Hendrick Motorsports Crew Chief Changes
Today it was announced that three Hendrick Motor Sports teams will be making crew chief changes for the 2011 season. Only the 48 team will remain intact as is.
Lance McGrew who formerly was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief will move over to the five team with Mark Martin. Jeff Gordon will be getting Alan Gustafson, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be getting Steve Letarte.
Also it was announced that the #5 and #24 teams will be housed in the same facility and the #48 and #88 will be housed in the other Hendrick Motor Sports facility. Formerly the #5/#88 and the #24/#48 shared facilities.
My Spin on this move: I think the real winner will be Jeff Gordon out of this move. Alan Gustafson had tons of success with both Mark Martin and Kyle Busch. The loser out of this situation is Lance McGrew. I feel that Hendrick Motor Sports views McGrew as almost a disposable crew chief in the respect that one crew chief won’t be around when Kasey Kahne joins Hendrick Motor Sports in 2012. I view Steve Letarte joining up with Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a horizontal move for the team.
