Rusty
5-25-05, 9:44 AM
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Pete Rondeau, primary figure in a celebrated team swap at DEI over the winter, has been relieved of his duties, the team revealed Tuesday. Rondeau has been crew chief for franchise star Dale Earnhardt Jr. through the first third of this season.
Earnhardt had come through the ranks and into the Cup circuit under the leadership and guidance of his uncle and cousin, Tony Eury Sr. and Tony Eury Jr. Growing personality conflicts among the three led DEI to order a swap among its two Cup teams, with the Eurys taking over the No. 15 of Michael Waltrip and Rondeau and mates given charge of Junior's No. 8.
There were rumblings the past couple of weeks that all was not well between Earnhardt and Rondeau -- nothing personal, just a general lack of understanding. Tuesday's move showed that the team believed something needed to be done to bring the No. 8 up to par.
Veteran Steve Hmiel, the group's general manager, will serve as crew chief until a permanent replacement is found. Rondeau, the team said, will continue with the group in other duties. Hmiel for years was crew chief/manager for Mark Martin at Roush Racing, and he served an interim spell as chief for DEI's defunct No. 1 team.
Hmiel has been Earnhardt's spotter as well, and thus has been intricately involved in driver/crew race communications.
Earnhardt and his cars have not performed as expected this season. He briefly invaded the top 10 in points and stands 11th heading to this weekend's main event at Charlotte. He has led just five laps all season, with a best finish of third in the Daytona 500. Qualifying has been a major disappointment as well.
Some wonder whether Earnhardt and group have adapted quickly enough to NASCAR's new aerodynamic and tire requirements, what with the 1in spoiler cut ordered for this season. Earnhardt fanned that kind of talk at California in February, when he expressed a wish that NASCAR "would give us the whole inch back."
This is the second significant crew chief change in a week among the tour's top teams. Mike Ford, chief for Dale Jarrett's No. 88 at Robert Yates Racing, stood down a week ago. He was replaced on a temporary basis by veteran Bill Wilburn.
One man currently on everyone's want list is Bob Osborne, crew chief for Roush Racing's No. 99, with driver Carl Edwards. Having two plum positions open should open up the market considerably. Why, Larry McReynolds might even consider coming back.
Speed TV (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/nascar/17132/)
IMHO there did need to be a change on the team this past winter, but it should have been a slight tweaking, not an entire overhauling of the team, seeing as Jr finished in the top 5 of the points last year really they were so close to winning it all. 6 wins in a year is an awesome year.
Pete Rondeau, primary figure in a celebrated team swap at DEI over the winter, has been relieved of his duties, the team revealed Tuesday. Rondeau has been crew chief for franchise star Dale Earnhardt Jr. through the first third of this season.
Earnhardt had come through the ranks and into the Cup circuit under the leadership and guidance of his uncle and cousin, Tony Eury Sr. and Tony Eury Jr. Growing personality conflicts among the three led DEI to order a swap among its two Cup teams, with the Eurys taking over the No. 15 of Michael Waltrip and Rondeau and mates given charge of Junior's No. 8.
There were rumblings the past couple of weeks that all was not well between Earnhardt and Rondeau -- nothing personal, just a general lack of understanding. Tuesday's move showed that the team believed something needed to be done to bring the No. 8 up to par.
Veteran Steve Hmiel, the group's general manager, will serve as crew chief until a permanent replacement is found. Rondeau, the team said, will continue with the group in other duties. Hmiel for years was crew chief/manager for Mark Martin at Roush Racing, and he served an interim spell as chief for DEI's defunct No. 1 team.
Hmiel has been Earnhardt's spotter as well, and thus has been intricately involved in driver/crew race communications.
Earnhardt and his cars have not performed as expected this season. He briefly invaded the top 10 in points and stands 11th heading to this weekend's main event at Charlotte. He has led just five laps all season, with a best finish of third in the Daytona 500. Qualifying has been a major disappointment as well.
Some wonder whether Earnhardt and group have adapted quickly enough to NASCAR's new aerodynamic and tire requirements, what with the 1in spoiler cut ordered for this season. Earnhardt fanned that kind of talk at California in February, when he expressed a wish that NASCAR "would give us the whole inch back."
This is the second significant crew chief change in a week among the tour's top teams. Mike Ford, chief for Dale Jarrett's No. 88 at Robert Yates Racing, stood down a week ago. He was replaced on a temporary basis by veteran Bill Wilburn.
One man currently on everyone's want list is Bob Osborne, crew chief for Roush Racing's No. 99, with driver Carl Edwards. Having two plum positions open should open up the market considerably. Why, Larry McReynolds might even consider coming back.
Speed TV (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/nascar/17132/)
IMHO there did need to be a change on the team this past winter, but it should have been a slight tweaking, not an entire overhauling of the team, seeing as Jr finished in the top 5 of the points last year really they were so close to winning it all. 6 wins in a year is an awesome year.