What's your opinion of Dale Jr.'s company switch?

Question

Do you think things will go better or worse for him in the next five years than they have in the past, and why?

I personally don't know what to think--I've always been a Dale Sr. fan, and supported his son for his sake (and still might) but I wondered what other opinions there were. I think if nothing else, he'll have the equipment to prove himself with--we'll find out whether DEi was really the problem or not. :-)

Answer 1

Hendrick didn't make this move for Jr. to finish mediocre. They are gonna do everything they can to get him a championship next year. It means big bucks for the team and big bucks for NASCAR to have Jr. win his first championship. Johnson and Gordon will also push him and make him bring his A game every race. I'm sure a lot of Jr. fans are not happy with this move but did he really have much of a choice? There was just no way the DEI issues were going to be resolved and he was just tired of the distractions. Now he can just concentrate on racing.

Answer 2

Jr was left with no choice. The wicked step mother was not keeping up with the Smith's and wouldn't do what it took so he left.
Makes perfect sense to me. I hope you are OK with this answer it has been asked and answered many many times. And no he didn't sell his soul. He is a racer and wants to win and that just was happening where he was. Year by year DEI fell farther behind the rest of the top teams.
One thing that I don't like though is that your Hendricks team has everything. I am worried that the bashing of this bunch hasn't seen nothing yet. I personally will still not root for the JJ, JG nothing will change there. I am just so afraid that they may just dominate the entire season. Hope not but it wouldn't surprise me and then you know what will happen? That goofy punk butt munching Brian " I am going to run this series that my grandaddy and Dad spent a life time building into the ground" France will come up with some other assinine type non sense rule.

Answer 3

I'm all for it. The way DEI's been going downhill for the last couple years, I'd either want more say or bail too. Now Jr will have a car that can get him to the front and keep him up there, not get into the top-5 or top-10 and then blow a motor. Besides Jr's track record after bad years isn't too shabby.
2000-16th
2001-8th
2002-11th
2003-3rd
2005-19th
2006-5th
So you see Jr can bounce back from bad years quite well.
The one thing people tend to forget is that the Earnhardt connection to HMS goes back a long time. Dale and Tony Eury Jr's grandfather was one of the first employees of HMS, Dale Sr. won HMS's first race, Sr recommended a young driver(and mentored) to Rick Hendrick back in the early 90's, who's done nothing for HMS other than win 81 races and 4 championships. With HMS Jr can get back to his 2000-2004 form when he won 15 of his 17 races. Yes I know a lot of people would've loved to see him go to RCR but he wants to get out of his father's shadow. But after all the babbling yes it will go better for him at HMS.

Answer 4

A good move for both Jr. and Hendrick. Both will make mountains of money. Jr should make the chase and win 2 or 3 races in 2008 if he doesnt it will be Jrs. Fault not Rick Hendrick MY REASON FOR SAYING THIS---Simple- after yestersyas season ending race all 4 HMS Drivers-Johnson--Gordon--Bush AND MEARS ended up ahead of Dale Jr in the final POINT STANDINGS!!!!! So if Jr doesnt Perform and win it will be his fault ONLY!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

After the year he has had with DEI I am thanking God Hendrick and him made a deal. I couldn't take another year like this one.

Rick himself said he thinks Dale will start the year off being competitive. I agree. He may not win the first few but I think he will do a lot better than he did this season.

Answer 6

I'm just glad to see Junior get all the monkey's off his back. He will have Tony Eury Jr. with him too. I think he will do just fine at Hendricks...Junior is his own man & already told Rick Hendrick he's a blue jeans type of guy & wants to stay that way. I doubt you'll see him become a "yes" guy. Once he's settled in & the season starts...Junior will be just fine. Out of all the shadows so to speak. Yes..he will win races..the Championship, probably not for a year or two...but he will win one or more. The pressure n the b/s are gone now. All he has to do is drive just like he wants to do. Who knows...he might just surprise a lot of people next year.

Answer 7

I don't think he can have a worse year than this one! After adjusting to the changes I hope he does well! I will not be as big a fan of his after this year because he will now be an HMS driver. I would have felt better if he had went anywhere but HMS! Good Luck to Him!!!

Answer 8

I think it is a good move for Jr. The only thing is that he isn't a "company yes" man. He has respect for his team mates but the bottom line for Jr. is that he wants to win. It just makes me wonder what is going to happen if he is asked to back off and play nice by Rick Hendrick.

Answer 9

first problem in this situation is he is getting the 25s junk how well have they been?

second problem is tony jr has he won more than 5 races with him as a crew chief not likely

i see him running mid teens most of the year right were his talent puts him

Answer 10

I'm sure he will be competitive..He has had one awful yr..Jr fans have had a hard yr.. He should be competitive, and win some races and make the chase.. I would have took that #8 and gave it to the gators after that second crash, and would have gone on my way to the Hendrick shop...ready for 2008.. Yes things should be looking up for Jr next yr..Its sad he had to leave but, he wants a chance to win races and a championship..

Go Dale Jr & Hms in 2008