[Curves24]

Three different Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won in the last three races.
One Hendrick driver hasn't won this season, hasn't finished in the top five and isn't playing well with others.
Three Hendrick drivers are happy, constantly smiling and on the rise in 2009.
One is unhappy, constantly frowning and falling faster than a banker's 401(k) account.



Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Now which of these four is not like the others?
These are not good days for the crown prince of NASCAR and the sport's most popular driver. The name and fame mean constant pressure for Earnhardt.
The pressure increased when he signed with the best organization in NASCAR, as he knew it would. But this certainly isn't what he envisioned when Rick Hendrick brought him in last season.
Earnhardt is weathering an undeniable slump on a team of home-run hitters. Right now, it's the Dream Team trio and the Scream Team outsider.
For the No. 88 team, it's a sickness that needs treatment. But the cure may be a few days away -- Talladega.

Junior Odd Man Out

[Curves24]

Where have all the Junior fans gone? Used to be I couldn't read anything without some staunchly defending him. Now I defend him, because he is HMS and I feel that is my duty as a fan.
Did the move to HMS put that many people off? I mean he still sells stuff like crazy, so where are you Junior fans?

[mike honcho]

I'm here but I must be getting old cause I don't feel like argueing with people anymore.

[Curves24]

Originally Posted by mike honcho

I'm here but I must be getting old cause I don't feel like argueing with people anymore.

That's cause your lover not a fighter

[mike honcho]

Originally Posted by Curves24

That's cause your lover not a fighter

and I wish you would have learned that 1 first hand.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Curves24

Where have all the Junior fans gone? Used to be I couldn't read anything without some staunchly defending him. Now I defend him, because he is HMS and I feel that is my duty as a fan.
Did the move to HMS put that many people off? I mean he still sells stuff like crazy, so where are you Junior fans?

I'm a Jr fan. But must admit you can't defend him when you agree with most of what's being said.

[nascar_freak]

Originally Posted by Curves24

Where have all the Junior fans gone? Used to be I couldn't read anything without some staunchly defending him. Now I defend him, because he is HMS and I feel that is my duty as a fan.
Did the move to HMS put that many people off? I mean he still sells stuff like crazy, so where are you Junior fans?

Doesn't mean he can drive a racecar.
In my opinion he is the most over rated driver in NASCAR, If his name wasn't Earnhardt, my guess would be that Hendrick would have given him his walking papers by now.

[LSC9901]

Right now, it's the Dream Team trio and the Scream Team outsider.

First off I'm not a fan of any one driver. That said I find the above statement a bit out of context. Just because Mark Martin won a race, his first in over 90 attempts, it doesn't make him a golden boy. When (in my opinion) Rick Hendrick's wakes up and dumps Tony Eury Jr, I believe there will be a far greater chance of improvement for the 88 team. Right now Tony is thankful for the work and allows Dale to run all over him. They both may think that is a great relationship but it isn't producing anything of record value. Jr could sell as many trinkets without Tony Jr at the helm and maybe even more.

[Curves24]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

First off I'm not a fan of any one driver. That said I find the above statement a bit out of context. Just because Mark Martin won a race, his first in over 90 attempts, it doesn't make him a golden boy. When (in my opinion) Rick Hendrick's wakes up and dumps Tony Eury Jr, I believe there will be a far greater chance of improvement for the 88 team. Right now Tony is thankful for the work and allows Dale to run all over him. They both may think that is a great relationship but it isn't producing anything of record value. Jr could sell as many trinkets without Tony Jr at the helm and maybe even more.

You hit the nail on the head. Everytime that anyone talks about getting rid of Eury Jr I think it is about time. And every time you will see an interview with Dale Jr saying no and why doesn't everyone just leave Tony Jr alone.
IMO Tony Jr was part of his problem at DEI. LSC is right Jr needs a CC that will anticpate what he needs instead of listening to Jr. Then JR can just drive the dang car.

[Racer Duck]

you asked where all the Jr fans are: they're in line at the Jr souvenir trailer .. camping out .. waiting for it to open .. probably hoping to see one of those Elvis die casts with the #3 on it - fat chance of that ever happening, but they can dream......

I shoulda quoted it, but got so wrapped up in reading all the posts.....

anyway...someone said Jr wouldn't be at HMS if it weren't for his last name.

that probably went for his predecessor too (no, not shrub, that Mears boy!) they've both proved that just 'cause Daddy was great, doesn't mean sonny will be also...

but I do have to say that Jr is, in my estimation, a much better driver than Casey.

who he really needs on the pit box is Kelly. she's always a step ahead of everyone else .. making plans for all the "what if's" .. and she won't take any lip from Jr, either...

[Stewart Fan]

Well he's with the best team in Nascar and he isn't winning or even up front most races...........all I'm saying! lol

[Curves24]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

you asked where all the Jr fans are: they're in line at the Jr souvenir trailer .. camping out .. waiting for it to open .. probably hoping to see one of those Elvis die casts with the #3 on it - fat chance of that ever happening, but they can dream......

I shoulda quoted it, but got so wrapped up in reading all the posts.....

anyway...someone said Jr wouldn't be at HMS if it weren't for his last name.

that probably went for his predecessor too (no, not shrub, that Mears boy!) they've both proved that just 'cause Daddy was great, doesn't mean sonny will be also...

but I do have to say that Jr is, in my estimation, a much better driver than Casey.

who he really needs on the pit box is Kelly. she's always a step ahead of everyone else .. making plans for all the "what if's" .. and she won't take any lip from Jr, either...

Part of Jr's problem for himself is his last name. Pretty hard to live up to expectations like that. He probably puts way more pressure on himself than we will ever know. If his name was John Doe and he worked as hard as Jr does he would have a ride, just probably not with HMS.
He is good but he is also his own worse critic. If somehow the pressure was off, he would be better imo. I kind of hope he wins this weekend, that's if Gordon can't of course. (You totally would have never heard me say this a few years ago!@!)

BTW love the Kelly idea!!

[Twistarhymes48]

no Juniors problem lies with one man

Tony Eury Jr.

im sure if he would stop being stubborn and switch him out they actually win a race under racing conditions rather than winning because of caution

[Blaze88]

I'm a huge Jr fan but I'll admit he needs to really pick things up. He did well at Talladega and we are coming up to another track he has done good at before. I'm hoping now that he has a Top 5 under his belt that he will pick things up and be up front fighting for wins week in and week out. I'd love to see him get back in Victory Lane real soon and more then once this year.

[Curves24]

Originally Posted by Blaze88

I'm a huge Jr fan but I'll admit he needs to really pick things up. He did well at Talladega and we are coming up to another track he has done good at before. I'm hoping now that he has a Top 5 under his belt that he will pick things up and be up front fighting for wins week in and week out. I'd love to see him get back in Victory Lane real soon and more then once this year.

Being a Jr fan Blaze, how do you feel about Eury Jr as a CC for Jr?