Sunday, September 5th "What If" Question

Being the son of a seven-time champion has been both a blessing and a curse for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Early in his career Earnhardt Jr. could lean heavily on his father to guide him in the right direction or be there to praise him when the younger Earnhardt accomplish something.

In 1998 and 1999 it was two Nationwide Series championships and in 2000 it was his first two career Sprint Cup wins. After Earnhardt Sr. died in 2001, Earnhardt Jr. continued to find victory lane on one or two occasions a year before breaking out in 2004. Led by Tony Eury Sr., the No. 8 Budweiser team won six races, including the Daytona 500, and was in the hunt for the championship until the final few races.

After ending the season fifth in points the company made the decision to switch everything but the drivers on the No. 8 team of Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 15 of Michael Waltrip in hopes of improving Waltrip's performance. It didn't work as both teams struggled in 2005 and missed the Chase.

During that period Earnhardt Jr. went through three different crew chiefs: Pete Rondeau, Steve Hmiel (whom led him to the only victory of the season) and then Tony Eury Jr. returned atop the pit box. The team rebounded in 2006 to win a single race and make the Chase before things went downhill again in 2007. After another season of missing the Chase and things with step-mother Teresa becoming worse, Earnhardt Jr. decided to leave his father's team.

Now with Hendrick Motorsports Earnhardt Jr. again finds himself struggling after coming out of the box strong in 2008. He's on his second crew chief, Eury Jr. went to work at JR Motorsports, but things with Lance McGrew haven't gotten any better. He'll miss the Chase for the third time since it's inception in 2004 and it's leaving fans frustrated and confused of how things have gotten to this point.

Everyone seems to have their own thoughts on what should be changed in order to fix the No. 88 team...

But...

After winning six races in 2004, DEI made the decision to switch crews for Dale Jr. and Michael Waltrip. Upon doing so both teams started to run horribly, Dale Jr. went through numerous crew chiefs, missed the Chase in '05 and '07 and eventually left DEI. What if the crews where never switched, would Dale Jr. still have started to run bad and now be with HMS?

@mbauerherzog I think Jr would have ran better but still left DEI.

@nathanmedic Great one, Kelly! I say he wud have had more success that yr, but still have eventually left DEI. That just sped it up.

@RedChevy14 Considering their 2006 performance and then the '07 problems its hard to say whether '05 affected it or not.

@smokinace88 To me I don't think Junior ever got over his crash in 04 when the car was on fire. I think he had a brush with death and he hasn't been the same since but lately I've noticed old Junior coming back

@Emily_988 I think his performance still would have dropped off but not as much as it did. I think he still would have left DEI because it wasn't just a performance issue that caused that.

@norcocheermom I don't think we would even know because it's a what if! And it really doesn't matter because it's a what if!

@dougthethird No. Junior was at his best with Pops has his CC. I STILL think that's the solution to Junior's woes. Would he have left DEI? I don't know. The issues ran deeper than on-track performance. But if he did, he wouldve taken Pops and Eury Jr. Full disclosure: I'm a Junior fan

@DarlingtonChick Not sure. But CC/driver combos R critical. Check out DJ w/o Parrott, Kenseth w/o Reiser, JG w/o Evernham, Newman w/o Borland. As fans, we gravitate toward the drivers because of their 'courage'. Our loyalties may be misplaced. CC's the true stars. Honestly, for me the Dale Jr problem is more about the COT than anything else. Dale Jr's the success on the track, was all pre-COT. Yes.... so you make a crew chief change which creates an issue then you make a huge racecar change. #SnowballEffect. Plus he wasn't getting along with the team owner. I guess I'm saying I think it's a fustercluck of problems.
My point. Awesome discussion!

@birdwisperer Thought Jr. Had hit a dry spot @ the end of the season as well as mike needing help???

@SD80MAC I don't think switching crew chiefs made a bit of difference. After the bad crash and fire that Junior had that year, I think that hurt his driving skills.

@kaobose Jr's relationship with Teresa is why he left. Jr, his siblings felt like they had stake in DEI, when she slammed door he left. I don't think so Kelly. Earnhardt clan was VERY family oriented til Sr. died. After that things went down hill. I've had business dealings with Teresa, she's a bitch!

@phathead You should know the correct response is: "JUNNNNNNNNNORRRRRRRR"