Rick Hendrick says chemistry key to keeping Lance McGrew on as Dale Earnhardt Jr. crew chief

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Hendrick Motorsports has announced that Lance McGrew will be Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief next season. (Jim Fluharty / NASCAR Scene)

Hendrick Motorsports has announced that Lance McGrew will be Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief next season.

Jim Fluharty
NASCAR Scene

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Rick Hendrick said Lance McGrew’s chemistry with Dale Earnhardt Jr. as well as his chemistry with Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 crew chief Alan Gustafson resulted in his being named the full-time crew chief for the No. 88 team of Earnhardt Jr.

With the No. 5 and 88 teams sharing the same shop, Hendrick said it was pivotal that the Earnhardt Jr. crew chief can work well with both his driver as well as the other team. McGrew, named the full-time crew chief Friday, is that guy, Hendrick said.

“Lance has a lot of faith in Junior, and the chemistry between the two of them is real good,” Hendrick said Sunday prior to the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. “He knows our systems. He knows our folks inside and he and Alan (Gustafson) are close.

“The way that deal needs to work is having two crew chiefs working to build one team that’s going to run two cars. That’s what they’re committed to do. We know where some of the weak links are and we’ve already started to address them. The chemistry between Alan and Lance is probably just as good as it is between Chad [Knaus] and Steve [Letarte in the other shop]. That’s what I’ve been wanting.”

McGrew was named interim crew chief for Earnhardt Jr. in May as a replacement for Earnhardt Jr. cousin Tony Eury Jr.

At the time, Earnhardt Jr. was winless and 19th in points. Earnhardt Jr. entered the race today still winless on the year and 24th in points.

“I’m excited about it,” Hendrick said. “We’ve been kind of idling along in neutral waiting for to finish with some good results, but if you can be committed to each other after the kind of [year] we’ve been through – it’s real easy to be positive when you’re going through good times.

“But if the chemistry can work and you can see that you’re getting better and everybody is focused on it, I think it was definitely the right thing to do.”

Hendrick believes Earnhardt Jr. has confidence in McGrew.

“Junior is very, very comfortable,” Hendrick said. “He likes Lance. Lance wants to do it. … I just think we all don’t want to talk about it any more. We want to go do it.”

Having previous crew chief experience at the Cup level with Brian Vickers before going to head the team’s research and development department, McGrew is no stranger to the role. Although he has only been crew chief for Earnhardt Jr. for five months, Hendrick said he had seen enough to make the decision for 2010.

“We’ve seen him mature,” Hendrick said. “I know what he’s done with the R&D deal. He’s won championships before, and he calls a great race. I’m real proud of him. I think he’s got all the talent in the world and he’s got the demeanor to work with Junior or anybody else.”

Being crew chief for the sport’s most popular driver has put McGrew in a fish bowl, with fans even creating petitions for a change.

“You’re not going to satisfy everybody,” Hendrick said. “What we’ve got to do is perform. If we perform, everybody will be happy. Until we do that, nobody is going to be really satisfied. It comes down to execution and having success. So we’ve got to do that. That’s what’s left to do, and that’s what is my responsibility. We’re going to have to go show it.”
 

Comments

20 responses to " Rick Hendrick says chemistry key to keeping Lance McGrew on as Dale Earnhardt Jr. crew chief". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    nikita88 said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 5:40 PM

    Hey, it takes time to get to know each other. I believe that Tony Jr and Jr were too close and as brothers do, they told each other off , but it was family.
    I believe Lance will put some back bone in jr. We alreay saw Jr drove a bit more like Daddy today.

    Good show Jr. Keep it up. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!>
    Congrats on your tenth place finish!!

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  2. 2
    Carol-88-fan said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 6:02 PM

    I believe in Dale Jr and Lance. I think Rick made the right decision. I would love to see him win this year, but top tens are good, until they get everything worked out. It sounds like they have a plan in place. From what they are saying about restructuring, including employees, some may not like it.

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  3. 3
    sweetthings88 said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 6:07 PM

    I think every things will be alright with Dale JR. and Lance. Just takes time. Very good day for Dale Jr. and Lance and team #88. Keep up the great work guys.

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  4. 4
    timmytoad1 said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 6:46 PM

    Well now it says Jr finished 11, so much for a top 10. I dont see how Johnson runs 30th all day and gets 6th while those who were really racing get in wrecks or finish poorly. Sucks...

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  5. 5
    psdf250 said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 7:05 PM

    I agree #4. As far as I'm cocerned Johnson showed nothing but a severe case of "Lackatesticulitis". But of course he'll be called a true champion and Chad will be called a genius. Call me a hater or whatever but it was sad to see guys who drove their guts out get taken out by a wreck or running out of fuel and the "Champ" sand bags it all day and gets the finish he did.

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  6. 6
    b48orr said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 7:55 PM

    Jr. needs a stronger crew chief. Someone who will tell him to shut his smart a%$ mouth and drive. As for Jimmy sandbagging, even the greatest Muhammad Ali had to use the rope a dope once or twice. Where was all the crying when Edwards tried it awhile back? Oh yeah, he wrecked everyone when he did try to get to the front. Nice drive champ. although I dont totally agree with it. I still love ya J.J.

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  7. 7
    mwallick said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 9:23 PM

    Steve Addington suddenly became available this past week. I am sure that Jr. brings enough money into HMS to pay Addington what he should have...? ...or maybe they could team up at Gibbs. There is obviously NO 'chemistry' for Jr. at HMS. When Tony Jr. moved to HMS he brought along the DEI specs from 2007 to make the cars for Jr., and he did not change. After Lance became CC he started making cars on the updated HMS chassis. There are now 2, 1 1/2 mile track cars and last week they added one short track car. The car Jr. was given to drive in Charlotte was one of the T Jr. cars. RH knew what was going on, he is not a stupid man.
    ...& Junior is driving the R&D car, which the 25/88 is, think of Brian Vickers and Casey Mears. If Jr.'s performance is not on par with his teammates then Hendrick needs to show his honor, integrity, gentleman sportsmanship & 'good faith'; for the sake of competition and the good of the sport which is in a dive in ratings and attendance; & let Jr. go, and JR Motorsports, also. Right now RH has Jr. hamstrung in a 5 year contract and half or more of JR Motorsports, Jr.s company which Jr. can not take to cup as long as RH owns half of it, not even to drive for himself, & RH is making a lot of money off of him, & using it to get JJ another championship. Marybeth

    If Rick Hendrick wanted Junior running well and winning, he would have grabbed Addington. Junior certainly brings enough money into HMS to pay Addington what he deserves. But that is not what Hendrick wants. Lance is the head of the R&D department at HMS and Hendrick wants Junior drivng the R&D car. That is why Lance was made permanent. Hendrick wants to use the money Jr. brings in to buy JJ another championship and keep Jr. out of real competition with JJ, & make, what in his own fantasy, are some kind of dynastic records. This is the legacy wants to leave behind…? Marybeth

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  8. 8
    lhsjrf said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 9:35 PM

    If Jr. needs a crew chief that will tell him to shut his mouth then so do many other drivers need new CC. You must not have listened to other drivers. Maybe you never heard of the milk and cookies meeting Hendrick had to have with Jimmy and Chad. It was milk and cookies because they were acting like children. Jr. is no different than other drivers. You also must not have heard Jeff Gordon last weekend or this one.

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  9. 9
    lhsjrf said:
    Nov 1, 2009 at 9:38 PM

    I also think Hendrick does not care for Jr. like he makes out he does. Hendrick wanted Jr. for the money and never had Jr.'s best interest at heart. The sponors he made him take proves that. Bud was the first one to call Hendrick wanting to stay with Jr. but Hendrick was determined to have the sponors he wanted. Who drinks AMP. It tastes like flowers.

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  10. 10
    mwallick said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 4:26 AM

    Does Hendrick really want me to believe that he is stupid enough to think that there is 'chemistry' between Lance and Jr.?!? You would have to hate someone to do to, and put them through the pain that Boss Hendrick, with my apologies to Hoggs everywhere, is doing to Junior!!! (And this is nothing against Lance, he is a good R&D man.) Boss lied through his teeth to Jr. with promises of what he was going to do for him, and he had no intentions of ever keeping one of them!!! Dale Sr. said of Hendrick that a convicted felon has no place in Nascar, and he was right!!! And maybe that figures into what Hendrick is doing to Jr. now, staked out over the ant hill in the sun and left to slowly die!
    Marybeth

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  11. 11
    MAMADONIA88 said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 9:39 AM

    I was hoping Mr. H would keep Lance and Junior together, from what they show on TV, I believe Jr. likes what he sees in Lance and the same with Lance, they are good for each other. The Talladega race yesterday showed Jr. seems to be much better and got a little fired up, maybe a little aggressive. It's great to see Jr. run like he did yesterday, he seemed to come to the front when he wanted, I think had he not had to pit for gas, at the end, he might have won the race, I like to think so. Hope 2010 will be better and show the people that don't believe in Jr., he can drive a race car with anyone, the car has to work right for anyone. Go Jr., we love ya!!!!!

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  12. 12
    dorarhodes said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 3:57 PM

    I agree with #10. #1, I also don't think it was a brothers disagreement that broke everything up. It was not pressure from the media either. It was some fans that didn't know too much of what goes on in racing or anything about the people involved. Some folks don't think that families can work together, I feel bad for those that do. My family has only been in business for well over 90 years, then there is the FORD family or the Walmart Family. I believe that when you critize one member of a family all the family feels it.

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  13. 13
    dslund said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 4:32 PM

    I believe in Jr. and know Lance will do a great job as CC ..So keep it up guys your doing a good job so far ..can't wait til next year ..

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  14. 14
    andee said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    How was Rick holding Jr. back the one hundred races he ran before he went to Hendrick?

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  15. 15
    THEBIGKESELOWSKI said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 5:56 PM

    Funniest bit yet:
    #9 - "Who drinks AMP. It tastes like flowers."

    88 is in such a funk that he is expecting and getting bad results for himself. It's called self-fulfilling prophecy. I hate to see a man beat himself down so hard.

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  16. 16
    Werner said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 6:12 PM

    lhsjrf...i sort of agree with you about Jr bringing in $$$...he doesn't even have to win a race....what i don't understand is, that Jr doesn't even seem to be involved in making desisions at JRM...rik is doing that...he's lost more than he's gained...he could have gone to another team and had the same points...it was a bad move....just my opinion...

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  17. 17
    pj88 said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 9:49 PM

    Dale Jr will start running up front where he belongs with Lance and I believe that Mr H forgot about Jr for awhile and gave the best to M.M,but I hope things will be different now.I think Jr puts pressure on himself to win,he wants to make his fans happy.I would love to see Jr. competitive every race and having fun again.I believe his true fans feel the same.
    I had a great time at Dega,I rode the parade lap with Dale Jr.,If you were there and saw a women in the truck,that was me.The car was awesome with over 100 thousand names on it.Thank you AMP,Talladega and the Nascar Foundation.

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  18. 18
    groveroak said:
    Nov 2, 2009 at 10:25 PM

    Mr.MWALLICK, you are so full of your self its starting to smell a little Funny,RH as you put it will never dump Dale Jr.maybe dump on YOU??

    Good luck with reading the Stars!!!

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  19. 19
    legends73 said:
    Nov 3, 2009 at 12:49 PM

    STEVE ADDINGTON FOR CREW CHIEF OF #88 CAR! (At least Steve is used to working under extreme situations and "pouty drivers" and KNOWS how to WIN!) Look what he did with Busch - Think about it Rick Hendrick!!!! (This is a "golden opportunity" to win races and championships with JR at the wheel......)

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  20. 20
    Werner said:
    Nov 3, 2009 at 10:14 PM

    better living thru chemistry....reminds me of the 60's, far out man...lol

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