Dale Earnhardt Jr. has given a formal endorsement for crew chief Lance McGrew.

He’s just not sure if that carries any weight.

Earnhardt will start a season-best second in today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway, his 16th race with McGrew calling the shots for his underachieving Hendrick Motorsports team. Although there have been few tangible results since McGrew replaced longtime crew chief Tony Eury Jr. in late May, Earnhardt is pleased with their progress and wants McGrew back next season.

“I like working with Lance. I get along great with Lance,” Earnhardt said. "We have had some great runs and I feel like I can build on that type of success. I hope that we’re successful the rest of the year and that we go into next season with the same group of guys.

“But the decision isn’t mine, and never will be mine.”

The decision will ultimately be made by team owner Rick Hendrick, who put McGrew in the job when Earnhardt’s season was spiraling out of control.

McGrew guided Earnhardt to a 12th-place finish in the debut race at Dover, although there have been just two top-10 runs since their pairing. Even though the record books don’t reflect it, Earnhardt’s performance has improved since he started racing cars built by McGrew.

Earnhardt heads into today’s race 22nd in the standings with just five top 10s all year. He’s also stuck in a 57-race winless streak dating to Michigan in 2008.

Nationwide Series

Joey Logano passed points leader Kyle Busch with three laps left at Kansas Speedway, pulling out his fourth Nationwide victory just a week after a horrific crash.

Logano flipped his car seven times at Dover last Sunday but showed no sign of fear at Kansas, overcoming a bobble with four laps left before passing Busch for the victory.

NHRA

Larry Dixon raced to his third consecutive and seventh No. 1 qualifying position of the season, topping the Top Fuel field in the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park in Millington, Tenn.

Other top qualifiers were Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).