Coming soon: a family reunion at the 8 car: the time apart will make the partnership between cousins Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Eury Jr. stronger

Sporting News, The, August 5, 2005 by Lee Spencer

Last December, as the world of NASCAR became refreshingly silent and it seemed that Silly Season had finally stalled, Dale Earnhardt Inc. announced that its marquee driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and his crew and car chiefs--Tony Eury Sr. and Tony Jr.--were parting ways.

Don't expect to wait as long for the reunion announcement. It's not a matter of whether the two Juniors--call them Junior squared--will work together in 2006--it's a matter of how soon the partnership will start.

Although not likely, it could happen this season if Earnhardt doesn't qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Tony and his cousin Dale appear quite sheepish when asked whether they will be together as driver and crew chief. Eury, known as "Stiffy," changes the subject. Earnhardt offers Junebugisms, such as: "There is definitely a lot to it that will be understood down the road as it all unfolds."

Hmmm.

What will unfold at DEI before next season is a major personnel overhaul. The 2006 season will be the first time since 2000 that Earnhardt hasn't raced with Michael Waltrip as his teammate. Earnhardt will miss him, but he will gain Martin Truex Jr., the defending Busch champion and current points leader.

DEI sources expect a friendly rivalry to develop between the two, elevating both of their performances. Until DEI receives word on whether NAPA will sponsor the No. 15 without Waltrip, a third team is on hold.

Earnhardt isn't ready to go public with a new partnership with Eury, who is Waltrip's crew chief this season. Earnhardt has worked with his latest crew through transitions to two very different crew chiefs and doesn't want to jeopardize what he has right now, especially with the momentum his team gained in July. Earnhardt has climbed from 18th to 14th in points since Sonoma.

"The rest, we'll talk about all of that at the end of the season," he says. "We're just getting my (stuff) going, and I don't want to have to worry about any of that."

Fair enough. In the past seven months, the new No. 8 crew has endured the wrath of the other side of Earnhardt Nation. Earnhardt, 30, has been puzzled about how quickly some fans turned on him and the team. Spectators yelled obscenities and spit on and threw objects at crew members.

Still, they stood by their man--and were rewarded with the sweet taste of victory at Chicago, the type of 1.5-mile track that Earnhardt had struggled on for the past year. The week before at Daytona, Driver 8 complimented Eury Jr. for helping his team devise a setup. Earnhardt reiterated that point at New Hampshire, where he finished ninth.

After Earnhardt limped back to the hauler at New Hampshire, the victim of a newly installed car seat, Eury was waiting. It appeared to be like old times: How did your day go? How was the car? Same questions, different season.

Steve Hmiel has been a great interim crew chief, but his talents would be best used in DEI's developmental program. There's only one man for the No. 8 crew chief job, and that's Tony Eury Jr.

speed reads

NASCAR can never allow a fan vote to disrupt the natural selection of the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Performance, not popularity, should be the only factor in deciding Chase participants. If popularity becomes a factor, NASCAR would lose all credibility.

No one should criticize Mark Martin if he puts off retirement and returns in 2006: If Jamie McMurray is held to his contract at Chip, Ganassi Racing for another year. Martin's presence would provide continuity for the

Even though some rumors have surfaced, don't expect Dave Blaney to leave Richard Childress acing any time soon. A victory would squelch the speculation. 91aney is well-liked by Childress and his sponsor, and he gets along with everyone--including teammate Kevin Harvick.

INSIDE DISH

NASCAR is contemplating revamping its testing procedures for 2006. Under the proposal, each manufacturer would receive six two-day tests at tracks that have Nextel Cup races. For example, the Chevrolet drivers would test on the same days at the same six places, the Ford drivers at presumably a slightly different six and the Dodge drivers at six. The tracks would have to be agreed upon by the owners of that brand. The current policy allows teams five two-day tests wherever they want, whenever they want. Daytona still would be mandatory for all teams. The goal of the change is twofold: to cut down on the costs and to allow teams time to prepare for the car of the future, which is expected to make its debut in 2007. Goodyear would have engineering support on hand and sign out tires at the tests. Teams still would be allowed to test at tracks that don't have Cup races, but current tires would not be available. * NASCAR tested the prototype of the car of the future in the wind tunnel last week. The most dramatic change is a larger cockpit. The bodies will be completely different, according to series director John Darby. * Mark Martin is prepared to stay in the No. 6 in 2006 if necessary, but it's not his first choice. When he was joined by pole sitter Jamie McMurray during the postqualifying news conference last week, Martin was asked whether he would race in a Cup car next season at Pocono. Martin said he wished he knew. McMurray, who is signed to drive the No. 6 in 2007, replied: "I wish I knew, too: It was reported later that Chip Ganassi Racing had picked up McMurray's option for 2006, keeping him in the No. 42 car, but that didn't end the speculation about where McMurray will be next season. This situation could cause some drivers to seek contracts that don't have owner options. * Speaking of Roush drivers, 2003 champion Matt Kenseth, who wrecked McMurray at New Hampshire, said on Sunday's NBC prerace show from Pocono that he might be teammates with Mac in 2007 and he might not. Kenseth wasn't happy to learn about McMurray's future arrival at Roush on the Internet. * The Cup teams are off this weekend, and many drivers will race in this weekend's Wallace Family Tribute 250 at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis--including Rusty, Mike and Kenny Wallace. Parents Russ and Judy Wallace will be the grand marshals. Rusty, who is retiring after this season, will make his debut at his hometown track, where he tested for the first time last week. * Kudos to MB2 for getting Joe Nemechek's contract signed before his availability became a public issue. Nemechek says his relationship with crew chief Ryan Pemberton and the strength of his cars made the decision a no-brainer. * Among women drivers Erin Crocker has to be the frontrunner for a Nextel Cup ride. Crocker, 24, scored her second ARCA top five on Saturday at Pocono. She also has two poles and three top 10s. Evernham Motorsports will put Crocker in a Busch race in September, possibly at Richmond.