Some believe the drop-off in attendance and television ratings can be attributed to Dale Earnhardt Jr. not qualifying for the Chase for the Championship.

The reality, however, is the son of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt hasn't been a factor in a long time.

While his teammates -- Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon -- are the top-three teams in the playoffs, Earnhardt Jr. is floundering back in 22nd place -- and fading fast.

While he's still the most popular driver in the sport, he now lacks a sense of direction in a career that's turned frustrating and unpromising.

"I've been riding it out," he said last week.

Ratings for last Saturday's NASCAR Banking 500 were down compared to last year. It's the fourth time in five Chase races there were fewer viewers than a year ago -- a playoff that included Earnhardt.

Based on ratings and empty seats during the Chase, the rest of the sport is in the same slump.

Earnhardt's past six races ended with finishes of 21st, 35th, 20th, 36th, 25th and 38th.

Now he wants it all to end.

"I'm about to the end of my rope," Earnhardt said. "I've been riding it out, but I think there comes a point where you don't want to ride it out no more; you just have had enough. It's been a long year.

"The highs have been not very high, and the lows have been terribly low, so it's hard to want to get back up and try again next week when you take such a beating. I don't know what else to do."

Those closest to him are just as concerned. His father won six championships racing for Richard Childress. The two have talked about the pressure of following a famous father and being the sport's most-recognized star. They agree there are no easy answers.

"I spoke to him earlier in the year; it's a tough situation," Childress said. "I don't know if you've ever heard the song that Hank Williams Jr. sings it's tough living (in the shadow) of a very famous man. That's what Junior is doing and everybody's got their expectations so high. And when you don't fulfill those expectations, people think you're not there."

Hendrick Motorsports was supposed to provide Earnhardt with the resources to accomplish all of his goals. So far, it's only intensified the pressure.

The driver clearly has decided to be a championship driver. He wants a quick fix, but he's out of ideas. Now it's up to Hendrick.