Where can you find more shake-ups and breakups than an episode of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians"?
The NASCAR Sprint Cup garage, of course.
Since the the end of the 2011 season, there have been a number of new unions among prominent drivers and crew chiefs. Which will work out best? Here’s a list of organizational changes for the new year and what to expect.
1. Kasey Kahne and Kenny Francis
You won’t find a boob among this bunch. Francis is revered as one of the top crew chiefs in racing. And since the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2005, Francis has built a solid engineering nucleus around Kahne that has provided stability even in the worst of situations. Now under the roof of Hendrick Motorsports, the combination of Kahne and Francis will be able to flourish. But team principals and drivers have also acknowledged the benefits that Hendrick Motorsports will derive from the addition of Francis and Kahne — Dale Earnhardt Jr. among them. Earnhardt could already see the benefits that Francis’ influence brought to the cars at the end of the season and has considered Kahne a personal friend “for a long time.”
“I think (Kahne’s) a good talent,” Earnhardt said. “Even more importantly than that, I'm excited about Kenny Francis coming as his crew chief. Anytime you can sort of infuse new ideas of thinking, new ways of putting cars together, bring those ideas in, let them sort of play themselves out, that's a lot of fun for a driver. So looking forward to seeing what Kenny can bring into the fold. Kasey is going to be a lot of fun to hang out with.”
The bottom line: Kahne is tremendously talented but has been affected by his environment in the past. At Hendrick Motorsports, Kahne finally will have an established and secure program that will enable him to reach his potential. It will be surprising if the No. 5 team doesn’t win multiple races and finish among the top five in the points standings.
2. Denny Hamlin and Darian Grubb
For Hamlin, the relationship with crew chief Mike Ford can be compared to a starter marriage that had run its course following a seven-year itch. After losing the 2010 Cup title, repairing this partnership and regaining trust between the two became increasingly difficult. Enter Grubb — fresh off winning the 2011 championship with Tony Stewart. But in a curious twist, Stewart kicked Grubb to the curb. Now Grubb has something to prove: that he can duplicate the same magic at Joe Gibbs Racing with Hamlin in Toyotas. Grubb, a Virginia Tech engineering graduate, brings a balance of common sense and experience, along with a formal education. Hamlin, also from the Old Dominion State, has something to prove after a mediocre season and barely qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
The bottom line: Hamlin's No. 11 team has all the resources — and talent — to compete for the title. If Grubb can jump-start Hamlin and the pair gains confidence early on, there’s no reason why this crew can’t return the glory days of not wondering whether the team would make the Chase but instead wondering just how high it would finish.
3. Tony Stewart and Steve Addington
Last year, Stewart stepped up his game and proved again why he has won multiple championships. Despite rumors of Addington replacing Stewart’s former crew chief, Grubb, midway through the Chase, the No. 14 crew’s performance never fluctuated, thanks to the driver/owner's leadership skills. So why the crew chief change? Stewart-Haas Racing insiders say Grubb didn’t take charge in the authoritative manner that Stewart craved.
Only time will determine whether Addington exercises the commanding tone that this driver craves. Addington’s statistics have been bolstered by the talent of his previous drivers — Kyle and Kurt Busch. However, Kyle tired of Addington halfway through the second season. The crew chief was looking for an out after the first year with Kurt and Penske Racing but kept cashing the checks until a new gig came along.
The bottom line: Your grandmother could crew chief the No. 14 car and win. All the resources are available to continue the success that Stewart-Haas Racing’s flagship team enjoyed last year, and Stewart will continue to call the shots. Given Addington’s close relationship with newly appointed competition director Greg Zipadelli, he should have a job for life.
4. Kevin Harvick and Shane Wilson
Three was not a charm for Harvick. And after finishing third in the Chase the past two seasons, Harvick was ready for a change. Wilson, a loyal Richard Childress Racing lieutenant who had been paired with the departed Clint Bowyer, happily accepted the challenge. Although Wilson and the No. 33 team displayed plenty of potential, his greatest career challenge will come next season with Childress’ flagship squad. Fortunately, Wilson will have the top resources and the best pit crew at his disposal.
The bottom line: Wilson has been heralded as the most gifted crew chief at RCR. With the Cup operation shrinking to three full-time teams, the spotlight will be on the No. 29 crew more than ever. Considering that Harvick has ceased operating KHI (Kevin Harvick Inc.), he can now fully concentrate on his Sprint Cup ride.
5. Clint Bowyer and Brian Pattie
Both Bowyer and Pattie will be moving to a new home in 2012 — the No. 15 Camry at Michael Waltrip Racing. And the pressure will be on Bowyer to set the bar for performance at MWR, which has only two victories since its 2007 debut and no Chase berths. Bowyer, 32, along with part-timer Mark Martin, brings the experience of winning races and qualifying for the postseason. Pattie is an extremely pragmatic crew chief who will be able to bridle Bowyer’s exuberance into results on the racetrack.
The bottom line: With Red Bull Racing’s demise, Toyota can focus its attention on both MWR and Joe Gibbs Racing, which should benefit Bowyer and Co.
6. AJ Allmendinger and Todd Gordon
After five trying seasons attempting to gain a foothold in NASCAR, Allmendinger’s persistence finally paid off with a call from Penske Racing. Allmendinger now has what he’s been craving all along — stability. Although 'Dinger had built a solid foundation at Richard Petty Motorsports with crew chief Greg Erwin, the future was shaky at best for the No. 43 Ford. Penske’s promotion of Gordon, who came along a career path similar to that of teammate Paul Wolfe, will help Allmendinger navigate the Captain’s structure. Gordon, a Clemson University graduate, spent six seasons building his resume in the Nationwide Series and earned five wins with Brad Keselowski and one victory with Kurt Busch under the Penske banner before gaining the No. 22 crew chief’s job.
The bottom line: Next year will be a make-or-break season for Allmendinger. If 'Dinger takes advantage of this opportunity, this could be a long and successful relationship for the driver and Penske Racing.
7. Juan Pablo Montoya and Chris Heroy
Few drivers possess Montoya’s talent. However, the former Formula One driver requires a crew chief who will continue to motivate him through good times and bad. Montoya must also respect the guy calling the shots. For Heroy, this is his first opportunity as a full-time crew chief. The former Hendrick Motorsports engineer was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s choice to lead his 2011 Nationwide Series efforts at Daytona International Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway, where the driver finished fourth and third, respectively. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing experienced a huge shake-up with the dismissal of veterans Steve Hmiel and Tony Glover following a mediocre season. Both Montoya and EGR teammate Jamie McMurray struggled after a spectacular 2010.
The bottom line: If the equipment improves and Heroy can provide Montoya with the feel he needs, the No. 42 Target will return to contention. However, the driver must apply himself.
8. Jeff Burton and Drew Blickensderfer
The bottom line: With coaching is in Blick’s DNA, he’ll provide the necessary spark for continued success in Burton’s golden years.
9. Kurt Busch and Nick Harrison
With Busch’s talent and Harrison’s knowledge of the systems at Phoenix Racing, the No. 51 Chevrolet will surprise people in 2012. The team has Hendrick Motorsports cars and engines along with a satellite pit crew. Busch is determined to have fun, and team owner James Finch is known for putting the fun in racing. While stripper poles in transporters might be a thing of the past for Finch, as long as the team is showing progress, a good time will be had by all.
The bottom line: Busch will win races, but qualifying for the Chase will be a long shot.
10. Joey Logano and Jason Ratcliff
Logano lost the only Cup crew chief he has known when Zipadelli left Joe Gibbs Racing to join Stewart-Haas Racing. In three years together, Logano won one rain-shortened race (in his first season) but finished a career-worst 24th in points in 2011. Ratcliff earned a well-deserved promotion at JGR to the Cup series with Logano after paying his dues in the Nationwide Series in a run that included winning the title in 2009.
The bottom line: This pair has found success together in the Nationwide Series. The change, along with the challenge, should serve both driver and crew chief well.
