96Bounder30E
Orange County, CA
Moderator
Joined: 11/21/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
 Online
|
I wonder what it will take to pull him out?
In The Pits: Earnhardt in the dumps over season
By JENNA FRYER (AP) – 2 hours ago
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nobody is trying to sugarcoat the trainwreck that is Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s season.
He knows it's bad. His car owner knows it's bad. All of NASCAR knows it's bad.
Only nobody knows how to fix it.
And as the most prolific pairing in NASCAR history teeters on the brink of disaster, car owner Rick Hendrick is in a race to figure out what to do with his No. 88 team before Earnhardt loses what's left of his crumbling confidence.
"I'm as frustrated as those guys are," Hendrick said of Earnhardt's team. "But I can tell you this ... I'm as committed as I know how to be, and we're all committed to each other. We're just going to keep digging."
It's bizarre how bad things are for Earnhardt, who is stuck in a maddening slide at the same time his Hendrick Motorsports teammates hold down the top three spots in the Sprint Cup standings.
When he runs well, it's still not good enough to compete with points leader Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin or Jeff Gordon. And when he runs bad, it's really, really bad. Throw in all of the bad luck and broken parts, and it's a wonder he's still able to show up at the race track each weekend.
Earnhardt did everything asked of him last weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, although it seemed as if NASCAR's most popular driver was at times just going through the motions. He thought he had a decent race car, but instead qualified a humiliating 39th while his teammates all grabbed spots inside the top nine.
It might as well have been the straw the broke the camel's back.
Earnhardt appeared defeated the rest of the weekend and said little to contradict that assessment:
Is he trying to change himself? "I don't even know what I used to do."
Is he second-guessing everything? "No. I've passed all of that. I'm over it, to be honest with you."
How does he keep his head up? "I don't know. We just need to run better. It's not happening."
Does he feel like he's in a tough spot? "I feel like I'm in ... I feel like I don't have any ... I feel like I don't have any control, you know?"
He chose his words carefully, but was unable to hide the mounting frustration of a disastrous second season driving for the best organization in NASCAR. He's won just one race since joining Hendrick Motorsports, in June of 2008, and has just five top-10 finishes all season.
Earnhardt is 22nd in the standings, hasn't finished higher than 17th in the past seven races, and an electrical problem Saturday night at Lowe's sent him to the garage early and a 38th-place finish.
As Hendrick later celebrated Johnson's third victory in five Chase for the Sprint Cup championship races, he was asked about another night of struggles for his superstar driver. He'd met with Earnhardt and interim crew chief Lance McGrew for a pre-race pep talk in which he reconfirmed his commitment to turning the No. 88 team around.
"I told them this can't last. We've got too many smart people over there to not fix it," Hendrick said. "It's just so much pressure with (his teammates) running like they're running, and you've got three cars that are up in the points like that. We don't hide from it, we just know we've just got to work harder. It's eating him up.
"But we're going to get it. I just hope it's soon."
The struggles have led many to question Earnhardt's talent level, after all, if he can't perform in Hendrick equipment, he can't be all that good, right?
Longtime family friend Richard Childress, who fielded championship-winning cars for Earnhardt's father, said it's just not that simple.
"Everybody's got their expectations so high, and when you don't fulfill those expectations, people think you're not there," Childress said. "But Junior can still drive a race car. He can compete. He can win. And he will win a championship someday.
"It's just a matter of going through a few of these peaks and valleys."
Only Earnhardt is tired of all the lows, and complained that his highs aren't even all that high anymore. He gave McGrew a resounding endorsement to stay on in 2010 just three weeks ago, but is now disqualifying himself as capable of knowing what's best for his race team.
"Rick has been put me in a great position, but I haven't made the most of it," he said. "For whatever reason, we're just not getting it done. So, I don't know what to do."
All he can do is keep plugging away, and look forward to the Nov. 1 race at Talladega, where he's got an opportunity to snap out of his funk. The five-time winner at the Alabama track finished a season-high second there in April, and another strong finish can give him a much-needed boost.
Hendrick knows from experience that strong runs can cure everything for a driver, and that's what Earnhardt must focus on.
"Every driver that I've had drive for me has had a period somewhere in that stretch where their confidence is shaken. That's just normal," Hendrick said. "But nothing will help a driver's confidence any more than a couple of back-to-back runs and good finishes.
"He knows he can do it, and we know he can do it."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti........qM5gBKtDaYfBjB4QSByaSBXzl_DD5SAD9BEE4V00
|
hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/04/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
I really feel for the guy. Don't really care for him as one of my favorites, but he's really having a tough time of it.
He needs to just accept the nature of NASCAR. He has a name that will still get him a ride but he'll just spend his time in the back of the pack with Bobby Labonte, Joe Nemechek, and Michael Waltrip.
Their still making money and having their dream but aren't expected to win a race by any means. Dale Jr. has be added benifit to be the crowd favorite (and I can't imagine why) so just settle back in a ride and enjoy the scenery.
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
Superman was an illegal alien.
Expedition - Suzuki Grand Viagra
NASCAR 14 - 99 - 5
|
Liriope
Sun City AZ 85351
Senior Member
Joined: 05/28/2007
View Profile
|
He is a nice kid but his talent "by his fans" has been over rated for years. When he went to Henderick, I posted he would now be the fourth best driver on that team. His fans called me a everything and the kindest was Jr hater.
He received his popularity and became the face of Nascar because of his last name. His driving ability has never lived up to this popularity. Fans first excuse for Jr was, "Wait till he gets on a top team". Jr even started to believe his fans and before one year, Jr said he would win 12 races that year!! Then it was his crew chief. Crew chief replaced. What next? One day his fans will discover that there are at least 20 drivers in Nascar with more talent than Jr.
Again, nice kid, would love to have a beer with him but he is, talent wise, grossly over rated. The face of Nascar should be Jimmy Johnson and no, I am no big fan of Johnson. However, I do recognize his talent as he has proved the last three years and maybe again this year.
|
Steveo35
Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
|
Liriope, you're right. I think Seniors coat tails have run out.
|
Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/08/2001
View Profile
|
He's got it made. He just doesn't realize it.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
|
|
|
SkiDood
Peoples Republic of Minnesota
Senior Member
Joined: 10/18/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Liriope wrote:He is a nice kid but his talent "by his fans" has been over rated for years. When he went to Henderick, I posted he would now be the fourth best driver on that team. His fans called me a everything and the kindest was Jr hater.
He received his popularity and became the face of Nascar because of his last name. His driving ability has never lived up to this popularity. Fans first excuse for Jr was, "Wait till he gets on a top team". Jr even started to believe his fans and before one year, Jr said he would win 12 races that year!! Then it was his crew chief. Crew chief replaced. What next? One day his fans will discover that there are at least 20 drivers in Nascar with more talent than Jr.
Again, nice kid, would love to have a beer with him but he is, talent wise, grossly over rated. The face of Nascar should be Jimmy Johnson and no, I am no big fan of Johnson. However, I do recognize his talent as he has proved the last three years and maybe again this year.
I could not agree more. He should have stayed with DEI and at least won some of the Superspeedway races. He could have worked with his step-mom, and been the heir to the DEI group(Big money) and kept Bud as a sponser(More big money). He must have watched to much FOX coverage and bought in to the whole "Junebug, Junior, Little E" thing.
Late model wife
2002 Daughter
2005 Daughter
2007 Ram 3500srw 5.9L Cummins Laramie. QC Short bed.
2008 Crossroads Zinger 30RB 5th wheel.
18k Reese signature series slide hitch
|
Liriope
Sun City AZ 85351
Senior Member
Joined: 05/28/2007
View Profile
|
Let me tell you how far Jr's stock has dropped. No one now wants to admit they once owned it. In past post, if someone wrote a negative comment about Jr on this forum, 10 of his stock owners would cry foul and call the person writing the negative post such names as "couch potato" and etc.
What happened to all his fans such as 8.1 Van? Have you sold the stock?
|
SkiDood
Peoples Republic of Minnesota
Senior Member
Joined: 10/18/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Liriope wrote:Let me tell you how far Jr's stock has dropped. No one now wants to admit they once owned it. In past post, if someone wrote a negative comment about Jr on this forum, 10 of his stock owners would cry foul and call the person writing the negative post such names as "couch potato" and etc.
What happened to all his fans such as 8.1 Van? Have you sold the stock?
I admit, I had Jr. stock. I still have some things with the number 8 on them. I never claimed he was the best though.
|
Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/08/2001
View Profile
|
They were having auditions to see if they could find someone qualified to hold Jimmie's candle,......Jr failed that too,......
Might as well have a little fun with it.....
|
Liriope
Sun City AZ 85351
Senior Member
Joined: 05/28/2007
View Profile
|
Thanks 8.1 Van, I knew you could tell us what the problem was with Jr. However, you used the same reason when he drove for DEI and then if Jimmie had Tony Eury as a crew chief. The truth, if Jr had Chad Knause for a crew chief, he still would never win a championship. Teaching Jr how to win a championship in Nascar would be even more difficult than teaching you the traits of a good driver.
Speaking of Nascar Driver's stock, I am considering using all the money I made off shorting Jr to buy some Joey Lagano stock to hold for the next 15 years. What an outstanding talented nice kid. I'm also going to purchase some Juan Montoya stock to hold for the next 6 to 8 years. That bull has finally learned to drive in a china shop. I can no longer short Jr as it cannot go much lower. However, I am also considering shorting Jeff Gordon as I believe his stock has peaked, no more championships for him. To many outside interest. I do not blame him, beautiful wife and child and I thank him for making me money when I owned his stock. He has lost some of that passion.
I also will continue to hold onto my Kyle Bush stock as it has plenty of room for more upward movement in the next ten years.
|
|
|
|
