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Posted on 11/21/2008 5:30:10 PM PST by WestCoastGal
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News re: Jr - Hendrick etc. I don’t think anyone on the current thread is interested so I’m placing it here. Jade was Jr’s PR guy for many years and traveled to every track and other events with him. Mike Davis is his current PR guy.
Jade Gurss was on Sirius Tradin Paint with Chocolate Myers this morning............
Jade prefaced any comments he made by saying he doesn’t want to come across as making all these comments without knowing all the internal goings on. He is a little hesitant to make too many profound statements because he is not involved in it day to day. Jade said there is no question Jr and the team have been struggling and there are no real easy answers. Someone like Rick Hendrick is a brilliant guy and if there was an easy answer, they would definitely made what ever changes and adjustments to solve the problems. He is a little hesitant to give a full run down as to what he thinks is happening. Some of the mysteries he would like to know more about too. Jade said Jr seems to miss his pit stall so often. In years past, that occasionally had been an issue. Dale Jr and Tony Jr talked so much during yellows that sometimes one or the other was on the radio and the spotter was not able to count Jr in. He doesn’t know if that has been the case this year. He said it certainly seems like it is happening more often than it should and it has to be gut wrenching to continue to see the same problem week in and week out.
Chocolate Myers then said he has been talking about this for a while now and he thinks they have to make some changes. He does like the combination of Dale Jr and Tony Jr and the fact that they know each other better than anyone but he thinks the organization needs to make changes to give these guys a fresh start and a breath of fresh air. Jade agreed but he doesn’t know what it would be. Jade said he has been struggling with everyone to really look at it objectively and try to come up with a pinpoint or reason. These two have been together for a long time. They didn’t win 18 races by accident. [NOTE: Eury Sr was with him for most of those] There is definitely talent and the ability to win races together. It is a mystery to Jade how it seems consistently go sour as the races progress.
Jade was asked if he thinks the 88 team can turn things around in Charlotte and Jade said he hopes so. They had always run well at Charlotte and the irony is they always hit a summer slump at places like Pocono and Sonoma and have historically struggled there. That is his concern. They come through a stretch historically where they should have done well at Dega, Richmond and places like that. Both Jrs have been good there so it is a bit of a concern Jade said. The fact that you only have 26 races now to make or break the Chase. That is more pressure. You have to make decisions quicker than in years past. He would agree with Chocolate that there is not a lot of time left to make any adjustments if you are going to do something.
Chocolate said that Mark Martin said Jr has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He then asked Jade if Jr starts running better does TV ratings go up. Jade said he would think so and said he has heard it called the Tiger Woods effect. When Tiger is not in a tournament, TV ratings go down for golf. He does think there is some of that weight on Jr’s shoulders to start doing well and re-energize the fans that he has more of than any other driver. Jade said there are 43 drivers out there but there is one guy that is more popular than most. It is like people tuning in to see Michael Jordan play that ordinarily would not tune in a NBA game. It was sort of the same effect in the era that Jordan was playing. He would agree with that it is one of the factors that is playing into the TV ratings.
Jade was asked about Jr’s concentration and focus. He said he always found that interesting. Although the appearance is that Jr has an immense number of things going from owning his own team to his other endeavors, Jade does not think that once the race weekend starts anyone is much more focused than Jr. That was never really something Jade said he publicized a lot. Once Jr gets to his motorcoach at the track, he is fully focused. He rarely does appearances or goes out during the race weekend. He is there to do his job and is very focused and that includes having a very tightly scheduled and planned weekend from the time he arrives until the time he leaves. He has one main focus and that is being in the race car and doing well when the green flag falls. Jade said he has always found Jr to be able to handle whatever external pressures there are. Once the green flag falls, Jr’s mind is on the race and not on anything else.
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There have been other miscues throughout the year. Among them: Earnhardt had a speeding penalty on pit road at Las Vegas, and missed his pit stall in a Nationwide race at Talladega.
It has happened enough to go from coincidence to troubling trend. Now even team owner Rick Hendrick is looking into Earnhardt’s pit-road troubles.
“Everytime we have a problem like that, there’s a reason it happened,’’ Hendrick said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “We’re focused on that, too.
“Sometimes you try so hard you make more mistakes, and we’ve got a lot of people committed to doing better. So let’s see what happens in the next few weeks.’’
That’s the timetable Hendrick said the 88 team will have before he considers making any significant changes.
“We’re really working hard and we’re trying,’’ Hendrick said. “Right now, we’re satisfied with what we’ve got. We’ve added some people and we’re doing some things differently. They were our best team early on last year and then some of our guys went in a different direction and now we’re having to take Junior’s team into some of the set-ups and things some of the other guys are using. I think we’re going to get there.
“I know everybody’s impatient. I’m impatient. I’m by nature a little bit of a procrastinator. And until I can see that we’ve done everything we can, the last thing I want to do is tear something down because it’s been good before. ... I’m doing everything I can do right now. Hopefully, after the next two or three races, we’re going to see big improvement.’’
Hendrick to return after brief illness
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Sidelined the past several weeks by a fast-spreading sinus infection, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick plans to return to the track this weekend after a five-race absence.
Hendrick has not been to the track since Jimmie Johnson helped his boss celebrate his 25th anniversary in NASCAR with a March 29th victory at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. He skipped the next two events, races in Texas and Phoenix, for personal and business reasons.
Then he was stricken with a sinus infection that spread to both his chest and ears, keeping him away from the track another three races. He needed tubes inserted in both ears to fight the infection.
“They say the tubes are for kids, so I guess I’m a 59-year-old kid with ear infections,” he said Tuesday. “I’ve got a weak immune system, and this infection just jumped on me. I was a sick puppy there for about three weeks. But I am much better, feeling more like myself.”
Hendrick’s immune system was weakened by a long, but successful, fight with leukemia 12 years ago.
“If I am not careful, I get knocked on my butt,” said Hendrick, who spent more than four hours with employees Tuesday passing out the championship rings from Johnson’s third title.
The illness kept Hendrick away from wins by Jeff Gordon at Texas, and Mark Martin in Phoenix and Darlington, S.C.
Gordon snapped a 47-race winless streak, the longest of his career, with his Texas win. Martin’s Phoenix victory was his first win since 2005, and his first since joining Hendrick Motorsports at the start of this season.
Hendrick watched all the races he missed on TV, admittedly screaming at his set and often second-guessing strategy through text messages to team vice president Doug Duchardt. He then called his drivers in Victory Lane, a scene often caught on live television that drew attention to his absence.
“It just gets to me not being there. I want to be there with the guys, and I hate that I missed the celebration with Mark and Jeff,” he said. “There were a couple of times I didn’t feel like watching the race at all, and I am sure there were times when Doug Duchardt was wishing I wasn’t watching. I was driving him crazy with all the texting.”
Hendrick said he’ll ease back into at-track activities with the All-Star race this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, where he traditionally celebrates Charlotte Speedweeks by treating employees from both his motorsports and automotive programs to weekends at the track.
“I’m going to be over there, but I’m going to try to take it easy,” he said. “I’ve learned with my immune system that when I push to go back (to work), I get in trouble.”
— Jenna Fryer
One thing that shouldn't be left off is the quality of the machine -- engine performance, set up, and adjustments during the races. In fact, that is the primary reason for the difficulties -- IMHO -- and most of the other issues flow from there... Jr becomes pressured and pit row problems follow.
To go further and ask the question: did Jr have as good a car as JJ and MM and Flash in the last several weeks? Everyone knows that KB has had a superior machine this season, and absent debris and tire failures would be in the top couple in pts. How come Jr doesn't have the best? esp. since I happen to think he is the bestest driver. :-)
That ‘other’ shop has always been famous for not having the best stuff. Remember the 25 car and even the 5 when shrub was there. He had a lot of trouble and nowhere near the success he’s had at Gibbs.
Mr H is going to have to solve this or as he said in the initial interview when they announced Jr moving over there - he will be blamed for this.
Listening to Jr’s radio during the race I hear him complain about the bumpstops and the car rolling over on the front more than anything. Somethings wrong in the spring/bumpstop area which affects the handling on the car. This whole thing has become so frustrating for team 88 that they are making errors every week.
They need to all go to a track and practice, let Jr drive the other 3 cars with their crewchief and see how that goes. Sitting back every week and wishing and hoping ain’t gonna get it done.
Hendrick watched all the races he missed on TV, admittedly screaming at his set and often second-guessing strategy through text messages to team vice president Doug Duchardt
lol...........
Sounds like me, only I had no one to text message to.
Personally I think Jr and Jr need to split and have thought that ever since Jr came to Hendricks. No disrespect to either one.
You should hear me during the hockey play-offs! :)
They did fine the beginning of last year, that is until the car chief Darien Grubb went to SHR. And he seems to be doing fine over there as is Tony Gibson.
I think it’s a communication issue on set-ups, maybe too much is taken for granted between them, maybe not, but that’s my thoughts anyway.
I do know the best drivers are able to seem to have better set-ups going in and continuously improve during the race. Even if they miss at first, they get better as the laps roll on.
Ditto’s
WAY TO GO JIMMIE!! WOOO HOOO!!
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