Earnhardt Jr. Wants Changes, and He's Grumbling Loudly

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a history of getting things done at NASCAR. On Sunday he was frustrated with the handling of the new Car of Tomorrow at the Jim Stewart 400 at Richmond International Raceway, and if he has his way there will be some changes made.

People who matter have generally listened when Earnhardt Jr. complained, but some of his griping may be falling on deaf ears this time. Besides complaining about the Car of Tomorrow's handling, he also complained that the Richmond International Raceway track wasn't sealed.

After Sunday's race in front of some 80,000 fans, Earnhardt Jr. was frustrated with his 13th place finish and promptly let his feelings be known. At a testing session Monday morning he aired his complaints.

According to Associated Press Reporter Mike Cranston's article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Earnhardt Jr. called on NASCAR to do something about the way the new cars turn and handle. Cranston reports that Earnhardt Jr. said, "It's going to take some time to figure it out, but right now it's about the most frustrating thing I've had to deal with in this sport, and I've had to deal with some pretty frustrating things. Everyone is struggling with getting the cars to turn. Even when you're running in second or third position, you're just the best of the worst cars out there," he said. "Nobody's cars were that fun to drive. You're just trying to be the guy with the least amount of problems when it comes to handling and that seems to get you toward the front."

According to the Tribune article, car owner Ray Evernham believes much of Earnhardt Jr's griping stems from Jimmie Johnson's winning the race. That win gave Hendrick Motorsports four wins in as many races with the Car of Tomorrow. Hendrick has won seven of the past eight Nextel Cup races and swept all four races in which NASCAR has used its new car. Earnhardt Jr. hasn't done that well; he's finished seventh, fifth, 19th, and now 13th, suggesting to some that Earnhardt's troubled disposition is more about Hendrick's dominance than the Car of Tomorrow.

"What changes would he make?" asked Evernham. "You can't just sit there and (complain) at NASCAR. I say don't make changes - let us figure it out. I think that Dale Jr. and those guys are probably in the same boat that we are: spread too thin and what used to work doesn't work anymore."

The Car of Tomorrow will be used again next weekend at Darlington. Earnhardt Jr's comment about the upcoming race was: "I'll be just trying to keep it off the fence. I think it'll be hard not to hit the wall. The way these things get tight, it'll be hard and slow, real slow. Very, very frustrating. Really, really, really frustrating."

The Car of Tomorrow has been in the making for the past seven years. Its purpose was to bring a safer vehicle to the race, resulting in more side-by-side racing and easier passing. It is also intended to be a fiscal improvement because it has a detachable wing and adjustable splitter, which allows teams to use the same car on all tracks. The chances of major changes any time soon aren't likely.

Sources:

Minneapolis Star Tribune, AP Reporter Mike Cranston
The Boston Globe
Chicago Tribune