By Shirley Buttacavoli
Most motorsports fans follow drivers, as do I. However, I’m probably in the minority of those who follow Crew Chiefs as well. I’m sure that is due to my marketing and operations background. I like to watch what it takes to produce “the final product.”
My all time favorite Crew Chiefs are Gary Nelson and Kirk Shelmerdine. Their resumes are too long to post, but that is not what I remember. It’s the ingenuity they used to produce a winning racecar, not to mention their strategy and work ethics on pit road.
Two crew chiefs I follow now, that I believe equal those standards, are Chad Knaus and Robert “Bootie” Barker.
I’m sure everyone knows the team Chad is in charge of, but you might not know Bootie’s current Crew Chief responsibilities are with Michael Waltrip Racing’s 13 Geico Camry of Max Papis.
Along with host, Larry MacReynolds, Chad and Bootie are panelists on SPEED Channel’s weekly series, NASCAR Performance.
When Bootie was Crew Chief for Scott Riggs at Haas CNC Racing, then Michael Waltrip at MWR, I noticed there were times his team would do the same as Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus.
That was obvious Thursday, during the Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway, February 11, 2010.
During what turned out to be the last caution of the first Gatorade Duel, with 7 laps to go, the only two cars that stayed on the track were the 48 of Jimmie Johnson and the 13 of Mad Max Papis, who needed to race his way into the Daytona 500.
Jimmie won the race. Max advanced to the 500.
Did the two Crew Chiefs discuss this strategy during a taping of NASCAR Performance? Prior to the green flag on Thursday morning? During the caution?
We’ll probably never know, but it turned out well for both.
If these ‘teammates’ work together during the Daytona 500, it could be a surprising ending.
Great Blog Shirley.
I don’t know if I have a favorite crew chief. What I watch for is how my favorite driver works with a crew chief compared to the ones he has in the past.
That is always in issue Frank. Some click, some don’t.
[...] Teammates: Knaus & Barker | U Want Some RacingWhen Bootie was Crew Chief for Scott Riggs at Haas CNC Racing, then Michael Waltrip at MWR, I noticed there were times his team would do the same as Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus. [...]