What’s Happening?

As the 2024 season approaches, crew chief changes take many NASCAR headlines. Sometimes, a crew chief change is exactly what a driver needs to fulfill their potential. This got us thinking, what are the best crew chief changes in NASCAR history?

• This list, like most of our lists, will focus on the NASCAR Cup Series. This will not be limited to drivers swapping crew chiefs, and it will include new crew chiefs coming in and making an impact on drivers.
• We also will not include team swaps, as there are often many outside factors that go into drivers improving while heading to another race team. This list will focus on crew chief swaps where the driver stays with the team.
• Fans are always interested in crew chief swaps. They are similar to coaching changes in other sports, where they can make a major impact on how teams perform.

2011: Paul Wole to Brad Keselowski

In 2010, Brad Keselowski jumped up to the Cup Series full-time with Team Penske, and he struggled. Meanwhile, in the Xfinity Series, Keselowski won the Championship with Paul Wolfe as the crew chief. Roger Penske decided to move Wolfe up to the Cup Series with Keselowski for 2011.

In 2011, Keselowski won three races, and he won the Cup Series Championship one year later. The pairing became one of the most successful of the 2010s with 29 race wins. It was exactly the move Keselowski needed to make that jump.

2021: Rudy Fugle to William Byron

In his first three years in the NASCAR Cup Series, William Byron was solid, but, he only won one race. After the 2020 season, Chad Knaus moved on from being a crew chief and Rudy Fugle stepped in to work with Byron. In year one, Byron had a career-high in top-5s and top-10s and a top-10 points finish.

The pairing got even better in 2023 by making the Championship 4 with 6 wins. Byron always seemed like a driver on the verge of breaking out, and Fugle finally allowed him to break out.

1993: Andy Petree to Dale Earnhardt

In 1992, Dale Earnhardt had an enigma of a racing season as he finished 12th in the standings. Crew chief, Kirk Shelmerdine left, and Andy Petree came in. Petree had won races with Harry Gant, but, no one knew how the pairing would work.

Well, the two worked together for three seasons and never finished outside of the top-2 in the standings. This included Earnhardt’s 6th and 7th Champions in 1993 and 1994. The two won 15 races in those three seasons together before Petree moved on.

2011: Steve Letarte to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In 2010, Rick Hendrick swapped three of his crew chiefs around. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was particularly struggling after two straight seasons outside of the top 20 in points. Steve Letarte joined the team to replace Lance McGrew.

In 2011, Earnhardt Jr. made the Playoffs, and he won his first race in 4 years in 2012. In 2014, he had his first multi-win season in 10 years. Letarte moved on to broadcasting after the 2014 season, but, he can be credited with helping turn Earnahrdt Jr.’s career around.

2015: Adam Stevens to Kyle Busch

In 2015, Kyle Busch was teamed up with his third crew chief since he joined Joe Gibbs Racing. Despite missing the first 11 races of 2015, Busch and Stevens combined to win 5 races and the Series Championship.

Between 2015 and 2019, the pairing never missed the Championship 4, including 2 Championships. They won 19 races together, but, Stevens and Busch parted ways after a lackluster 2020 season. Still, a major chunk of the prime of Busch’s driving career can be credited to Stevens.

1997: Jimmy Fennig to Mark Martin

In 1996, Mark Martin went winless with Shane Hmiel as his crew chief. Jimmy Fennig joined Martin for the 1997 season, and results immediately followed. The pairing stayed together for five seasons and won 14 races.

This included Martin’s career high in wins in 1998 with 7. A winless season in 2001 ended the pairing’s time together, but, the pairing still had a nice run together.

2015: Cole Pearn to Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr. had a rough first season with Furniture Row Racing in 2014. In 2015, Truex Jr. was paired with Cole Pearn, and the two immediately has success. They made the Championship 4 in 2015 and won a Championship in 2017.

In 5 seasons together, the two won 24 races between Furniture Row and Joe Gibbs Racing. While Pearn moved on following the 2019 season, he oversaw Truex as he became a Champion. It was one of the geat turnarounds in NASCAR.

Could the crew chief swap between Kaulig Racing and Trackhouse end up on this list one day? Time will ultimately tell, but, sometimes these swaps are exactly what teams need.