Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson says test with Tony Eury Jr. went well
Tony Eury Jr. now works in research and development at Hendrick Motorsports. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
LONG POND, Pa. – Tony Eury Jr. was back working with Hendrick Motorsports last week after a few days off to regroup following his reassignment from Dale Earnhardt Jr. crew chief to the research-and-development department.
One of his first duties was a road-course test Tuesday with Jimmie Johnson. Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus, couldn’t attend, so Eury Jr. ran the test.
“I guess the ultimate judge or ruling of it will be how we run in Sonoma, but I feel like we had a great test session and things went really well,” Johnson said. “It was hard for me to see him in a bad mood, I mean he was in a great mood. It was a great time, and we had a great test.”
Despite the pressure of the job and the season of struggles, Eury Jr. typically was in a good mood at the track. He often was approachable and didn’t shy away from the tough questions about his job as the crew chief for his cousin, who also happens to be the sport’s most popular driver.
“I think he’s doing well,” Johnson said. “In some respects, it’s probably nice to have the pressure off so I think he might have been relieved and then also at the same time, kind of bummed out.
“But he seems to be doing well. And I was trying to talk him into coming to the track, but I don’t think he’s ready to do that yet. Hopefully we’ll get him to the track sometime soon.”
