[jks812]

I don't see why people start wanting to get rid of CC's when a driver has a slow start. I'm not just talking about people on this forum, but people I talk to also.
LeTarte was good enough last year when JG finished 2nd in the points. JG has a slow start this year and folks start talking about they should get rid of him.
Eury Jr was a good enough CC for Jr til Jr hasn't won so far this year. Does anyone remember how Jr done when he had other CC's other than Eury? Not near as good as he is now, with him.
As for LeTarte never being at Knaus' level, maybe with all the cheating that Chad done to help get there,maybe being like him isn't an ambition of LeTarte's.
Maybe if we were on race 20, I might say JG and Jr might need to worry about the fact they haven't won, but not this early.

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by jks812

I don't see why people start wanting to get rid of CC's when a driver has a slow start. I'm not just talking about people on this forum, but people I talk to also.
LeTarte was good enough last year when JG finished 2nd in the points. JG has a slow start this year and folks start talking about they should get rid of him.
Eury Jr was a good enough CC for Jr til Jr hasn't won so far this year. Does anyone remember how Jr done when he had other CC's other than Eury? Not near as good as he is now, with him.
As for LeTarte never being at Knaus' level, maybe with all the cheating that Chad done to help get there,maybe being like him isn't an ambition of LeTarte's.
Maybe if we were on race 20, I might say JG and Jr might need to worry about the fact they haven't won, but not this early.

I didn't just jump on the Letarte/Eury Jr. bandwagon. I've been on that particular wagon since it got rolling, which was long before the start of this season. I didn't care for either CC last year, no matter what their stats were. And I don't feel Knaus' cheating has anything to do with the fact that he is an excellent crew chief. If the only time he won races was when he cheats, there'd be an issue there. But that's not the case. His team runs up front a good deal of the time without cheating. (Or at least without getting caught).

Let me put this another way. It's not really whether a team wins or not, but does that team have the potential to win - what is their winning Intelligence Quotient, as it were. Some CC and crews just seem to have "it" together, that little something that puts them a cut above. Robby Riser had this. Knaus has it. The #99 team is clicking right now. It's almost an intangible "thing" you can't quite put your finger on. I've felt it in the pits here at home. Do any of you that race or are on a crew have any idea what I'm talking about? I don't get that "smooth" feeling from some of these teams. I hope somebody can explain it better than I, but I believe that little something extra either is there or it's not. Instinct maybe.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

I've got to totally disagree about Eury being one of the better crew chiefs in NASCAR. I just don't see it. I'm just curious as to why you say he is such a great crew chief? I don't have a problem that you feel that way, just wondering what your opinon is based on. I don't care too much that Jr.'s in third. With the equipment he has, his cars have still not been that great. Honestly, I give credit to his driving skills for being where he is. The cars have been less than stellar, for the most part. JMHO. As far as Letarte goes, I have never been a fan. He makes a few good calls and everybody falls all over him, but again, I just don't see him ever being at Knaus' level. Gordon has two good things going for him - his talent, and his spotter, who makes a lot of those great calls. Personally, I like Jeff Gordon. I would like to see him win another championship. I think he will do it eventually, regardless of his crew chief. I hope to see a big turnaround at 'Dega and would agree that he is far from out of the picture.

That's your opinion. Which is OK with me. However, your comment that "I don't care too much that Jr.'s in third" sends a big question mark to me. Really, this is the benchmark. The higher in the standings usually is a good sign.

The 88 team is dealing with all new cars this year. They didn't have a stable to carry over from DEI. They built all new cars. Tony Eury Jr. will provide competitive cars for Dale Jr. to drive. The "strategist" in Eury comes out during the race. Jr. tells Eury what the car is doing and what needs to be done to improve it. He's good at knowing what to do to the car from what Dale Jr. says. During a pit stop, Eury puts Dale Jr. back on the track a few position ahead of where he was before the caution. That's the speed of the pit crew of which Eury has motivated them. All these things really impress me.

However, I realize when interviewed during a race Tony Eury Jr. comes across as being arrogant and short with his comment. Knaus and Letarte sound more "intelligent" with their comments.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

I didn't just jump on the Letarte/Eury Jr. bandwagon. I've been on that particular wagon since it got rolling, which was long before the start of this season. I didn't care for either CC last year, no matter what their stats were. And I don't feel Knaus' cheating has anything to do with the fact that he is an excellent crew chief. If the only time he won races was when he cheats, there'd be an issue there. But that's not the case. His team runs up front a good deal of the time without cheating. (Or at least without getting caught).

Let me put this another way. It's not really whether a team wins or not, but does that team have the potential to win - what is their winning Intelligence Quotient, as it were. Some CC and crews just seem to have "it" together, that little something that puts them a cut above. Robby Riser had this. Knaus has it. The #99 team is clicking right now. It's almost an intangible "thing" you can't quite put your finger on. I've felt it in the pits here at home. Do any of you that race or are on a crew have any idea what I'm talking about? I don't get that "smooth" feeling from some of these teams. I hope somebody can explain it better than I, but I believe that little something extra either is there or it's not. Instinct maybe.

I didn't say Knaus was a great CC cause of his cheating. In fact I have said before that he and JJ are good enough that they don't even have to cheat. I just said maybe being like him is not an ambition of LeTartes.
As far as a CC's stats, they are only as good as their drivers. And I don't see where Jr and Eury are doing so bad this year.

[Bob Tanner]

Jeffie-Pooh in a "slump?" I'd venture to guess that there are approximately 36 other teams and drivers who would love to be in such a "slump."

I didn't get to read the article before it was pulled but it seems to me that articles such as this are the products of a supposed sports writer with time on his hands and a desire to see something (anything) he's penned, in print.

Come back on the eve of the fall Richmond race and tell me Baby Gordon's Daddy's in a "slump." THEN it might be believable.

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

However, your comment that "I don't care too much that Jr.'s in third" sends a big question mark to me. Really, this is the benchmark. The higher in the standings usually is a good sign.

If we're using the current point standings as a benchmark for Jr., then let's use them for all drivers. If Jr.'s being in third is a good sign, then Gordon's position outside the top 12 can be benchmarked this year as not so hot if you compare to most of his past seasons. But it's so early in the season that we all know everything can change in an instant. We have no idea who's luck is going to change for the good or bad. I don't feel Gordon's in a slump as I've said, but I also don't feel Jr.'s team's performance, while admirable to date, is necessarily going to continue. I hope it does, as I would like to see him get that long awaited win.

[LSC9901]

I would find that the terms are relative to the moment. In the minds of many Jeff is in fact in a slump. No wins yet and out of the chase. We all know that can change in a couple of good weeks while others in the chase may have a bad week or two. Completely possible. With his history I'd agree that "at this moment" he is in a slump. Jr.'s issues can be looked at from both sides of the fence. He is doing well and is relatively consistent. He is in the chase. The other point of view is that he has yet to win a points race. This is a highly expected result of moving to what is perceived by some as the premier team in NASCAR.

I do believe for the most part that these highs and lows at this point are just a part of the roller coaster ride early on in the season. Like it or not we have to consider the COT in the equation. Good driver or not there has to be a learning curve to the car. You might ask why some teams are doing better than others ??? They've caught on to it faster than the others and as a team they may have a better line of what the driver wants and just how to accomplish it without going to far or not doing enough.

No doubt the cream will rise to the top.