JGR makes Edwards and Hamlin crew chief changes official
Joe Gibbs Racing made its two crew chief changes official on Monday.
Dave Rogers, who served as the crew chief for Denny Hamlin in 2015, will be Carl Edwards' new crew chief. Mike Wheeler, who has previously served as an engineer on Hamlin's team, will be Hamlin's new crew chief. Wheeler was the crew chief of the No. 20 car in the Xfinity Series in 2015.
Adam Stevens, who helped Kyle Busch win the 2015 Sprint Cup Series championship, is staying atop Busch's pit box. Jason Ratcliff, the only crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing who was with the same driver in 2014 and 2015, will stay with Matt Kenseth.
“2015 was probably the strongest season we have ever had at Joe Gibbs Racing,” Joe Gibbs said in a statement. “We won more races than we ever have, qualified all four teams into the Chase and were blessed to end it with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.
“I think every year you evaluate each of your teams however and sometimes during that process you find that a change might be in the best interest for all involved. Mike Wheeler is obviously someone that has a long history with Denny and that No. 11 team. After seeing what he accomplished as a crew chief in our Xfinity Series program last year we felt the timing was right to move him back into our Cup program. Dave Rogers has also been successful in every role he has had with us and we think he will work well with Carl going into 2016."
Darian Grubb, Edwards' crew chief in 2015, is "currently exploring several opportunities" according to the team. Edwards won at Charlotte and Darlington in 2015 while Hamlin won at Martinsville and Chicago.
Grubb came to the new No. 19 team in 2015 from Hamlin's team. He arrived at Joe Gibbs Racing from Stewart-Haas Racing. He left SHR after he and Stewart won the 2011 Sprint Cup Series title.
Wheeler has served as Hamlin's crew chief before. He was an interim crew chief in 2014 for the No. 11 team while Grubb was serving a suspension.
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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!
