Steve Addington replaces Darian Grubb as the crew chief for the Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 14 team with driver Tony Stewart effective immediately.
[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”236″]
[/media-credit]Stewart notified Grubb heading into the final 10 races of the “chase” that he would be replaced at the end of the season.
Surprised that Grubb was let go, Rick Hendrick has offered Grubb another engineering position with Hendrick Motorsports. Grubb was at Hendrick Motorsports before taking the position at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009.
“I hope Darian ends up with us. I think he would help our organization a lot, but I’m not sure. If he wants to be a crew chief, we don’t have that spot.” Hendrick said.
Addington will become the third crew chief for Stewart in his 13-year Sprint Cup Series career.
“I know Steve well and I know how he goes about setting up a race car.” said Stewart. “My comfort level with him is already strong.”
Addington has 16 Sprint Cup Series victories and has been the crew chief for Bobby Labonte in 2005, J.J. Yeley, 2006-2007, Kyle Busch, 2008-2009 and Kurt Busch, 2010-2011 in NASCAR’s top series. All of his victories have come with drivers Kyle (12) and Kurt Busch (4). Addington also spent 15 seasons as a crew chief in the Nationwide Series and accumulated 10 victories with driver Jason Keller.
“Tony and I are a lot alike and we’re able to push each other. 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.” Addington said.
