Spirited Leader of the No. 14 team made successful calls in 2011 Chase
Roswell, GA (November 13, 2011) – Darian Grubb, who has guided driver Tony Stewart to four victories and a second-place standing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup Series Championship, was named today as the WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Year during a ceremony held at Phoenix International Raceway.
In one of the closest battles in the history of the award, Grubb, crew chief for the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet of Stewart-Haas Racing, captured four WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race awards (which were presented after each 2011 Sprint Cup Series race as part of the WYPALL Crew Chief Challenge). There was a four-way tie for second with three weekly awards: 2010 WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year Gil Martin (No. 29 of Kevin Harvick), Alan Gustafson (No. 24 of Jeff Gordon), Jimmy Fennig (No. 17 of Matt Kenseth) and Paul Wolfe (No. 2 of Brad Keselowski).
Prior to the start of Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix, Grubb was presented a check for $10,000.00 on behalf of WYPALL Wipers, proud sponsor of Saturday’s Nationwide Series race – the WYPALL 200 Presented By Kimberly-Clark Professional.
“I am thanking WYPALL on behalf of our entire team,” said Grubb. “To win this award is an honor for not only myself but for all the guys on the team. I may be the one to call the shots at critical times, but I do it with the input of my team.
“WYPALL’s products make our life easier in this sport and I want to say how much we appreciate the WYPALL Crew Chief Award. It is really special and I can’t thank WYPALL enough.”
Grubb and company are on a late-season charge, winning the last two races, at Martinsville and Texas, to pull within just three points of Chase leader Carl Edwards with just two races remaining – Phoenix and Homestead-Miami. After tasting victory in Chicago and New Hampshire to begin the 10-race Chase, Stewart slipped in the next few events, falling as low as seventh in the standings and 24 points behind.
To say Grubb and his team are on a roll now is an understatement. The win at Martinsville vaulted Stewart to within eight points of the top spot. After the Texas triumph, it was cut to three. Overall, the team has 17 top-10 results this season.
“Darian showed a cool, uncanny ability to lead this team in critical situations,” said WYPALL Wipers representative Jeff Hammond, former champion crew chief and current FOX/Speed analyst. “He and the team peaked at the right time and Darian has shown what it takes to be the WYPALL Crew Chief of the Year. To win this award is a big deal. You need to have the right team under you, the right car and the right driver – then you have to make the right calls. He has been the master at that in the Chase, withstanding the pressure of the sport, fans and Tony.”
The 36-year-old Grubb graduated from Virginia Tech in 1998 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. After a stint with Volvo Trucks, he went to Petty Enterprises in 2000 before moving over to Hendrick Motorsports in 2003. While there, he served as an interim crew chief for Jimmie Johnson in 2006 and won two of four races, including the Daytona 500. A year later, he added another Hendrick win from atop the pit box with driver Casey Mears.
Grubb became a part of the foundation of Stewart-Haas Racing near the end of 2008. Since the team’s first season in 2009, Grubb has led Stewart to 10 victories and a spot in the Chase each year.
The 2011 WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge has been a season-long contest that has strived each week to determine the best crew chiefs in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage.
Following each Cup race, a panel including Hammond, Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Claire B. Lang, along with Penske Racing crew chiefs Steve Addington (No. 22 – Kurt Busch) and Paul Wolfe (No. 2 – Brad Keselowski), voted to determine which crew chief demonstrated the most outstanding strategy and leadership during the race.
Each weekly Crew Chief Challenge winner was a guest on Lang’s “Dialed In” program on SiriusXM Radio (Ch. 90) at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesdays throughout the season.
“Darian and his team have been on a mission when it has counted,” said Stephanie Rossignol, Business leader for Kimberly-Clark Professional and the WYPALL Brand. “We’re extremely excited to present him this award. We look forward to giving the WYPALL Crew Chief Award every year. It’s nice to spotlight the crew chiefs and their efforts. They are genuinely proud to be a part of the program. They want to use reliable products on their cars and engines. That is why they choose WYPALL Wipers, which are used to wipe up the toughest, most stubborn messes like oil and grease.
“They can feel good about WYPALL Wipers. We are glad to show our appreciation to the crew chiefs who put our products to work each and every week.”
Grubb joins a list of prominent crew chiefs that have won the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year including two-time winner Chad Knaus, Gil Martin, Mike Ford, Tony Eury Sr., Robbie Reiser, and Doug Richert.
About WYPALL* Wipers
Since 2004, Kimberly-Clark Professional’s WYPALL Wipers brand has been affiliated with some of racing’s top teams. Offering heavy-duty to versatile light-duty towels, WYPALL Wipers provides race teams with a number of products providing strength and durability. Defeating the toughest of challenges, from absorbing tough grease and oil to wiping down windshields without leaving residue behind, WYPALL Wipers continue to offer performance and versatility. For more information log onto www.wypall.com.
Award: Crew Cheif of the Year
Prize: YOU’RE FIRED