Tony Eury Jr. returns to JR Motorsports as crew chief for Nationwide race at Memphis

By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor

Friday, October 23, 2009

Tony Eury Jr. is working as a crew chief for JR Motorsports in this weekend's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Jim Fluharty
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – NASCAR Nationwide Series team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. got what he wanted this weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park: Cousin Tony Eury Jr. is working on one of his cars.

But the job appears to only be temporary, and Eury Jr. said Friday he’s still considering his options for the future.

Eury Jr. replaced Brian Campe as crew chief for JRM’s No. 5 Chevrolet this weekend. It’s not the first time Eury Jr. has been at the track since losing his high-profile job leading Earnhardt Jr.’s Hendrick Motorsports Sprint Cup team.

Earnhardt Jr. has said he wanted Eury Jr. to work on his JRM team, which currently employs Eury’s father, Tony Eury Sr.

“Since our commitment’s really helping GoDaddy and the 25 [Cup] car, we’re going to try to hit a few races with these [Nationwide] cars toward the end of the year,” Eury Jr. said.

Eury Jr. currently works in the research and development department at Hendrick, whose owner, Rick Hendrick, owns half of JR Motorsports.

Eury Jr. said he’d also serve as crew chief for the No. 5 team at Homestead-Miami Speedway, when Kelly Bires will drive the car. Bires has signed to drive for the team next season.

But next year? Eury Jr. still isn’t sure what he’ll be doing. He’s “entertained” the idea of working for JRM, though neither he nor Earnhardt Jr. has said what job, if any, has been offered.

“We’re going to do whatever is bets for both of us,” Eury Jr. said. “We’ve had a lot of fun. He’s got a good, successful company over here. I’m at the point in my life where I don’t know if I want to do the crew chief deal any more. We’re going to entertain everything and see where it goes.”

Since being replaced as Earnhardt Jr.’s Cup crew chief, Eury Jr. said he’s enjoyed seeing life outside of racing.

“I’ve been doing this for 16, 17 years now,” Eury Jr. said. “I’ve really enjoyed the last six months off. I kind of get a new perspective on life of what’s going on. It’s been pretty cool. I definitely won’t say I won’t ever do it again, because if the right deal comes up, we might do it.”