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Tag: Dale Earnhardt Jr

  • Speedway Mailbag: Top Stories Eclipse Lunar Light Show

    Speedway Mailbag: Top Stories Eclipse Lunar Light Show

    “When the moon is in the Seventh House
    And Jupiter aligns with Mars
    then peace will guide the planets
    and love will steer the stars”
    Aquarius[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]

    Last night’s lunar eclipse wasn’t exactly Jupiter aligned with Mars, but it was a spectacular event.

    For those race fans from Venus and Mars who did not see the rare celestial congregation, I have enclosed a picture for your viewing pleasure.

    Bulging at the seams, the Speedway Media mailbag is proof positive there have been other noteworthy events this past week.

    Since our last installment, the hard working e-mail man has filled our Tupperware bowl with cards and letters from fans around the short track.

    Denny in Detroit writes: Dear Speedway Media: Did Rick Hendrick really buy a car for $225.000?
    Rick Hendrick did buy a new Chevrolet Volt, the first one available for sale to the general public, for $225,000 via an online auction. Proceeds of that sale will go to benefit various portions of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation.

    A successful hard core business man, Hendricks latest round of philanthropy is also a wise business decision.

    Because it is a charitable donation, all of the money above the original $40,000 MSRP of the car, approximately $185,000, is a tax deduction.

    Also, since the purchase was made before the end of 2010, Hendrick will also receive an additional $7500 federal energy tax credit for purchasing an electric car.

    Hendrick, a collectible car enthusiast, also has a first issue Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 in his museum.

    Bob in Boston writes: Dear Speedway Media, was the repaving of Daytona International Speedway a success?
    The repaving of DIS was an absolute success Bob. It was done in record time, within budget, and, with the help of DIS President Joie Chitwood III, the most publicized construction project in recent NASCAR history.

    Even with all that success, there is one little issue here. It is still Daytona, and the racers are still harnessed by restrictor plates.

    While visiting the track last week for tire testing, it was difficult not to think about how much money ISC had spent, how great a job their newly acquired construction company had done, and how refreshed the track looked with its new face lift.

    But still, other than a smoother ride, the cars will really not go any faster.

    To add some perspective, just imagine this.  A hurricane is only moments away and all you have is a handkerchief. It’s obvious you need to do more, but chose not to.

    Not a good analogy? Still confused?  Ok, lets look at it from a racing perspective.

    Consider Dale Earnhardt Jr. who basically got a complete makeover after leaving DEI. He partnered with a new owner, received new equipment and has acquired several new crew chiefs.

    He still doesn’t go any faster.

    Ron in Roanoke writes: Dear Speedway Media: Is Kasey Kahne’s new car number a good sign or a bad sign?
    Kasey said the No. 4 was his favorite number Ron. Looking back at a few things, I find the No. 4, alone and in a group, might just be a lucky charm for KK.

    Let’s do a little “by the numbers.”

    Kasey was Rookie of the Year in 2004.

    Ernie Ervin’s second win (a divisor of 4) came in the Daytona 500 driving the No. 4 Kodak Chevrolet.

    Sterling Marlin’s first and second career wins were the Daytona 500, driving the No. 4 Kodak Chevrolet.

    Kahne has now raced for all four NASCAR manufactures, had four different team names and will be the fourth driver in the Hendrick Motorsports stable starting in the year 2012, which happens to be divisible by four.

    And finally, should Kahne win the season opening Daytona 500, it will be the fourth for the No. 4.

    Well that’s about it for this weeks edition of Speedway Mailbag. I usually comment on more letters, but I was distracted by the overwhelming amount of advertising in this week’s e-mailbag.

    Who knew you could get 50 million dollars from an unknown rich widow in Bangladesh, check your credit score, and buy non-prescription prescription medicine, all by e-mail.

    Feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to mailbag@speedwaymedia.com.

    Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of management.

  • Questions, Answers and Conundrums from the SpeedwayMedia Mailbag

    Questions, Answers and Conundrums from the SpeedwayMedia Mailbag

    The 2010 NASCAR season is officially over, well, except for some suspensions and probations issued over the past year. Those are not officially over until December 31st. That’s a whole different article.

    Wire services, official press releases and even news around the sport has slowed to a trickle. It is officially the off season in NASCAR.

    Sitting at my desk admiring the most recent construction of another cobweb, I decided it was time to do some digging through the Speedway Media mailbag.

    The mailbag at Speedway Media isn’t exactly like traditional mailbags, actually, it’s more like a large round Tupperware bowl that’s so worn out it stopped burping years ago.

    Once in a while the staff writers take turns reading and responding to the miniscule amount of fan letters, questions and even occasional suggestions that almost never pour in.

    After spending a few hours of reading and a little consternation, I came across four letters I thought were relevant, topical, well thought out, and begged to be answered.

    Honestly, there were only four letters in the bowl and I needed at least 500 words for this article, so I thought I would just answer them all.

    Mary Anne from Mobile writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Do you think Jimmie Johnson will win his fifth championship in a row this year?
    Well Mary Anne as you can see it’s been a while since we checked the mail bag. Jimmie Johnson did in fact win his fifth championship in a row this year. Since there is not much change scheduled for next year in the Chase system or in NASCAR, Johnson is certainly the favorite to occupy the podium again.

    Karl from Kalamazoo writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Has Hendrick Motorsports found a sponsor for Kasey Kahne in 2012 yet?
    Karl, that’s a very good question. As of right now there have been no announcements of any sponsorship deals for Kahne beyond 2011. Given the most recent turn of events at HMS; swapping crews in the middle of a race and a multitude of personnel changes after the final race, except for JJ and Knaus, it’s quite possible a sponsor like Manpower Temporary Services would be best suited for Kahne in 2012.

    Louise from Lubbock writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Why is Dale Earnhardt Jr. once again NASCAR’s most popular driver? Shouldn’t Jimmie Johnson’s five championships in a row make him the most popular driver?
    Louise I am surprised you are the only one who has asked this question. Johnson has won quite a few awards over the past couple of years, including Athlete of the Year.

    Even though he has won five championships in a row, the answer to your question has two parts and is quite simple.
    First: Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets more attention for not winning than Johnson does for winning.

    Second: Everyone likes Jr.

    Speaking of Jr. and not winning, Robert from Richmond writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Do you think Dale Earnhardt Jr. will extend his contract with Hendrick Motor Sports?
    Thanks for the question Robert. I doubt it will happen by the end of this year, but who knows, this year has had its share of strange events.

    Macy’s fired Santa Claus, Urban Meyer abruptly resigned, Auburn went undefeated, and Joe Nemechek actually ran a full race.

    The marriage between Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. started off as traditional as unions go. Hendrick brought money, Earnhardt brought his name along with some extra baggage of a cousin. It was consummated quickly with a Duel win at Daytona.

    Since then there hasn’t been much bliss. Hendrick has tried to keep the romance going by supplying Jr. with new equipment and even a new crew chief. It still didn’t seem to be enough. So once again Jr. is getting another new crew chief and also moving in with Jimmie Johnson.

    The move with Johnson could be strategic, or a veiled attempt at marriage counseling.

    I doubt that Hendrick and Earnhardt Jr. will get a divorce at the end of 2012, but it’s possible a trial separation is in their future. This would give both of parties a chance at finding what they did or didn’t have during their union.

    That’s all for this edition of Speedway Mailbag.

    Feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to mailbag@speedwaymedia.com.

    Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect opinions of the management.

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Reality Is, Races Are Run on the Track, Not at the Shop

    Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Reality Is, Races Are Run on the Track, Not at the Shop

    For the second straight season, Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick, was able to keep the fans as well as the media right where he likes them, poking around his organizations race shops looking for the hottest story to finish off the year.

    We already know one the hottest stories to come out from behind the doors of one of NASCAR’s most decorated organizations is Jimmie Johnson’s record setting fifth straight championship in-a-row.

    It’s not hard to see that most of the fans are still trying to convince themselves that somehow NASCAR got it all wrong by allowing such a travesty to enter the sport by way of a fiasco called the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Even though Johnson walked away the big winner for the fifth straight year, the biggest question to come out of the HMS camp during the season was the poor showing by NASCAR’s most popular driver again.

    No other driver received the amount of publicity for such a poor season then the son of one of the true legends of the sport, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Question after question was posted, along with many fictional answers as to why this 36 year-old driver from Kannapolis, North Carolina has not been able to perform according to their standards.

    These standards are what every NASCAR fan hopes their favorite driver can achieve, but unfortunately, not all drivers are capable of reaching them, whether it be because of talent, skill, heart, desire, equipment or whatever excuse will be placed upon them.

    Excuses have become second nature whenever Earnhardt’s fans have tried to justify or explain why he is having trouble with an organization that is said to have the best equipment in the sport.

    How many organizations can boast of having a four-time, along with a five-time champion, on the same team?

    Wasn’t it just last season when a 50 year-old driver by the name of Mark Martin, who was driving in his first season with the organization won five races, along with finishing second in the points behind cup champion Jimmie Johnson?

    Martin just about stole the headlines away from Johnson towards the end of the season, but the big story was the signing of IZOD IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick, only a few days after NASCAR’s season ending awards banquet.

    The signing of Patrick took the focus off of Johnson’s fourth championship, when a legion of doubters began flooding the NASCAR social sites explaining why the GoDaddy.com poster girl should not be allowed to race in NASCAR’s second tier series.

    Marketing has always been the cornerstone of this great sport of ours, and it’s no wonder that Mr. Hendrick has made it one of his key ingredients when it comes to building a successful organization.

    After all, when you look back to Earnhardt’s last three seasons with the organization, the majority of the fans began putting him into the same category as Patrick with the moniker that Hendrick only hired him because of his popularity.

    Now, whether it is true or not has yet to be proven, especially after Hendrick heard the cry from the fans and replaced Earnhardt’s long time crew chief Tony Eury Jr. with Lance McGrew.

    It wouldn’t take long before Earnhardt’s fans would begin questioning whether McGrew was the right man for the job, and once again, the focus of Earnhardt’s poor results would be back in the hands of his crew chief.

    So when Hendrick made the announcement at the end of the season that Earnhardt would be getting Gordon’s crew chief Steve Letarte to start the 2011 campaign, along switching the shops of the 24 and 88 teams, almost immediately Earnhardt’s legion of fans went into a frenzy saying this should be the move that puts their driver back in victory lane.

    Now from a marketing standpoint, it made all the sense in the world, especially when you are dealing with the sport’s most popular driver and part of the focus being on keeping his fans happy.

    Changing shops is not the answer to the problems which Earnhardt has faced since coming on board with HMS in 2008, and when you think about it the only difference is the car number sitting next to his.

    Earnhardt will be working with a new group of team members, which will be led by his new crew chief Steve Letarte.

    Sharing a race shop with five-time champion Jimmie Johnson will not make him a better driver, nor will it help the team since each driver has their own driving style and set-ups which they prefer.

    When looking back to 2002, when Johnson first came into the series, Gordon’s best season was in 2007 when he finished second in the point standings, with six wins while sharing the same shop with Johnson.

    Gordon, who has proven to be a more experienced driver than Earnhardt, missed only one chase appearance in 2005, which happened to be the same year Steve Letarte took over for Robbie Loomis with 10 races left in the season.

    Gordon would add an additional 10 wins, 78 top-five and 114 top-10 finishes in 190 starts with LeTarte as his crew chief, but in the end would only pick-up one win in the last three seasons which is way below Gordon’s standards.

    “Five years is a long opportunity, and I had an opportunity to get him there, and we came close a few years but we never got there completely,” said Letarte who will not be back with Gordon next season.

    Letarte also added that, “I’m definitely disappointed in that. … I’m a crew chief in this sport because of Jeff Gordon, and Rick Hendrick.”

    Letarte knows he will have his hands full next season and the task at hand will not be an easy one, especially when you’re talking about a driver who means so much to the sport.

    “I was excited for the opportunity. I was humbled. It’s a very important task for this company, for Dale Jr., for the sport, and I take it as that. I was very proud that I was the guy tagged for that. I’m excited, and I’m ready to go,” said Letarte when talking about the move to the No. 88 team.

    Whether or not the changes will be beneficial to Earnhardt is a question mark that will be answered once the 2011 season begins, even though in the minds of the purist races are run on the track and not in the shop.

    As far as Earnhardt’s fans are concerned, they need to realize a four-time champion encountered his own problems while sharing a shop with Johnson, and it’s not the shop that makes the driver, even though Earnhardt feels otherwise:

    “I needed this to happen. Hopefully, this will get me back to winning races, running in the top five and running in the top 10.” said Earnhardt of the change.

    Earnhardt also added, “The only person that can truly help me get where I need to go starts with me, then it goes to Rick, Steve [Letarte] and those guys in your inner circle every week and in your corner every week.”

    How many crew chiefs will it take to get Earnhardt back into victory lane is anyone’s guess, but the answer may be plain and simple in the eyes of NASCAR’s most popular driver:

    “My biggest problem, I think, is my confidence,”

  • Fourth Turn, A Fan’s Perspective …. Post Season Withdrawal

    Fourth Turn, A Fan’s Perspective …. Post Season Withdrawal

    Well the season has officially ended. The NASCAR Champions banquet has been held and the dishes are done, the smoke has cleared and yes Jimmie really did win it for the 5th time, even if you did have to stay up half the night to see the presentation of the cup. The crew chiefs have all gone back to work making bigger, badder and meaner race cars. The pit crews are in off season strengthening mode. The marketing people are looking for new twists and new angles. The big chiefs are looking for more innovative sponsorship arrangements. And drivers are working out with their children and families. Some are challenging for a new trophy in Fantasy Football. Some are meeting the challenges of new fatherhood.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]But for the fan’s the off season is more of a challenge. For instance, Santa Rick Hendrick gave three of his drivers’ fan contingencies their Christmas gifts early, presumably so he could get back to his normal business routine of playing Santa to his Grandchildren and taking care of business for his employees across the country. Though the act was well meaning, it added to the long, long off season wait for the return to racing. You could almost see him checking off his list. There was a new crew chief for Jeff and Mark and Junior, A new building for Jr. Nation, A new paint job for Jeff’s and Mark’s fans, and a new look and feel for the 5 time champ. That should about do it you could almost hear him chuckle. But oh the horror of the wait Santa H, we have the new toys but can not play with them until February.

    In order to assist his fans in their withdrawal modes, Kevin Harvick made available a few items featuring the new Budweiser 29 Chevrolet. Just in time for your Christmas shopping pleasure and to avoid the need for hospitalization for your favorite NASCAR fan.

    Jeff Gordon saw the need as critical for his fan base and unveiled the new Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet on every major morning TV show. The car, a sharp new Candy Apple Red and Silver Metallic, oozed speed even while it sat still. But one could almost hear the yells at the female anchors who so obviously had no idea what front down force meant and had been schooled about the importance of the Daytona 500 but were obviously not sure when that was.

    NASCAR is trying hard to do their part with updates on the Hall of Fame Inductee’s and Christmas packages at the NASCAR Superstore. The fan council has new TV survey’s to complete and the media has story lines from 2010 to rank. There are the rumors of mid season changes to the COT’s fuel delivery system. The new nose has been unveiled. The determination of Sprint Cup driver participation in the Nationwide Series has yet to be released. And of course there is the new fuel to debate and learn the fine points of.

    But still the fan’s grow restless it’s been 3 weeks since the engines fired. There are cars on GM’s test track in Arizona but we can’t see them, hear them or smell them. Brad Keselowski is in Columbus Ohio to help Nationwide celebrate its champion festival, but we aren’t there. Even Jeff Gluck and Joe Menzer are relatively quiet. The minds of NASCAR fans are searching for a way to fill the void. The chat rooms and message boards are running qualifying lap speeds and still the matrixing has begun.

    Stories are pouring in of new ways that NASCAR fans have found to ease the discomfort of withdrawals from the sport. The rearranging of rooms of memorabilia, holiday pies shaped like the 5 Sprint Cups all bearing the 48 in whipped cream. The holiday Coconut cake that was Amp Green with red 88’s, (they are Christmas colors after all) the Christmas trees that are decorated all in NASCAR and team ornaments, including the one that is all car parts and sheet metal wreaths.

    Which brings us to the David Letterman standard; the top 10 ways you know if you or someone you love is a NASCAR fan in withdraw. *insert drum roll here please*

    10. You go through the chip display to find a bag of Bugles with the 33 Chevrolet on it instead of the new holiday bags.

    9. You get volunteered to take the boys of the family Christmas shopping and you say to your young male shopping companions as you enter the mall, “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity Let’s go shopping boys.”

    8. At a holiday party alternative fuel sources come up in the discussion and you start your opinion with, “Sunoco’s E 15 fuel, partners American Farmers with Speed for the good of the planet and the sport….”

    7. You see an Intimidator Monte Carlo complete with Taz in the parking lot of the grocery store and you stand in awe with tears in your eyes and Whisper ‘It’s a beautiful thing’.

    6. You and your best friend race the motorized carts at Wal-Mart in the Wally World 250 and use your cell phones for in cart cameras.

    5. You nominate the HMS Paint and Body Department for best Artistic presentation at your Alumni Christmas party.

    4. Your date is describing a play from the football game and he says, “He got loose and headed down the field …” And you say “maybe they need to go a round up on his track bar.”

    3. You are waiting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office addressing envelopes and another patient says, Christmas Cards? You shake your head in disbelief and say ‘Daytona 500 party’.

    2.  You are watching a NASCAR race on TV and are very animated when your house mate reminds you this race was run in 1999. You calmly look at them and say “So what’s your point man on any given day anyone can win.”

    And the number one reason you know you are a NASCAR fan in withdraw.

    1. You pull up to a stop light and look to your left and see a Toyota Camry and say to your best friend. I can take it. Watch. Your best friend reminds you that this is a Malibu and you say yeah but I got my Malibu from Rick Hendrick and you both give thumbs up.

    If any of these sounds like your favorite NASCAR fan or even yourself, please don’t panic. Remain calm and remember that the Daytona 500 is in 75 days. The first official test of the season at Daytona on new pavement is December 15th and 16th. So it’s not long and it’s not far. Please be considerate of the safety of others and try to remember, ‘Have at it Boys’ does not carry over to Target at Christmas time.

    Happy Holidays to all!

    *Legal Disclaimer, any resemblance to any party, including the writer of this piece, is purely your imagination. Photo documentation and at least 3 statements of confirmation from at least 3 series champions will be required to verify these acts as factual. No animals, small children, or elderly individuals were injured during the performance of any of the above acts.

    ~~~~~****~~~~~

    Thoughts and prayers to the friends and families to all that we have lost this year, this is a difficult time but know that you are not alone. Continued thoughts and prayers for a speedy and full recovery go out to Shame Hmiel.

    Happy Holidays to all the competitors in all the series thanks for giving us everything you had to give every single week, you are our heroes. Most importantly, thanks to all the families who shared their loved ones with us so we could cheer our favorite driver and favorite teams. You are the true heroes of the sport and we are forever in your debt.

  • Dale Jr, HMS working on contract extension

    Dale Jr, HMS working on contract extension

    Even though Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s current deal isn’t expected to expire until 2012, Rick Hendrick has confirmed to ESPN.com’s David Newton that the two parties are working out a new contract extension already.

    Shortly after finishing their first full season together at the No. 88 Amp Energy/National camp, Lance McGrew and Earnhardt were one of three teams to be involved in the latest swap at Hendrick Motorsports. Next year, Earnhardt’s cars will be built in the same shop as five-time and reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The Kannapolis, N.C.-native will also have Steve Letarte calling the shots atop of his pit box, his third crew chief change since he joined the organization in 2008.

    “We’re looking at extending it,” Hendrick told ESPN.com. “I really like him. I think the world of him. I know he can do it. We just have to get the right combination in, and I think we’re going to have it.

    “I hope we get to race together until he retires … until I retire. I’ll retire first,” he said.

    Earnhardt will be looking to make the chase in 2011, to prevent missing his third consecutive chase. He pinpointed his confidence as his biggest problem and that he can help himself more than anyone else can help him.

    “The only person that can truly help me get where I need to go starts with me, then it goes to Rick, Steve [Letarte] and those guys in your inner circle every week and in your corner every week,” Earnhardt said.

    “My biggest problem, I think, is my confidence.”

    Earnhardt was awarded the Chex Most Popular Driver award for an eighth straight year on Thursday.  He finished 21st in the Sprint Cup Series points standings and is in the midst of a 93-race winless streak.

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins Most Popular Driver Award & Talks about his Future

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins Most Popular Driver Award & Talks about his Future

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the NMPA Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award for the 8th consecutive year. He accepted the award on Thursday in Las Vegas at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers 2010 Awards Luncheon.

    Earnhardt Jr. began by saying that receiving the award was “a great honor” but first he wanted to congratulate his teammate Jimmie Johnson. He joked about forgetting to congratulate him last year adding that Rick Hendrick had already sent him a text message to remind him to do so.

    [media-credit name=”Dale Earnhardt Jr. accepts his eighth consecutive Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver Award during the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Ceremony on Thursday. Photo by CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]He went on to congratulate General Mills, NMPA, his sponsors and his team but his most heartfelt thanks went to his fans.

    “They really make everything about this sport, about this very moment here, possible for all of us,” said Earnhardt.

    After the luncheon, Earnhardt Jr. spoke with the media about the 2011 season with new crew chief Steve Letarte.

    He described learning about the crew chief change saying, “It’s like knowing what you’re getting for Christmas, but not being able to mess with it until that morning.”

    But he also acknowledged that the real change will begin with the driver himself.

    “The only person that can truly help me get where I need to go, obviously, starts with me, Earnhardt Jr. said. “Then it goes to Rick (Hendrick), Steve and those guys that are your inner circle every week and that are in your corner every week.

    “My biggest problem, I think, is my confidence. I know what I’ve done in the past. I know that I’ve out run and beat these guys that I compete with each week before and I just have to remember that the potential is there.”

    Earnhardt Jr. also believes “there’s a swagger that you have to have,” and the only way he will be able to get that back is to put together some tops five runs.

    “To convince myself to get back to where I need to be confidence wise, I need to see it happen on the track. I can’t just talk myself into going to the track thinking the way I need to think. I’m going to go there and mash the gas and it needs to happen. When it happens, then I’ll go, ‘Yeah, this is what it’s supposed to be like’ and then you kind of get the swagger back and the confidence comes back and everything is rock solid. You win battles, little battles throughout the day with that confidence that you normally don’t win whether it’s with yourself or your competition out on the race track. There are thousands of battles happen throughout the race.”

    Many believe Earnhardt Jr.’s problems on the racetrack began with the introduction of the COT and he admits that it “has been challenging.”

    “But I think the potential for the car to get the grip and get the feel of the race track that I need is there because I’ve had it before. We just missed it. The cars are just not into the track to get the speed and get the grip that I feel like I need to get. We haven’t been able to find what that combination is, whether it’s a package in the springs or the sway bars, which it probably isn’t. We’re missing something for the car and the feel that I need to feel. It could be anything related to the car even before it comes into the crew chief’s hands, we just have to see.”

    Although the last few years have been difficult for Dale Jr., he’s not looking for your pity. Instead, he is looking ahead to the future and the opportunity to prove himself.

    “I don’t think I should win any sympathy votes. We need to perform. We need to be hard on ourselves to how poorly we ran at times last year. We need to force ourselves and push ourselves to improve and that’s what we try to do every offseason. Physically and mentally it can be kind of tough on you but you just kind of rebound and renew yourself in the offseason and renew your faith in your abilities.”

  • Earnhardt Jr., Gordon and Martin Get New Crew Cheifs and Crews for 2011

    Earnhardt Jr., Gordon and Martin Get New Crew Cheifs and Crews for 2011

    Rick Hendrick announced yesterday that he would be switching the crew chiefs up at Hendrick Motorsports to benefit all four teams.

    [media-credit name=”Simon Scoggins” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]The championship combination of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus will remain together with the No. 48 team. Also, Knaus would get his original No. 48 crew back. Though changes will be made to the team via the struggles they went through this past year.

    The rest of the teams would then be swapped aroumd.

    Mark Martin will work with Lance McGrew, who was crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. this past year.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. will work with Steve LeTarte, who was crew chief for Jeff Gordon this past year.

    Jeff Gordon will work with Alan Gustafson, who was crew chief for Mark Martin this past year.

    In a sense, Hendrick is cycling the “drivers” around as he calls it to “improve the organization across the board”. Hendrick clarified today that the drivers are just moving around as each crew chief will keep their core members in place.

    Basically, you’ll have the same crew chief, car chief, crew members and shop members, yet different driver, number and sponsors on each team.

    With this swap, the “248″ and the “5/88″ shop will now become the “48/88″ and the “5/24″ shops via the swap of drivers within the two buildings.

    Today, Hendrick held a press conference at 10a.m. EST to talk about the changes to the media.

    Hendrick said that you ”never know until you try. Staying where you are is not going to make you that much better.”

    When it was announced that there’d be a new crew chief for Earnhardt Jr. a couple weeks ago, some people pointed towards Ron Malec, car chief on the No. 48 team. Hendrick discounted doing that, saying Malec is helping to write history there, is happy in his current position and doesn’t want to move up at this time.

    Malec and Johnson have worked together for years, before NASCAR, so it doesn’t make sense to have them seperate via their friendship. Also, Knaus has stated that he only wants to be a crew chief for five to eight more years, so he currently may be putting Malec through the training to take over his role if Johnson chooses to drive beyond that point.

    Hendrick made the choice to bring LeTarte over to Earnhardt Jr. instead as LeTarte is best friends with both Earnhardt and has already brought observations to the table that he wasn’t aware of. Hendrick noted their team debriefs where LeTarte made observations about Earnhardt.

    Hendrick went on to say that, “I feel like Letarte is a seasoned crew chief. He has been in every Chase, he’s never missed one.”

    He also noted that “he’s got some broad shoulders. Jeff gets excited on radio, too. Stevie works through that.” in reference to the fact that Earnhardt can be a handful at times. He added that, “”Steve is a leader and he is a no nonsense guy when it comes to racing. Stevie will be the perfect person for Dale Jr.”

    A lot of people have noted that Earnhardt needed someone he could connection on a “people-connection” level, and Hendrick said that “LeTarte, out of all the crew chiefs, is more of a people person. He is very smart, but has a tremendous personality.”

    Though Hendrick was quick to note that the problems on the No. 24 team weren’t due to LeTarte, yet due to “being dumped by Busch & Burton & then losing a motor.”

    Hendrick went on to add, with reference to the No. 88 team, that he has never had a more perplexing challenge as Dale Jr., though vows to get the team right and fulfill his promise.

    “I knew when I brought Junior on that the world was watching and we needed to make it right for him.” Hendrick said.

    With that extending over to Gustafson now going with Gordon, Hendrick said, “Alan with an engineering background is very technical, not a lot of talk – all business. I think that fits Jeff well.”

    Fans have had numerous theories and one discussed is some people have argued that Mark Martin is getting the short end of the stick as he’s getting what some call the weakest link of the organization. Some say this is due to Mark Martin leaving at the end of the year. Hendrick countered this saying, “I talked to Mark and asked him for his help. He has one more year in our organization. We have to look down the road. I have made a commitment to Mark Martin. The make up of what he’s going to have next year is mostly what he had in 2009.

    “”We’re not going to have a lame-duck situation. We’re going to go for wins and championships.

    “We’re going to do whatever it takes for Mark Martin to win races and have the opportunity to go for the championship again. Mark’s not getting the short end of the stick. He’s gonna get all the stick he wants. And that comes from me.”

    Hendrick also said, “Lance is a technician. Mark Martin is a guy that understands chassis as well as anyone I’ve ever listened to on the radio.

    “I have total confidence in Lance and Chris (Heroy, lead engineer). With Mark’s tech expertise with those 2 guys. Will be a match that surprises a lot of ppl.”

    Heroy has worked along side Martin before as he worked with Martin and Gustafson in 2009, yet was moved to the No. 88 team for 2010 to help improve them.

    In looking at the changes as a whole, Hendrick is just placing those together whom he feels have the best connection to therefore create the best situation for the team overall.

    Lastly, some people have questioned Hendrick bringing championship crew chief Ray Evernham back in the picture at the team now that he has no connection to Richard Petty Motorsports. Hendrick said that wasn’t the case as Evernham isn’t looking for a full-time role.

    “I can see Ray being involved with us in many areas,” Hendrick said. “I’m sure Ray and I will be doing something together.”

    Hendrick added that him and Evernham have been in discussions, though they center more towards maybe producing high performance parts together.