Dale Jr: "Our front brakes don't work at all" - Martinsville Recap

You willing to copy that one????

Here we go again - Third times a bad omen for brake failures this year. How many times will this happen? Does anyone else want to speak up now before our driver gets hurt?

Hello media - where are you??

Something's wrong here - can you not see it?

This is beyond ridiculous, embarrassing and frankly hard to believe!! Who would have thought after the expected engine failures at DEI that we would have MORE parts and engine failures at HMS?

One would not be so furious about this if it happened to our teammates as well - but it doesn't!! Why?

I'm tired of asking why. We've started a petition to ask Mr Hendrick to fix this, the fans have been very vocal, but the problems continue. We started out polite in asking for help - but we're yelling now, can you hear us?

We are not willing to wait until next year to see IF we can do better!!! We want this car to be first class in equipment like the 48,5 and 24. For crying out loud, what the heck is going on - I am beyond mad.

I am now at the point of being frightened for the safety of Dale Jr. We go to Talladega next weekend and believe you me there better be no problems related to crap parts, testing brakes and other suspect failures!!

Who sets the brake bias on the car anyway? The Martinsville car was brand new - but what good did that do us when it ran like crap and something was VERY WRONG with the brakes. I posted on twitter last week sometime prior to this race that our brakes better be good and that we were watching the team. Unfortunately, we as fans, cannot watch what is going on with this car and the brakes failed again.

It's up to Dale Jr, his family and people that care about him who will have to take control of this and stop it. I am sure something will be done, this cannot go on - period!! The Earnhardt family is close and will surround him with love and protection!

Even last year Jr thought something was going on when he was having a lot of trouble with tire sets at the end of races. He said "guard those tires." he was serious and we all wondered what was going on. Something stinks around the 88 team and someone better sniff it out.

I've heard more positive thoughts from Richard Childress about Dale Jr. "He can compete, he can drive," than from Mr Hendrick - let's get on the ball here and get this fixed boss.

Most troubling of all, to me, were the comments from Tony Gibson to David Newton.

All links to Gibson & petition - Dale Jr Fan petition - http://bit.ly/41kOp
Tony Gibson's comments - http://bit.ly/zWhqG ESPN news - Ryan McGee picked
up our petition and posted it on his blog - http://bit.ly/3HtOat

In closing I ask once again - Is it possible to take the chassis and engines from HMS and finish the car set-up at JRM? That is the only way to be sure that trusted people are working on this car, and I'm afraid some of the road crew will have to also be replaced. And, I'm really very sorry to have to say this but the crew chief needs to be much more experienced than Mr McGrew.


Scanner transcript - my version done to the best of my ability

Jr Air pressures came up pretty quick, neutral forward bite little less than we had Friday

first caution

11th place

real tight center

Jr pushing 20% all the way through center corner locking up front up pretty bad

Jr I put 4 rounds of rear brake in and it didn’t help any

11 got us - rear quarter panel

Jr It doesn’t turn in the middle and no forward bite.

------flat tire caution us :(

TJ tells LM to take 2 to not lose a lap

pit again for lefts

Jr car seems to be real hard on front brakes and no forward bite

Jr should I crank a bunch of rear brake? - LM keep putting rear in -

Jr I need help I don’t want to have flats all day long!!!!

LM I put the trackbar back down

second flat

Jr says - I hit the wall real hard [thanks for making us the crash dummy]

Jr If you got any ideas how to not blow tires let me know!!!

Jr I think we got more of an issue the way the car drives.

LM I don’t know why the brakes are so hot!

LM come back in let's raise the hood make sure there’s no brake duct loose............

Jr it ain’t as simple as that!!! We’ve had this [problem] all weekend.

You want my opinion ---- I WAS laying off the brakes when it f'ing blew!!!

LM first few laps they were cherry red when you went by

Jr let me know if they’re cherry red - anytime any other races anytime!! [emphasis added]

Jr were we racing Biffle for lucky dog LM no you were 2 laps down

back to one lap down

Jr whenever you can give me information where we are it would help!!! annoyed

LM what can we do

Jr make it turn in the center and more forward bite.

LM let's do the wave around -

Jr well everybody has to pit for it to work - LM if the leader pits we’ll get the wave around - [he still doesn't get this rule]

Jr - there’s always somebody who stays out [and Jr was right]

Jr We got grill tape on there?? water pressure 260 LM run the engine fan

Jr all fans are on!!

Car is neutral so any adjustments to help center will hurt exit

9 car caution TJ says he was getting a little wild there last 40 laps

Real tight

lucky dog

Rick says good job buddy hanging tough - you’re a lot faster than the guys in the front. [damage control?]

Jr where ever you pull the air for the helmet, it burns you need to move it.

LM you notice more when cars are on the outside? 10-4

Jr just rolls too free late off - I liked it 3 or 4 runs ago but got slick again

LM We kinda got to ration tires a little bit??? Talked about the set-up and.....

Jr I can save you time it won’t have any forward bite on the long runs. [Sarcasm is good at this point - cc should be able to figure this out - cars done the same thing all day]

Jr loose, spinning tires, tight center. used a lot of brakes there

LM I can see it........

Jr why can’t you say something I CAN'T SEE IT [from inside the car].

Jr if the rotor is red let me know please!!!!

pitted on the line - back up

Jr - sorry about that can’t believe I was that far over LM 10” Jr where’s that line anyway? I didn’t see no line I was looking for it, LM - white lines painted on the concrete - real genius

LM go easy

Jr I gotta run hard eventually!!! - I been running hard the last f'ing 10 years, don’t know what’s wrong with it today. Can’t believe this pad is that much different.

LM It doesn’t give you the warning the 01 does.

[annoyed] blowers been on all day TJ trying not to let these sob’s get hot again.

REAL, real tight

L front slides all the way thru center

3 laps down

No comment thru this from Jr

LM ease up I’m seeing red

Jr keep me updated I’m changing ??

LM your car is way up try to let it roll no trail braking

long pause..........
Jr This thing is wrecked and you can brake and not be trail braking I had to laugh for about 1/2 hour at that!!!

LM keep your foot off the brake pedal completely

Jr how many laps to go

95

60 to go

LM good job Dale

Jr it’s tight around lap 200 it was good

Jr How many laps down am I? LM ? Not sure 2 or 3 hang on - 2 laps

Jr Our front brakes don’t work at all you willing to copy that one????

LM I can write that comment down

Jr write that down - when the driver says the brakes don’t work & that he refuses to take responsibility!!

LM I didn’t have to write the 2nd part down [laughter on pitbox]

Jr I want it written down in the notes. so when I’m gone ya’ll can have them

LM back off a bit

Jr 10-4 backing

TJ Caution for debris - Jr asked what was debris - TJ said looks like a piece of rubber

Jr I call BS again - re: tire rubber debris

Jr is it a quickie? [caution]

Jr I want to pit

LM I don’t see a need to pit a six point difference is not worth a $1400 set of tires not worth it. [what?]

Jr I can cover it.

Unknown voice - Put it on 4 jack stands take the tires off.

-------

Fix the car!!