Earnhardt Jr supportive of changes

Earnhardt said it's disappointing that he and his cousin were unable to get any momentum going this year after enjoying some success in the past, although he is confident that his boss' decision to change his crew chief will help him turn his season around.

"It's a very difficult situation," Earnhardt said. "Obviously when me and Tony Jr. went to work with Rick, we expected to have a lot of success and be in a totally different situation than we are now. It's really disappointing I guess that we aren't making that happen.

"It's a situation, it's a relationship that's very important to me the one with Tony Jr. We are family and it was a pretty big risk for me and him both to make the move. We really wanted it to work. Unfortunately we didn't succeed.

"Being this is a business Rick and the guys decided we needed to go in a different direction. I'm supportive and confident in the decisions that they made."

He praised Eury's talents but said that probably they were not meant to succeed while working together.

"This year, we aren't even mediocre," Earnhardt said. "And the last couple weeks, we've arguably been one of the worst teams on the track. He's really, really talented, and I feel a lot of disappointment and failure for not being able to take advantage of that.

"Maybe the truth is that we just aren't meant to do it together. That's tough to admit, and even tougher to believe."

Earnhardt also praised his new interim crew chief Lance McGrew, with whom he has already worked in the past, and also Brian Whitesell, who will fill in the role just during this weekend at Dover.

"I like Lance," Earnhardt said. "He's going to tell me like it is, and that's what I want. I've worked with him in the past, and I also have a whole lot of trust in Brian. He's going to make sure I've got what I need every week. I'm not worried at all about that.

"And who knows? This combination could be amazing."