JR Motorsports hires former Cup crew chief Ryan Pemberton

Ryan Pemberton, a former crew chief for several Sprint Cup teams, has joined JR Motorsports. Pemberton takes a similar role to what Tony Eury Sr. had as competition director for the organization, although the team has not yet announced whether he will hold that title.

Eury Sr., the uncle of team co-owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt-Miller and the father of co-owner Tony Eury Jr., was released last week.

“He started Monday and he’s come in to help Kelley, help us with some ideas on what direction we can go to get better," Earnhardt Jr. of Pemberton.

JR Motorsports has not won a race in more than two years. Rookie Cole Whitt is seventh in the Nationwide Series standings while the No. 88 team is 12th in the owner standings. Teammates Danica Patrick is 11th in the driver standings, with her team 17th.

“We want to be better performance-wise," Earnhardt Jr. said. “It’s a very challenging position to be in in that series and we’re just looking for him to come in there and give us some ideas on how to improve."