Why is Being Dale Earnhardt Jr.'S Crew Chief So Difficult?

Posted 02/07/11 at 12:11 PM PST by Chris M. Steve Letarte became Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s third crew chief since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2008, which begs the question, "Why is it so difficult to be Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief?" Junior seems like an affable guy, he's backed by one of the strongest owners in NASCAR, he's got his own theme ...

[J0HNEY B]

Because he cries to much and gives up too easy. he will make the chase and win a couple this year though.

[Racing]

I also wonder that.

[Hunglo]

Because it is never Jr's fault. Sooner or later they will run out of crew chiefs to blame and then the fans will be in for trouble because it can't be Jr's fault! Ever!

[X Jr Fan]

Because when Jr quits on his team it's the crew chief that gets threw under the bus.

[Angie in daytona]

Give the guy a break everyone needs to find the right fit even his Dad went through this.

[88chick]

when he finds the right guy all this talk will stop. ever since pops left he hasn't found a guy he gets on with. hopefully steve is that guy. early signs are positive.

[Hunglo]

It's not the crew chief! If and/or when Jr decides that it is worth the effort to try for a championship he will be a serious contender. Jr. said it himself last year that it is too much of a pain in the @ss to run in the chase if he's not guarenteed to be competative for the championship. It's racing, there are no guarentees. At least for me it's not that I hate Jr, I don't, but many of us so called "haters" see the line of telented guys and gals who would kill for the chance to run 10th or 11th in a car from HMS.

[menards]

Sr. made crew chiefs. Crew cheifs that won championships with Dale went on to do nothing after they left.(Kirk Shelmerdine?) Dale never had some math whiz setting his car up for him, he set up his own cars. A lost art with todays drivers...

Angie in daytona wrote:

Give the guy a break everyone needs to find the right fit even his Dad went through this.

[Hilton Head]

During one race I heard his crew chief ask him if he wanted two or four tires on his next pit stop and Junior replied, I don't need any effin tires. With that kind of communication it wasn't surprising that he finished 26th.

[95 Thunderbird]

menards wrote:

Sr. made crew chiefs. Crew cheifs that won championships with Dale went on to do nothing after they left.(Kirk Shelmerdine?) Dale never had some math whiz setting his car up for him, he set up his own cars. A lost art with todays drivers...
<quoted text>

B.S. Sr. didn't set up his own cars, he was no chassis guru like Alan Kulwicki, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott...... Sr. was a wheel man just like Tim Richmond was a wheel man.

Kirk S left because he was burnt out and he wanted to give driving a try with his own team.

Andy Petree was a sucessful crew chief before he ever worked for Childress.

Larry Mac was a sucessful crew chief with Bernstien and Yates before he worked with Dale. He and Dale weren't a good fit for one another, the results other than the Daytona 500 win weren't very good.

Dale Sr. didn't make any of these guys. They made him along with help from Nascar.

[WWE CRASHCAR 2011]

menards wrote:

Sr. made crew chiefs. Crew cheifs that won championships with Dale went on to do nothing after they left.(Kirk Shelmerdine?) Dale never had some math whiz setting his car up for him, he set up his own cars. A lost art with todays drivers...
<quoted text>

Nonsense! Special Dale only rules from NASCAR for their cash cow contributed to a lot to that "lost art". Now NASCAR pulling the same crap with Jr.

[Barnabus]

menards wrote:

Sr. made crew chiefs. Crew cheifs that won championships with Dale went on to do nothing after they left.(Kirk Shelmerdine?) Dale never had some math whiz setting his car up for him, he set up his own cars. A lost art with todays drivers...
<quoted text>

This the same Sr who didn't have the sense to buckle up the safety device that would have saved his own life?

[WWE CRASHCAR 2011]

Barnabus wrote:

<quoted text>
This the same Sr who didn't have the sense to buckle up the safety device that would have saved his own life?

This is the same Sr who was racing for Childress, but owned and was blocking for a competitors team (DEI); and you wonder why people compare NASCAR to the WWE. Imagine if the NFL allowed Tom Brady to own another NFL team; the NFL would have a serious credibility issue.

[Barnabus]

WWE CRASHCAR 2011 wrote:

<quoted text>
This is the same Sr who was racing for Childress, but owned and was blocking for a competitors team (DEI); and you wonder why people compare NASCAR to the WWE. Imagine if the NFL allowed Tom Brady to own another NFL team; the NFL would have a serious credibility issue.

Does look like a conflict of interest, there, doesn't it?

[95 Thunderbird]

I would imagine being JR.'s crew chief would be like a day care worker with 88 screaming babies and todlers all needing to be fed and having their diapers changed at the same time.

[3TOES]

As long as the France family hold stock in GM and money is kicked back to them, ANYTHING goes in NASCAR. Anyone ever wonder why GM has been so dominate over the years, can anyone remember when NASCAR gave the Hemi the boot, Bud Moore was the only Ford with the WOOD Bros on an occasion with David Pearson, and the manufactures were Pontias, Buick, Olds, and Chevy fighting it out...all GM!!!

[menards]

wrong.

95 Thunderbird wrote:

<quoted text>
B.S. Sr. didn't set up his own cars, he was no chassis guru like Alan Kulwicki, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott.......

[Mr Logic in Jax]

I was at the Bud Shoot Out and it looked like Jr. hit the brakes and caused the wreak on the back stretch.

I will be at the 500 on Sunday and I already have my 3 Jr. Die cast cars ready.
Die Cast No 1. looks like Jr’s Wrecked Bud Shoot Out Car
Die Cast No 2. looks like Jr’s 1st Wrecked 500 Car
Die Cast No 3. looks like Jr’s 2nd Wrecked 500 Car that will be in the garage Sunday.

I did not buy a forth so I hope he does not wreck today or tomorrow.

Jr. Nation Suckssssssssssssss……….