Veteran Mike Beam takes over as crew chief of the No. 60 Nationwide Team
CONCORD, N.C. – (Sept. 22, 2010) — Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Drew Blickensderfer will take over as crew chief on the No. 6 Sprint Cup team with driver David Ragan effective immediately. Mike Beam will replace Blickensderfer as crew chief of the No. 60 Nationwide Team, with driver Carl Edwards. Beam had previously served as competition director of Roush Fenway’s Nationwide program.
“It’s obviously a great opportunity and I’m eager to work with David Ragan, the No. 6 team and everyone at UPS,” said Blickensderfer, who won his first two races as a Sprint Cup crew chief in 2009.
“I actually started at Roush Fenway as a rear-tire changer and set-up mechanic on the No. 6 team, so it is kind of like coming full circle. There is a lot of tradition that goes with that team here at Roush Fenway and it is really an honor to get to head it up. I look forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get to Dover this weekend.”
With the move Blickensderfer returns to the Sprint Cup series where he served as Matt Kenseth’s crew chief in 2009, leading the No. 17 Sprint Cup team to two victories, including the famed Daytona 500. In addition to wins in the Sprint Cup Series at Daytona and California, Blickensderfer boasts 12 wins in the Nationwide Series. In 2008 he guided Edwards’ team to a Nationwide Series runner-up finish and in 2006 he helped Danny O’Quinn Jr. capture the Nationwide Raybestos Rookie Award.
Beam, a 30-year NASCAR veteran, has served at Roush Fenway as a crew chief in the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series. He most recently served as director of competition for Roush Fenway’s Nationwide program.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on the box and working with Carl and this No. 60 team,” said Beam, who boasts 14 total NASCAR wins as a crew chief. “Obviously Carl is a tremendous talent and the No. 60 team is one of the best in the series, so it’s a really good situation to step into. Our goal will be to continue to run up front and take that No. 60 Ford to victory lane a few times.”
About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating eight motorsports teams. Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and five in the Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Colin Braun, Brian Ickler, Paul Menard and Erik Darnell. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. Become a fan of Roush Fenway Racing on Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow us on Twitter @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.
