There are numerous lists with the best drivers for winning, winning seasons, and any number of accomplishments. But, while the driver is behind the wheel of the car, there is a team of crew members and mechanics that help that driver to be the star he is.
It is not uncommon for a crew chief to lead several drivers to victory and championships over the course of his career. But tops that list???
Martin Truex Jr retired from full time racing at the end of the season; but before he parted ways with long time crew chief James Small, the duo shared eight wins.
Crew chief Jeremy Bullins has sat on the pit boxes of Brad Keselowski, Ryan Newman, Austin Cindric, and Harrison Burton. Over the years, Bullins has earned 10 wins – five of them with Brad Keselowski.
Rudy Fugle has 12 career wins while sitting atop the pit box; all of them with a single driver – William Byron.
Fellow Hendrick Motorsports, Cliff Daniels has earned a total of 22 wins and he too, has earned them all sitting on top of the pit box for just one driver – Kyle Larson.
After several years of sitting on the pit box, Chris Gabehart has been promoted to director of competition at Joe Gibbs Racing. But before that he and driver of the number eleven Denny Hamlin have earned 22 races together.
As sports broadcaster Skip Carey used to say, “he’s tried on a few uniforms”. Carey usually uttered the phrase when a player had been a part of multiple teams. Crew chief Darian Grubb is such a man. He has earned a total of 24 wins with six different drivers – Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears, and Shane van Gisbergen. He has the most wins with Stewart at eleven.
Adam Stevens has spent his career as a member of Joe Gibbs Racing, where he has racked up 37 wins; 28 of them with driver Kyle Busch. The remaining nine with Christopher Bell.
Alan Gustafson is another Hendrick Motorsports lifer with a total of 39 wins between Chase Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and Kyle Busch. He has the most wins, 19 with Chase Elliott.
Earlier this year, Rodney Childers announced that he would be leaving the now shuttered Stewart-Haas Racing and heading over to Spire Motorsports. Childers has earned nearly all – 37 – of his 40 wins sitting on the top of the pix box of the number four the number four car with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel.
Earning his third championship as a crew chief, Paul Wolfe tops the list with 42 wins sitting on the pit box for Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski – 29 of those with Brad Keselowski.
The season and ceremonies are over and the crew chiefs (old and new) will be spending the next couple of months working hard to find ways to help their drivers gain a competitive advantage.