CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Rick Hendrick says the sweeping changes he made to his organization were not solely because of the struggles of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Instead, Hendrick says he changed the driver and crew chief lineups of three of his race teams because the organization had grown complacent.
Hendrick says shuffling Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Earnhardt is one of the “most radical moves” he’s made in racing. He did not split Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus, but acknowledged even the five-time defending champions were off a bit this season.
The new lineups were created by Hendrick and his management team, and the team owner said it was not subject to a vote from the drivers and crew chiefs.
