Notebook: Stewart picks Addington to be crew chief

Notebook: Stewart picks Addington to be crew chief

Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(November 28, 2011)

Eight days after winning the 2011 Sprint Cup title with Darian Grubb, Tony Stewart has a new crew chief.

Steve Addington will replace Grubb as crew chief for the three-time Cup champion at Stewart-Haas Racing, the team announced Monday.

Addington had served as crew chief for Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch for two seasons, following a nearly two-year stint as crew chief for Kurt’s brother, Kyle, at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Stewart, who told Grubb that he was out of a job six weeks before they won the 2011 Cup title together, knows Addington from their time at JGR.

“I know Steve well, and I know how he goes about setting up a race car,” Stewart said. “My comfort level with him is already strong. He balances the technical part of our sport with the real-world experiences we get at the track, and that will allow for a smooth transition as we prepare to defend our title in 2012.”

Grubb is not expected to return to SHR, which still has openings for a competition director and crew chief for Danica Patrick, who will run a part-time Cup schedule in 2012 and a full-time Cup schedule in 2013.

“Darian was a very important part of the success we’ve had at Stewart-Haas Racing,” Stewart said. “I’m very proud of everything he helped accomplish, especially this year when we all rallied to win the championship.

“He’s a great person, and I know he’ll continue to be successful in this sport.”

Addington won 16 races the past four years with the Busch brothers.

“Tony and I are a lot alike, and we’re able to push each other,” Addington said. “I saw how he worked when we were at Gibbs together, and I’m not surprised at all at the success he’s created at Stewart-Haas Racing.”

Kurt Busch finished 11th in the standings with two wins in each of his two seasons with Addington. The temperamental driver has a reputation for airing his frustrations on is in-car radio, sometimes with Addington bearing the brunt of the criticism. Busch has had four crew chiefs in six years at Penske. No replacement for Addington has been named.

Blickensderfer named crew chief for Burton

Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief for Roush Fenway Racing’s David Ragan since September 2010, has taken over as crew chief for Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton.

Blickensderfer replaces Luke Lambert, who had the job on an interim basis after Todd Berrier was released in July. Lambert will remain with the organization.

Burton finished 20th in the 2011 standings after making the Chase in four of the previous five years.

"I was around Jeff briefly at RFR and always admired and liked him,” Blickensderfer said. “He's a very talented driver, and I look forward to working him and the rest of the No. 31 team in 2012."

Blickensderfer was crew chief for 37 races with Matt Kenseth (2009-2010). He won the first two—the 2009 Daytona 500 and the following week at Auto Club Speedway—but then didn’t win again before being replaced after the 2010 Daytona 500.

Owner Richard Childress also announced that Slugger Labbe will remain as crew chief for Paul Menard next season. The team had previously announced that Shane Wilson would replace Gil Martin as crew chief for Kevin Harvick.

Hendrick’s seat came loose in crash

Rick Hendrick’s seat came loose during the Oct. 31 plane accident in which he suffered four broken ribs and a broken shoulder when a Hendrick Motorsports plane lost its brakes and skidded off the runway in Key West, Hendrick said Monday.

Hendrick spent a week in a North Carolina hospital. His wife, Linda, suffered some bruises to her leg.

Hendrick said Monday he spent three weeks sleeping in a chair and still has daily therapy sessions but is doing better.

“My belt was on, and something came loose in the seat itself,” Hendrick said during a teleconference Monday. “I hit the bulkhead and my wife. My chest and head went into the seat in front of me, and that’s where I got my ribs (broke) and I had a concussion.

“We were very fortunate. We’re glad that it wasn’t any worse than it was. We’re healing up. We don’t have any of the answers yet on exactly what happened there, but there’s a lot of smart people involved and we’ll get that figured out pretty soon, I hope.”