Dale Jr

[Chris]

Saw this posted on Jayski... thought I'd trow it out..

New crew chief for Dale Jr.? UPDATE: A once debatable decision as to whether to keep #88 crew chief Lance McGrew for next season is becoming cut and dry. Leading just three laps since the start of the season's second half, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has just two top-15 finishes over the last 13 races. He and McGrew argue more than the other three Hendrick Motorsports drivers and their crew chiefs combined, yet smile in front of the cameras, pretending it's all OK. While the Hendrick line continues to be McGrew and Earnhardt together in 2011, garage talk has indicated a private shift is in the works. The rumor mill is all over the place with potential replacements, the hottest new name mentioned being Jimmie Johnson's current car chief, Ron Malec. Another name in the mix has been Mark Martin's crew chief, Alan Gustafson (denied) as the school of thought is Hendrick will look internally for a replacement. Who will emerge from the fray is unclear, but with Earnhardt's team no better off than they were one year ago, it's certain his current crew chief's days are numbered

I see this as anything else in the sporting world.  If a MBL team loses,.. who loses their job?? The Coach.  Same thing in NLF.  No matter HOW BAD the team is,.. it's the coaches fault.... so he's out of a job

We have the same situation here... Jr hasn't done ANYTHING since he landed at HMS.  Now don't get me wrong.  I think he gave it ALL he had,... the problem is he don't have what most of the other drivers 'have'.  (read that as talent, communication skills, ability to correctly evaluate the car, etc)
Long story short,.. Hendrick could be replacing a good crew chief when there is no reason.  The person he NEEDS to cut loose is the DRIVER.  Thats the weak link

[OregonSHRFan]

Totally have to agree with you. That is not to say Jr. has no talent, he does and has shown that in the past. But NASCAR has changed and Jr cannot seem to get a handle on this POS we all call the COT. Fact is, its NOT the crews fault, its the drivers inability to adapt.

[SMOKEN14]

Saw this posted on Jayski... thought I'd trow it out..

I see this as anything else in the sporting world.  If a MBL team loses,.. who loses their job?? The Coach.  Same thing in NLF.  No matter HOW BAD the team is,.. it's the coaches fault.... so he's out of a job

We have the same situation here... Jr hasn't done ANYTHING since he landed at HMS.  Now don't get me wrong.  I think he gave it ALL he had,... the problem is he don't have what most of the other drivers 'have'.  (read that as talent, communication skills, ability to correctly evaluate the car, etc)
Long story short,.. Hendrick could be replacing a good crew chief when there is no reason.  The person he NEEDS to cut loose is the DRIVER.  Thats the weak link

You hit the nail on the head.JR has NO  communication skills.Only a hand full of drivers do.AS Much as I dislike Jimmy Johnson He is the best at Communication with his crew chief.some of the others are Stewart/Gordon and to an extent Hamlin/Kyle Busch.then you have ones like JR And Kurt Busch who can only say The Car is Junk.Really? whats wrong? I don't know it's just Junk communication is a driver and crew chiefs best friend and JR lacks it big time

[just a fan]

The fact is that Jr's ability to drive the car does not matter as much as his ability to sell stuff. He is purely marketing and as long as "his" fans line up to buy from his sponsor he will have a ride in good equipment. I think crew chief's will continue to be fired. This weeekend at Dega he will have more rabid fans than any other driver. Money talks.

[Montvale]

 I think Jr is just a hard head. He don't like it there and he won't drive. Until he gets his way, he won't.
 He needs to be somewhere else. He just don't look good in a white shirt.

[Tyyrus]

Saw this posted on Jayski... thought I'd trow it out..

I see this as anything else in the sporting world.  If a MBL team loses,.. who loses their job?? The Coach.  Same thing in NLF.  No matter HOW BAD the team is,.. it's the coaches fault.... so he's out of a job

We have the same situation here... Jr hasn't done ANYTHING since he landed at HMS.  Now don't get me wrong.  I think he gave it ALL he had,... the problem is he don't have what most of the other drivers 'have'.  (read that as talent, communication skills, ability to correctly evaluate the car, etc)
Long story short,.. Hendrick could be replacing a good crew chief when there is no reason.  The person he NEEDS to cut loose is the DRIVER.  Thats the weak link

Chris , I think your last paragraph pretty well sums it up ! You know dam well how much I admire the "Silly Ole Man " but heck when a 50 + yr old can run second to JJ and another HMS driver half his age is well lets just say middle of the pack , what does that tell you ? Heck Hendrick gave Junior Marks Pit crew and Car Chief and he still is middle of the pack !  I like Jr as a person but reallt think his tenure is about up at HMS .

[20forLogano]

Junior hasn't been the same driver since his Daddy passed.  He will never be the same driver as he was before 2000. 

[just a fan]

I didn't make Martinsville but my buddy told me JR really dogged out his crew all day. Today at Dega I listened to him and he was pretty calm until he ran over Jeff Burton and ended his day.