Saturday, November 25, 2017

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Biggest #NASCAR Career Regret

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Biggest #NASCAR Career Regret

"I can't think of anyone who has impacted my career and development as a driver more than Tony Sr.," Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Biggest #NASCAR Career Regret

After the six-win Monster Energy NASCAR Series Season (2004), Earnhardt Jr. made a move he has since admitted was a big mistake.  Up until that point, Dale’s uncle, Tony Eury Sr., was his crew chief. But, coming off the successful season Earnhardt Jr. decided he wanted to make a change and move on to a different crew chief.

“I regret that,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “That’s probably my biggest [regret] in motorsports as a driver, was that decision because it did nothing and it made our relationship a challenge to repair. Like I say, we’d won a lot of races together and he had been a big reason why I even got in the XFINITY car to begin with. He was my biggest supporter and we had won so many races together.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Biggest #NASCAR Career Regret

At the end of the 2004 season, Eury Sr., known as "Pops," was “promoted” to a team management position within Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI). After parting ways with Eury, Junior wouldn’t have a multi-win season for the next nine years. He won once in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2012. The years 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 garnered no Cup wins!

About his younger self throwing away a good thing, Earnhardt Jr. said, “I got confused there a while thinking that I knew better than anyone else what was best for me.”

"I can't think of anyone who has impacted my career and development as a driver more than Tony Sr.," said Earnhardt reported at the time. "I know my dad ultimately put me in the Nationwide Series car back in the '90s, but Tony Sr. was the one who convinced him to do it.

"Tony Sr. was with me through two Nationwide Series championships (1998 and 1999) and five full seasons as a Cup driver. We won a lot of races together, and as much as he impacted my career as a race car driver, he means more to me on a personal level. He's done a lot for this organization, and I thank him for it."

At one point in his career, Tony Eury, Sr., was working for NASCAR Royalty at DEI with drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Michael Waltrip, Steve Park and many others. Eventually, he pulled back from the sport that made him famous to take time to himself with his family, but more recently, his path has led him back to stock car racing. The cars are less restrictive and considerably more fun to work on. view.

 

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