Tony Stewart took a big step toward upgrading the personnel at Stewart-Haas Racing next season.
Darian Grubb will move from his role as engineering manager at Hendrick Motorsports to crew chief for Stewart, the two-time Sprint Cup champion.
“This is another key step in the equation of us getting on our feet next year and getting pointed in the right direction,” Stewart said from the infield media center at Richmond International Raceway. “We’ve got a team leader now, somebody I feel very confident and comfortable with.”
“To have the chance to build a championship contending team, and go out and fight from the ground up, and build something around with all these people ... it’s everything I’ve looked forward to in my life,” Grubb said. “To be with Tony, with his capabilities as a driver and the past championships, the future heading forward is extremely bright.”
The hiring is just one of the many Stewart has planned since he acquired 50-per cent ownership in the race team in July. The two-time Cup champion is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the season, his 10th with the team, to strengthen one of NASCAR’s weaker organizations.
He’s already brought in two lucrative sponsors and hired Ryan Newman to drive the second car.
“Without a doubt it’s a loss for Hendrick Motorsports,” Johnson said.
“Darian’s been in a managerial role and I think he’s had his eye on crew-chiefing all along and didn’t want that opportunity to go away. He’s going to do a great job for those guys.”
Grubb served as Casey Mears’ grew chief in 2007 before moving to an engineering role at Hendrick this season.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to not only work with a driver of Tony’s caliber, but to help build an organization into one that can win races and eventually contend for championships,” Grubb said. “I’m really excited about taking this next step and I feel it’s a challenge I’m ready for.”
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