Veteran crew chief Donnie Wingo prepared to lead Roush Fenway Racing's David Ragan

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Friday, December 11, 2009

Roush Fenway Racing's Donnie Wingo will work as David Ragan's crew chief during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Jim Fluharty
NASCAR Scene

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Donnie Wingo is looking forward to helping Roush Fenway Racing driver David Ragan rebound from a disappointing Sprint Cup season in which Ragan finished 27th in the standings.

It wasn’t supposed to be that way for Ragan in 2009. This year was supposed to be Ragan’s breakout season after he was 23rd during his rookie season in 2007 and then 13th in 2008.

But Ragan instead got off to a slow start – including two engine failures in the first seven races – and wound up 27th in the standings with no top-fives and only two top-10 finishes.

Wingo replaces Jimmy Fennig as crew chief, with Fennig going to the Roush Fenway research-and-development department. Wingo spent last year as crew chief for Jamie McMurray, who was 22nd in the standings and won at Talladega. That team was disbanded so Roush Fenway could comply with NASCAR’s four-car limit.

Wingo will be working with his fifth different driver in five seasons. Since 2006, he has worked with Casey Mears, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Reed Sorenson. He gets another young driver this time. Although he has three years of full-time Cup experience, Ragan turns only 24 years old later this month.

“The biggest thing to start with is just learning his feedback, what kind of feedback he gives,” Wingo says. “I’ve talked him throughout the year this year some, and that helps, being close by, knowing the things that they run and what he does like and what he doesn’t like.

“David is still young. He’s got a lot to learn. Hopefully, we can continue to teach him more and help him grow as a driver. In 2008, he showed a lot of potential. He came really close to making the Chase in his second year. I feel like this year, as a group we were behind a little bit, and it probably hurt David as much as it did anybody.”

Most of the No. 26 team has remained at Roush Fenway, including many with Wingo. Jeff Vandermoss, who was car chief for the No. 96 car operated by Yates Racing in 2009, will be the car chief.

“I’ve got a strong group of people,” Wingo says. “It’s a team sport, and you build from your people, and you’re only as good as your people. … I feel like we have a good, strong team this year that can continue to grow together and, hopefully, get this team where it needs to be.”

Wingo, in fact, won’t rule out making the Chase For The Sprint Cup as a goal for Ragan.

“David has got plenty of potential,” he says. “We’ve got to put it all together and at least get started off to a good start. The biggest key to the season is the first five races.”