| Apparently finishing 40th in the Coca Cola 600 | | | | year and now they have his scalp. This may, |
| was the last straw for Rick Hendrick. He simply | | | | however, be a case of being careful about what |
| could not take it any more. Tony Eury, Jr., has | | | | you wish for. With Eury out of the way, Junior |
| been replaced as crew chief of the car of Dale | | | | has no more excuses. |
| Earnhardt, Jr. In making this move, Hendrick also | | | | Rick Hendrick is serious about getting the |
| removed Earnhardt’s last excuse. | | | | Earnhardt team fixed. This is particularly apparent |
| It was only two years ago that a match made in | | | | in who he is bringing in to crew the team. Brian |
| heaven appeared to have been made. Junior was | | | | Whitesell will run the team this week before |
| leaving DEI and its lesser equipment for Hendrick | | | | Lance McGrew takes over after that through the |
| Motorsports and the best equipment in the field. | | | | season. Both are experienced crew chiefs and |
| Could championships be far off? Well, yes they | | | | both have been with Hendrick for a long time. |
| could. The marriage has been a disaster. Earnhardt | | | | More importantly, they both are experienced |
| has been marginally competitive at best. The | | | | chassis men and intimately familiar with the |
| situation is all the worse considering Hendrick | | | | Hendrick equipment. They should be able to nail |
| booted Kyle Busch to make space for Junior. | | | | setups and make the equipment the equal of the |
| Busch has merely become the most dominant | | | | cars of Gordon, Johnson and Martin. |
| driver on the circuit, a driver that looks a lot like a | | | | The spotlight has always been on Dale Earnhardt, |
| certain father of Junior in his driving style. | | | | Jr. Now it is truly blazing. DEI was supposed to be |
| Junior is the most popular driver in NASCAR. As a | | | | the problem, but it turned out the equipment |
| result, his fans have had a hard time blaming him | | | | didn’t seem to matter much. Tony Eury, Jr., |
| for the problems despite the fact he has found it | | | | was the other problem, but now he is gone. |
| surprisingly hard to find his pit box on numerous | | | | Guess what? The only thing that hasn’t |
| occasions. Regardless, the target of their anger | | | | changed is the driver and he no longer has any |
| has been the crew chief, Tony Eury, Jr. | | | | excuses. It is now or never for Junior, which |
| They’ve demanded his firing for more than a | | | | makes the rest of the season very compelling. |