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HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (December 9, 2011) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announces today that Darian Grubb has been named crew chief for its No. 11 FedEx Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.
“Darian is a great addition to our organization and person to lead our No. 11 FedEx team,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Obviously he has proven the ability to guide a team to a championship and we are excited to have him working with Denny (Hamlin) toward achieving that goal here at Joe Gibbs Racing.”

Grubb is coming off an impressive championship run with driver Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing which included winning five of the 10 Chase races en route to capturing the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. He spent the past three seasons as crew chief for Stewart on the No. 14 car after the driver left JGR to start his own race operation. Prior to joining Stewart-Haas Racing,

Continue reading “Darian Grubb Named Denny Hamlin’s Crew Chief at Joe Gibbs Racing”

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Blickensderfer Named Crew Chief of RCR’s
No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Racing Team

WELCOME, N.C. (November 28, 2011) — Richard Childress Racing has named Drew Blickensderfer as the crew chief for the No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Racing team with driver Jeff Burton for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Luke Lambert, interim crew chief during the latter part of the 2011 season for the No. 31 team, will assume a yet-to-be announced new position at RCR.

Blickensderfer begins his RCR career after nearly a decade with Roush Fenway Racing. He spent the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season leading the No. 6 team and has been a crew chief, in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, since 2007.

“I’m excited about the move to RCR and the opportunity to help lead Jeff Burton and the Cat/Wheaties Racing team back into Chase contention,” said Blickensderfer. “I was around Jeff briefly at RFR and always admired and liked him. He’s a very talented driver and I look forward to working him and the rest of the No. 31 team in 2012.”

Continue reading “Drew Blickensderfer named Jeff Burton’s new crew chief”

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Steve Addington Named Crew Chief for Tony Stewart

KANNAPOLIS, N.C., (Nov. 28, 2011) – Steve Addington, winner of 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races as a crew chief, has been named to the same position for three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 team of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) effective immediately.

The Spartanburg, S.C., native is only the third crew chief Stewart has had during his 13-year Sprint Cup career, and it comes just a week after Stewart captured the 2011 Sprint Cup title.

“I know Steve well and I know how he goes about setting up a racecar,” said Stewart, who worked with Addington from 2005 through 2008 during his time at Joe Gibbs Racing. “My comfort level with him is already strong. He balances the technical part of our sport with the real-world experiences we get at the track, and that will allow for a smooth transition as we prepare to defend our title in 2012.”

Continue reading “Steve Addington Named Crew Chief for Tony Stewart”

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RCR Announces Personnel Changes to its NASCAR Sprint Cup Program
Wilson, Martin take on new roles for 2012 season

WELCOME, N.C. (November 23, 2011) — Richard Childress Racing has made organizational changes to its competition department in preparation for the 2012 NASCAR season.

Long-time RCR crew chiefs Shane Wilson and Gil Martin have taken new assignments with the 14-time championship-winning organization.

Continue reading “Shane Wilson named new Kevin Harvick #29 crew chief”

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After Tony Stewart climbed from his #14 Chevy in Victory Lane at New Hamphire, he said “We got rid of some dead weight earlier this week, so it’s made it a lot easier,” Stewart said of his team’s sudden turnaround. “It’s been a big weight lifted off our shoulders. Sometimes you’ve got to make adjustments in your life, and we did that, and it’s definitely helped this weekend for sure.”

UPDATE: LISTEN TO WHAT THE GUYS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS ON THIS WEEK’S THE FINAL LAP PODCAST

Here’s the exchange in the media center afterwards when ESPN.com reporter Ed Hinton tried to follow up….

Q. Tony, ever since you were on TV in Victory Lane, the buzz all around the track and Internet is wondering what you meant when you said, We dropped some dead weight earlier this week.

Continue reading “What did Tony Stewart Mean by getting rid of ‘Dead Weight’ after New Hampshire Win?”