his only victory all season.

Still, consistency put him at the top of the title contenders when the Chase for the championship began. But Eury and Earnhardt moved away from what got them into the Chase and finished last in the 12-driver field.

 

[NASCARsweden]

Well it's official, Eury Jr is no longer the crew chief for the 88 team, breaking news on nascar.com

 

[NASCARsweden]

oh srry thats the one you posted

 

[MattSRD28]

I better not hear any whining from Dale Jr. about this move.

 

[Hippie1986]

smart move by hendrick, and i'm glad he didn't mess with the chemistry the other 3 teams have to help dale jr.

Hope dale jr improves, I think his spot at hendrick at this point will depend on how well he drives this year.

 

[fl17fan]

You know you will. His excuse for the rest of the season will be that they took Tony Jr. away from him.

 

[rawfuel8]

THANK GOD!!!! bout time mr. hendrick

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I know a lot of people think Jr. is over rated (Mainly due to the media) but a lot of those "empty promises" like he'll be like his dad etc will be more fulfilled with a better crew chief and more money behind him. He's on the same team as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR, there is no reason he can't win. He is good. He just has to have a better team, more money and a new chief.

 

[88fan]

Breaking news: Tony Eury Jr. out as crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. - ESPN

 

[88fan]

Theres a video that comes with the link

 

[JRRacing64]

I think at this point of the season if Jr wants salvage something out of this season he should be willing to try something new and I think this is a good start to get there but Jr's got to give it a good effort too and not like he did 05 and then go back to what he's used to...

 

[JMH714]

Ehh, thread title stated that Eury Jr is fired. Not exactly. He remains at HMS as "a key role with research and development."

 

[antknee10]

"research and development"? a fancy name for in the backroom. lol. anyway, i think the majority of that team's issues revolve around the driver but this is a necessary step towards turning them around.

 

[Blazityler]

sorry don't know how to edit post. Anyways hopefully Jr. does better

 

[MattSRD28]

Ehh, thread title stated that Eury Jr is fired. Not exactly. He remains at HMS as "a key role with research and development."

Eury was removed as crew chief on the #88 car. The title does not say he was fired totally from HMS.

 

[Lap_Down]

This will be good IMO because it will take the pressure off of Junior for a little while because people will give him some time to adjust to his new crew chief. I'm just glad Mr. Hendrick didn't wait for the Daytona night race to do the change. IMO Junior will still make The Chase. Yup.

 

[fl17fan]

How long will it take Hendrick to figure out that the crew chief was only half of the problem on the #88? The rest of the problem was the nut behind the wheel.

 

[John Gregorio]

Jr 8th in practice so far. Looks like the change is working...

 

[electrodisco]

Go for that impressive top 35 this week Jr!

 

[88fan]

How long will it take Hendrick to figure out that the crew chief was only half of the problem on the #88? The rest of the problem was the nut behind the wheel.

Do you hate Jr or somethin???