Stewart-Haas Racing switches teams of Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick
Stewart-Haas Racing is making some changes before the season is over.
The team is swapping the crews of Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick after this week's race at Martinsville. With both drivers not in title contention, it's an opportunity for the teams to work with their new drivers in race conditions before 2015.
Busch's crew chief, Daniel Knost, will become Patrick's crew chief. Tony Gibson, Patrick's current crew chief and a man who just signed a contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing, will move over to Busch's team. The Charlotte Observer first reported the switch Tuesday night.
"Making this change at Texas gives us three races to get ahead of the testing ban and get a headstart on the 2015 season," Busch told Motorsport.com.
Stewart-Haas vice president of competition Greg Zipadelli agreed in a statement the team sent out Wednesday afternoon announcing the switch.
“We made this change to evaluate our program and to get a head start on 2015,” Zipadelli said. “With the ban on testing next year, the last three races of this season take on even greater importance. For Tony Gibson and Kurt, they’ll get three races together that will provide direction for next year. And for Daniel Knost and Danica, this is an opportunity for them develop a rapport that could potentially continue into 2015.”
Sprint Cup Series teams are banned from testing in 2015 as part of new competition rules including less downforce and horsepower for the cars. With the focus shifted towards next season for both drivers, the teams can test and cram during the last three weeks of the season.
Before the Chase began, Stewart-Haas swapped the pit crews of Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart. Harvick's pit crew had been inconsistent on pit road during the regular season. Harvick is one of the eight drivers still alive for the championship.
Busch was eliminated after the first round of the Chase. He's currently 15th in the points standings. Patrick is 27th in the standings.
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
