If you take someone with the talent of Jr. and combine him with a dominant team like Hendrick, it’s a recipe for success, right? So, what’s missing?

Some people seem to think Tony Eury Jr. is the weak link. As Jr. was leading the Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen International, a track he rarely performs well at, Eury’s decision to keep him out cost the team big.

Eury Jr. is usually a play-it-safe kind of crew chief. Jr. nation often times gets frustrated at Eury’s decision to go for the good finish instead of going for the win. But, the one time Eury rolls the dice, fans still criticize him.

I’m sure that Eury knows that being the crew chief of NASCAR’s most popular driver is no easy task, and he makes his decisions based on the best interests of the team and his driver, not to appease the fans.

Some fans seem to forget that it was Eury’s strategy that got Jr. the win at Michigan International Raceway this year. They also don’t remember that it was Eury who used strategy to salvage a fourth-place finish after Jr. suffered damage to his Chevy at the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway.

So, before fans start calling for Eury’s head, they should realize that he’s got one of the toughest jobs in NASCAR. And, thus far, he’s not doing too bad.

He’s managed to keep Jr. in the top 5 in points throughout the season, and he’s earned a win for his driver, all in his first season with a new team. Add in the fact that Hendrick has not been as dominant as it was last year, and you’ll see that Eury’s been a positive for the team.

Every driver goes through bad stretches and hits some bad luck. It’s the nature of the sport. (See Marcos Ambrose.) So, before you call for Eury Jr. to be replaced, compare Jr.’s stats this year to his stats last year.

I think most of Jr. Nation would be happier with Jr. being fourth in the standings with three races to go until the Chase, instead of 13th in the standings at the same point last year.

Making it an even better story, Ambrose became the first Australian to win in NASCAR when he won the Nationwide Series race, the Zippo 200, one day before. He assumed the lead with three laps to go, when Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson both had to pit.

All in all the weekend was a career weekend for Ambrose, and a shot in the arm for both JTG Racing and Wood Brother’s Racing.

While I don’t think Ambrose is going to suddenly turn WBR around, he certainly is walking a little bit taller. And with the five races he has left with the team, look for him to try to learn all he can and gain all the respect he can.

If he stays focused, he should be able to improve the team’s position in the standings, by making races and staying out of trouble, much like he did on Saturday and Sunday.

Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart finished second.

Rounding out the top 5 were Marcos Ambrose, Juan Montoya, and Martin Truex Jr.

Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, and Kurt Busch finished sixth through 10th respectively.

Notables: Matt Kenseth (12th), Kasey Kahne (14th), Jeff Burton (17th), Greg Biffle (21st), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (22nd), Clint Bowyer (23rd), Ryan Newman (26th), and Jeff Gordon (29th).

Earnhardt Jr. was leading with 27 laps to go, a rarity at a road course for him, but he waited to long to pit, and the caution came out, forcing him to pit under caution, and lose his lead to the other cars that pitted under green. He dropped from first to 32nd on the grid, and finished 22nd. He dropped from second to fourth in the standings.

Give a call to Marcos Ambrose who piloted the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 to its first top 5 since 2005.

On lap 83, David Gilliland and Michael McDowell were fighting over the same real estate in turn 11, when the two made contact and hit the tire barrier. Gilliland bounced off of the tire barrier and slid back into oncoming traffic, collecting Bobby Labonte, and several other cars.

Sam Hornish Jr. turned to avoid the cars and slid into the sand barriers. Nine cars were collected and Labonte was taken to a local hospital where he was evaluated and released. He is OK.

The wreck:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5_pCKLteN4]

But, a deal was reached with Petty Enterprises No. 45 Dodge for Said to drive the car in place of Kyle Petty, who was originally scheduled to drive. Said had to secure permission from Ford, which he did.

He will start 40th.

Said was also approached by Yates Racing to drive the No. 28 in place of Travis Kvapil.