Elder Eury takes leadership post at JR Motorsports

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. has turned to a familiar face and proven winner to help lead the competition efforts of his race team, announcing on Wednesday that his uncle and longtime NASCAR crew chief, Tony Eury, has been named director of competition at JR Motorsports.

Commonly referred to as "Pops" around the NASCAR garage, Eury will oversee competition and technical support for all of JR Motorsports, which includes a full-time Busch Series program, a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series entry, and three late-model teams. His new role at JRM will begin immediately, as he will work closely with crew chief Wes Ward, motorsports director Steve Crisp and driver Shane Huffman in preparation for Saturday's Camping World 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on ABC). The No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life team enters the weekend on the heels of consecutive top-10 finishes at Kentucky (fifth) and Milwaukee (10th).

"Tony Sr. brings wins, championships, and an immeasurable amount of knowledge to JR Motorsports," Earnhardt said. "He also brings a sense of trust that you only have in family. This company needs his expertise, and I'm glad he sees the potential at JR Motorsports to want to work here. I hope I can provide him the same amount of success here that he has achieved over the years, and I hope he enjoys working here as much as I know he enjoyed working at DEI."

Earnhardt latest addition continues a racing bond between the Eurys and Earnhardts that started more than three decades ago when Eury accompanied his longtime Kannapolis, N.C., friend, Dale Earnhardt, to Daytona International Speedway in 1976. Racing in the NASCAR Sportsman Division (later renamed the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series) Earnhardt finished 13th in his first race at Daytona. Eury continued to work on Earnhardt's cars and travel to select races on a part-time basis through the mid-80s before joining Earnhardt's company full time in 1987. (Continued)