Is this a new beginning for Dale Jr.?

By Mike Smith (contact)

Friday, May 29, 2009 | 3 a.m.

It had become too painful to watch. Seeing the most popular driver with one of the most storied names in the sport continue a slide into a black hole of un-competitiveness was too much for Rick Hendrick to bear. On May 21, Hendrick told the media that he didn’t think the problems with the No. 88 team were a result of the Dale Earnhardt Jr.--Tony Eury Jr. combination. On May 28, Hendrick announced that he was replacing Eury with Lance McGrew.

I bet last weekend’s race was the last straw. The No. 88 team’s 40th-place finish probably made Hendrick wonder if Dale Jr. would have performed better on the banks of the Lowe’s Motor Speedway if he had been driving one of those teeny tiny Smart cars.

Was Hendrick tired of watching Kyle Busch kick Dale Jr.’s behind? Maybe. But I bet he was more tired of seeing the 50-year-old teammate Mark Martin kick Dale Jr.’s behind.

The expectations for Dale Jr. may be higher now than ever before. He’s on the best team and he’s got access to the best equipment and the deepest pockets. The one thing, fairly or unfairly, that fans have pointed to as the reason for Dale’s lackluster performance has been the crew chief. With that crew chief gone, it will be harder to avoid questioning Dale Jr.’s capability if things don’t go well.

It couldn’t have gone on much longer. Even if the fans and sponsors remained loyal, it was just too embarrassing to continue seeing things like the numerous pit road disasters. But now a decision has been made. Hopefully this will be a new beginning.

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