By Sam Atwell 

One of the most important relationships in racing is the relationship between the driver and the crew chief.  It has been proven over and over and over.  It takes time for a driver and crew chief to build that relationship.  Look at the teams that have been given the time to build that relationship.  Jeff Gordon has four championships, 81 wins, the bulk of which were won with one crew chief.  Tony Stewart, two championships, 33 wins, one crew chief, Jimmie Johnson, 40 wins, three championships, Dale Earnhardt, 4 championships one crew chief.  Richard Petty, seven championships, one crew chief.  Sensing a pattern here? 

Roush - Fenway Racing has two cup championships.  How many more could they have had?  In 2005 Greg Biffle finished second, behind Tony Stewart.  Many thought he would be the next Cup Champion, but Biffle has endured multiple crew chief changes.  In 2008 Jamie McMurray finally was seeing some success, after some pretty dreadful seasons, and what happens?  Crew chief change.  Matt Kenseth, owner of one of the Roush championships, will be on his third crew chief in three seasons.  Kenseth made the chase, but finished a distant 11th in the final standings.  Now the 17 team starts over with a new crew chief.   Although Kenseth and Drew Blickensderfer have a driver/crew chief relationship from the Nationwide Series, the Sprint Cup Series is a different ballgame.  Blickensderfer had some success in the Nationwide Series, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into success in the Cup Series.  Kenseth is the kind of driver that will bring home a top ten on a regular basis.  If he is given some time with his new crew chief he just might be the champion again.