Hendrick Gives Vote of Confidence

Rick Hendrick has given his driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Earnhardt's crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., a strong vote of confidence amidst speculation that the cousin tandem should split up after a disappointing start to the season.

"What I want to say is that I am 100 percent behind this group and I have no intentions of making any changes,'' Hendrick said Wednesday during a conference call with the national racing media. "Tony Junior is our guy.''

Hendrick did the interview to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his first win as a NASCAR team owner, but the line of questioning quickly turned to Earnhardt's team -- one of four cars Hendrick fields in the Sprint Cup Series.

The eight-time champion owner said he welcomed the chance to set the record straight. Hendrick defended the team's potential even though Earnhardt is ranked 19th in points with just one top-10 finish this season. And he reminded everyone that it wasn't as if that team was "out in left field.''

Earnhardt moved up five positions in the standings Sunday at Bristol and is only 66 points behind the 12th place, Chase-qualifying driver Kevin Harvick. But some members of the media and even some of Earnhardt's own fans have suggested that the struggling team would benefit from a crew chief shake-up. The implication has been that the closeness of the two cousins isn't creating the ideal scenario for success.

It's a notion that Earnhardt takes great issue with. All but one of his 18 victories have come with Eury on his team as crew chief or car chief.

"I'd rather be crucified than him,'' Earnhardt said last week at Bristol, Tenn., preferring to shoulder the blame for his team's early struggles. "Every time I read in the paper that people are on his case, I feel like people are sending my brother to jail for a crime I committed.''

Hendrick acknowledged Wednesday the extreme pressure to produce that Earnhardt feels in his second year with the championship team, and the pressure Hendrick himself feels to ensure Earnhardt's success.

"I was extremely pleased with the way they ran right out of the box. ... but this year's been a slow start,'' Hendrick said. "Nobody's immune from having some problems. I'm confident with the amount of effort going into this deal right now, that we'll get better. ... and I'm very comfortable with the relationship between Dale and Tony Junior.''

Hendrick did reveal that he's already had a "milk-and-cookies" heart-to-heart meeting with the whole team months ago at Texas.

"We got some things off our chest and we all went to work,'' said Hendrick. "No one got sensitive or their feelings hurt. I asked what was good, what was bad ... and we started working. You can tell about the character of a good team when you can sit down and say, this is a problem ... and rate everything from pit crew to motors.

"I can tell you this, both Junior and Tony have told me if they thought they need to be split, they understood. That's my call and I'm not ready to make that call, not even close. I'm convinced they're better together. I think we have the right combination. And I think we are going to be able to prove that to you folks here pretty soon.''

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

3-25-2009 @ 7:29PM

madasonwh said...

What rick really meant to say was " we are making tons of money off of dale jr hats and t-shirts so i dont care if he wins or not because he is so popular".

4-23-2009 @ 12:22PM

lin said...

We are die hard fans of Dale jr, and was of his fathers, but my husband is getting very frustrated with jr for awhile now. But, I will always root for him, because he is a good driver and a good guy. I just think maybe he needs a girlfriend, if he don't allready have just saying to help support him mentally maybe.

3-25-2009 @ 7:53PM

hilryshaves said...

Hendrick is a convicted felon, with a cash cow named Earnhardt in his stable. Yea, I think he's cool with that..

3-25-2009 @ 9:07PM

Brad said...

ha ha haaaaa ha LMAOROF ssssooooooo much Envy.

3-25-2009 @ 9:22PM

robert said...

Brad, are you dale jrs girlfriend?

3-26-2009 @ 1:12AM

Nope,,,,,are you his boytoy?

3-26-2009 @ 1:14AM

Don Emerson said...

Nah, Brad's too ugly to be Jr's girlfriend, but let him keep his crush, and his dream. works for me....

3-26-2009 @ 2:11AM

And once again KING OF THE IDIOTS--DamnthenationDon, or O-B-Donobody spits up all over himself again, now please Don crawl back into your trash bin and unplug your laptop cause I'm sure the person your stealing the electricity from could put the money to better use.

3-26-2009 @ 2:37AM

kindatuchy said...

Anyone wishing to learn more about this guy Emerson go to www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/211/ripoff0211335.htm

3-26-2009 @ 7:03AM

svetahor said...

After years of the DEI-Junior drama, Earnhardt's move to Hendrick came with the test: Either win or confirm you're not the best driver out there! No more excuses. Hendrick's has been the best team for several years. Hendrick's even gave up Kyle Busch (or was it Hamlin) to get Junior.

Now don't get me wrong! Junior is a top driver, just not in the top five or six. Unless he starts winning with the golden Hendrick's team! So no more "excuse" stories, like the one above!

3-26-2009 @ 8:46AM

illsell4u said...

Well I guess that pretty much shuts us all up. Whether you like the fact he is crew chief or not, no changes for now. It also settles the issue of who gets to make the call.

Svetahor, for ages I have enjoyed razzing the Jr fans. I will say though that I have never heard Jr say he was the best driver out there. It is SOME of his fans but not him that say it.
The closest I have ever heard was when he announced he was going to leave his team his father started "so I can win my championship".

Don, you did not used to go after the other posters. Last week it was Susan, who probably cried, and now you actually want to poke a stick in the lions cage? I understand you get picked on a great deal but really Don, you have to know you bring it on yourself.
MBL

3-26-2009 @ 9:34AM

grumpyoldman said...

From the pictures I've seen the last few days floating around, Joon-yer enjoys owning a bar just a little too much!

3-26-2009 @ 9:21AM

I never said (or wrote) that Junior ever said he was top dog. I was referring to his loyal fans (who you like to razz), sports writers, and those talking-head announcers! Junior carries himself like a real down-to-earth guy. As a matter of fact illsell4u, I finally got a friend from up in Pennsylvania to watch the Daytona 500 this year. His comment? He was really impressed by the way all the drivers spoke and handled themselves--and he's now hooked into NASCAR. I hope this clarifies what I wrote.

3-26-2009 @ 9:38AM

Ron said...

Overweight unemployed loser that stills lives at home laying on the couch most of the day with a laptop his mother probably purchased for him, logging on to Nascar blogs and probably others in an effort to seek attention he so desperately needs by pissing people off. Anybody we know??

3-26-2009 @ 9:49AM

I was confused by your quote "Either win or confirm you're not the best driver out there!" No biggie.

I happy you have recruited a new fan. I am sure once he starts watching races that do not have restrictor plates he may even become more of one.

3-26-2009 @ 10:11AM

Kim said...

svetahor:

It was Kyle Busch that Hendrick let go for Jr. I agree with your comments 100%. No more excuses! He's in the best ride, with the best team, so either produce or don't, but no more excuses because they just don't work anymore!

Kim

3-26-2009 @ 1:01PM

Dennis said...

The problem with many so called race fans are they rather bash other race car drivers than thir favorite.Im a Kyle fan but like a lot of other drivers also.I enjoy the race and focus on the race each week.As far as the Kyle-Jr bashing I look at the desire of winning and the hard work put in weekly.Kyle runs three classes and has a never ending desire to win.His antics may upset many people but he is yong and will mature.If you think there is a harder working race car driver,who is he?

3-26-2009 @ 3:04PM

Your right Dennis, Kyle really just loves to race, I believe last year ( not sure about this year ) he was even driving the truck for free to help out the owner, now that's some class. As far as him getting to be more mature that's going to take some time, showing that much emotion just shows me his desire to win and when he gets even more control he'll be tougher yet. There's not a driver out there that hasn't acted like Kyle has in their career and that's just the nature of the beast ( racing ).

3-26-2009 @ 5:22PM

Brad,great comment.By the way,who are your favorite drivers?

3-26-2009 @ 7:05PM

Harvick, Stewart, Jr.,,,,I respect them all as drivers but Dale Sr. will always be No. 1 to me. I disliked Kyle at first but it's hard not to like someone who can drive the way that kid can.

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