Notes: Martin, Almirola to split DEI's No. 8 car in '08 (cont'd)

Earnhardt's grim reality

Speaking of Earnhardt, he may be mathematically eligible for a berth in the Chase, but he sounded Friday like a driver facing a harsh reality. Earnhardt is 128 points behind 12th-place Kevin Harvick for the final playoff berth, and can only secure a shot if he finishes fifth or better and calamity befalls Harvick.

"You set a lot of goals, and making the Chase was, we thought, an easier goal for my team this year. I felt like we would make the Chase without any doubt," he said. "Even with about six races to go, I felt like there was no team around me within reach that I couldn't beat. We just weren't able to put it together or get it done. We don't have excuses. We'll just have to try to learn what we can learn the rest of the season. We've been in this boat before where we take this opportunity to maximize what we can learn for next year and have some fun. I don't think there's a guy on that team that's going to lay down."

Friday's lone practice wasn't a good sign; Earnhardt was 43rd fastest among the 47 cars that took to the track, while Harvick was fourth and 11th-place Kurt Busch was seventh. Barring the unlikeliest of scenarios -- such as Earnhardt finishing fifth, leading the most laps, and Harvick placing last -- Earnhardt will end his tenure at Dale Earnhardt Inc. without a championship.

"I've been extremely happy with the way the team's performed, but the results aren't there, and that's what matters in this business," said crew chief Tony Eury Jr., who will follow his driver to Hendrick. "You're always going to feel empty because you didn't win a championship there, but you've also got to look at how bright the future is, and how many championships we can win with Mr. Hendrick."

Eury's 'ultimate' move

For Eury, making the jump to Hendrick along with Earnhardt was a natural move. Hendrick has a photo of a 13-year-old Eury attending his first race, a Busch event at Road Atlanta. The young Eury, wearing a baseball cap turned sideways, was there because his grandfather co-owned a car along with Hendrick.

"I've known him since he was a puppy," Hendrick said. "It's not like we don't know each other."

Eury will become crew chief for the Hendrick team now affiliated with the No. 25 car, whose number will change to likely something in the 80s before Earnhardt slides into the seat. He'll replace Darian Grubb, who will move into a front-office position similar to that held by longtime Hendrick employee Brian Whitesell, who helped develop the symbiotic relationship between the teams of Gordon and Johnson.

"I've been with DEI for 14 years, and these guys are the ones I've always idolized. I thought they've always been the top-notch team in the garage, and when Dale Jr. started to make his move, I thought this was the ultimate team," Eury said.

"I kind of always had in my mind that if I ever had an opportunity to work for Rick, that I would. I'm leaving a lot of guys I've been with for seven or eight years. That's the downfall. But when you're in this business and you can go forward, that's what you have to do."