In NASCAR fans see mainly the driver but it is a team sport that requires dozens of people working on the cars to keep them in proper working order and to make them go as fast as possible. One of the most important members of each team is the crew chief who makes the on track decisions when it comes to the car during a race.
Champion crew chief Barry Dodson died December 20 at the age of 64. No official cause of death has been given.
Dodson was the crew chief in 1989 when NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace won what was then known as the Winston Cup – today it is known as the Monster Energy Cup Series.
With a total of 19 Monster Energy Cup Series race victories to his credit, Dodson has also served as the crew chief for Tim Richmond, Mike Bliss, Mickey Gibbs, Jimmy Hensley, Doresy Schroeder, Dick Trickle, Kenny Wallace, Derricke Cope, Todd Bodine, Buckshot Jones, Jeff Fuller, Rick Mast, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip. Dodson’s final race win as a crew chief came in 1995 at Dover International Raceway with Kyle Petty behind the wheel – it was also Petty’s final win as a driver.
In the Xfinity Series Dodson worked with Darrell Waltrip and Travis Kittleson. In the Camping World Truck Series he was crew chief for Mike Bliss, Dave Rezendes, Chad Chafin, Derricke Cope, Tim Fedewa, Shane Huff, Ryan Moore, Clay Rogers, and Jason White. He was also Darrel Waltrip’s crew chief for a couple of races in the ARCA Racing and K&N Pro Series West.
When Rusty Wallace decided to field a team of his own in the Xfinity Series, he hired Dodson as the team’s general manager.
Predeceased by his children Trey and Tia (automobile accident in 1994), Dodson is survived by his brother John and stepson crew chief for JTG Daugherty Racing Trent Owens.
photo taken from Dodson’s Facebook page.