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Busch: Problems lie with Junior, not crew chief

AP photo

In this Feb. 6, 2009 file photo, Crew chief Tony Eury Jr., left, talks with NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in their garage during practice for the Bud Shootout auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Eury Jr. was removed as crew chief of Earnhardt's No. 88 team on Thursday, May 28, 2009.

By Jim Utter

McClatchy Tribune Wire Service

Published: May 29, 2009

Kyle Busch, who was replaced at Hendrick Motorsports for Dale Earnhardt Jr., didn't mince words Friday offering his opinion on the troubles NASCAR's most popular driver has had since joining the organization and the change of crew chiefs announced this week.

"You got to make the most popular driver in the sport competitive, so you got to do what you got to do, I guess," he said. "He's the one who brought the crew chief (Tony Eury Jr.) on. He's the one who pulled so hard to bring Eury Jr. in."

Busch said Earnhardt's interim crew chief, Lance McGrew, "has got his hands full."

"If (Earnhardt) doesn't run well then he's going to be the problem again," Busch said. "It's never Junior, it's always the crew chief."

Eury Jr. and Earnhardt left Dale Earnhardt Inc. last season to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Despite driving for NASCAR's top team, they had just one win in 48 races with Hendrick.

Team manager Brian Whitesell will be Earnhardt's crew chief this weekend at Dover. Lance McGrew will take over next week at Pocono Raceway on an interim basis.

"Ultimately when you're presented an opportunity like this, you dive in and go," McGrew said Friday at Dover International Speedway. "That would be the goal, to make the Chase and make a run for the championship. It would be landmark for that to happen."

Earnhardt is 19th in points and coming off a season-worst 40th-place finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway. That finish prompted team owner Rick Hendrick to remove Eury from his position as Earnhardt's crew chief to try and salvage this season.

Earnhardt and Eury spent Tuesday and Wednesday testing on the road course at Virginia International Raceway. Hendrick told them he was splitting them up when they returned Wednesday evening.

"As far as him getting better, I feel his talent is exactly where he needs to be," Whitesell said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.