As driver and sponsor plans begin to fall in place for the upcoming season, a different side of the Silly Season has kicked off. This part isn’t necessarily visible to the fans though. Once the big pieces of the puzzle have been secured for the next year, it’s time for team managers to begin filling out their team rosters.
It was announced this week that Darien Grubb will move from his engineering role at Hendrick Motorsports over to Stewart-Haas Racing next season to be Tony Stewart’s crew chief. High profile moves like these will make it into the media, but for the most part, team changes go unnoticed by the general public. But just because they aren’t announced with press releases, doesn’t mean personnel changes aren’t vital. Making moves to hire and fire people could make or break a team’s season, because people are the most important ingredient to a successful organization.
You know the crew silly season is in full effect when you start getting asked “so where you going to be next season?” by friends in the garage area. Many of the larger teams will start securing guys for the future before the season is over, so that when we do leave Homestead in November, we can be ready to immediately start preparing for Daytona in February.
In terms of pit crews, this is the time when coaches will be scouting guys at the track and teams will start holding tryouts for open positions. In some cases, coaches and crew chiefs have specific guys in mind for whom they would like to hire, and this time is spent trying to sign them up.
I think its important to note though, that NASCAR is like a lot of other sports in terms of the off season. There are guys that move around, and there are guys that stay with their current teams. Many guys are under contract and couldn’t move even if they wanted to, and others are in a good spot and don’t want to leave. It isn’t some giant free agent free-for-all.
For me personally, the opportunity to stay where I am certainly exists for next season, but I’m also on the lookout for the chance to advance. The cliche’ about “grass being greener…” certainly exists in racing, and we are constantly looking for that better team we can be successful with and one that will also provide a better living for ourselves and our families.
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on Sep 7th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Heard that RGM might need a CC for the balance of the year.
on Sep 8th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Your article brings back memories of the time Yates stole the “Rainbow Warriors” from Hendrick. After Tony’s words yesterday on the radio it will be interesting to see who he hires to crew his car next season. Smoke may be “smoking” alot next year.
on Sep 8th, 2008 at 8:19 am
It’s not just Smoke that needs an attitude adjustment when it comes to his crew. At least once a season Denny Hamlin calls out his crew and blames them for costing him a win. I think the crew should organize and just stand on the wall without moving for one pit cycle. That would teach the arrogant drivers who needs who more.
on Sep 8th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Crew Chiefs and drivers argue all the time over the radio. Tony was clearly not satisfied with finishing second. At least Tony’s comments to his crew over the in-car radio were G rated. You should have heard Zippy’s comments to the crew after several bad pit stops during the Fontana race. Zippy told the crew: “G** D*** you mother F***, you are pathetic, that was just awful.”
on Sep 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
When I attended the Bank of America 500 last year Stewart and Zippy chewed the team up after the race. After one pit stop he called them C—S—-ers!!
on Sep 9th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Oh next year will be soooo fun to watch! While Tony is a real racer on track, he’ll so much fit the mold of (love ‘em or hate ‘em) AJ Foyt, Bobby Knight, Woody Hayes, etc. when in charge. The very fire in his belly that drives him today have him driving away his belittled team. Expect many a laptop to be tossed, ala AJ.