Martin second at Bristol, but always first in class (cont'd)

2. You're Dale Earnhardt Jr. You have back-to-back top-10 finishes for the first time this year. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Dave Rodman: Sadly enough, as it is for everyone in this sport, he's got to keep getting on it at Atlanta. But for sure it does show progress -- and yes, there is a glimmer of hope showing. But again, it's got to be consistent.

Raygan Swan: Maybe, but I think he is certainly understanding his role better as a driver and working with his team. After Michigan, he said he is trying to be the same driver at the start of the race as he is the finish, mentally speaking. Also, he said he is doing a better job of controlling himself so the team doesn't have to.

Reason to smile?

Dale Earnhardt's results have been about the same since Lance McGrew replaced Tony Eury Jr. as crew chief, but he has finished third and ninth in the past two races.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Crew Chief Results

	Eury	McGrew
Starts	12	12
Wins	0	0
Top-5s	1	1
Top-10s	3	2
26th or worse	6	6
Lead-Lap Fin.	6	9
Avg. Start	23.1	21.3
Avg. Finish	21.3	21.8

David Caraviello: OK, one race at a place like Michigan, where guys are running out of gas, is one thing. But bringing it at Bristol, where nobody gets a good finish by accident, is something else. That was old Junior there Saturday night, shades of the same guy who used to be really good on the concrete short track. For No. 88 fans, it had to be a hopeful sign.

Raygan Swan: Good point, David. I think we will see the fruit of this team's labor next season.

David Caraviello: But Dave, I agree, let's see what he does at Atlanta. That used to be one of his best tracks, maybe his best non-restrictor-plate track. He used to really be strong there. If he is again next weekend, and can string together three good finishes in a row -- well, they really might be onto something.

Raygan Swan: Is it impossible to think that maybe he can be a Chase spoiler, guys?

Dave Rodman: It's interesting when you put it that way, in that it's relatively the same thing Kyle Busch realized going into Bristol. He has to be constructive and cogent in his remarks -- not emotional and incendiary. In the end, the outcome will be much more positive and again, it comes down to consistency. If Shrub can do it for two more races, he could make the Chase; and if Junior can put a string of those together, he could easily win a race before October.

David Caraviello: Not impossible, but at this point maybe still unlikely. There were a lot of people who thought, well, replace Tony Eury Jr. and the light switch will go on. I think now they're realizing just how behind that program was, for some reasons that had to do with the driver. Junior's communication, his fitness level, those aren't things you can change overnight.

Raygan Swan: I'm glad you made the fitness comment, David, because too many fans think it is not necessary. But really, it improves mental strength and focus. I mean, geez, even Tony Stewart has shed some pounds recently.

Dave Rodman: It's all part of the package that equals success. Even Jeff Gordon recently has altered his workout regimen and the results have been pretty noticeable.

David Caraviello: Unless you're a freak of nature like Tony Stewart, and can eat Dairy Queen and win in anything with four wheels, it's absolutely a factor. When your physical fitness suffers, your mental fitness suffers. I still contend this is one reason why Jimmie Johnson is at the top of the sport right now. And Dave, while I like Junior and I think they may be on the verge of getting things figured out, I'm not ready to say they're a threat to win. They've been off the radar to that effect for so long, they'll need to show me more than they have for me to think they can steal that many points from somebody come Chase time.

Dave Rodman: Hmmm. All I'm saying is, Junior certainly knows how to win. Lance McGrew has proven he has the tools to get it done. And they're in Hendrick equipment. So you make a good point, but with who they are and what they have to work with, they are not very far off.

Raygan Swan: Question for both of you: Do you feel like Lance is the man to turn things around for this team?

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David Caraviello: What are they going to do, lure over Chad Knaus? Lance has been in the Hendrick system for a while. It sounds like he's really running the show over at the No. 88, where even Junior admitted that before, the driver made too many of the decisions. And Dale indicated at a media function at Atlanta a few weeks ago that Lance would be back.

Raygan Swan: Well, if Lance is coming back, then great. Because I think what that team needs is a consistent leader.

Dave Rodman: They might have to give it to the end of the year to really see. They appear to have turned a corner, but as we just agreed, consistency from now will tell. Depending on what happens, and with the apparent upheaval that's going on in the Nationwide camp, what do you think the likelihood of hooking back up with Pops [Tony Eury Sr.] would be? If you look at who Junior's won the most with, that's your answer. Either that, or clone the guy.

David Caraviello: I would think that would be unrealistic, wouldn't you, Dave? Hendrick likes dealing with their own people, guys already in their system. For all Tony Sr. has done, he's kind of on the outside to that effect. And given what happened with Tony Jr. .... well, that might be a move folks would be reluctant to make.

• Caraviello: With Chase looming, Junior anonymous (Continued)