We're always talking drivers....

Elwood · September 15, 2003

Chief among them

By Lee Spencer - SportingNews.com

Can a crew chief really make a difference in the performance of a driver? Is a crew chief an essential part of a championship team, or is he just another minor cog in the machinery?

Clearly, the best can have a huge effect of the success of their teams. The criteria that characterize the top 10 crew chiefs in the garage are easy to define -- just ask the owners who hire them, the drivers who depend on their expertise, the peers (former and current crew chiefs) who respect them and the team managers who work long hours with them.

A crew chief must be one part mechanic, one part fortune teller, one part coach/motivator and one part human resource manager. Weakness in any of those areas jeopardizes the whole package. The Sporting News' top 10 Winston Cup crew chiefs have strong organizational skills, pay attention to detail, anticipate situations and work well with people. Most important, they are fierce competitors.

None has attained his position without sacrifice. Forget family dinners. Forget birthdays and holidays. Forget Suzy's first steps or Bobby's first pitch. The divorce rate is high, and some men never find time to meet that special someone. A great crew chief's dedication to the sport supersedes everything else in life.

That's not to say that the other 33 crew chiefs don't embody such sacrifice. Crew chiefs such as Tommy Baldwin, Tony Furr and Bootie Barker have to be more creative and resourceful with their single-car teams. But FOX Sports analyst and former crew chief Jeff Hammond points out, "It's easier to improve a team's performance that is back in the pack than to advance a team that's battling among the best organizations in the garage."

1. Chad Knaus

Car: No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Driver: Jimmie Johnson.

First year as Cup crew chief: 2000.

For a crew chief to build a rookie team and then spend all but the first four races in the top 10 in points is nothing short of miraculous. That's what Knaus did in 2002.

"Chad has a very visual mind when it comes to changes." Johnson says. "He sees how the car will travel before he makes his decisions." Knaus learned from the best -- Ray Evernham -- which is obvious from his methodical nature. "Chad pays attention to every detail," says Danny Emerick, the team's engine tuner. "He's totally focused and a good motivator." And Knaus constantly is sharing his knowledge with crew members to make them better.

2. Jimmy Fennig

Car: No. 97 Roush Racing Ford.

Driver: Kurt Busch.

First year as Cup crew chief: 1986.

Most of Fennig's 50 years have been spent racing, and he has been willing to adapt along the way. "If you were looking for an experienced leader to build a team, Jimmy would be your guy," says Steve Hmiel, who worked with Fennig for five years at Roush Racing before moving to Dale Earnhardt Inc.

After building a consistent program with Mark Martin over five years, Fennig took the No. 97 crew and shaped its members into championship contenders. Busch says Fennig's "control of people" makes the difference. Fennig's mastery was obvious when he kept the crew together after Busch's altercation with Jimmy Spencer, guiding it to victory a week later at Bristol.

3. Robbie Reiser

Car: No. 17 Roush Racing Ford.

Driver: Matt Kenseth.

First year as Cup crew chief: 2000.

Can anyone stop this guy and his team? When other teams pirated away Reiser's award-winning pit crew, he reloaded with new members who made the team's pit performance even stronger. This year, Reiser's strategy has been flawless. DEI's Hmiel says Reiser's calls on pit road are second to none.

There have been just a few times when Kenseth second-guessed Reiser -- during the pit sequences at Indy, for instance -- but Kenseth came back to thank Reiser later.

Car chief Jeff Vandermoss says that Reiser's strengths are his organizational skills and his ability to delegate responsibility: "Robbie puts good people in good places and makes them accountable for the area they're working in."

4. Matt Borland

Car: No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge.

Driver: Ryan Newman.

First year as Cup crew chief: 2000.

In just his second full year on the circuit, Borland has gained the respect of his fellow crew chiefs and just about everyone else in the garage. Borland was chosen Sporting News crew chief of the year in 2002, his rookie year.

Newman, who has been with Borland for four years, says Borland can anticipate what Newman needs before he can ask over the radio. A graduate of the General Motors engineering school, Borland has a solid command of the cars.

He communicates well with non-engineering crew members and brainstorms with lead engineer Mike Nelson.

5. Tony Eury Sr. and Tony Eury Jr.

Car: No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet.

Driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

First year as Cup crew chief: 1999 (Eury Sr.).

It would be hard to not list Pops and Junior together because they may not be nearly as strong apart. Eury Sr.'s experience complements his son's push toward technology.

Earnhardt Jr. enjoys the contrast of the Eurys' styles. "Junior is young and full of new ideas, while his father can see mistakes and correct them before they happen," he says. It helps Earnhardt Jr. to have an uncle and cousin around. He trusts them, and that trust emanates through the team.

6. Kevin Hamlin

Car: No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

Driver: Robby Gordon.

First year as Cup crew chief: 1994.

The late Dale Earnhardt, who began driving under Hamlin in 1998, called him the best crew chief on pit road. Mike Skinner, who also drove under Hamlin, described him as "awesome" and "sly as a fox." Team engineer Chris Andrews says, "He's paying attention to every detail and knows the history of every car."

Hamlin's quiet demeanor is his secret weapon. It allows him to slip under the radar, and it has a calming effect on the Type A drivers Hamlin always seems to work with. Former engine man Mike Hawkins says it best: "When Hamlin turned down a million-dollar motorcoach because he'd rather hang with his guys, you knew he was all about the racing."

7. Greg Zipadelli

Car: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet.

Driver: Tony Stewart.

First year as Cup crew chief: 1999.

When Stewart won the 2002 title, he gave much of the credit to "Zippy." Over the last four years, Zipadelli has made the transition from mechanic to crew chief, team spokesman and den mother. The consensus within the team is that Zipadelli "is the glue that holds this deal together." Hammond says, "Despite the team's up and downs, Zippy keeps fighting back."

Zipadelli's mechanical strength is his chassis expertise. In addition, he is wise to follow the advice of shock specialist Ronnie Crooks, who's also atop the pit box on race day, in regard to setups and what changes to make throughout a race.

8. Robbie Loomis

Car: No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Driver: Jeff Gordon.

First year as Cup crew chief: 1991.

Loomis' apprenticeship under Richard Petty was invaluable. At a young age, Loomis learned how to squeeze the most out of a car. Couple that with the resources of HMS and a driver the caliber of Gordon, and Loomis has everything he needs to win championships.

"The chemistry really works for me and still does," says Gordon, who admires Loomis' competitive nature and won a title with him in 2001. "He has that drive, but he's extremely calm." Loomis operates without an ego. He knows when to be stern with his team and when to have fun, so the crew doesn't get burned out.

9. Richard 'Slugger' Labbe

Car: No. 15 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet.

Driver: Michael Waltrip.

First year as Cup crew chief: 1998.

During years at Hendrick Motorsports and a short stint as a crew chief with Robert Yates Racing, Labbe learned from the best before engine builder Richie Gilmore lured him to DEI. Gilmore knew Labbe's dedication would pay off. Labbe won't ask his crew to do any chore he wouldn't do himself. "Slugger's guys would do anything for him," Gilmore says. And that includes Waltrip, who in the last two years has gone through an amazing transformation, on and off the track. Labbe's ability to light a fire under Waltrip may be proof of the best motivational skills in the garage.

10. Michael 'Fatback' McSwain

Car: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet.

Driver: Bobby Labonte.

First year as Cup crew chief: 1997.

Although a few crew members remain from 2000, Labonte's championship season, Labonte believes that McSwain's arrival this season was the impetus for this team's turnaround. "Michael's not worried about a lot of things other than racing," Labonte says. "He eats, breathes and sleeps racing."

Labonte adds that McSwain "knows how to work his people," but some who have worked with him say it's with an iron fist. McSwain's strength is in the chassis setups, which he has used to place Labonte back in his comfort zone, and the team's results reflect that.