Editor’s Note: One of the ongoing story lines out of the 2009 season is the life and hard times of one Dale Earnhardt Jr. This is not a re-hash of the reasons why, but just the rhetorical one of whether or not it was the best move for Lil “E” to make the move to HMS. Anyway- John “Dawg” Chapman opines on the topic, a thought-provoking discussion…..
First off, let me make it abundantly clear that I realize that this is written with 20/20 hindsight. I can totally understand Jr’s frustration with his position at DEI. Those seeds had probably been sown for a long time when Dale Sr. was tragically killed. Things changed drastically for him at the family business. While he was a key part, he was still just an employee. Remember his injury when his Corvette caught fire during the 24 Hours of Daytona? His mother wanted to be with him, but was reportedly denied access to the company plane. These frustrations, plus performance issues led to the well-publicized breakup.
My question is did he make the right move, in going to Hendrick? On the surface this move seems to be a match made in Heaven. Rick kicks Kyle Busch to the curb to sign Junior. With this move, the weight of NASCAR immediately descended on Junior’s shoulders. The Nation was ecstatic. Predictions of victories and championships abounded.
He did have a victory, he did make the “All Holy” Chase….finishing dead last. The comparisons between his season, and Kyle’s had to have rankled.
This year he’s had the season from Hell. Midway through the season Rick replaced his cousin and crew chief- with little result.
NASCAR, as well as various members of the media have placed responsibility for the decline of Cup ratings, and attendance squarely on his shoulders.
WOW, talk about a load. In more ways than one.
Now Jr. is under so much pressure that I don’t see how anyone can stand up to it. It must be extremely frustrating to have to be a walk-on at the banquet to pick up the Most Popular Driver award. I really like the guy, but damn, I don’t envy him at this point.
Next season could be “make or break” for him, and I’d hate to see him broken.
Let’s step back and look at some options when he left DEI. Of course, he could have gone to the 18, as well as just about any other ride in the garage. With the exception of 5 or 6 locked-in cars, he COULD have bolted from the “bowtie” camp, but that wasn’t likely, and obviously didn’t happen.
He also had another option, that from today’ perspective might have been his best. He could have moved JR Motorsports up to Cup. He had the sponsor clout, the framework in place, and probably his pick of people. He probably could have taken anyone he needed from DEI. If he didn’t care to bite off too much going in. He could have run Brad in selected races, before moving him up with a second team in ‘09. The Talladega result might have been different if the two of them had hooked up.
Remember this was a year before Rick opened the store to Tony Stewart. I’m sure that Earnhardt Jr. could have locked up the same kind of deal. Under this scenario, he could have bought himself some time to make things happen. Remember, no one expected Tony to have the season that he and Ryan had.
He could have been well on the way to building a strong team for the future for when he decides to hang up his helmet. After all he’s seen first hand, what can happen when you tempt Lady Luck once too often.
Of course, I’m not inside his head. I’d would love to be able sit down with him and talk about this, but I’m not on that exulted level. So this is just off-season musings. I’m not privy to what motivates him at this point. He may not want to be an owner when his driving days are behind him. I would hazard a guess that money is no longer much of a motivator. If he wanted to, he could chuck it all. Lead the house band at Whiskey River and never have to worry about balancing his checkbook.
He’s not his father incarnate. He knows that. His fans know it, and the rest of the garage knows it. I don’t think at this point anyone expects him to come close to Dale’s numbers. I do think that he and his fans have a sense of being unfulfilled, but I wonder just how much longer he can deal with the pressure that he’s under. I’d love to see him win the Championship, that he and his fans are looking for.
I’m just not sure that he can do it while carrying the entire sport on his back.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I would not want to be in Dale Jr’s shoes. Like you said that kid has the pressure of the sport on his back. I would like to see him win a championship. Hendrick did say recently that his focus is on that 88 team this year. We’ll see what happens. I wish Dale Good luck!
One more thing, THANKS to everyone at Bump-Drafts for always giving us something fresh to read. The other websites that deal with NASCAR sometimes don’t change their stories for days.
Jr is in a no win situation. With Hendrick saying how he is going to help Jr next year, Hendrick gets the credit if he wins and if he doesn’t, it his fault. He would get no credit for winning and all of the blame for losing. If he does not do well early, we might see a meltdown.
I’m not particularly a JR fan, but I do think he’s a decent driver. It’s clear he has talent, winning talent…
This thing about JR being in a no-win situation with Hendrick (as someone wrote), about who would get credit if he won or not, is nonsense. Does anyone really think that JR is worried about who is getting the credit? All he want’s to do is win–he is, after all, a race driver.
Did Earnhardt make a mistake in taking that 25 (now the 88) ride? Is the car jinxed as some believe? No and No. Hendrick is the best owner in the business and the car has no clue who’s behind the wheel.
JRs problems aren’t with Hendrick, with DEI, with lack of skill. He’s like a lot of guys (and you hear him gripe about it all the time) who haven’t adapted to the COT, he just hasn’t figured out the nuances of the “new” car. He’s used to saying to do this or that and the car performing the way it used to for him.
I think Earnhardt will win again–I’m guessing he’ll eck out a couple of wins next season, maybe make the Chase even. Why do I say this? I looked at this past season and saw not how he finished, but how he looked during the races. JR was in a position to have good finishes (and in order to win you must first finish–to borrow a line), but stuff just happened to him. Turn around a wreck or a miscue on the track or in the pits and JRs finished start to become top-tens and top-fives and maybe even a win or two.
Racing luck goes against you and runs with you sometimes. JR had some bad luck, made some bad decisions on the track, etc. He’ll turn it around, I think. Will he become a dominator like his fans want? I don’t know, but he’ll likely win again and get a shot at contending for the Chase Championship before he hangs up his driving suit.
Jr’s problem has been the COT and his inability to rapidly adapt to it. His lack of dirt racing experience has him at a decided disadvantage. Throughout 2/3 of the 09 season Jr tried to have the car adjusted to him to no avail ( which is why he called it a POS). I believe he has learned the COT can not be adjusted to his liking, and he must adapt to it. We have seen improvement from him in the last third of the season although the finishes don’t show it. Jr is adapting to the loose feel the COT gives him. I believe in 2010 ( if NASCAR doesn’t change something on the car) Jr will be up front competing for wins. Throughout his career Jr has been slow to adapt to changes made to the race cars. Indeed he has been victim to this scenario numerous times in his career , from mandated tire changes, to mandated spring changes to mandated shock changes to wicker bills being added to wicker bills being removed from the cars. Anything that changes the way the car handles has befuddled him time and again. He will get the handle on the COT and it won’t be Rick Hendrick or his team of engineers that make it happen.
@ Janine
The credit goes to Jim, but on his behalf. Thank you, it’s always nice to be appreciated.
@ JJ
I do agree that he hasn’t seemed to adapt to the new car as fast as others. As for the “bad luck” wrecks, miscues in the pits, etc. Once may be bad luck. A pattern of them could conceivably be something more. Particularly the repeated pit miscues could very well be attributed to the pressure that I referred to.
Pressure can take any driver, or crew out of their comfort zone. Force them into mistakes, due to trying too hard.
It Definitely was not a mistake, assuming that he wanted to drive the best equipment. If, on the other hand, he needed an excuse for his poor performance, then he should have stayed at DEI.
The move to Hendrick IMHO was a big mistake.HMS is a cyborg from hell racing machine not prone to emotion or personality..or mistakes..Jr is still a little kid at heart thrust into the supersphere of icondom thats basically just dragging him along without a mental roadmap(isnt that the silliest stuff anyones ever writtin here? :P ) i think Jr is happier on a smaller team like DEI was and am of the opinion he should have gone to Childress if for no other reason than Richard is like family and Jr would have a comfort level that keeps him relaxed thru the no time to blink hell that is his life under the microscope..with HMS..Jr is a cog in the machine.
The best thing that Jr can do is get away from HMS, he needs to go to RCR like yesterday, Richard Childress would be like a father figure to him and also give him back his t shirt, blue jeans, you can look at Jr and tell he is like a fish out of water at HMS,
In the summer of 2008 Jr. was 2nd in points…in a COT.
Last spring Nascar Now started reporting that Tony Jr. was making Jr.’s car with 2007 DEI spec cars. When he was removed, RH said that he was going to ‘fix’ Jr.’s cars. I believed him. During the week the crew chiefs were switched, Nascar Now reported that since Jr.’s cars sent to Dover were the old T. Jr. cars and that HMS sent a truck with 2 of the newer HMS chassis to switch out. Those cars never made it to Dover. Instead they made a big deal out of the ‘brains’ at HMS were working on Jr.’s car…the OLD chassis cars. Carol Einarsson on !2/3/09 said “Biggest Disappointment – Rick Hendrick’s unwillingness to do what it takes to get Junior in the same equipment that Jimmie Johnson is in. Some have grumbled certain accusations that at first left me wondering, but I’ve since come on board 100% to believe – he doesn’t care if Junior wins or not because the sponsor dollars and souvenir revenues are there regardless. And really, you’re Rick Hendrick and you can make history with a four-in-a-row champ, or spend your company resources on a guy who remains popular whether he wins or not — what do you do? “
Lance made 2, 1 1/2 track cars. The first was used at Indy. Jr. ran very well, until the engine blew. They get to Charlotte, instead of using one of the new cars that he ran much better in, they used the car he finished 27th in at Pocono in June, and 36th at Charlotte in the fall of 2008. Where were his 2 newer cars? Was Brad driving one? Martinsville the camber was wrong and it was a lot of blown tires. They ran Jr. out of gas at Texas. At Phoenix, another old T.Jr. car, they knew he had an oil leak, loose oil fittings and sent back out on the track…to wreck? Jr. said that he needs a dictator for a cc, I think that he needs a cc that he can have confidence, especially going into a corner at 200mph. With all of the money Jr. is bringing into HMS one would think that they would hire a top tier crew chief, like Addington. It isn’t going to happen.
When all of this with Jr. leaving DEI and going to HMS started, someone on one of these said blogs said that what was really going on was that RH was trying to control all of the drivers better than Jimmie to take away his competition. He already controled Jeff. 2 years ago he got Jr. under his control, and last year he got Tony under his control. Tony ran great this year…until the Chase. Then he fell right off. Not the same equipment JJ was getting? I figure that they gave Jr. junk to qualify and drive at Charlotte so he could not be any competition to win over JJ, and he wasn’t. That is when I quit believing RH. But give the man an Oscar. He had me believing him for 2 years. I found myself looking at the circumstances for 2 years and they somehow did not make sense. That was the time I realized that I needed to look at these same circumstances from a slightly different perspective, and then things started to make sense.
Jr. needs to get out of HMS&SHR, NOW! I realize that RCR did not have anyone in the Chase, but all 4 of their cars finished ahead of Jr. in 25th, and at the end of the season they had all 4 cars running up front competitively. I would like to see Jr. go to RCR, and not in the #3 car. I know that RCR has 4 cars now, but there is talk of lack of sponsorship for the 4th. Jr. could probably get sponsorship or bring Amp &/or Nat’l Guard with him. I find it odd that with HMS’ vaunted depth and resources, that RCR can field 4 cars with equal and now competitive equipment, including Casey Mears, and HMS can’t. I would be happy to see him back in the #8 car. DEI’s Jeff, said that they would welcome Jr. back with open arms. I am sure that he could be more competitive there! Surely Chevy would like to see Jr. run competitively again. Perhaps Teresa is ready to sell 51% of DEI now. It would make him a teammate of JPM and I think that that would work out well. And personally, I would be happy seeing him go to Toyota. After all he has done to help Chevy sell cars and trucks, selling the new Camaro at the CMA awards in Nov. being the latest, and they give him junk & R&D test cars for JJ, Jr. owes Chevy nothing. Gibbs has 3 cars and could field another car. JD said a few weeks back that he is thinking of going to a 4th car. If Kyle were still at HMS, he could be the one driving the R&D car for JJ.
Jr. cannot bring JRM to Cup level because RH owns half of it…and I don’t see RH selling his half back to help out Jr. Why did RH want half of JRM. He ran Tony Stewart in a Nationwide race this year that RH had made at HMS, & Tony won. RH has Jr. hamstrung between a 5 year contract and half of JRM. RH would have to sell his half back and I don’t see RH doing that.
In 2007 in F1, Alonso moved to McLaren. It became apparent by summer that the role FA had envisioned for himself, equal or 1st driver, when he signed the contract, was different from the one Ron Dennis saw, 2nd to Hamilton. RD realized that this is not what FA had signed the contract for and that he was not being fair to FA and was able to man-up and gentleman enough, fair enough, to let FA go after only 1 year on his contract. Hopefully RH can rise to the same standard.
This is longer than I intended to go on. :)
Marybeth
@ Marybeth: Wow. You’re quite the conspiracist. What world Hendrick gain (and why didn’t Hendrick sabotage Mark Martin since he looked like he might beat Johnson?) from making JR his test driver? Wouldn’t it be much more likely that he’d like all his teams to win? A 36 win season sounds pretty awesome to me. No owner has ever done that. I bet even Nascar would like that. Nascar and Hendrick better together. Now there’s a conspiracy I could understand.
I agree Marybeth. After Mike Tyson’s manager/trainer died, his life spiraled out of control. With no real guidance, he was thrown into the pool of sharks. They appeared to care about Mike but their only true motivation was the money. As we know, it destroyed him. Now I don’t believe that Jr is anywhere near as inept as Tyson was but he is truly swimming with the Hendrick sharks. I just hope he hasn’t signed such a “chum” contract that he has no way out. RH only cares about the Hendrick Dynasty and will use anyone to maintain it.
Marybeth, your delusional postings on internet sites have been the same BS spill for the last 2 months, try and come come up with something new. Try accept the fact that your overrated driver only has God given average at best talent and won’t be any better in 2010. Jr. brought the pressure on himself from day 1, when he decided to milk Sr.’s name for $$$ and not use his first name, RAPLH.
After watching ” A Christmas Story” i think he made a good descision choosing Dale over Ralph..”driving the number 88..Ralphy!!!” your bash on MaryBeth and Jr show you just wanna stir a pot for yer own online sociopathic amusement and that ya dont really know anything bout nascar if ya think Jr milks his dad’s name..a big LOL and GUFFAW twards you
Ken said, “If he does not do well early, we might see a meltdown.” Were that to happen, and with DEI pretty much just a skeleton, it would pretty much erase the Earnhardt name from Nascar…wouldn’t it…?
It would make sense for Jr to be running test/developmental cars the last 8-12 weeks, when he had long put himself out of contention. That’s part of being on a team, and the only real contribution he could make. Before that? No way. Counting Stewart’s team, HMS put five cars in the chase, there is no reason to think they didn’t have the equipment to put six in. Does anyone really think Newman was more important to HMS than Jr?
All that said, Jr and his stepmother would both be in much better shape had they been able to settle their differences behind closed doors and stayed together at DEI. Teresa would still have a company, and Jr would still have built in, somewhat legit, and very believable excuses for poor finishes. He would be the loyal son, struggling with inferior equipment but keeping the family business afloat instead of the one guy in the stable who can’t figure out the horse.
Everyone has to look at one thing HMS is a power house but look at last year JR did fairly well. He was the new guy but look who suffered Casey Mears!!. Vickers did not do much better what I am trying to say is 3 teams do really well the 4th team does not. They were not going to let Mark Martin Fail and Jeff and Jimmy will always be 1&2 as they should be so someone had to pay the price this year and I feel it was JR. Combine that with helping Stewart just think about it. look at Roush 5 teams 3 do really well 2 are so so. You can say they have the same equipment but somewhere down the road someone has to pay for others to do well. We all no JR can drive you do not win as many races as he has by having a last name. Just watch next year JR will do well but let me see I will predict that Mark Martin will not have a great second year. Call me crazy but just look at the Big teams they 3 good and one not so good. Point in fact Gibbs has 3 cars all have done well do you thing a 4th would ???