Earnhardt's life without a net
The driver traded some latitude and familiarity for a better shot to win.
By BRANT JAMES
Published January 16, 2008
DAYTONA BEACH - There are certain absolutes when you're Dale Earnhardt Jr. You never have to buy a beer unless you really want to. Locked gates open. And you never really have to worry about the next paycheck.
That last one would seem to be of comfort. But it might have actually made Earnhardt's nine seasons at the team founded by his late father almost stale.
Earnhardt, NASCAR's most popular driver, spoke of a certain liberation upon leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. for mighty Hendrick Motorsports. That seems to have everything to do with escaping the yoke of a stepmother he no longer could tolerate as a team owner. But as the 33-year-old admitted Tuesday during Sprint Cup (former Nextel Cup) testing at Daytona International Speedway, it involved liberating himself from some of those supposed absolutes.
"I didn't have to worry about job security when I was over at my other job, but I've got to worry about that now," said Earnhardt, who has 17 Sprint Cup victories, but none in his past 62 starts. "I think if I do what I've been doing, I should be fine. But with being the son of the guy who built the place, you can get away with a few more things than most guys could."
Earnhardt is not suggesting that he was a hellion while at DEI and his former teammates don't offer any such conclusions. Paul Menard, who remains at DEI as driver of the No.15 Chevrolet, said Earnhardt "handled the pressure gracefully."
"I'd hate to be in the spotlight like Dale's in the spotlight," he said.
But Earnhardt's long-simmering discord with stepmother/owner Teresa Earnhardt finally became a fissure in December 2006, when she questioned his work ethic in the Wall Street Journal. Earnhardt announced last spring that he would leave DEI and chose Hendrick Motorsports, winner of seven Cup titles, including the past two. He took crew chief/cousin Tony Eury Jr. with him, reuniting with team owner Rick Hendrick, who had been a role model to both as children. In returning to their childhoods, they stepped toward their futures, Earnhardt suggested.
"Me and Tony Jr. both experienced sort of a little bit of a growth or maturity about just going from one door to the other overnight," he said. "I got away. I grew up over the years, but when I first started you could get away with saying things and get being quoted certain ways and be able to get away with it working for my daddy. ... My job now is to stay out of Rick's office as much as I can."
Eury was allowed to leave DEI in October and began his cousin's transition. He learned Hendrick's success had nothing to do with magic formulas, but resources, processes and people. And work. A fair trade considering Hendrick's results. The team won half the 36 points races last season and every driver reached Victory Lane at least once.
"I told my wife, I hadn't been home before 9 o'clock this week and it's just because I'm enjoying my job right now," Eury said. "I'm loving everything I'm learning and I'm into it. Hours don't mean anything. It's just a matter of getting to know everything you possibly can when you get here."
Despite having the resources to finally achieve their goals, and despite his cousin's admission of some nervousness, Eury said he feels no more pressure than normal. But he said there is a palpable exuberance.
"As soon as we left Homestead in November, I was ready to go," he said. "I've been pumped up. I think I've seen Dale Jr. more pumped up right now than he's ever been."
Good thing. Because his last name is no longer on the front door and there's no safety net anymore. Just like he wants it.
NASCAR SUIT: NASCAR's insurance company settled last week with the family of a woman and infant killed last year when a plane owned by the organization hit their home, said the family's attorney. The crash also killed Dr. Bruce Kennedy, the husband of NASCAR executive Lesa France Kennedy, and two others.
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Speedweeks highlights
Feb. 9 - Sprint Cup Bud Shootout, 8:30 TV: Ch. 13
Feb. 10 - Daytona 500 qualifying, 1:15
Feb. 14 - Sprint Cup Gatorade Duels, 2 and 4 TV: Speed
Feb. 15 - Truck series Chevy Silverado 250, 8 TV: Speed
Feb. 16 - Nationwide Series Camping World 300, 1:15TV: ESPN2
Feb. 17 - Sprint Cup Daytona 500, 3:30 TV: Ch. 13