For every driver, there comes a time when stagnancy hits and the numbers go rock bottom. Unanimously, one such year that has been the definition of misfortune for Dale Earnhardt Jr. is from 2009 to 2010. Not only did he go winless, but this is also precisely the time from when he had accounted for a winless streak. Contrary to the same, in 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr had his name in the Top 3 for the point standing. 

Then what went so miserably wrong that Dale Earnhardt Jr embarked on a 92-race losing streak with no hopes for the future? Fans have now come forth and shared their bits on what they think went wrong and contributed to this streak. 

When Earnhardt Jr’s position in the Rick Hendrick Team came under threat

Post the end of the 2010 NASCAR Cup Series season, Dale Earnhardt Jr found himself 19th in the point standings. He had missed the chase for the second year in a row, and the statistics looked miserable. He had only three top 5 positions along with eight top 10s and this came after he recorded the worst two top 5s and five top 10s of his entire career. 

Speaking of how the 2009-2010 season had turned out for him, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “It’s pretty obvious we aren’t very good and we need to do some things to get better. It’s obvious that’s where we are. I don’t think it needs to be over-analyzed or anything like that”. Earnhardt Jr had his three top 10 positions during the first eight races of the season. However, his showings dipped further from that point. Such was the situation that there were speculations that the team might have to reconsider his position. 

To salvage the situation, Dale Earnhardt Jr had personally requested Rick Hendrick for consideration. Speaking of the same, he had said, “I don’t want to have any effect on whatever that decision is. I’ve enjoyed working with Lance. I’ve enjoyed working with this team. We try really hard. They try really hard. No one person has failed this season”. The situation kept on getting tougher for Dale Earnhardt Jr as his teammate, Jimmie Johnson, embarked on a winning spree. Johnson had won back-to-back championship titles during this time. 

However, with time and support from his team, Dale Earnhardt Jr. made a substantial comeback in the 2011 season. While he did not establish himself as a title contender, he managed to improve substantially. He ended the season with a P7, which was considerably good keeping his 2009 and 2010 performance in mind. Nevertheless, racing fans have speculated on why the esteemed driver did not perform up to expectations.

Fans unearth the true reason behind Dale Earnhardt Jr’s performance dip

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While Dale Earnhardt Jr did not reveal any particular reason why he was unable to perform, fans have brought forth some theories that make sense. A recent post on Reddit that read, “Why was Dale Jr so bad in 2009/2010?” had attracted quite varied opinions. Earnhardt Jr. had garnered a reputation for the kind of friendship he had shared with Tony Eury Jr who was his first crew chief in the team.

 However, during the mid-2009 era, Lance McGrew took over the role. To add to that, the Car of Tomorrow was very new to him. Citing the same, a fan commented “He came over with Tony Eury Jr then got Lance as his crew chief and it killed his confidence combined with the Car of Tomorrow not matching his driving style. It took Steve as a crew chief coming in and letting him know he would attend every meeting and a lot of tough love to get his head straight and make him Dale Jr again”.

The Rick Hendrick team had always been a prime team for drivers and it houses Jimmie Johnson, who was arguably the best during the team. However, some issues within the team itself might have led to Dale Earnhardt Jr being in a fix. A fan pointed out the same and commented, “I’m just speculating here because I’ve yet to read his book, and don’t really know that he talks about this dry spell in it- but I remember when he signed on to Hendrick there were rumors that in spite of being their teammate, the 24 and 48 weren’t going to go out of their way for the 88. Again, not the most vivid recollection of what would boil down to here say, but it would track. Jeff and Jimmie were in a completely different caliber, and always were, and I think the stark differences between them all left Jr sort of out on his own. Regardless of the winless streaks and so on, Jr didn’t deserve anything less than a Hendrick ride, and I don’t think any level of “what if” could make what he accomplished any better. (Huge Jr fan growing up, huge fan of his as an ambassador)”.

Just like most fans, speculation has run rampant suggesting that Dale Earnhardt Jr’s crew chief was not up to the mark and might have been the major reason. A fan pointed out the same and wrote, “Because the CC he had, Lance McGrew, sucked as a CC. And Jr was in the 4th Hendrick Car”. Dale Earnhardt Jr might have had a hard time getting accustomed to his team. Another fan resonated with the same idea and wrote, “Give a great driver the best cars, the best engines, the fastest pit crew, if he and the team don’t have good chemistry, it ain’t gonna do much for ya”.

Given how Dale Earnhardt Jr is active on Reddit and is often seen commenting on such forum questions, a fan requested, “I know Dale lurks on reddit. It would be interesting to hear his take on this particular conversation. Break out the Dale call…. WHERE YOU AT DALE?”. With so many theories, it would surely be refreshing to have an idea of what the driver himself thought!