NASCAR Cup Series

Kenseth gets new crew chief starting this weekend

Published Feb. 17, 2010 4:51 p.m. ET

foxsports

Matt Kenseth has a crew chief change just one week into the new NASCAR season.

Todd Parrott will replace Drew Blickensderfer atop the No. 17 Ford pit box this weekend at California. Blickensderfer led Kenseth to consecutive wins to start last season, including the Daytona 500.

The team performance dropped off after the two wins, and Kenseth failed to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship for the first time since its 2004 inception.

Kenseth was eighth in Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500.

Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement Wednesday that Blickensderfer will be moved to its research and development department.

Parrott won the 1999 championship with Dale Jarrett.