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Roush looking forward to Texas

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Jeff Hammond

FOX race analyst Jeff Hammond is a former NASCAR crew chief who led Darrell Waltrip to two of his three Cup championships. The duo also teamed up to win the 1989 Daytona 500. Prior to that, Hammond was the jackman for Cale Yarborough for all three of his Cup championships. He has 43 Cup wins as a crew chief.

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Updated Apr 3, 2009 12:16 PM ET
     
 
I spoke to Jack Roush prior to the short track races and he said Roush Fenway Racing felt pretty encouraged by some of the things they found in the offseason, but it really hasn't proved out that way. Hopefully they will see something positive come out of the tracks where they do run well and Texas is one of those places. They swept last year's races with Carl Edwards. For guys like Edwards, they have to be somewhat frustrated so far with this season. Carl was having a decent day at Martinsville until his left rear tire got cut down and his day was ruined. Jamie McMurray hung in there pretty well. Matt Kenseth really struggled. He just didn't seem like he had a grip on the racetrack. We need Carl running back up front. We need his spirit and energy to kind of like make something happen. When you come to Texas, he is one of those guys that should be able to do that. He's also one of those guys I think that can give Kyle Busch a run for his money. This weekend I am expecting and hoping for a more competitive race. They worked on the tire this time so hopefully that will pay dividends. I know that a lot of the guys who are not short track specialists are thrilled to be out of Martinsville and back to the bigger tracks like Texas.

The race starts Friday

As we roll in there, you wonder about guys like Paul Menard, Scott Speed, Joe Nemechek and Todd Bodine when it comes to qualifying. They have to race their way in. There will be roughly four or five cars that won't make the Texas field come Friday evening.

One final thing

I've read a lot of things lately about my comments the last few weeks and I want to set the record straight. If you look back at what I have written and said, I have never said I wanted Tony Eury Jr. to leave Hendrick Motorsports — I don't want him to be the scapegoat for the No. 88 team's problems this season.

Speed Mail Jeff Hammond

The problem, as I've tried to point out, is that they are missing some parts of the puzzle. A lot of people underestimated the importance of Darian Grubb, who served as the team's lead engineer last season and left to become Tony Stewart's crew chief this season. Grubb's ability is being proven out over at Stewart-Haas Racing. Again, that point is debatable and that's just my opinion. But I came to that way of thinking by comparing their results at this point last year with Grubb and now without him. We've got two guys, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Eury Jr., who have been together for a long time and have been very successful, but they are struggling. The new car gave everybody problems — just look at teammate Jeff Gordon or former champion Matt Kenseth. This is a team sport, and sometimes the difference between success and struggling is one ingredient. I think Eury Jr. is the only guy who can talk to Dale Jr., can keep him somewhat calm and interpret what he wants during a race. But Eury Jr. also needs help — I've been there, I know. I've had guys come in and help me become a better crew chief. That's key for a crew chief: I'm not the smartest guy there, but I'm going to find the smartest and surround myself with them so they make me look better. I don't have any problem saying that. As I have said time and again, what we are all looking for within the No. 88 team is answers — not demanding change. I've read and heard comments distorting what I've said, and it's time people actually paid attention to what I'm actually saying and not what they think I'm saying.

FOX race analyst Jeff Hammond led Darrell Waltrip to two of DW's three Winston Cup championships as his crew chief. They also teamed to win the 1989 Daytona 500.

For autographed copies of Jeff Hammond's book "Real Men Work in the Pits" plus magnets, hats and more, check out www.dwstore.com.

For photos and appearances, visit Jeff's web site www.jeffhammond.com.

Tagged: Todd Bodine, Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Paul Menard, Scott Speed, Joe Nemechek, Matt Kenseth

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