22 Comments on Tensions High After Harvick Wins Michigan

AZomah on


I do not know what to think anymore. I wonder what Mr. Hendricks’ agenda is for Jr. Why is Jr. consistantly getting junk to drive? Is he not bringing in enough sponsor dollars? Is that why he is getting junk? As for the cc……….During some of the races I have thrown the f-bomb before Jr. has. I know grandmothers aren’t supposed to use that word, but darn it, I am fed up about Jr. not being able to compete. Right now I better resort to the silence is golden line.
Have fun driving your JRM car this weekend Jr. This car will be set up for you to enjoy driving. So have fun. Take care.

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Sharon on


I like Joey but in this case he was wrong, that is what racing is about and Ryan did nothing wrong. Joey needs to grow up and learn from his mistakes and stop blaming every body for them, again I like Joey but he needs to apologize to Ryan for for poking him and starting this childish spat after all it was Joey who wrecked Newman, and Joey kept going.

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Patch on


AZomah I hear what you are saying and respect your opinon but here is one of the things that is bothering me. If 2 drivers have equal cars and crews it would seem to me that the best driver would come out ahead most of the time. If that is true then the theory of the “junk car” would mean that even people with a lot less money behind them are putting together a lot better cars if Jr is a better driver. I often wonder if Jr has lost part of his game. I have never worked in NASCAR or any kind of auto racing so all I can do is ponder – when is it the car and when is it the driver or the crew.

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REGAN on


Jr needs to take his product elsewhere. i really thought than when he went to hms he woulid have the best money could get but that has not been the case. only 48 gets the best even gordon does not run all that well anymore. i would love to see jr go somewhere that he would be the top dog for a change. he has not forgot how to drive or win.

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Sam on


Rick Hendrick really needs to step in big time and get JR winning. Let Chad Knaus set up Jr’s car for a few weeks and see what happens because Lance cannot set up a long run race. Or, let Lance set up JJ’s car for a few weeks and see what happens…the story will be told. If you can’t make them handle and stay on your game during the race your not going to win. JR my friends, can still drive a race car when it handles. Get JR winning and watch more fans fill the stands !

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cookie on


I do not believe the answer to Jr’s problem is giving him Chad. Chad could very easily, not that he would, make Jr come out the same just to protect Rick. Who do you see Rick talking to all the time? Chad . Jr is being given the shaft. All Rick wants from him is his status with the fans and money. It is a shame because I though Rick would be good for him. I can’t believe Rick is doing this to him. Junior needs to have good equipment and someone for a crew chief that cares if he wins or not. It is obvious that Jr can still drive but not the junk they give him or the crew chief who doesn’t care. Jr wants to win. If he didn’t, he would get out. However, he doesn’t need to be pushed and shoved anymore. Jr, show us your stuff. Your Dad taught you well and you don’t deserve the way they are treating you.

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Mike on


I think that hendrick is taking the sponsership money and spending it on Gordon and Johnson leaving Martin and Jr. out to dry. If you give either one of those guys a car that is set up they`ll win.

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marcel on


I have watched racing for many years and have seen good racers come and go. JR is the problem in this case, he has lost his touch. Some one said that Jeff Gordon doesn’t have the car that JJ. has. Jeff has had his hay day, you cant stay on top forever. Only a racing miracle will get JR. in the winners circle or the chase..

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mamadew88 on


Sorry Marcel, but I have to disagree with you…..Jr. is a good driver and has not lost his touch. The setups on his cars is just NOT there! The connection with driver and crew is just not there….like any marriage, you don’t really get to know the person you married until you live with them and if personalities are so different, the result is divorce !!!! JUNIOR NEEDS A DIVORCE as he is not getting all that was promised by Mr.H. who in this case is the marriage counselor.
Do get my drift? The team work is just not working, especially since Lance is not an experienced “crew chief”.
Give Jr. the setup and crew that are needed to win a race and Jr. will be up front everytime. They separated Tony Jr. and Jr. too soon. Remember that is when the COT was first introduced and everyone was having problems.

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Mavis on


For the first time in years, I quit watching the race on Sunday and went and did some work around the house like mowing the lawn. I left when Jr went one lap down and came back when the race was over. Earlier I heard Allan Gustavson say whenever he can he helps Lance out but what incentive does he have to help Jr when Mark is his priority. I would like to see Jr leave Hendrick but don’t know where he can go, except to start his own team. One car teams don’t seem to work very well. If Ginassi wasn’t connected to DEI I would say that was a good place for him although they have problems, too.

A for Logano, he gets too much attention and gets told he needs to stand up for himself. Of course I didn’t see what happened or his actions after but it doesn’t sound like Ryan was to blame.

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Pat 88 on


I have been a Jr. fan from day 1 BUT its time for him to take himself to the chase..I would love to see him go to JRM with his Uncle like the good old days. Would it help ..who knows…but it cant hurt. I agree with a lot of you I dont know what is going on at Hendrick..its not just Jr. ,its Martin & a lot of time Gordon,
BUT not JJ… That is Hendrick’s dream team.
Jr. has the money to fund his own car ..the best of everything..& the sponors would go with him. Maybe ..Bud..a red 88. No matter what I will stay his fan, theres more to that man then just a driver.

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mamadew88 on


As my answer to Joey Logano…..GROW UP! If you want to play with the big boys than stop your whining and play the game according to what is going on around you. You just started playing the game and if you want to be one of the “guys”, give a little bit more instead of your immature attitude. It’s not just Ryan, you have encountered but other drivers if not on the track but in the garage area as well.

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Tom McDonnell on


Maybe it time for Jr. to join his dad’s old team, Childress Racing.
Maybe that the signal Dale is trying to send to Jr. I would give it a shot
and see what happen. Rick Hendrick has his hands full with Jeff Gordon
and Jimmy Johnson and with Mark Martin there too, it can be too much
for him to handle. I was hoping that when Jr. went to Hendrick Racing that
he would help Jr. Big time.

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bowvis on


Junior needs to quit being so sensitive. He does need to start producing. I have been a fan of his for years and of his father’s as well. Everybody at one time or another has a car that handles like junk but the quality drivers still find a way to salvage a decent finish. Junior can’t keep hiding behind the excuse of a poor team. He has the best equipment and technical support available. He needs to decide if he’s going to suck it up and start being a racecar driver and less of a complainer.
I like Junior but patience is wearing thin with him.

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mick on


It’s time for Jr to move on .. there is NO FUTURE at the Hendrick camp.

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jill on


I think RCR is the place for Jr, to bad there is not an opening. I’ve always said RHM is such a bad decision for Jr. I had Kyle but look what he has accomplished since he left RHM. If you go to Charlotte and look at the 2 shops you’ll see where the money is spent, the 24 and the 48 shop is way nicer than the 5 and 88.

As far a Ryan and Logano, I ‘m a fan club member of Ryan’s . He was racing for position and points that call the chase you kindergarten day camp baby, you’re playing with the big boys not Thursday night thunder. Joey you frinkin loser, you better believe that when the chase is over, he will take you out and teach you a thing or too about respect. Just don’t wine to the media or Rusty when it happens. Take it like a man, have your daddy wear the fire suit.

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Jim Smith on


Regarding the comment:

You have to wonder how much longer Dale Jr will put up with the crew and equipment Hendrick Motorsports is putting behind him.

No I don’t, I am wondering how much longer Hendrick Motorsports will put up with Jr. He needs to spend a couple years in a Nationwide car, one of his own preferably. Then he can fire everyone and do it all himself like he thinks he does now.

On a perfect day, with a perfect track, in a perfect car he goes like hell. Otherwise he intentionally make the car look far more loose than it actually is. He has no concept of applying power in relation to the available traction he just mashes it down and wines about loose out.

It seems to me that maybe Theresa was right, his priorities are out of wack. Before you rant, I have been an Earnhardt fan for years but this stuff is getting old.

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AZomah on


Patch, I have worked on cars. When a car is put on the track it should have been completely gone through and some parts replaced. For instance-the calapers, they are alittle important since they tell the wheels which way to turn. The engine should be gone through-new valve springs etc. The gauges should be placed so that the driver can read them easily, and I could go on and on. I hate to admit this in public, but I have enjoyed racing and working on cars since 1958. This female person does not mind getting grease on herself. I spent many a happy day working on cars with my late soulmate. Jr. has not lost his game, I have always said give him a good car and he will win. The July 2nd race proves my point. Good equipment and knowledgeable cc !

Mr. Hendrick has created a big PR problem for himself and doesn’t even know it. You see I have some friends that are fans of other drivers and even some of them are upset about the way Jr. is getting treated at HMS.

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Thelma on


Jr. is still one of the best drivers on the circuit. He has proved that in the #3. He had his car set up by someone he trusted and that person believed in him, Yep Tony Sr. and Tony Jr crewed. Jr. nnds to get away from HMS and drive for himself. That way he would have control of the crew and the car. HMS wanted his name and his Sponsors. He will always have the fans no matter where he goes. I wish he would have gone to Childress instead of HMS, but then he didn’t ask any of us. I don’t think he will ever get the equipment or the crew at HMS.

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REGAN on


maybe jr will go to rcr soon. he sure as heck aint getting what he needs a hms.

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goldie on


Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t the buck stop with the crew chief? Isn’t he the one who okays the setup for each race and goes through a checklist on everything that needs to be done? Even if a driver has all equipment needed, if that equipment is not set up to accomodate the racetrack for that week, how can Jr. even come close to winning if the setup is not right? I had hoped that Jr. would go to Childress when he chose Hendrick. If he gets frustrated enough. I’m sure he will be looking further.

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Yaiyaicoty on


It is obvious that Johnson is the man. The 48 and 24 are in the same shop and the 5 and 88 are in another shop. They have nothing to do with each other except that Jimmy Johnson’s office is so large it takes the whole 48/24 shop leaving no room for the 24 office. Jeff’s much smaller office takes the 5/88 office space in their shop. Junior doesn’t even have an office there, he is in Jr Motorsports and no office at all at Hendricks and I don’t know where Marks office is. Who know where Kasey will be. It is so obvious of the preferred treatment of Jimmie. In every way. I wish Jr could break loose of Hendrick but even if he does and buys Hendricks out of Jr Motorsports , he would still be buying his engines from you know, Jimmie is not running as strong right now because he knows he will make the chase so he is backing off. But when the chase begins it will be another story. I have spent thousands of dollars going to races and watching TV when I couldn’t make it but I don’t anymore because the thrill is just about gone. It reminds me of the mafia with you know who as the Godfather. What fun is that. I wish for just one race that Chad could fix Jimmie’s car like he was going to race in the chase and at the very last minute let Jr drive it and then see what in the hell is going on. But we will never know. Too bad because it is destroying NASCAR

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