Dale Earnhardt Jr. would like to have former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. join JR Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. talk earlier this season at Daytona International Speedway. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
LOUDON, N.H. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to be reunited with former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. …
… at JR Motorsports.
JR Motorsports is an affiliate of Hendrick Motorsports, where Eury Jr. currently works in the research and development department.
But Earnhardt Jr. has another plan for Eury Jr., who was his crew chief for two seasons at Dale Earnhardt Inc. and then moved with him to Hendrick to guide the No. 88 car until he was replaced by Lance McGrew as crew chief in late May during a season where Earnhardt Jr. struggled in his Sprint Cup car.
Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t exactly specific on the job title for Eury Jr., but he explained he has a plan for his cousin to join the JR Motorsports operation, where Eury Jr.’s father (Tony “Pops” Eury Sr.) serves as a crew chief/competition director and several other Earnhardt family members work for the Nationwide Series organization.
“I’ve been talking to him for about a month about coming over to JR Motorsports and being a big part of that with me because I feel like me and him have some unfinished business,” Earnhardt Jr. said Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “We enjoy being around each other, and so I’ve presented him some things to think about. He’s looking forward to trying to be a big part of that company as well.
“He knows everything that we’re doing right now as far as our direction on our sponsors and our drivers. He’s touring people around and shaking hands and trying to help us get everything we need to get nailed down next year. Hopefully he will be a big part of it.”
Eury Jr. is not unhappy at Hendrick, but Earnhardt Jr. said he could provide a unique opportunity for his cousin at the organization co-owned by Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick.
“He is happy, but ... it’s an opportunity to work with his daddy again, and him and his father were one hell of a team years ago,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “They haven’t had the opportunity to be that close and work closely in a while. His uncles, Robert and Jimmy Gee, are there. Danny Earnhardt, Danny [Earnhardt] Jr., my mom and my sister – he’s got a lot of family over there to be around and can be around having just as much fun and having a lot more opportunities to go to victory lane.
“I just proposed that as an idea for him to think about, and I think that is something that he is really happy to consider. Maybe there will be some more information for you guys … once we come to some agreement there.”
The responsibilities for Eury Jr. likely would be working with No. 5 team crew chief Brian Campe as well as in an overall race-car development role, said Earnhardt Jr., who shares seat time in the No. 5 with several other drivers.
“I feel like if I can put Tony Jr. over that group, he can guide them in the right direction and help those guys sort of understand some of the things they can do better,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Also, we have to develop the [car of tomorrow] for that series, and Tony Jr. can be a big help there. I’m excited about bringing him in and him being a part of that company for a long time.
“Anybody that drives the 5 car next year, driver-wise, would have to be excited about that as well.”
Earnhardt Jr. obviously just gets excited when he can hire another family member he believes in.
“I just like working with family, and that’s an opportunity for my family and JR Motorsports,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “What’s important there is our family and getting young guys in and out of that series and into the Cup series. … Pops is having the best time of his career, he says, at least particularly the last two seasons.
“I think my uncles and everyone that works there feels the same way. I want Tony Jr. to have that same opportunity.”
