| "The thrill is gone" is a great song from B.B. King. | | | | good friends, so it is time for Rick Hendrick to |
| Tailored to romances gone bad, the song is just | | | | step in and put his foot down. With Junior sitting |
| as applicable to the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Tony | | | | 24th in points after Atlanta, the time is now while |
| Eury, Jr. relationship. The continued run of | | | | the season can still be salvaged. |
| mediocre performances is a clear sign it is time | | | | So, who should replace Tony? I can't give you a |
| for a change. | | | | name, but I can give you the type of crew chief |
| It goes without saying that Junior is the most | | | | needed. He needs to be a strong personality - one |
| popular driver in NASCAR. Fans not only love him, | | | | that will tell Junior you to shut his mouth and just |
| but they stand behind and have done so for | | | | drive the car. If you listen to the race |
| years on end. That being said, it is getting hard | | | | communication between Junior and Eury, Jr., it is |
| not to notice that something isn't working for the | | | | pretty easy to tell that Junior doesn't have much |
| team. For whatever reason, the team just | | | | confidence in the decisions being made. This is |
| doesn't look real competitive. | | | | leads to being distracted, a criticism that has been |
| The problem for Earnhardt for a long time was | | | | directed at Junior often this season. |
| the equipment at DEI. Everyone new the smaller | | | | A strong, steady hand will let Junior focus on |
| team simply couldn't compete with the big boys. | | | | racing and not worrying about other things. The |
| Yes, there were strong runs at a few courses, | | | | proof that this type of crew chief would be a |
| but that was about it. The controversial move to | | | | success is found in history. When Junior won both |
| Hendrick was supposed to put that issue to rest. | | | | his Busch Championships, Tony Eury, Sr., was his |
| Well, that hasn't happened. Despite being put in | | | | crew chief. Unlike Eury, Jr, daddy doesn't take any |
| some of the best equipment in NASCAR, the | | | | lip and the results were rather obvious - lots of |
| results are uninspiring. More importantly, the racing | | | | wins and lots of championships. |
| is as well. One just doesn't really get the feel that | | | | Junior is no longer a young driver with the |
| Junior is a realistic option when it comes to the | | | | potential to grow into a champion. The years are |
| car that will win the race. | | | | passing and his time is now. This was the exact |
| What has become clear is a shakeup is needed. | | | | reason he gave for switching to Hendrick. It is |
| Tony Eury, Jr., needs to go and go now. Tony | | | | time to save not only the season, but perhaps his |
| made a great call in getting Junior his fuel mileage | | | | future legacy by making a change everyone |
| win in 2008, but more often than not the situation | | | | knows needs to be done. |
| just doesn't seem to click. Tony and Junior are | | | | |