Earnhardt dumps Rondeau already...

[lawdog]

The whole organization is changed and turned on its head by Jr's desire to not work with Eury Jr but Rondeau takes the fall for the poor performance by losing his crew chiefing job.

Panic at DEI so look out everyone who isn't named Earnhardt!!!

This is the problem with family businesses!!!

[eyepatrol]

We'll have to wait and see if the change makes a difference. Their problems may be bigger than crew chief changes, but time will tell. Junior's in the running for the 10-race chase, but I don't think they feel comfortable in their current position.

[Guest]

LAWDOG

I dont know if I would call it panic at DEI.Rondeau and JR. wasnt working down to they couldnt understand each other.If it wasnt going to work why not change now to save some time.Many teams over the years have changed crew chiefs to find that bit of chemistry to make it happen,even Gordon and the list goes on.We dont know sitting on the outside what is really going down,all we can do is guess and that is what everyone is doing.You must have the best of understandings and good chemistry between the driver and crew chief or it will not happen.This is great fuel for all the non Jr. fans,as they can now gossip all they can.Team change for long haul.

[Sifty]

I think that we have all seen what happens when there is a problem with how things are going. Shake-up is the first thing that is going to happen.It seems that certian people can work toghther better then others. I would look for Jr. to have a good run on Sunday. I'm sure everyone at DEI is now looking over there shoulder.

Sifty

[lawdog]

The part that sucks for Rondeau if you ask me is that he is not a bad crew chief. Jr. picked him to work with because he had success in the Busch series with him and because he was turning Mikey's season around last year. Now because Jr. is struggling he gets screwed. I tell you if an Earnhardt was the crew chief and a Rondeau was the driver it would have been the driver dumped. Nepotism is no good in business or sports!

[Leader]

Jr's lack of performance justifies change.

Tony Eury Sr was Jr's crewchief in the busch series.

Slugger Lavvy(sp)was Micheal Waltrips crewchief, now he's crewchief for Jeremy Mayfield.

Mikey and his lack of performance last yr, fueled the crewchief change, along with he's driving all of Jr's last years cars reworked.

Michael was complaining about 2nd rate equipment and crewchief. so DEI made changes.

now he's got the 1st rate equip and chief. it does'nt seem to be helping him much, but now he's shot himself in the foot if he can't perform.

Pete Rondeau is still with DEI, just not the crewchief for Jr. DEI said he's a important part of the organization.

nepotism:disgust

[lawdog]

Quote:

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Jr's lack of performance justifies change.

Tony Eury Sr was Jr's crewchief in the busch series.

Slugger Lavvy(sp)was Micheal Waltrips crewchief, now he's crewchief for Jeremy Mayfield.

Mikey and his lack of performance last yr, fueled the crewchief change, along with he's driving all of Jr's last years cars reworked.

Michael was complaining about 2nd rate equipment and crewchief. so DEI made changes.

now he's got the 1st rate equip and chief. it does'nt seem to be helping him much, but now he's shot himself in the foot if he can't perform.

Pete Rondeau is still with DEI, just not the crewchief for Jr. DEI said he's a important part of the organization.

nepotism:disgust

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HUH? Was there a point to this? "nepotism:disgust" what does that even mean? What is digusting? I'm so confused... By the way, Ronduea crew chiefed Jr's Chance 2 Busch cars and that is where they had success and good chemistry together, please get the facts straight.

[Guest]

The only fact needed is that Jr. needs a crew chief that he can talk to and work with to get the needed chemistry to have a winning race team.NO team races well without a complete team that works together and well.Sometimes a nascar team has to work to get that to happen,and if there is a problem then that problem has to be addressed.I dont see where a family run operation has anything to do with team chemistry.The Rousch teams have made changes and so have numerous other teams to try something different to make it happen.Drivers alone dont win Nextel cup championships.GO JR.

[TNFL]

Well, you can count me out of the running cause i can't understand a dang thing that hick slurs out of his mouth during interviews. "that done there ...... loose.....an yeah!" "sh!t"

[JohnMickish]

How come Jr. isn't taking any blame? It's not always the crew chiefs fault you know. Just something to think about.

[Guest]

Iam not saying that Jr. is not to blame for anything,i guess when you are a Earnhardt and you work for a Earnhardt company,then just maybe you get the benefit of the doubt.

[lawdog]

Quote:

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Iam not saying that Jr. is not to blame for anything,i guess when you are a Earnhardt and you work for a Earnhardt company,then just maybe you get the benefit of the doubt.

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Interesting given that you just argued that a family run company has nothing to do with the team chemistry...

[Guest]

LAWDOG:

What I meant was that you need team chemistry with the driver,crew and crew chief,and yes you also need the owners.Seems Jr cant or doesnt relate well with Pete R. for whatever reason.D.E.I. I dont believe is going to fire Jr. when they can look for a crew chief that can work with him.Im sure it is part Jr.,but as I stated DEI is not going to fire a EARNHARDT,right or wrong.

[HOF#13]

Is there anyone here that honestly thinks that Jr. deserves to be let go as a driver? Let's see here....it's not working out with Jr. and Pete, who do we move? Pretty simple. Let's get serious. True, Jr. and the DEI organization as a whole are struggling. Right now they are a step behind the Hendrick and Rousch Teams, and they need to get it figured out. Quick.

The thing here is that lawdog likes to take shots at us Earnhardt fans whenever possible. The sad thing is, right now DEI is giving him ammunition. If good 'ol Jeffy boy was on his second crew chief of the season, us Earnhardt fans would be taking these same shots at lawdog and a couple of others here too.

Seriously though....I did find it interesting that Steve Hmiel said that there are going to be some big changes, such as each team will now have an open book policy for each other in terms of notes and trying to help each other out. I cannot imagine why that hasn't been the case from day one. The Hendrick and Rousch teams are prime examples of that, and how well it can work.

[lawdog]

I'm not at all saying Earnhardt should be fired as a driver. I'm just saying that Rondeau got a raw deal here in my opinion... I'm also saying that making decisions for a business/competitive venture based on blood is bad long term. And lastly, yes, I am having fun goating on the 8 fans!!! And when 8 fans do something as ridiciulous as vote in the #1 driver to the all star race just because he drives a DEI car, that's EASY pickins for making fun of!!!

[Guest]

Jr. will be back,and then nobody will want to pick on him. But I guess thats life.I guess when your real popular then the fans will vote you number one.Maybe because of the 3 car and for some maybe not.Have a Great weekend.

[Macgyver55]

I’ve been a Nascar fan for a lot of years. The sport has evolved quite a bit since I started following it in the mid eighties. There is very little “loyalty” left any more in most any of the teams, and but a handful that race for the love of racing. It’s all about the money, and it’s not just in Nascar. The “team” aspect is not nearly as strong as it used to be in my opinion. Name any team that won't dump a crew chief when things don't go as hoped. Better yet name a crew chief that won't bolt when a better offer comes along. Name any pro sports team that doesn't axe the coach when the team doesn't perform. Or, name a coach that won't do the dash when a bigger deal is offered elsewhere.

I'm not saying that Jr. is not to blame for anything either, but racing is a sport with so many variables that if even one isn’t right you probably won’t win. They have to control the things they can to win because so many of the variables cannot be controlled. Changing crew chiefs is way easier than changing drivers, ESPECIALLY when sponsors are involved. It is a sad fact of all sports, that they have all become a big money game. There are very few of us left that are still involved or who are spectators in racing, for love of the sport instead of the money.

[yaggie]

If the two DEI teams have not been sharing info I think they need to replace people higher up the food chain than the crew chief!

[Leader]

nepotism:disgust

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HUH? Was there a point to this? "nepotism:disgust" what does that even mean? What is digusting? I'm so confused...

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meaning, i was disappointed that you didn't seem to support the family working together fact.

was not meant to dis u.

my thoughts on their past success was, the team chemistry being Uncle Eury Sr and cousin Eury Jr and Dale Jr were all thinking on the same page. giving them a little performance advantage.

Jr has made huge sacrifices to help Michaels team get better.

Rondeau was only a 1 hit wonder as a crewchief and that was at daytona were DEI has a pretty good handle on the track.

it's not like their kicking him to the curb.

just kind of funny how some kick Jr,DEI and Martin Truex when their down, and their not even on their A game as of yet...just alot of [PoorWordUsage]ing and moaning surrounding Jr and DEI in general.

apparently this just proves the passion people have for the sport, and their favorite driver and team.

and Jr's not even my favorite driver.

not meant to ruffle any feathers. JMO.

[JohnMickish]

Jr. won't be back, unless they change the rules to facilitate his driving style, ie; big spoiler and wide fenders. Lots and lots of downforce. The reason I say this is look at who is running well this year and look at what they did before they ran in NNC. Dirt or late models with spec tires. These are the guys that can drive a car with and without downforce, aka "wheelmen". Jr. is not alone in this and I'm not really picking on him, I just don't feel he had the knowledge to drive the package that's there.

[Leader]

Quote:

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Jr. won't be back, unless they change the rules to facilitate his driving style, ie; big spoiler and wide fenders. Lots and lots of downforce.

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asinine.

what color is the sky in your world???

[JohnMickish]

It's blue in mine, how about yours? Read nascar.com today and look at Biffles interview. There is a serious lack of talent in the series right now. Jr. is good, but not great and Mikey is good at two tracks with great cars. If the world thought Mikey was good he would be in the 2 or 6 next year. Those two cars have no drivers for next year, cuz there isn't anyone that can win besides who is winning now.

Anyways Mr. leader, had you read the rest of my post, along with listening to Jr.'s interviews he complains constantly about this spoiler/tire package. He and his team can't figure it out, as evidenced by all the crewchief changes in the last year. Steve Hmeil was a great crewchief when he was with the 6, but there was a reason he was let go.....

DEI is not alone, I don't think Ganassi has a handle on this either, along with most other teams besides Rousch and Hendrick. RCR and Evernham are close to being there every week but the rest of the field with be fighting for 10th in the chase.

I'm not saying it's Dales fault and lord knows I wouldn't want to try and walk in the shadow he has to, but he's not his dad, and this isn't his dads NASCAR. I'm sure someday they will be competitive again, and Roush and Hendrick will have off years as well.

I also have to add in here that when Kyle Petty first came on the scene he was supposed to be the next great thing and won most of his races in the first few years of his career too. It's ok to not be your dad.

[JohnMickish]

If actions are worth more than words then Jr. just wrote a book on how not to win races.

"I didn't mean to get into him", yea, whatever.