Rick Hendrick ‘Disappointed’ in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Chase Results

race1010 · 11-19-2008, 11:03 PM

SceneDaily.com
Charlotte, North Carolina - Following his victory at Michigan, Earnhardt Jr. recorded just five top-10s over the remaining 21 events and failed to find victory lane again. Team owner Rick Hendrick says he is “disappointed” that driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t finish in the top 10 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports.

Earnhardt Jr., who began the Chase For The Sprint Cup as the No. 4 seed in the 12-driver field, finished last among the championship-contending group after posting just three top-10s in NASCAR’s 10-race playoff.

“I’m disappointed. I felt like we were so good early on, and we just had tremendous little gremlins bite us here from tire problems to things that you just can’t control,” Hendrick said on Tuesday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Veerry interesting! Not like Hendrick to speak negatively (publicly) about a driver is it??

Cosworth · 11-21-2008, 09:50 PM

I've always liked Earnhardt, Jr and thought he was good, but never really saw him as a championship winning guy. I know it was a new team for him, but I agree with Rick and say only one win and his performance over the last half was disappointing to say the least.

On the other hand, even though Johnson just won his third title in a row, I didn't feel that Hendrick Motorsports as a whole was really that good this year (of course Johnson and Knaus excluded). I mean what does it say when a four-time Cup Champ who really made Hendrick Motorsports what it is doesn't even reach victory lane?

I guess it's hard to accurately gauge how well Dale Jr. should do at Hendrick.

RJ

race1010 · 11-22-2008, 12:05 AM

Honestly, I've never been a fan. He almost always seems to be down in the dumps (oh, sad, sad, Jr), rarely performs at a consistent level, almost comes across as "I'm Dale Sr's kid so r-e-s-p-e-c-t me because of that if nothing else" . At least guys like Tony, Carl, Kyle and Mark Martin show real emotion (good or bad)....IMO...

late model fan · 11-23-2008, 09:20 AM

I am a jr. fan always have been (even since his days at concord motorsports park). This mainly because I was always a sr. fan. I do believe his season was a dissappointment, expectaions where high. If you look at the stats though he was the 2nd best hendrick driver, better than gordon or mears. He was 4th in the points until that thing called the chase.However the 2nd part of the seasom was terrible & the communication is what really brings this team down, there is no bigger whinner on the radio then jr. These fans that wanna blame tony jr. are wrong. Look at what they did when they were separated. Tony jr. made waltrip look good & jr. basically crashed & burned..... I think what mr. hendrick is really dissapointed in is jr. himself as a racer........They will work on it ( HMS has to much invested in jr.) & hope fully jr can live up to expectaions in 09 although the majority of his fans expactations are un real.Jr. nation is like a dream land to most of his fans..

Rossi46 · 11-25-2008, 10:53 AM

I'm a Jr. fan too and I would be lying if I'd say that I'm not disappointed in him ... he needs to do a whole lot better next year!

11-19-2008, 11:03 PM	#1
race1010 World Champion World Champion Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Abbotsford BC Posts: 2,293	Rick Hendrick ‘Disappointed’ in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Chase Results SceneDaily.com Charlotte, North Carolina - Following his victory at Michigan, Earnhardt Jr. recorded just five top-10s over the remaining 21 events and failed to find victory lane again. Team owner Rick Hendrick says he is “disappointed” that driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t finish in the top 10 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports. Earnhardt Jr., who began the Chase For The Sprint Cup as the No. 4 seed in the 12-driver field, finished last among the championship-contending group after posting just three top-10s in NASCAR’s 10-race playoff. “I’m disappointed. I felt like we were so good early on, and we just had tremendous little gremlins bite us here from tire problems to things that you just can’t control,” Hendrick said on Tuesday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Veerry interesting! Not like Hendrick to speak negatively (publicly) about a driver is it??

11-25-2008, 10:53 AM	#5
Rossi46 World Champion World Champion Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,151	I'm a Jr. fan too and I would be lying if I'd say that I'm not disappointed in him ... he needs to do a whole lot better next year! __________________

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11-21-2008, 09:50 PM	#2
Cosworth World Champion Team Owner Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States Posts: 877	I've always liked Earnhardt, Jr and thought he was good, but never really saw him as a championship winning guy. I know it was a new team for him, but I agree with Rick and say only one win and his performance over the last half was disappointing to say the least. On the other hand, even though Johnson just won his third title in a row, I didn't feel that Hendrick Motorsports as a whole was really that good this year (of course Johnson and Knaus excluded). I mean what does it say when a four-time Cup Champ who really made Hendrick Motorsports what it is doesn't even reach victory lane? I guess it's hard to accurately gauge how well Dale Jr. should do at Hendrick. RJ

11-22-2008, 12:05 AM	#3
race1010 World Champion World Champion Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Abbotsford BC Posts: 2,293	Honestly, I've never been a fan. He almost always seems to be down in the dumps (oh, sad, sad, Jr), rarely performs at a consistent level, almost comes across as "I'm Dale Sr's kid so r-e-s-p-e-c-t me because of that if nothing else" . At least guys like Tony, Carl, Kyle and Mark Martin show real emotion (good or bad)....IMO...

11-23-2008, 09:20 AM	#4
late model fan Driver Veteran Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nova scotia Posts: 150	I am a jr. fan always have been (even since his days at concord motorsports park). This mainly because I was always a sr. fan. I do believe his season was a dissappointment, expectaions where high. If you look at the stats though he was the 2nd best hendrick driver, better than gordon or mears. He was 4th in the points until that thing called the chase.However the 2nd part of the seasom was terrible & the communication is what really brings this team down, there is no bigger whinner on the radio then jr. These fans that wanna blame tony jr. are wrong. Look at what they did when they were separated. Tony jr. made waltrip look good & jr. basically crashed & burned..... I think what mr. hendrick is really dissapointed in is jr. himself as a racer........They will work on it ( HMS has to much invested in jr.) & hope fully jr can live up to expectaions in 09 although the majority of his fans expactations are un real.Jr. nation is like a dream land to most of his fans..