After three years in a downward spiral at Hendrick Motorsports, one might think Dale Earnhardt Jr. might want to flee the organization, but Rick Hendrick is apparently ready to do what he promised with major changes within the organization.
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[/media-credit]Earnhardt Jr. will be moving into the Jimmie Johnson No. 48 shop with Steve Letarte becoming his crew chief. Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin will be housed together with Alan Gustafson doing crew duties for Gordon and Lance McGrew heading Martin’s team.
The first season, 2008, held so much promise with Rick Hendrick saying he wanted to be the one to give Junior a championship. Perhaps even the driver of the Amp Energy/National Guard No. 88 believed that to be possible.
From 2008 his stint at HMS has been on a slippery slope with McGrew coming on board as crew chief midway through the 2009 season. The year turned out to be Earnhardt Jr‘s. worst ever. He finished 25th in points at the end of 2009.
Along comes the 2010 season and hopes of a turnaround surfacing during Speedweeks at Daytona. For part of the season Earnhardt Jr. was a bottom feeder of the top-12 in points, but then the ball of hope began to unravel as the season’s second half unfolded.
Earnhardt ended this season 21st in points. He had asked Rick Hendrick to not make any changes until the season came to an end. It almost looked liked Junior was willing to keep McGrew and wasn’t going to request a change. He said, “I’ve dove into those deals headfirst in the past. I obviously haven’t had too good of an effect on the last couple changes I’ve made.”
Despite proclamations that Earnhardt Jr. and McGrew were friends, which they may be, it was obvious the communication between the two was very much lacking.
Now Junior will be living in the 48/88 garage, a place we never thought we would see him reside. Hope will rise again, as at long last Hendrick has made the move that on the surface looks like he is serious about trying to give the driver of the No. 88 a chance at a championship.
Earnhardt has a chance to prove he can win and maybe even run for the title. It won’t be because he doesn’t have the equipment or the right crew chief. For Junior, the excuses will be over next season. Junior Nation will collectively hold it’s breath until Speedweeks 2011 rolls around.
