After Speedweeks and the Daytona 500 it was looking as though Dale Jr. was back in racing form, but the California race showed pretty much what we saw out of the #88 team in 2009.

The orange and white #88 driven by Earnhardt was not especially fast and he qualified mid-pack just as he did most of the previous year.  They couldn’t get car to run up in lead pack all day.

Radio communication with Lance McGrew showed frustration when Jr. thought a tire was going down.  McGrew showed frustration when it was determined there was a broken axle.  He nearly threatened the crew if they didn’t have a spare axle ready to go for the lame car.

The broken axle could have been do to the fact that JR spun the tires on the concrete area of pit road.  There were other teams having problems with the concrete pit stalls as well.

  

I know it’s only the second race of the season.  The California race was the first real test of the season that shows were a team is at.  California has not been a good track for Earnhardt Jr but a better finish would have been given the team a hope they were back on track.

Unfortunately it’s looking like the same story as last year even though Henrick’s stated that they were going to concentrate on the #88 team to get them on track and that they are a new improved team.

Poor qualifying, poor performance during the race, broken parts, frustrated driver and a frustrated crew chief all sound way too familiar.

The other three drivers for Hendrick Motorsports performed much better as usual with one of them, Jimmie Johnson, winning the race.  This cannot come as a surprise one of the drivers faired poorly and it happened to be Earnhardt Jr.

In spite of all the wishful thinking and praise bellowed after Daytona stating Jr. was back and Jr. Nation had reason to cheer, it may have been for naught.

We want Dale Jr. to be back.  NASCAR needs him to be back.  He wants to be back.  Despite our “wants” something is wrong with the #88 team.

If after the first six races we don’t see the team competitive and top five finishes, it will be obvious there is trouble in River City.

I don’t think Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be content to have another bad season this year regardless of the reason.  They need to find the problem fast.  McGrew being the team leader must do whatever it takes to get the team on track.

Jr. Nation is holding it’s breath as the Las Vegas race nears.  What are the odds on the third attempt for Dale Jr. to get back on track to a winning season?

I for one am a big Jr fan and hope that the 88 team can come to Vegas and have a good showing putting the 2009 season behind them.

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