Head2Head: Earnhardt Jr.

Four races in with the Car of Tomorrow and for the most part, I would say it has been a success. The foam issue aside, the car has withstood some pretty hard crashes and has provided fans with exciting racing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. though was very vocal about the COT's turning problems after a 13th-place finish at Richmond this past weekend and he reiterated his comments Monday at Lowe's Motor Speedway before a test session.

Should NASCAR listen to the concerns of Earnhardt? Absolutely.

First off, he's not alone. Numerous drivers and crew chiefs have voiced concern with the way the COT turns. If a majority is complaining about something, then there is usually something to it.

True, some guys complain just because the COT is different and they don't like change, but that isn't Earnhardt. He's not the type to complain just because he doesn't like something. When Earnhardt speaks, he's usually right (see Texas). He fires from the hip, saying exactly what he thinks. He's not looking for a scapegoat, or to blame anyone. He's being honest.

Which is exactly why NASCAR needs to listen to what Earnhardt is saying.

Earnhardt knows racing. He has been around NASCAR his entire life. He knows what these cars should and shouldn't be capable of and he is letting the world know, something isn't right.

I understand there is a pride factor involved with NASCAR. Officials have been working on this COT for the past seven years and they think all of the bugs are worked out. Plus, when you hear complaint after complaint, you start to think people are just whining, which in some cases is accurate.

Not with Junior.

He doesn't cry, which is why NASCAR should be listening. He's not wet behind the ears, he's not upset over bad finishes -- he's truly concerned about the COT.

When Dale Earnhardt spoke, everyone listened. I think it's time his son gets the same respect.

• Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s thoughts echo those of many other drivers in the Nextel Cup garage: It's obvious the Car of Tomorrow can be a frustrating car to drive.

According to the guys who sit behind the wheel, it's hard to get the car to turn in the corners. It's hard to find a comfortable setup. It's hard not to feel like you're losing ground to everyone else as the handling deteriorates.

It has frustrated Junior enough to meet with Nextel Cup director John Darby after Monday's test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway to discuss the situation. As one of the stock-car racing's key figures, that's his right -- and NASCAR officials should take his critique into consideration.

However, NASCAR needs the stay the course on the Car of Tomorrow, especially after just four races.

If the objective of the Car of Tomorrow was to level the playing field -- besides safety and cost containment -- then this was about as level as it can get.

Starting from a blank sheet, every team has made a substantial investment on the design, testing and implementation of the COT -- and to make any significant change at this point would be like throwing money away.

There are a ton of top-notch engineers in NASCAR, and they get paid to come up with unique and effective advantages. They're certainly burning the midnight oil right now to find that one key element that will give their team a leg up with the COT.

Perhaps somebody's already found a workable solution. There are a few teams out there who seem to have a better handle on the handling.

The guys at Rick Hendrick's shop are 4-for-4 in COT races. Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin could easily have scored multiple victories, based on their strong runs in the new chassis.

Don't forget that the No. 8 Chevrolet has a pair of top-10 finishes in the COT this season.

Whether he likes it or not, Dale Jr. is showing he can adapt. And that's what the COT is teaching teams right now.

• Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM