Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Defends Embattled Crew Chief

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has become accustomed to the topic.

It’s been one of the primary debates in NASCAR for several years, but the heat has increased this season.
Is the often-volatile working relationship between Earnhardt, Jr. and his cousin, Tony Eury, Jr. conducive to winning races?

Eury serves as the crew chief on Earnhardt’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. The two often engage in animated discussions – even arguments – over the scanner during races.

Entering Sunday’s Food City 500, Earnhardt ranks 24th in Sprint Cup points with just one top-10 finish. Many of Earnhardt’s loyal fans blame Eury.

Earnhardt addressed his struggles as well as his relationship with his cousin during a wide-ranging press conference Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“I have said it a hundred times – and it just doesn’t seem to make a dent – but the guy that I feel bad for is Tony, Jr. because he gets criticized so badly,” Earnhardt said.
“Everybody in this room – and some of you have criticized him yourselves – know how smart a guy he is. He is a good mechanic and a solid crew chief.”

Clearly, Earnhardt has become frustrated with the attacks on his cousin by fans and media types.

“[Eury, Jr.] just wanted to do this for a living, just like I do, but I’ll take the fall,”  Earnhardt said. “I would rather be crucified than him.
“Every time I read in the paper that people are on his case, I feel like I am sending my brother to jail for a crime I committed, you know what I mean. I feel bad for him because he just wants to work and have fun.”

As for the free-flowing chats with his crew chief, Earnhardt said it comes with the territory in a hyper-competitive and emotional sport.

“There are riffs between every driver and every crew chief, and they work it out or they don’t,” Earnhardt said. “I think me and Tony, Jr. do a pretty good job of working it out.
“Obviously, through everything we have been through, we still love each other to death and would do anything for each other.”

Before Earnhardt moved to the Hendrick Motorsports team last season, he worked with five crew chiefs at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. The most successful pairing came with Eury’s father, Tony Sr.

With his last name and marquee team, Earnhardt understands he cannot afford to be average.

“I put myself in this position,” Earnhardt said. “I’m willing to accept the ups and downs and the goods and bads that come with it.
“We haven’t run like we want to, like I think we should. It’s alright for everyone to point that out.”

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