Lead Lap's NASCAR News » Tony Eury Sr

Smith To Drive For JRM Full Time in N’Wide In 2013

Michael J Smith — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:08:57 +0000

JR Motorsports announced that the team has signed Sprint Cup Series driver Regan Smith to drive the team’s No. 5 Chevy in the Nationwide Series in 2013. Smith will make his debut with the team in the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The team will field three cars for that race.

Smith’s car is the only one that, at this time, is slated to run the full schedule. The team hopes to field the Nos. 5 and 7 full time in 2013, with Dale Earnhardt Jr driving the No. 88 in select races. JRM hopes to keep Cole Whitt, putting him in the No. 7.

JRM General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said:

We feel it is important for our sponsors, our fans, and even Dale to keep his Nationwide Series number consistent with his Cup number. His brand is associated with the #88. That’s what makes him distinguishable on the race track, so it’s only natural that he drives the #88 all the time. To do that, we are making our #5 Chevy our full-time entry. We hope to have Cole in the #7 full time in 2013, and we are working hard on securing sponsorship for that.

JRM has made a lot of changes recently. Earlier this year, the team parted ways with Tony Eury Sr and Tony Eury Jr. They also hired veteran crew chief Ryan Pemberton.

Eury Jr Out At JR Motorsports

Michael J Smith — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:40:39 +0000

Following the departure of Tony Eury Sr, and the subsequent hiring of Ryan Pemberton, JR Motorsports announced that veteran crew chief and team co-owner Tony Eury Jr has been let go as crew chief for the team’s No. 7 Nationwide Series team and driver Danica Patrick.

Eury Jr said:

They’re trying to fix the competition of the cars. They thought they could do better without me there. They hired Ryan and Ryan’s their guy.

Dale Earnhardt Jr, who co-owns the team with his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and Eury Jr. , issued a statement:

Unfortunately Tony Jr. is no longer with the company. I had hoped he would be here for a long time, but as we’ve discussed the direction of JR Motorsports moving forward, it was clear our differences in ideas were too vast to overcome. I love him like a brother, and you’ll never hear me say a bad thing about him. I know he’ll have much success in anything he does going forward. As for our No. 7 team, no decision has been made on who will crew chief that team this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. We will discuss our options and make a decision very soon.

Earnhardt and Eury Jr worked together as driver and crew chief, respectively, in the Sprint Cup Series at Dale Earnhardt Inc and Hendrick Motorsports. They had a somewhat tumultuous relationship in those roles, and eventually were separated by Rick Hendrick, with Lance McGrew replacing Eury Jr as Earnhardt’s crew chief.

Eury Jr joined JRM as a crew chief full time around that time.

Update: New hire Ryan Pemberton will serve as interim crew chief for Danica Patrick and the No. 88 JR Motorsports team for the Kentucky 300 at Kentucky Speedway, the team announced.

A crew chief beyond the race at Kentucky has not been named.

JR Motorsports Hires Veteran Crew Chief Pemberton

Michael J Smith — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:35:16 +0000

Veteran crew chief Ryan Pemberton has joined JR Motorsports, replacing Tony Eury Jr, who recently parted ways with the team.

While Pemberton’s role with the team has not yet been defined, it is rumored that he will serve as competition director for JRM.

Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr said:

He started Monday and he’s come in to help Kelley, help us with some ideas on what direction we can go to get better.

JR Motorsports, Eury Sr Agree To Part Ways

JR Motorsports, Eury Sr Agree To Part Ways

Michael J Smith — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:27:45 +0000

JR Motorsports announced that the team has amicably parted ways with competition director Tony Eury Sr effective immediately.

Eury Sr has served as the team’s competition director for the last five years, winning nine races in that span, with the last coming in 2010 with Jamie McMurray driving.

Team general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said:

The conversation Tony Sr. and I had was one of the most difficult I’ve ever been a part of. I believe Tony Sr.’s passion for the sport is exceeded only by his yearning to excel in it, and that itself became the issue that both he and I struggled with. At JR Motorsports we do this to win races and compete for championships, and lately we have not met that standard. Being the competitor that Tony Sr. is, I know that bothers him more than anyone.

JRM has gone two years without a win, and the team has been looking for ways to improve performance. Earlier this year, crew chiefs Bruce Cook and Eury Sr swapped teams, with Cook taking over crew chief duties for the No. 88 team and driver Cole Whitt, while Eury Sr took over crew chief duties for the part time No. 5 team with drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr and Ron Fellows.

Eury Sr’s son, Tony Eury Jr, is crew chief of the No. 7 Chevy driven by Danica Patrick.

Eury Sr said:

I want what’s best for Dale Jr., Kelley, Tony Jr., and all those employees. I really do. We accomplished a lot in a short time, and nobody is prouder of that than I am. I’m not sure what’s next for me, and I’m not sure I’m in a hurry to find out.

NASCAR Issues Penalties To JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Team

Michael J Smith — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:43:43 +0000

NASCAR issued penalties to JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Nationwide Series team for infractions found at O’Reilly Raceway Park. The team violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-12.3T (unapproved left front shock absorber) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book.

Crew cheif Tony Eury Sr was fined $10,000, while owner Dale Earnhardt Jr and driver Aric Almirola have been penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner and 25 championship driver points, respectively.

The violation was found during post-race inspection.

Eury Sr Suffers Minor Injuries In Accident

Michael J Smith — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:43:53 +0000

JR Motorsports’ crew chief Tony Eury Sr is in the hospital after being involved in a two-car accident Sunday afternoon, according to SceneDaily. Eury Sr was being treated for minor injuries and is expected to be released today.