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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Chemistry Key To McGrew, Earnhardt Pairing
Rick Hendrick said Lance McGrew’s chemistry with Dale Earnhardt Jr. resulted in his being named the full-time crew chief for the No. 88 team...
Bob Pockrass  | http://www.scenedaily.com  |  Posted November 02, 2009   Talladega, AL
Rick Hendrick named Lance McGrew (Right) the full-time crew chief of the No. 88 Team driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Left) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last week. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Rick Hendrick named Lance McGrew (Right) the full-time crew chief of the No. 88 Team driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Left) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last week. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Rick Hendrick said Lance McGrew’s chemistry with Dale Earnhardt Jr. as well as his chemistry with Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 crew chief Alan Gustafson resulted in his being named the full-time crew chief for the No. 88 team of Earnhardt Jr.

With the No. 5 and 88 teams sharing the same shop, Hendrick said it was pivotal that the Earnhardt Jr. crew chief can work well with both his driver as well as the other team. McGrew, named the full-time crew chief Friday, is that guy, Hendrick said.

“Lance has a lot of faith in Junior, and the chemistry between the two of them is real good,” Hendrick said Sunday prior to the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. “He knows our systems. He knows our folks inside and he and Alan (Gustafson) are close.

“The way that deal needs to work is having two crew chiefs working to build one team that’s going to run two cars. That’s what they’re committed to do. We know where some of the weak links are and we’ve already started to address them. The chemistry between Alan and Lance is probably just as good as it is between Chad [Knaus] and Steve [Letarte in the other shop]. That’s what I’ve been wanting.”

McGrew was named interim crew chief for Earnhardt Jr. in May as a replacement for Earnhardt Jr. cousin Tony Eury Jr.

At the time, Earnhardt Jr. was winless and 19th in points. Earnhardt Jr. entered the race today still winless on the year and 24th in points.

“I’m excited about it,” Hendrick said. “We’ve been kind of idling along in neutral waiting for to finish with some good results, but if you can be committed to each other after the kind of [year] we’ve been through – it’s real easy to be positive when you’re going through good times.

“But if the chemistry can work and you can see that you’re getting better and everybody is focused on it, I think it was definitely the right thing to do.”

Hendrick believes Earnhardt Jr. has confidence in McGrew.

“Junior is very, very comfortable,” Hendrick said. “He likes Lance. Lance wants to do it. … I just think we all don’t want to talk about it any more. We want to go do it.”

Having previous crew chief experience at the Cup level with Brian Vickers before going to head the team’s research and development department, McGrew is no stranger to the role. Although he has only been crew chief for Earnhardt Jr. for five months, Hendrick said he had seen enough to make the decision for 2010.

“We’ve seen him mature,” Hendrick said. “I know what he’s done with the R&D deal. He’s won championships before, and he calls a great race. I’m real proud of him. I think he’s got all the talent in the world and he’s got the demeanor to work with Junior or anybody else.”

Being crew chief for the sport’s most popular driver has put McGrew in a fish bowl, with fans even creating petitions for a change.

“You’re not going to satisfy everybody,” Hendrick said. “What we’ve got to do is perform. If we perform, everybody will be happy. Until we do that, nobody is going to be really satisfied. It comes down to execution and having success. So we’ve got to do that. That’s what’s left to do, and that’s what is my responsibility. We’re going to have to go show it.”




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