Post by dalejrfan on Jun 30, 2005 19:36:34 GMT -5
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Director of Competition Tony Eury, Sr. admitted Thursday that the team’s decision over the winter to switch teams and cars between drivers Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Michael Waltrip might be a mistake.
Eury also said he didn’t think DEI Technical Director Steve Hmiel, who’s been doing double-duty as Earnhardt’s crew chief since mid-May, will remain in that position next year.
“I guess we made a bad move over the winter, and our cars down there in the No. 8 shop weren’t as good as we thought they were,” Eury said. “When you got something good, I guess you should leave it alone. We won six races with him last year, maybe we should have left it alone, I don’t know.”
Eury, who served as crew chief for Earnhardt last year, said he didn’t know who was responsible for ordering the team swap.
“I can’t really tell you,” he said. “All I know is I was called in Monday after (the season-ending race at) Homestead and was told that Teresa wanted me to be director of motorsports. I’ve been there 20 years and I work for her, so whatever she wanted me to do, that’s what I do.”
Elsewhere on the Earnhardt front, Eury said Hmiel will likely go back to his old duties as DEI tech director next year and not serve a double role as Earnhardt’s crew chief.
“I don’t think Steve’ll be back,” Eury said. The problem we’ve got with Steve running that team right now is that Steve’s job’s not getting done … at the capacity it needs to get done, either. We took a lot away from the company by moving him down there, but at the time we didn’t really have another choice.”
As for Earnhardt’s ever-dimmer chances of making the NASCAR Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship, Eury said, “He’s going to have to run good. He’s gotta to go win some races if he wants to get in it.”
But Earnhardt so far not only hasn’t won a race this year, he’s only led a total of five laps in the first 16 races. “When you get behind like that, it takes time to catch up,” Eury said.
speedtv.com/articles/auto/nascar/17931/
Eury also said he didn’t think DEI Technical Director Steve Hmiel, who’s been doing double-duty as Earnhardt’s crew chief since mid-May, will remain in that position next year.
“I guess we made a bad move over the winter, and our cars down there in the No. 8 shop weren’t as good as we thought they were,” Eury said. “When you got something good, I guess you should leave it alone. We won six races with him last year, maybe we should have left it alone, I don’t know.”
Eury, who served as crew chief for Earnhardt last year, said he didn’t know who was responsible for ordering the team swap.
“I can’t really tell you,” he said. “All I know is I was called in Monday after (the season-ending race at) Homestead and was told that Teresa wanted me to be director of motorsports. I’ve been there 20 years and I work for her, so whatever she wanted me to do, that’s what I do.”
Elsewhere on the Earnhardt front, Eury said Hmiel will likely go back to his old duties as DEI tech director next year and not serve a double role as Earnhardt’s crew chief.
“I don’t think Steve’ll be back,” Eury said. The problem we’ve got with Steve running that team right now is that Steve’s job’s not getting done … at the capacity it needs to get done, either. We took a lot away from the company by moving him down there, but at the time we didn’t really have another choice.”
As for Earnhardt’s ever-dimmer chances of making the NASCAR Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship, Eury said, “He’s going to have to run good. He’s gotta to go win some races if he wants to get in it.”
But Earnhardt so far not only hasn’t won a race this year, he’s only led a total of five laps in the first 16 races. “When you get behind like that, it takes time to catch up,” Eury said.
speedtv.com/articles/auto/nascar/17931/