Extra large size 600 test for Earnhardt Jr and the Bud crew

With all the talk of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s contract negotiations, the racing part of the Budweiser number 8 story has seemed almost an after thought.

The Coke 600 starts a six race stretch during which Junior will have to climb back into the top twelve without having his cousin, Tony Eury Jr. around to help much.

Jenna Fryer had some nice stuff about current events in the Earnhardt stable.  Dale Jr. doesn't seem worried.

Tony Gibson, a former crew chief at DEI who is now Junior's car chief, will call the shots for the next six weeks, and Earnhardt said he has faith in his leadership.

``I feel very, very confident that he knows me well,'' Earnhardt said. ``We've worked together and get along great. He came over last week and we talked a little about it and we pumped ourselves up some. That helps a lot.

``We shouldn't have any issues at all. I feel confident we'll run as good as we should and Tony Jr. will be very proud of what we've been able to do once he gets back.''

I asked Tuesday ON PIT ROW guest, Larry McReynolds, if he thought that securing the right crew chief might not be as important to Earnhardt's future success at his new home as where and with whom that home might be.

Larry's take was that before Tony Eury Jr. came back to run the #8 team, Junior was able to and did, run roughshod on his team.  Larry is not convinced that Tony Gibson will be able to tell Jr. to "shut up and drive the car" as well as Tony.  McReynolds said that Dale Jr. is very much like his father in this regard and it takes the right sort of personality to manage them to their best effect.

Fans of Earnhardt Jr. and the red number 8 better hope that Gibson has what it takes. 

Picture credit: Racing milestones

Comments

[Vroom!]

The next 6 races are the make it, break it for Junior in 2007. I would like to see him make the chase in the year he's exiting DEI.

[michael]

From his qualifying effort things seem insync

[charlie]

The difficulty, if they have any, probably comes after some misfortune or mistake during races. The 600 is the longest of all, with perhaps the most opportunity for both. Should be a good test.

[Michael]

I like JR and think he will do fine. He did qualify good adn hopefully he can do good through the 600 miles. Gibson should do good as well.