After a turbulent year at Hendrick Motorsports and a crew chief change, Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he’s coming out of his corner of the ring in a fighting mood.
Even after Lance McGrew replaced Earnhardt’s cousin, Tony Eury Jr., as crew chief things were not so certain last year.
“I don't really want to speak for everybody that's in the shop, but it really wasn't that long ago when we didn't know what was going to happen with Lance. That just creates so much instability when you're not sure about something that prominent as the future of the team.
“So when he was able to solidify his position and we could move forward knowing this was the deal, this is how it is, everybody sort of wrapped their minds and beliefs and trusts into that and around that, and we could sort of build back some confidence and some trust and belief in the team,” said Earnhardt.
Even though Earnhardt's #88 Chevrolet came out of the same shop as Mark Martin’s #5 last year, there was no comparing the results as he went winless and missed the Chase as Martin won five races and finished second in the championship.
Last season is just a bad memory Earnhardt says. “We've made a lot of changes in the off-season with our personnel and changing the entire culture in the shop, and I hope that those things are really going to improve our team and get us where we need to be competitively.
“We have everything there mechanically to get it done, and we have great people within the organization. There's three guys that made the Chase, and we didn't, so we have to get out there and prove ourselves. We're just going to go out there and try our hardest and be ruthless from the first lap to the last.
“Our goal is to win as many races as we can, challenge for the championship. I’d like to win – I think anything less than three races this year I’d be a little bit disappointed.”
Even after Lance McGrew replaced Earnhardt’s cousin, Tony Eury Jr., as crew chief things were not so certain last year.
“I don't really want to speak for everybody that's in the shop, but it really wasn't that long ago when we didn't know what was going to happen with Lance. That just creates so much instability when you're not sure about something that prominent as the future of the team.
“So when he was able to solidify his position and we could move forward knowing this was the deal, this is how it is, everybody sort of wrapped their minds and beliefs and trusts into that and around that, and we could sort of build back some confidence and some trust and belief in the team,” said Earnhardt.
Even though Earnhardt's #88 Chevrolet came out of the same shop as Mark Martin’s #5 last year, there was no comparing the results as he went winless and missed the Chase as Martin won five races and finished second in the championship.
Last season is just a bad memory Earnhardt says. “We've made a lot of changes in the off-season with our personnel and changing the entire culture in the shop, and I hope that those things are really going to improve our team and get us where we need to be competitively.
“We have everything there mechanically to get it done, and we have great people within the organization. There's three guys that made the Chase, and we didn't, so we have to get out there and prove ourselves. We're just going to go out there and try our hardest and be ruthless from the first lap to the last.
“Our goal is to win as many races as we can, challenge for the championship. I’d like to win – I think anything less than three races this year I’d be a little bit disappointed.”