Dale Earnhardt Sr. is one of the five inductees into the inaugural 2010 NASCAR Hall Of Fame class.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. couldn’t be any more proud.

In fact, that honor is the highlight of a season that has Little E down and out. Earnhardt Jr. has said that he is at the “end of his rope” and just can’t wait for the season to end. Without a doubt, it’s been a season that most within the Hendrick Motorsports #88 team would rather forget. Ever since the start of the 2008 Chase, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been left in a downward spiral that has very few ups, and many downs.

Apparently, Rick Hendrick was happy with the overall performance of the team, and made little changes during the 2008 off season. Little did they all realize, that making no changes ended up resulting in disaster for Dale Jr. as well as Tony Eury Jr. who was then replaced by interim Crew Chief Lance McGrew, and of course, the boss Rick Hendrick. He wasn’t busy enough being proud of Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon to realize that Dale Jr. is struggling badly and needs constant changes, minor and major, in an attempt to help him to run better than he is now. He is almost light years away to having the success Jimmie Johnson is enjoying.

Those attempts came with minimal success, since Lance McGrew took over as Crew Chief at the spring Dover race, Dale Jr. has slipped from 18th in the season standings to 22nd. Sure, the big highlight was a third place finish at Michigan, but he’s only had one top 15 finish since then, and it came the very next week.

Just about every day, just about everywhere I look, I read something new about Dale Earnhardt Jr. About his slumping season, his fans, pinpointing problems, his future, and yes, even about Danica Patrick. His mini rivalry with Kyle Busch has simmered down to just about nothing, but Busch’s comments taking a shot at Dale’s talent ability, and his fans, have stood their ground, and even have Earnhardt himself questioning his ability to win in Hendrick equipment.

I specifically say Hendrick equipment because it simply is the best in the garage now. They are far superior to any other Chevrolet team, with Stewart Haas Racing alongside of them. Roush Fenway has fallen behind, only having spurts of good runs by a different driver each week. Penske can’t match Hendrick power, and Richard Petty Motorsports is in a mess of its own.

Now, Dale Jr. just celebrated his 36th birthday. No one knows for sure how long he will be driving for, but if he wants to join his father, the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. in NASCAR’s Hall Of Fame, he’s got a lot of work to do, and a short time to do it.

When Dale Jr. hit the Cup scene in 2000 after back to back Nationwide (then called Busch) championships in 1998 and 1999, it wasn’t a matter of if he was going to be the next great Earnhardt, it was when. Not anymore. The when’s quickly became if’s. Everyone at Hendrick Motorsports seems to run out of answers when describing the trouble with Dale Jr. and the #88 team, or not have enough. After suggestions for Dale to become more physically fit, changes within the team, all new setups, we all wonder what is left can be changed to fix what’s wrong. Is it the pressure to win? The fame that comes with being an Earnhardt? The fame and pressure that comes with driving for Rick Hendrick?

Maybe it’s all too much. Maybe Hendrick isn’t the right place for Junior to be right now -- at this stage of his career. They quickly hit their stride at the beginning of 2008 and most of that season, but when it unraveled, it came apart quickly. Too quickly for Dale Jr. to get his mojo back.

Question is, can he get it back, and keep it for the rest of his career?

Or has Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost the winning touch for good?  - By Nick Blake  - insiderracingnews.com