Dale Earnhardt defends crew chief Greg Ives

Dale Earnhardt defends crew chief Greg Ives

DOVER, Del. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. has long reigned as NASCAR’s most popular driver, and he thinks too many of his fans have started airing in 140-character bursts a most unpopular opinion — that crew chief Greg Ives should take the blame for the No. 88’s struggles this season.

Ives, in his third season with Earnhardt, was criticized during the Brickyard 400 for his decision to send the No. 88 to the pits even though it was good on fuel before the end of the second stage.

Earnhardt’s crew also struggled with lug nuts on one pit stop that cost him several spots in the field.

Earnhardt’s final season at Hendrick Motorsports has been more dud than dominant, and Indy was the fifth time this season he has crashed out of a race.

Earnhardt says he’s healthy and isn’t focused on his shift into the NBC Sports broadcast booth next season.

Fans — and the media — need to pump the breaks on pointing fingers in Earnhardt’s woeful season.

[...] I don’t want this season to be remembered by my crew chief, myself and my guys as a miserable, miserable time.

Earnhardt, who spoke at a Goodyear tire test at Dover International Speedway, is off this weekend to Pocono Raceway, where he swept two races in 2014.