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J.D. Gibbs says time was right for change in Kyle Busch crew chief
By Bob Pockrass and Kris Johnson
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Steve Addington will work as Kyle Busch's crew chief for the final time in Sunday's Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
TALLADEGA, Ala. – In trying to explain the removal of Steve Addington as the crew chief for Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs said it was just time to shake things up.
“It was probably just time to make a change,” Gibbs said Sunday prior to the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. “It was hard and difficult because Steve’s been there forever, for a long time. We love Steve.”
In Busch’s first year at JGR, he won eight races and made the Chase For The Sprint Cup. This season, he has won four races but missed making the Chase by eight points.
Gibbs said the scenario wasn’t one where Busch forced out Addington.
“Kyle and Steve get along,” Gibbs said. “It wasn’t like Kyle was saying, ‘Do this or else.’ That’s not how we operate. We just felt like for the whole program, it was time to make a change.”
He also said it was difficult to say whether Addington would have stayed if the team made the Chase.
“I don’t know,” Gibbs said. “What ifs, and could haves, we could have probably changed a bunch of stuff. But we didn’t, and I think going forward, we just want to put the best product out there.”
Addington will be replaced by Nationwide Series crew chief Dave Rogers, who built the No. 11 team but didn’t last as the crew chief very long as Jason Leffler struggled. He ended up working for JGR in the Nationwide Series with a great deal of success.
“It’s a great story for Dave Rogers, who kind of built the 11 team and couldn’t really enjoy it,” Gibbs said. “Now we’re giving him a shot to come back.”
Replacing Rogers as the crew chief for the No. 20 Nationwide team likely will be Doug Hewitt, Gibbs said.
Mentioned Drivers: Kyle Busch
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6492 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -108 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -169 |
| 4 | Kurt Busch | -211 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -285 |
| 6 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -289 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -321 |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | -352 |
| 9 | Ryan Newman | -411 |
| 10 | Kasey Kahne | -476 |
| 11 | Carl Edwards | -520 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -666 |
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Comments
9 responses to "J.D. Gibbs says time was right for change in Kyle Busch crew chief". Post a Comment.
sarsie1 said:
Nov 2, 2009 at 3:57 PMAbsurd is what this is. When the second-winningest crew chief over the past two years "isn't good enough" something is NOT RIGHT.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportTHEBIGKESELOWSKI said:
Nov 2, 2009 at 5:58 PMThere is room at the inn over at Penske Steve! Don't get stuck on a back-burner with JGR.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrwilliamhayes said:
Nov 2, 2009 at 5:59 PMkYLE is a excellent whiner.L
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrwilliamhayes said:
Nov 2, 2009 at 6:00 PMLike other sports when there is trouble the coach/manager goes not the players.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportlonewolfe1946 said:
Nov 2, 2009 at 10:47 PMLittle "Boy" Kyle whines again and lo and behold there goes the crew chief. It's never Kyle's fault, at least according to him.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbonjg24 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 12:40 AMNothing was said about Kyle "whining" to JGR.
Report as AbuseNothing also was said about Steve "not being
good enough". Where do you people come up with
these things? AND just in case y'all haven't
noticed Kyle is the best driver in Nascar right
now...Jimmie has Chad and God only knows what
else....running away with #4. I never have seen
the "dirty driving" from Kyle! Do y'all believe
that Joe Gibbs would put up with that? If you
do then you have a one track mind. Nothing that
Kyle does would please you...and nothing that
is said on here would make you change your mind.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjohnson023 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 6:32 AMSo true #6.Reading comments like thiers they don't read the article they just see Kyle's name and have a one track mind "Lets Bash Kyle".
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsibbi173 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 8:49 AMWhy NOT bash him...he's soooo bashable....they should've got rid of the driver...and kept the crew chief!!! Oh one can only wish......lol
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» Confirm Abuse Reportlten11 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 8:48 PMMaybe they will put him with Gilliland over at the 02 team.
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