By Ryan - Posted on June 3, 2009

The NASCAR News coming out of Dover was overshadowed by the shake up at Hendrick Motorsports.  Tony Eury, Jr. was the car chief and eventually crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at DEI.  Last year, he followed Junior to Hendrick and they took off in the #88 National Guard Chevy, even winning last year’s Michigan race.  It was announced before the race at the Monster Mile that Hendrick was moving Eury to research and development and a makeshift crew was formed to turn Earnhardt’s fortunes around. 

Brian Whitesell, Hendrick general manger, sat on top of the battlewagon for little “E” at Dover, posting a 12th place finish which stands as good as any that the 88 car has had all season.  Except for his second place finish at Talladega, Junior has consistently placed well outside the top 10 for most of the season. 

For his part, Dale was clear about roles and responsibilities.  “I'm not hiding any blame from anyone. I take full responsibility for making some mistakes along the way, especially this year. We haven't been on our game. I definitely haven't been on my game. I shoulder any amount of responsibility that's necessary and that everybody feels is fair for the fact that we didn't make this work. I don't have the urge to point fingers in any one direction, and I can't put my finger on any particular instance or reason that it didn't work,” Earnhardt told the NASCAR press corps in Delaware.

With all the trouble that led to the split between Theresa Earnhardt, DEI, and the son of a former legend, perhaps it is fitting in his race career to see this type of on track adversity.  The Juniors grew up together in Kannapolis with fathers who worked together in the Busch series.  Unfortunately, apart from family and in a company whose success is storied and expected, losing stands at odds with the vision that Rick Hendrick has built.  Tony, Sr. reports that, “[Eury, Jr.] has worked so hard ... he’s worn slap out,” and adds that he is, “beat down pretty bad” over being replaced.  It is a sad day for the family and for Eury, but in a family that has been as successful as the Earnhardts and Eurys, it is only a matter of time before they’re on top again.