Rick Hendrick happy with Lance McGrew; decision on 2010 coming this month
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Team owner Rick Hendrick (right) says a decision will be coming soon on whether Lance McGrew remains the crew chief for driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left) next season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Jeff Robinson
NASCAR Scene
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Hendrick Motorsports officials will sit down and determine whether Lance McGrew will remain as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief probably in the next couple of weeks, team owner Rick Hendrick said Sunday.
Earnhardt Jr. said Friday that he is happy with McGrew and hopes they could continue to work well together and return next year with the same group of guys – but it was not his decision. McGrew has been the crew chief since late May when he replaced Earnhardt Jr.'s cousin, Tony Eury Jr., whom Hendrick said could leave the organization to work for Hendrick affiliate JR Motorsports.
McGrew, who guided driver Brian Vickers to the 2003 title in what was then the Busch Series, had been running the Hendrick research and development department prior to becoming Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief.
“We had kind of planned to get together about Charlotte and sit down with he and Lance,” Hendrick said while walking out on pit road prior to the Price Chopper 400. “But they’re doing real well. They’ve really clicked together and the car is running [well]. He’s just had some really bad luck. But I think they’re gaining on it in a hurry and I’m really happy. I think by Charlotte we’ll be ready to do something.”
Since McGrew took over, Earnhardt Jr. has gone from 19th to 22nd in the standings.
“[McGrew] has learned so much by [doing] that R&D deal and all of the other crew chiefs are so impressed with what he’s done,” Hendrick said. “He understands that place. By running the R&D department, he works on all the cars, he’s worked with all the drivers, so all the drivers know him and respect him.”
Earnhardt Jr. made the Chase For The Sprint Cup in his first year at Hendrick but had a slow finish to last season and then struggled at the start of this year.
“I’ve seen it with Jimmie [Johnson], Jeff [Gordon], everybody that has ever driven for me – if you hit a streak there where you’re not as good as you want to be or you make a change and you’re trying to get adjusted, it’s just hard,” Hendrick said. “These cars … [are] hard to figure out. Then when you’ve got a lot of change going on, but I think a lot of things – him working out, the chemistry between he and Lance – we can see it getting better and better.
“The qualifying [second] here, the best car we had at Loudon [before a wreck]. I always want him to do better, but I’m really happy where we are.”
As far as Earnhardt Jr.’s former crew chief, Earnhardt Jr. had said he wanted Eury Jr. to move from his position at the Hendrick R&D department over to JR Motorsports, which is co-owned by Hendrick and Earnhardt Jr.
“We’re talking about that,” Hendrick said. “We’ve got a lot of things working in and around that. I think it’s something that both of them want to see happen and I’m all for it, so we’re working in that direction right now.”
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29 responses to "Rick Hendrick happy with Lance McGrew; decision on 2010 coming this month". Post a Comment.
4-DA-88 said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 2:05 PMAAARGH!! Loose lug nut. Darn that Junior, he forgot to get out and check!.. I am sure it was his fault!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 3:28 PMI know 4-DA-88....Jr. comes in as the leader, left the pits without a lug nut! Yep, you know it will be his fault.lol What a bummer! It's a team effort... I thought the driver was doing his part but I probably am wrong about that too. :-)
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCarol-88-fan said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 4:23 PMDidn't you see the other 42 drivers jump out to check? That's okay no matter what the ones that don't like him say, they are improving. The problem is just bad luck and that will change. I hope Rick keeps the team together next year.Always will be a Dale Jr fan.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 4:58 PMI read on CNN that Danica Patrick may run part time schedule with Jr. Motorsports next year.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 5:18 PMgwen really!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportstone069 said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 5:18 PMIt looks really promising for next year, GO JR!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 5:19 PMYeppers!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdale said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 5:34 PMI really hope they don't send Lance to the Nationwide Series (keeping him with Jr.), he deserves to be a crew chief at the cup level.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 5:40 PMHAHAHAHAHA, Dale you are so funny!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportVillebilly said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 6:14 PMI see good things for the 88 bunch if they stick together, go Dale!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsweetthings88 said:
Oct 4, 2009 at 7:12 PMI sure hope Dale Jr.and Lance stay together.Jr. sure looked good out front today. Just watch and see this will be one of the strong teams in 2010. Always will be a fan of Dale Jr.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdorarhodes said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 11:56 AMOnly crew chief in garage that takes a decent handling car and turns in into one you can't drive, or two hours into a race changes setup back to what he started race with (track conditions have changed by then),and with fifteen laps to go a caution comes out practically right on top of the previous one and he does 4 tires and fuel instead of gas n go and puts driver way back in field. He is always having to apologize for mistakes etc. Jr has earned the right to have better, he should not have to be teaching his crew chief how to do his job!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdslund said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 3:34 PMI sure hope and wish real hard that lance stays with Jr. going forward they seem to be getting things done and things are looking up although we wouldn't know it just the bad luck that had bit them ..but I sure hope Lance stays on it will make next year for Jr. easier to head into and look forward to ..
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» Confirm Abuse Reportandee said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 3:34 PMWhen the pit crew makes a mistake and puts a driver down a lap,all the driver has to do is keep himself first one lap down and the "lucky dog"will put him back on the lead lap.What happened?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportShort-Track said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 3:35 PMWhatever DORKARHODES!Try thinking outside the box for a change.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdorarhodes said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 4:01 PMAndee, he got passed by the leader and that added another lap,then add in the cars that got lapped and were only a lap down and it was all down hill from there on. Short-track, I am thinking out of the box, at least I know that running up front for a few laps is not what counts, its where you finish the race. I also know that talking on the radio does not get the job done if you do not get positive results from the communication.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmissieliebchen said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 4:50 PMI aplaud DaleJR for his driving, TJ for his spotting and Lance, however who maintains pit crew members? whose responsibility to make sure car ready for race track?
Report as AbuseIt was shown on TV during last Cup practice a hood latch was left off: that would have cause a BLACK FLAG if happened during the race. And the left rear tire changer with lug nut..I dont believe the first time.
Cant blame Nascar Officials for crew member with lug nut problem
What liquid came out of DaleJR's Engine: oil? if I'm not mistaking there are other fluids.
Where are cars built, pit crew members hired.... how otfen do they practice
SO MANY ...but Hendrick Motor Sports, not just one person, driver: an accumulation of person, happenings ...HMS
..
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmwallick said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 4:54 PMDoes anyone know what happened to his engine...? He had a great running going in Indy and his engine blew...and then again yesterday...? Marybeth
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCarol-88-fan said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 4:59 PMMWALLICK, They said yesterday that the oil pump belt came off, causing the engine to go.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportDickHURTZ said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 5:03 PMOh wooo is Junior
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMAMADONIA88 said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 5:17 PMHope Lance stays with Jr., they have gotten use to each other and it wouldn't be good for Jr. to have to get use to someone else, and he trust Lance to give him what he needs, and of course the car is getting much better, if the pit crew didn't make mistakes that cost Jr. Jr. was running so well until someone on the crew blew it. I'm beginning to believe there is someone within the organization that is doing this each and every week, sabotaging Jr.'s race cars, none of the other drivers for Hendrick have the problems Jr. has, hope not but it could be possible. Maybe they'll get it straighten out sooner or later. I'm sure it's frustrating for Jr. "Happy Birthday,Jr." we love ya!!!!! Mama Donia
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» Confirm Abuse Reportcggapp said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 7:14 PMI believe when the media talked to Jr., he stated one lap lost for lug nut problem and the second lap lost by a caution coming out after he had pitted.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsharonldavis57 said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 7:23 PMDale Jr. wasn't passed by the leader to go a lap down, he made a green flag pit stop and Nascar threw a caution and that put him another lap down.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdalejrfan953 said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 9:37 PMIF YOU DONT LIKE JR SO BE IT BUT JR WILL START WINNING AND YOU CAN ALL EAT YOUR REMARKS ABOUT JR HE IS THE BEST AND WILL ALLWAYS BE THE BEST OUT THERE I LOVE JR AND NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT ONCE A JR FAN ALWAYS A JR FAN
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» Confirm Abuse Reportpj88 said:
Oct 6, 2009 at 5:49 AMThat is so true #24,if you are a Jr fan,you stay a fan.You don't jump ship and run through the hard times and you don't like him,only for who his father was.I want Dale Jr to have fun and be competitive,that's enough.Sure I hope he wins,but it isn't necessary for me to stay his fan,I will buy and wear his gear proudlyI have an 09 impala with jr. nation rims and i have the #88 seatcovers,floor mats,etc.will not change it ,Dale Jr is my driver,come what may. phyllis hamilton
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» Confirm Abuse ReportTrueBlueGreenJrFan said:
Oct 6, 2009 at 7:06 AMYes please keep Jr and Lance together, we are seeing the work come together, even if the finishes aren't showing it!! Good Luck at Cali this week Junebug!!! We will just get all the bad luck out of the way this year and Rock the house next year, keep building that team cause it is coming together, despite what anyone thinks!!! Please Rick keep them together!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjbbigrod said:
Oct 6, 2009 at 12:02 PMBesides Carl was a lap down, and kept passing all the others that were put a lap down, until the caution came out and then HE got the Lucky Dog.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportandee said:
Oct 6, 2009 at 12:43 PMJr. does not dare get rid of Lance.He was 18th when Tony Jr. left. If Lance goes at 23rd. where will Jr end up next?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportKenL88 said:
Oct 8, 2009 at 1:12 AMLance will be back and Jr Can finish the season on a possitive note.Nation does not give up on him he sits 10th of the other33 active drivers on his wins and places. He's go alot to go still/ Keep on voting Nation. He's getting seven in a row.
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