Somebody please explain this to me. It seems that these ludicrous Dale Jr. to RCR rumors have come up every year since he made the decision to leave DEI after the 2007 season. I realize that Jr. has only a single points paying win since joining Hendrick Motorsports, and things haven’t gone well at times this season, but a move to RCR just isn’t going to happen. Let me say that again for effect. Dale Jr. IS NOT going to RCR.
So far this season, Jr. has one top five and three top tens in 12 starts. Following a tough race at Dover, he currently sits 16th in the standings. It’s interesting to note though, that while he is 16th, he is only 43 points out of 12th.
As a whole, this season may not quite be up to the standards that some of Jr. Nation would expect out of their favorite driver. What it is though, is a marked improvement over last season. His average start is almost ten positions better then it was last season, and his average finish is up almost seven positions. The stats don’t lie.
I realize that it’s very easy to look at Hendrick Motorsports and see that Dale Jr. just hasn’t performed like his teammates. Mark Martin has won some races and run well since coming over, Jeff Gordon is a perennial front runner, and Jimmie Johnson is, well, Jimmie Johnson. Fans see all that success and they expect that Jr. should be doing everything they are doing.
What they don’t realize though, is Jr. is trying to dig himself out of a hole that, it could be argued, was about three years in the making. He is also trying to learn how to work with only the second crew chief of his career with whom he doesn’t share blood. Neither are going to be easy to overcome, or fix overnight.
While it might not be easy to see, Jr. is making progress with Lance McGrew. I know some of you may not like his style, or the fact that he doesn’t have the #88 winning yet, but he is slowly turning the program around. Like I said before, the stats don’t lie.
Now, the monkey wrench that some of you seem to think will free Dale Jr. of his troubles at HMS is Kasey Kahne. Obviously if Martin is staying in the #5 for 2011, Hendrick needs to find a spot for Kahne before he takes over for Martin in 2012. And while it might seem very tidy for HMS to let Jr. walk so they can bring Kahne in, that spot is not in the #88. The notion that NASCAR will somehow not allow Hendrick to farm out Kahne for next season to another team because it violates the four team limit is ridiculous. If Jack Roush can figure out how to control eight Ford teams, Hendrick can find a spot for Kasey Kahne. I don’t care how much the other owners might complain. Whether it’s a third Stewart Haas car, or some other arrangement, this will get worked out.
Still not convinced that an improving Jr. who isn’t being pushed out by Kasey Kahne won’t be let go by HMS?
Let us not forget that the reigning seven (consecutive) time Most Popular Driver is a cash cow, whether he runs well or not. While some of Jr. Nation may have converted to other drivers over the last few seasons, the power of the group is still very strong. Hendrick will never have any problem finding a slew of suitors to sponsor Jr.’s racing efforts. That fact alone would still make him the most sought after driver if he were to become a free agent again.
I also want to point out that there is absolutely no guarantee that Jr.’s problems would be solved by going to Childress and jumping behind the wheel of a Goodwrench sponsored, black #3 Chevrolet. If anything, it would only add to the already monumental pressure this guy has on his shoulders just having the name “Earnhardt.” At some point we just need to let Dale Jr. be his own person. Visions of the #3 returning to the track and once again dominating like it did for so many years, need to remain just that – visions.
So, I’m going on the record right now. There will be no Hendrick defection. Hendrick won’t push Dale Jr. out in favor of Kasey Kahne. In 2011 Jr. will be right where he is right now; behind the wheel of the #88 Amp/National Guard Chevrolet. (And when these rumors resurface next season, I’m going to run this exact post again. Bet on it.)
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