BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is all about keeping it in the family.

Even though his winless streak has reached 76 and counting, Junior doesn't see any reason why he and his cousin -- crew chief Tony Eury Jr. -- should part ways at this point. Eury followed Earnhardt to Hendrick Motorsports during the offseason, and despite winning the season-opening Budweiser Shootout, the two haven't been able to find the way back to Victory Lane.

“

Am I happy with Tony Jr.? Winning with him -- when that happens again -- and having top-five, top-10 runs is way more satisfying personally with him than with anyone else.

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DALE EARNHARDT JR.

But that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with their relationship, Junior said Friday at Michigan International Speedway. Earnhardt responded to that question after qualifying for Sunday's LifeLock 400 was washed out when 11 cars had posted times.

"I know for sure if I didn't work for Tony Jr. that he'd go somewhere and do great things with a different driver, either in the same company or a different company," Junior said. "I don't know for sure whether I would be able to match the success I have right now with someone else. What I do know is how good he is."

Since Sunday's lineup was set by the NASCAR rulebook, Junior will roll off third in his No. 88 Chevrolet. It's the eighth time this season he's started in the top 10 -- and seven of those resulted in top-10 finishes. But his legions of fans want to see wins, and his last victory came at Richmond in 2006.

The two cousins have had a contentious relationship at times, but Earnhardt said that's just part of being so close.

"Do we work perfectly together all the time? No, I don't think we do," Junior said. "I don't think anyone does. Am I happy with Tony Jr.? Winning with him -- when that happens again -- and having top-five, top-10 runs is way more satisfying personally with him than with anyone else. Running good is great, but when you do it with people you care for and care about, and enjoy having them involved in it, it means a lot more."

Earnhardt said if there's a perception that there's disharmony between the two, then it's a false one.

"I think people jump to conclusions and have opinions," he said. "They just really don't know the depth of the situation. I guess as long as we act like brothers and fight like brothers, we'll have to deal with the left side and the right side of things.

"As long as I can keep it the way it is, I'll want to keep it the way it is."

Junior's fastest lap during Friday's practice session was 181.703 mph, which placed him 20th on the speed chart. However, he was among the top cars on longer runs. And even though he's never won at Michigan, he's finished no worse than 12th in his last four starts here.