Tony Eury Jr. returns to crew-chief role, teaming with Hendrick's Brad Keselowski
Hendrick Motorsports' Brad Keselowski will work with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
Brad Keselowski will return to Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup entry this weekend, this time working with crew chief Tony Eury Jr.
Keselowski is running a limited schedule in the series this season, driving for both Hendrick Motorsports and Phoenix Racing. In six Cup starts, he has one win and two additional top-10 finishes. Keselowski, 25, has previously worked with Lance McGrew when racing for Hendrick, but McGrew has taken over as interim crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the organization's No. 88 Cup program.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity I have to work with Tony Jr. for the first time this weekend," Keselowski said. "I've had a chance to talk with him over the past few weeks, and so I think we will definitely be on the same page communication-wise. He brings a lot of experience to the table, having the background he does and having worked with Dale Jr. While I haven't raced at this track before [in the Cup series], Tony Jr. was able to participate in the tire test a few weeks ago, so I think the information he'll have from that will definitely be helpful. It's going to be good to work with him and see what I can learn from him over these next three races."
For Eury, it's a chance to get back to the track as a crew chief for the first time since he and Earnhardt Jr. split at the end of May.
"I think it's kind of a change of pace, and it's kind of a challenge to me," he said. "You know, those young guys, they're eager. I think we'll complement each other well. I've watched Brad the last couple of years, and I look forward to working with him."
Keselowski works with Tony Eury Sr. in the Nationwide Series, where he is third in the standings.
Has Tony Eury Jr. asked his dad for any advice on working with the young driver?
"We've talked over the last year or so, just understanding what kind of changes he's making to the cars," Eury Jr. said. "But I've had a lot more conversations with Brad than anybody. He just gives me race reports from running the Impala this year. I go back and look at those setups and try to figure out where we're going from here.
"Brad has been really good about giving me his plusses and minuses on what he thinks about himself, and I've given them to him from my perspective. We understand each other going into the weekend, and we're looking forward to it."
