Dale Jr. rises up from Phoenix finish at Fontana

“We’re just glad to be able to rebound,” Earnhardt Jr. said Sunday at Auto Club Speedway. “Last week was very dismal, disappointing and frustrating.”

Although Dale Jr. was the one piloting the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at Fontana, he has his team — newcomers and old faces — to thank for his performance on the oldest asphalt on the Sprint Cup Series schedule.

“Greg’s real sharp,” Dale Jr. said referring to his crew chief, Greg Ives, who is in his first season atop the pit box for the No. 88 team. “He’s still, you know, learning the ropes and taking everything in. He’s a sponge, just absorbing everything he can. He’s got a great help, too. Kevin Meendering is my lead engineer from last year. There’s a lot of great information that Kevin already knows about me, what I like, don’t like, what’s worked for us in the past to make our cars work. So he’s feeding off of that. I’m sure Kevin is giving him a lot of great information.”

Junior might still be adjusting to Ives, but his performances this season don’t show a lack of familiarity between driver and pit boss as he is currently fourth in the driver standings with three top-fives and four top-10 finishes.

The Sprint Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for the STP 500 (March 29, 1 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1) next weekend where Dale Jr. won the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 in October of 2014, earning his first grandfather clock.

“I’m surrounded by a bunch of great guys, a great crew,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Look forward to getting to the next race. We want to get a win, get that in the bank if we can.”

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