| The Autism Speaks 400 at Dover, Delaware was the | | | | research and development at Hendrick. |
| first race for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and his new crew | | | | The crisis has been such that Rick Hendrick did not |
| chief Lance McGrew. Not only did Autism Speak, but | | | | just change crew chiefs. The removal of Eury was |
| so did the future of the Amp team and the future | | | | one thing, but the replacements speak volumes. Two |
| looks much brighter than it did just one week ago. | | | | of the top chassis developers for Hendrick were |
| A quick recap of the soap opera that has surrounded | | | | brought on board with Lance McGrew becoming the |
| the Amp team. Junior left the fading DEI team to come | | | | focal point as the crew chief of the team. For a man |
| to Hendrick a year and a half ago. Hendrick is of | | | | who admittedly doesn't like the spotlight, it had to be a |
| course the home of Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and | | | | one way conversation with Hendrick to make it |
| the best cars in NASCAR. Putting Junior with the team | | | | happen. |
| was the recipe for championships and glory. Ah, not | | | | Well, this is one form of change that might be working |
| exactly. In fact, the combination has been a disaster. | | | | nicely. It is easy to overact after just one race, but the |
| Junior has never looked less competitive. | | | | results in the Autism Speaks 400 were tremendous. |
| The vast majority of criticism has been directed at | | | | The Amp team suddenly looked like one of the other |
| Tony Eury, Jr. The long time cousin and crew chief for | | | | Hendrick teams. Junior came from as far back as 30th |
| Junior quickly became the scapegoat for the poor | | | | to run in third place for a stretch. He faded to 12th at |
| results. Despite having racked up wins and success | | | | the finish, but that wasn't bad considering the goal was |
| over the years, he suddenly became a dolt who had | | | | to finish in the top 20 going into the race. |
| never seen a car before much less figured out how to | | | | So, is all well know with the Amp team? Nobody |
| set one up. After months of wailing, the fans go their | | | | knows. The future, however, looks brighter than it did |
| wish. Eury, Jr., was sent packing last week when he | | | | just a week ago when Junior ran 40th at the Coca |
| was taken off the Amp team and moved into | | | | Cola 400. |