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There's an old saying if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck it's probably a duck. In racing it's probably the same.
So what's up with one of NASCAR's all-time greatest crew chiefs?
According to Ray Evernham, Jeff Gordon's three-time NASCAR Cup champion's crew chief, he will not take over the crew position on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 team replacing Steve Letarte who will be leaving at the end of this year.
But Evernham whose own race team was shut down seven years ago maintains close ties to Rick Hendrick his former boss from 1993-1999, where he collaborated for 47 victories and those champions.
That makes him the obvious choice for Earnhardt who hasn't won in over a year and has no Cup level championships.
By the calculus of the garage denizens that makes him the favorite, right? Not so fast. First you have his denial. Okay, people deny things all the time.
Secondly Evernham has been working on a project along with Hendrick for cable television called Americarna seeking out American-metal with the stories behind them. One episode highlighted an original moonshine-running car that became the foundation of cars used in stock car racing leading to the formation of NASCAR.
Now there's an article in the Sporting News where Evernham admits he'd be back on the pit box in an advisory role if not a crew chief role.
“I want to be the textbook, and I'm there and ready ... if they turn around and ask a question,” Evernham, considered one of NASCAR's greatest crew chief's said.
Ironically, he's back at Hendrick Motorsports and reporting directly to Marshall Carlson, Hendrick's son-in-law and president of the team. According to the article he has an office at HMS and plans to work there three times a week.
Moreover he's going to sit in important team meetings. And he said being around highly stimulating race team experts would motivate him.
He said he's not going to step in or ruffle the feathers of the other crew chiefs, but maintain a mentor-like presence.
All of these good intentions would be great for a normal person, but in the case of Evernham, who has accomplished so much in his racing career, how long can the siren song of weekly battle withstood?
The final piece of the puzzle is the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.
What if Mr. Hendrick cannot find a suitable crew chief to promote from within or from a another team? What if he goes to Evernham and says, “I need you?”
What then?
I think we may then have a duck.
So what's up with one of NASCAR's all-time greatest crew chiefs?
According to Ray Evernham, Jeff Gordon's three-time NASCAR Cup champion's crew chief, he will not take over the crew position on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 team replacing Steve Letarte who will be leaving at the end of this year.
But Evernham whose own race team was shut down seven years ago maintains close ties to Rick Hendrick his former boss from 1993-1999, where he collaborated for 47 victories and those champions.
That makes him the obvious choice for Earnhardt who hasn't won in over a year and has no Cup level championships.
By the calculus of the garage denizens that makes him the favorite, right? Not so fast. First you have his denial. Okay, people deny things all the time.
Secondly Evernham has been working on a project along with Hendrick for cable television called Americarna seeking out American-metal with the stories behind them. One episode highlighted an original moonshine-running car that became the foundation of cars used in stock car racing leading to the formation of NASCAR.
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| Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Photo: NASCAR) |
Now there's an article in the Sporting News where Evernham admits he'd be back on the pit box in an advisory role if not a crew chief role.
“I want to be the textbook, and I'm there and ready ... if they turn around and ask a question,” Evernham, considered one of NASCAR's greatest crew chief's said.
Ironically, he's back at Hendrick Motorsports and reporting directly to Marshall Carlson, Hendrick's son-in-law and president of the team. According to the article he has an office at HMS and plans to work there three times a week.
Moreover he's going to sit in important team meetings. And he said being around highly stimulating race team experts would motivate him.
He said he's not going to step in or ruffle the feathers of the other crew chiefs, but maintain a mentor-like presence.
All of these good intentions would be great for a normal person, but in the case of Evernham, who has accomplished so much in his racing career, how long can the siren song of weekly battle withstood?
The final piece of the puzzle is the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.
What if Mr. Hendrick cannot find a suitable crew chief to promote from within or from a another team? What if he goes to Evernham and says, “I need you?”
What then?
I think we may then have a duck.