Is Earnhardt Jr. the real problem?

[Georgia Griz]

I know that this guy is obsessed with winning, but there goes his second crew chief in as many years. He seems to be showing a little immaturity in the way he is dealing with a very competitive field of drivers this year. Earlier this year I said that I thought Jr. would have problems in the media if he didn't change some of his ways. Yesterday, here in Atlanta, the local sports writers and radio show hosts blasted Earnhardt Jr. for not being able to get along with personnel in the DEI stable (including his family members and those who have been in racing much longer than he has).

[ISUMatt]

Switching crews with Waltrip killed him

[Georgia Griz]

Switching crews with Waltrip killed him

Yep, and it actually seems like Waltrip is racing a little better since the shake-up. Mikey has been able to work with Tony Eury Jr. much better than Dale Jr. was able to. Although, I can imagine that it would be very hard to work with close family members in a competitive job-place like NASCAR racing. And that's exactly what Dale Jr. had to deal with last year when Tony Eury Jr. was his crew chief.

[polsongrizz]

I have never thought jr. to be of championship caliber. A better than avg driver yes but not the type who can win championships with ease. As has been proven out. Numerous other drivers that started when he did have won one while he is just flailing away. And now he is starting to act like R.gordon and Tony Stewart of the past. I read on the nascar site today that he has lead 3 laps this yr. They also have an article by a writer on there blaming him for his troubles ans no one else.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Earnhardt Jr. can only drive a well handling car to the front. I go to 4 or 5 Nascar races a year(Pocono twice, Dover twice, and either Martinsville or Michigan) and I use a scanner, he's never happy with what he's got. He's in constant complaint and never seems to get the adjustments he wants. He is one of those drivers who's as good as his car, honestly. Fortunately for him he has more than enough money and has the name, so he'll always be in the top 10-15 because he can buy his way there. I don't believe he'll win a championship in the next couple year time; atleast not before his 35th Bday.

[blukeys]

Fortunately for him he has more than enough money and has the name, so he'll always be in the top 10-15 because he can buy his way there.

That and the chicks love him.

[Georgia Griz]

I don't believe he'll win a championship in the next couple year time; atleast not before his 35th Bday.

My opinion is that if he doesn't get a Championship in the next 5 years, he won't get one at all. There is a fresh new crop of talented young drivers out there who have shown that they can handle a car (eg. Kahne, Kyle Busch, McMurray, Vickers). There is no way Earnhardt Jr. will be able to compete with K. Kahne in 6 or 7 years.

[grizbeer]

he's never happy with what he's got. He's in constant complaint and never seems to get the adjustments he wants. Even races he won last year you would hear him saying the car is just crap, never praising or encouraging the crew.

I really think what Jr. needs is a strong hand in charge of him. If he was racing for a Rick Hendrick or even Richard Childress, somebody who sat him down when he was out of line or our partying instead of focusing on racing he probably would have won the championship last year. I don't really think Teresa gives a sh&t about racing, just the money, and Junior is not mature enough to be the guy who runs things, and I don't think he wants to be in that situation.

As far as the media, there was a big article in the LV Sun after the race there that talked about how Junior spent the whole weekend at the Palms partying, and may have been hung over on race day when he wrecked on lap 12. The real point of the article was that Kurt Busch had spent the whole week doing charity events and working with kids, while Junior locked himself away in a hotel and partied, but Junior still gets the good press and Busch is treated like an a$$hole.

[Delaware Ghostrider II]

I support JR....100% simply becuse I loved his daddy....but a Dale Earnhardt Sr. he will never be.....Jr and Tony worked well together....I was told that it wasn't jr that wanted to do the switch up....it was Teresa and some of the executives of DEI. I think it hurt Jr. mentally more than anything.

[Georgia Griz]

I support JR....100% simply becuse I loved his daddy....but a Dale Earnhardt Sr. he will never be.....Jr and Tony worked well together....I was told that it wasn't jr that wanted to do the switch up....it was Teresa and some of the executives of DEI. I think it hurt Jr. mentally more than anything.

No, I actually heard Jr. say in an interview that him and Tony Eury Jr. were constantly barking at each other. Jr. said the switch was to save his and Tony's friendship more than anything else.

[Purple Knight]

Mikey has been able to work with Tony Eury Jr. much better than Dale Jr. was able to. Although, I can imagine that it would be very hard to work with close family members in a competitive job-place like NASCAR racing. And that's exactly what Dale Jr. had to deal with last year when Tony Eury Jr. was his crew chief.

I think Eury, Jr and crew were the ones asking for the switch.

[Georgia Griz]

I think Eury, Jr and crew were the ones asking for the switch.

Do you blame them? The media is now revealing Junior's whiny, immature side.