For the third week in a row, a competitive Dale Earnhardt, Jr was denied a Cup win by a poor pit strategy.
This time, at Watkins Glen, Junior, running in first, stayed out long after just about everyone else had pitted. After he finally went in, he emerged from the pits in sixth place.
Later, his fate was sealed when he once again stayed on the track too long, and was caught by a caution. This time he ended up much further back and finished 22nd.
The calls, despite Dale Junior's magnanimous gesture to take the blame, were those of the Crew Chief, Tony Eury, Jr. He held the #88 on the track too long, twice, and then, the second time, tried to shift the blame to NASCAR in a TV interview when he complained about a "cup of dirt on the track" bringing out the caution.
Problem is, the debris was was lot more than just a "cup of dirt." The 78 car went into the gravel pit and drove back onto the track, with the COT's shovel-like splitter carrying a bucketload of gravel with him. It was, in other words, a legit caution.
So Junior finished poorly in a car that had lead a bunch of laps.
Last week, at Pocono, Junior ran out of gas, something that took Eury, Jr by surprise. "We should have been a lap and a half to the good," he said. The decision not to pit for fuel resulted in a lively radio exchange between the cousins. Finish: 12th place.
Two weeks ago, at Indianapolis, Eury made the baffling decision to pit the 88 car on lap 7, all the while knowing NASCAR had mandated a competition caution on lap 15. Junior stayed on the track, led for a while, then had to pit under green when a tire went down. He fell to 38th, a lap down. Junior nearly saved the day, by fighting back to finish in 12th place, but he wouldn't have had to do that if it weren't for the bad decision early on.
I point all this out because it is evidence of the fact that Tony Eury, Junior was a great Car Chief for Earnhardt Junior and may be a great cousin, but his decisions show he's not a great Crew Chief.
Junior is fiercely loyal to his cousin, bringing him from DEI to his new home at Hendrick Motorsports. That's an admirable trait these days, but if Earnhardt made his move to win a championship, then he ought to take a long, hard look at what's holding him up this season. Rick Hendrick has given him a solid car week in and week out, and he's run up front frequently. The boy can still drive. (And yes, he does a have win this year, although, to be frank, luck played a major role in that victory, probably as much as Eury's strategy.)
But, thanks to decisions like we've seen for the past three weeks, Junior's not up front at the end of the race.
I can't help but feel that, were this anybody other than Junior's cousin, there would be changes made, maybe before the Chase starts.
Comments (13)
I agree 100%, I'm tired of yelling at the TV, I'm tired of watching stupid mistakes on the pit boxs cause Dale Jr positions. I think it is painfully obvious that Tony Jr is in over his head.But unfortunately I don't believe replacing him before the Chase is a good idea. Hendrick should assign someone to the 88 pit box to oversee the "strategy" decisions. Replace him at years end.
Posted by Dean | August 11, 2008 10:33 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 10:33
Rick gave the tools but Tony Jr is the one that sees that the car is ready to go. Even Chad has said that he has learned from Tony Jr. He is not the only one on that pit box that thought there was enough gas. You never know when NASCAR is going to throw a caution, just look at Ryan he was spinning all over the track and how long did they take to throw it but then the gravel one was throwed rather quickly and Jr did not know have enough time to get to pit row.
Posted by Anonymous | August 11, 2008 11:56 AM
Posted on August 11, 2008 11:56
I just don't understand why Tony, Jr. doesn't use the same PIT strategies as Chad. I know he can't do it all the time, but when Dale, Jr and Jimmie are running up front together, use the same pit strategy!! Good grief, if they are both running up front together, then they obviously both have good cars at the same time. USE THE SAME PIT STRATEGY. IT JUST CAN'T BE THAT HARD!!!
Posted by Jackie | August 11, 2008 1:09 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 13:09
I have always thought Tony jr. was Dale jr's problem, ever notice when dale is runnung good and making up positions on the track when a caution comes out tony "fixes" the car and dale jr don't run for s---?
Posted by dON | August 11, 2008 3:00 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 15:00
I hate to say it , but Tony Jr is not progressing as a crewchief. He seems to have a strategy in mind at the beginning of a race, and come hell or high water he isn't going to deviate from his plan. He seems to be a very inflexible crewchief, he doesn't adapt well to changes to the track or the way the race is unfolding before him. I have always been a Tony Jr advocate,unfortunately his decisions have left me wanting a new crewchief for Jr and Jr in 4th place in the points and falling. Rick needs to do something and fast. Tony Jr is a great car chief, as a crewchief he needs a few more lessons from Pops.
Posted by Larry | August 11, 2008 3:20 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 15:20
I said when the desision was make to bring Tony Jr on it was a mistake. The media trys to act like it was Tony Jr that won all those races in Busch and the begining of Dale's cup carear. Tony Eury SR was the man making the desisions for the 2 Busch championships and the first 15 wins including 4 in a row at Talladega and the Daytona 500 in 2004. Tony Jr has only 2 wins with Dale and Steve Hmeil has the other at Chicago . Tony Sr earned victorys at 1.5 mile,1 mile banked,1 mile flat,restrictor plate and short tracks including Bristol nite race. Even last year at DEI when the engines did hold up Jr would run in top 5 and Tony Jr figured out a way to "work his way back to 20th" !! New team New number same ole Tony JR ! ! ! Dale Jr is just like my Tennessee Vols . . . got to get rid of the fat man ! ! ! Tony Jr is the Phil Fulmer of crew cheifs . . He can do less with more then any crew cheif in the garage ! ! ! Just look what Tony Sr has done with 88 Navy car ! ! !
Posted by Jason | August 11, 2008 5:10 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 17:10
I do blame Tony for some of the bad calls that have cost Dale Jr. Sunday showed that Jr. had a good car even leading like sixteen laps but again pit strategy cost him big time. I don't think changing crew chiefs at this point in the season would be a good idea but certainly improvement is needed if this trend continues and maybe a new crew chief might be the answer. Jr. has been competitive but pit strategy has really cost him this year. Has anyone else noticed that it seems like everytime they have a pit stop that Jr. seems to lose several spots when everyone else changes the same number of tires? They are losing this either on Jr. entering/leaving pits are by the pit crew themselves on the actual stop. This needs to be corrected whatever the reason because this has been going on pretty much all year. With the cars being so hard to pass, every position lost or gained in the pits is crucial and can very easily be the difference between winning or coming in fifth.
Posted by Larry | August 11, 2008 5:48 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 17:48
you earnhardt fans are all alike. a bad day for poor ole dale jr is always someone elses fault.
Posted by shane watts | August 11, 2008 10:52 PM
Posted on August 11, 2008 22:52
Shane, we don't blame someone else every time, but this time it's warranted, as it has been the last three races. Take care.
Posted by Larry | August 12, 2008 7:42 AM
Posted on August 12, 2008 07:42
To take Tony Jr. away is insane. Who do you think sets up those race cars that consistently run in the top ten. He doesn't run well just because he drives a Hendrick car. Look at Jeff Gordon struggle in Hendrick equipment. Jr. said himself he doesn't want to run with anyone else. He would not be happy. I agree that Tony Jr. dropped the ball on Sunday but he has done a great job this year putting Jr. in a position to win with fast race cars which is all you can ask for. Tony is smart enough to learn from his mistakes. Give the guy a break, he will redeem himself.
Posted by adam | August 12, 2008 8:49 PM
Posted on August 12, 2008 20:49
What is wrong with you people?? Every single crew chief out there has made BAD calls at some point in there careers. Who do you think got Dale Jr's wins at Daytona in February?? Who got him to 2nd in points?? Dale Jr. and Tony Eury Jr. and the TEAM!!!!!!! Why do you goof balls blame it all on Eury Jr? He is part of the team and yes he is the crew chief but he is on that pit box because Dale Jr. wants him there and if Dale Jr. wants him there than I want him to be Dale Jr.'s crew chief. I want Dale Jr. to be happy and he has been sitting 2nd in points and this dropped him to 4th yes but how many others dropped one or two spots because of either strategy or mistakes? Jeff Gordon does not have a win this year should they get rid of Steve latarte?
As far as Kyle Busch he is the goofiest dude I have ever seen. He looks like a pencil and acts like a jerk. If everything goes his way he is fine but something goes wrong he is a jerk. Mark my words he thinks he can drive and the media is playing into his head games, he will kill somebody because of his attitude and because he dosen't act like he cares about his fans, his sponsers, his team etc.,because when they roll his car out on the track and the fans boo like they do, they are booing at not only him but his sponsers, his team and his owners. Yes he is a pretty good driver but I boo at his attitude there is NO reason why he has to act like that whatsoever. He has a HUGE problem and somebody needs to give him an attitude adjustment!!!!!
Kyle your day will come you are on top now but believe me this could all end in a matter of 1 race and your life could change for ever. So keep driving like a fool and not caring about nobody buy yourself and only yourself and see where it gets you in the long run. You may get a Championship but please did you really really earn it yes maybe by driving but did you respect Nascar and your team and you sponsors. The way you act I would want to get rid of your goofy pencil looking self too and I think that Rick Hendrick is a smart smart man because when this winning streak ends and it will end your attitude will be something that Joe Gibbs will eventually want to get rid of also. So enjoy it for now because when Kyle's winning streak comes to an end Kyle will be the jerk that he always is!!!!
Posted by Cindy Earhart | August 12, 2008 9:22 PM
Posted on August 12, 2008 21:22
I couldn't agree more!! i have been screaming at the tv for 2 years straight!!
Posted by Joy | August 12, 2008 10:01 PM
Posted on August 12, 2008 22:01
to shane watts:
who are you GOD listen that boy races his dam heart out every races then he looses WHY???tony jr.'s stupid stragedy cost the kid the race face it. i am not worried because win or loose i will stand by that kid i am not a fair weather fan i will stand by junior. and i am proud to be
a Member of JUNIOR NATION
Posted by dottie benedict | August 14, 2008 5:14 PM
Posted on August 14, 2008 17:14