Rick Hendrick says Dale Earnhardt Jr. frustration expected; no decision yet on crew chief
Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr. has not won a race in 51 starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
CONCORD, N.C. – Rick Hendrick says no decision has been made on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief for next year, but he remains happy with the way the Hendrick Motorsports team is going and also said it is normal for a driver to be frustrated when he’s not getting the results he wants.
Earnhardt Jr., who qualified 39th for the NASCAR Banking 500 tonight at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, talked about his frustrations Friday.
“There has never been a driver that I can remember at Hendrick Motorsports that hasn’t felt that way,” Hendrick said just prior to the race Saturday night. “They maybe didn’t say it, but they all go through it, they all get frustrated and how you respond is what counts. … I’m kind of happy he was upset.
“I get that way. I just don’t say it. What I admire a lot about Junior is he says what he thinks and he says what he feels. He’s disappointed and frustrated.”
Hendrick said it was decided this week to wait at least another two weeks before making a decision on whether Lance McGrew would remain as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief. McGrew replaced Tony Eury Jr. as crew chief in late May and Earnhardt Jr.’s finishes have not gotten better as he has dropped from 19th to 22nd in the points.
Hendrick said he has seen Earnhardt Jr. have days where he could finish in the top five only to have something happen where he doesn't.
“I’ve been real pleased with the way the car has been running – we just can’t get a break,” Hendrick said. “It’s frustrating for all of us. If we were going south, I would be super concerned. … They definitely have turned the corner.
“Qualifying is a disappointment here. But that’s one lap and all I can look for in a team is we’re getting better rather than backing up, and we’re getting better. This is a hard deal. Sometimes when you start doing good and then you have a problem, it’s worse than if you were just steady Eddie.”
Just as he went as long as he could before replacing Eury Jr., Hendrick said he is more willing to see Earnhardt Jr. and McGrew work through any issues they might have.
“My philosophy has always been if you can fix something rather than start all over, then I’d rather fix it,” Hendrick said. “When I see the car as the best car out there in my group in two or three races and have crappy luck, it’s almost like, ‘Hey, let’s focus on the little things that can make us better.’”
Not only is Earnhardt Jr. outside the top 20 in points, he is struggling at an organization where the other three drivers have made the Chase For The Sprint Cup – not to mention the fact that Earnhardt Jr. is the son of a seven-time Cup champion.
“He’s got more pressure than most, and we all know that,” Hendrick said. “I’ve got more pressure. It’s hard for me to enjoy the success of the other three. … I go through the same frustration. It’s the ones that just don’t give up and keep digging.
“The one thing he’s answered is his commitment. He cares. He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do, and we’ve got to keep digging.”
Hendrick hired Earnhardt Jr. in June 2007 to join the team starting in the 2008 season. He knew the spotlight on the team would be Earnhardt Jr. – even at times such as Saturday night where his drivers Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin lead the standings and also were starting on the front row.
“We’re not talking about Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin [in this interview],” Hendrick said. “We’re not talking about how many races we’ve won this year and how good we’re doing, we’re talking about the 88 car. I knew that when I took it on, and I kind of like the challenge.
“I think the world of him. We’re very close, and we’re not going to give up. We’re frustrated, but that’s just going to make us dig harder. … I kind of like it that we’ve got emotion and we care and I think out of frustration, you can only go two ways – it can tear you up or you can get better. And we’re going to get better. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that we’re going to fix this thing.”
