Yahoo Autos Darlington NASCAR Notebook: Anyone Seen My Crew Chief?
The NASCAR Throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway is just that, a whole weekend of happenings. Here’s what went on during the days leading up to Sunday’s 400 miler.
Crew Chief’s, Crew Members Missing in Action
Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger goes into Sunday afternoon’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway at something of a competitive disadvantage. His No. 16 Chevrolet lost a tire last weekend at Dover, bringing NASCAR’s automatic four-race suspension for the crew chief and two over-the-wall crewmen.
Crew chief Matt Swiderski, front tire-changer Keiston France, and jackman Jonathan Willard will miss this weekend, then May 15 at Kansas Speedway, the May 22 All-State race at Texas Motor Speedway, and the May 29 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The No. 11 Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin also lost a tire at Dover. They were penalized four races but appealed and asked that their appeal be heard later in the season. In the meantime, crew chief Chris Gabehart, jackman Derrell Edwards, and tire changer Blake Houston are working this weekend at Darlington as usual.
On the Xfinity Series side, a wheel penalty at Dover has cost Chevrolet driver Sam Mayer crew chief Taylor Moyer and crew members Orane Ossowski and Markus Pierce-Brewster for Darlington, then May 21 at Texas, May 28 at Charlotte, and June 4 at Portland.
Crew chief Bruce Schlicker was fined $5,000 for one unsecured lug nut post-Dover on the Xfinity Chevrolet of Allmendinger at Kaulig Racing.
Baby Watch
With Kyle Busch and his wife, Samantha, on baby-watch this weekend, 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne is at Darlington standing by for the No. 18 Toyota. Kyle and Samantha Busch are expecting their second child – a daughter – by surrogate any day now and Kyle wants to be there when the baby comes. They have a son, seven-year-old Brexton, who is said to be quite a racer in his own right.
The Youth Movement is Strong at Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports seems to have its driver lineup nailed down for the next few years. William Byron recently signed a three-year extension to stay in the No. 24 Chevrolet through the 2025 season.
Chase Elliott is good through 2026 in the No. 9 car, defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is set through 2023 in the No. 5 car, and Alex Bowman has re-upped for two more seasons in the No. 48.
Combined, the four HMS drivers have five victories this season and 36 combined for owner Rick Hendrick in the past seven seasons.
"I think HMS is in a really solid place right now," Elliott said. "I feel like we all work pretty well together. It’s just kind of an easy flow in operation, which is good. I think it’s a great thing. I’m happy for William (Byron) and, in light of his news this week, I think he’s very deserving. I look forward to racing with him and working with him over the next few years too.”
