Junior’s career is falling apart

He was supposed to be 'The Next Best Thing in NASCAR.' He was supposed to contend each and every year for the Sprint Cup championship. He was supposed to be even better than his father.

For a man with all these expectations, the career of Dale Earnhardt Jr., is quickly falling apart.

A fan favorite for years, Junior has not won a single race since the race in Michigan on June 15, 2008. It's time fans of NASCAR start noticing what he is not doing, instead of what they hope he does, because Dale Earnhardt, Jr., is not doing his job.

This was supposed to be the make-or-break season for Junior. He has the best equipment and support in Hendrick Racing. So far in 2009, Earnhardt is 21st in points, with only two top fives and three other top 10s. Only recently has he shown signs of life, with top 10s in the past two races—his first since April.

This was supposed to be Junior's way to the Promised Land of NASCAR with who he is racing for now. So far, only the Gates of Hell have opened for him.

He is no better off today than he was during his final years with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated.

Earlier this season, it was thought Earnhardt's problems were with his crew chief, Tony Eury, Jr. So they replaced him.

That hasn't worked.

Now, Earnhardt wants to blame NASCAR for their Car of Tomorrow for one of the reasons he is not winning.

Not since 2004 has Junior won more than one points race in a single season. Before his 2008 victory in Michigan, he recorded no victories in 2007, one in 2006 and one in 2005.

In 2004, Junior won six point races and one of the Gatorade 125s. But not since that season has Earnhardt had very much success.

He needs to stop complaining, go to work and race. Let his crew take care of the car and engine and when he is out there on the track and do his end of the job and stop pointing fingers.

It's a shame someone with so much promise early in his career has become a cryer and one without blame.

While the rest of NASCAR is running off and leaving the Promised One, Junior is looking for any excuse he can find.

Well, the only excuse is he is not getting the job done and he has no one to blame but himself.

You can only ride only so long on your name. Just ask the Foyts or Unsers, who tried NASCAR. Junior is running a slim line right now; if he doesn't correct something soon, it could even-tually run out on him.

Jeff Christian is a freelance columnist and his column appears each Sunday in the News & Mes-senger. He can be reached at .