The driver may drive the car, but the crew chief is the one who sets it up. Oftentimes, a great crew chief/driver combination could be exactly what a driver needs to take it to that next level. Which crew chiefs in NASCAR today are bound to be Hall of Famers in the future?
Cliff Daniels and Kyle Larson teamed up at the start of the 2021 season, and immediately Larson started winning. A whopping 10 wins and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 2021 was the ideal first season for the duo. In 2023, the two are once again Championship contenders.
With the success the two have had so far, they should be partnered together for a very long time. On top of that, Cliff Daniels is incredible at motivational speeches such as his speech from the 2022 Coca-Cola 600. Daniels has helped push Larson over the top, and it seems neither is showing any signs of slowing down.
Not only has Adam Stevens tamed Kyle Busch to winning two Cup Series Championships, but he also is the crew chief who led Christopher Bell to his first career win. That is an impressive resume for someone who has less than 10 years on the job. Stevens has had to deal with major adversity including Busch breaking his leg at Daytona in 2015.
He has become a stalwart at JGR, and he will continue to be one for the foreseeable future. Add to that 33 wins in 313 starts is nothing short of spectacular.
He may not be the most popular crew chief after his fuel strategy mistake at Watkins Glen, but the success cannot be denied. What Gustafson has done is continue to win races with multiple different drivers. He has won races with current Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin alongside future Hall of Famers Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott.
Gustafson also helped revitalize careers as he gave Gordon his first multi-win season in four years in 2011 and led 50-year-old Mark Martin to five wins in 2009. Gustafson may have only one Championship to his name, but the success he has had with multiple different drivers gives him a legitimate Hall of Fame case.
Paul Wolfe is famous for trying alternate strategies whenever he has the opportunity to. It was that mentality that gave Wolfe his first career win as a crew chief with Brad Keselowski in 2011. Wolfe took Keselowski from a tough rookie season to beating arguably the greatest driver of all time, Jimmie Johnson for the 2012 Championship.
Wolfe went on to win another Championship in 2022 with Joey Logano, and Wolfe has never gone a season without winning a race. Wolfe has been a steady presence at Team Penske, and he will be looked back on fondly in that building when his crew chief career ends.
Like many drivers, Rodney Childers had to work his way up through the NASCAR Cup Series before he found his best success. He started as a crew chief for Scott Riggs in 2005, and Childers led Riggs to a career-best second-place finish at Michigan in August. Childers later moved on to Michael Waltrip Racing where he won races with David Reutimann and Brian Vickers.
In 2014, Childers moved to Stewart-Haas Racing to work with Kevin Harvick, and the two hit it off immediately. They won the series Championship in 2014, and the two have combined for 37 race wins in 334 races together. The success is undeniable, and Childers should have quite the Hall of Fame case when his career ends. The question is, how will he do with Josh Berry?
Are there other crew chiefs in the sport today that may be future Hall of Famers? We will have to see, and maybe one of those crew chiefs can begin to craft their case as the Playoffs draw to a close.
Chris Gabehart has responded to Joe Gibbs Racing’s lawsuit, strongly denying the allegations and calling the claims “false,” “frivolous,” and “retaliatory” in a public statement released this Friday.
After the lawsuit became public, on Thursday, Gabehart spoke out for the first time, stating that he did not share any confidential JGR information with Spire Motorsports or any third parties and that he intends to prove that in court. He also said a third-party forensic review of his personal devices found no evidence supporting the accusations, adding that JGR declined an offer to examine Spire’s systems before filing suit.
“Yesterday afternoon, Joe Gibbs Racing filed a lawsuit claiming — falsely — that I shared JGR confidential information with Spire Motorsports and/or other unnamed third parties… I feel compelled to speak out today and forcefully and emphatically deny these frivolous and retaliatory claims.”
Gabehart said he will address the matter further in a formal legal response in the coming days.
You can learn more about the lawsuit, why it started and all the context surrounding it in the article linked below
Weather could play a major role in the NASCAR weekend at EchoPark Speedway, with current forecasts calling for a 40% chance of rain Saturday afternoon and increasing to 55% in the evening. While conditions are expected to improve, contingency plans are already in place in case races cannot be completed as scheduled
NASCAR has not announced any official schedule changes yet, as decisions will be based on how conditions develop in real time. With rain chances increasing through Saturday afternoon and evening, teams are preparing for multiple outcomes, and Sunday is expected to serve as the primary backup window if events can’t be completed as planned.
Conditions are constantly being monitored, but fans should be prepared for possible schedule adjustments throughout the weekend. We’ll keep you updated throughout the race weekend here on The Daily Downforce
Just when things finally seemed to calm down in the NASCAR garage, a bombshell dropped. Joe Gibbs Racing is officially suing former competition director Chris Gabehart, and the allegations are serious. Power struggles, confidential data, secret photos, and a potential move to Spire Motorsports.
From competition department tension to an $8 million damages figure, this lawsuit could have major implications beyond just one team. Gabehart helped elevate Denny Hamlin back into championship form and played a key role in JGR’s recent success, which makes this split even more shocking. This preview only scratches the surface. The full breakdown dives into the timeline, the alleged evidence, and what this could mean for the Cup Series balance of power moving forward. Watch the full video to learn much more
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