Focus On Crew Chiefs During NASCAR Off Week

NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series is taking a week off.  So it's a chance for NASCAR's other two touring series - the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series - to grab the spotlight out at Chicagoland Speedway.  But a couple of crew chiefs at the Cup level were making news after last week's race at New Hampshire.

I took a ride over to New Hampshire Motor Speedway last Sunday to enjoy the beautiful weather and some NASCAR racing and like everyone else felt sure that Denny Hamlin would win.  He certainly had the best car.  But in racing, the best car doesn't always win.  

Confusion between Hamlin and his crew chief Darian Grubb turned a routine, late-race pit stop into a turning point that cost Hamlin a likely win and allowed Kasey Kahne to score with Hamlin having to settle for second place.  Nobody pointed fingers, but communication between driver and crew chief seemed to break down at a key point.

Carl Edwards crew chief is also making some news this week.  After contending for the championship a year ago, Edwards finds himself in 11th place in points with no wins and looking to find a way into this year's Chase for the championship. Team owner Jack Roush announced this week that Edwards' crew chief Bob Osborne would immediately transition to a new role at Roush Fenway Racing as a senior member of the management team.  The new crew chief for Edwards No. 99 will be Chad Norris.

After this week's off week, the Cup series will finish off the 2012 season with 17 consecutive weeks of racing.