By Sam Atwell

I talk over and over about the relationship between the driver and the crew chief as one of the most critical relationships on any race team.  A great relationship, often referred to as “chemistry”, is the thing that championships are built upon. 

Once again Matt Kenseth will have a new crew chief.  Todd Parrott in, Drew Blickensdorfer out.  Last season Blickensdorfer in Chip Bolin out, year before that Bolin in Robbie Reiser out.  Matt Kenseth has had his most consistent run and a championship with long-time crew chief (and best friend), Robbie Reiser. 

Changing crew chiefs is a regular dance at Roush-Fenway Racing for example:

Carl Edwards finished third in the point standing in 2005, so instead of building on that momentum Carl got a new crew chief.  Bob Osborne out, Wally Brown in.  In less than a year Wally Brown was out, Bob Osborne was back in.

Greg Biffle finished second in 2005 behind Tony Stewart.  Many thought that Biffle would be the next cup champion.  Instead Biffle endures a crew chief change.  Biffle has had four crew chiefs since 2003. 

Probably to most unbelievable is Jamie McMurray.  In just one season McMurray had four crew chiefs.  He had Jimmy Fennig, Bob Osborne, Wally Brown, Larry Carter and finished his career at Roush-Fenway racing with Donnie Wingo.  You don’t have to look too far to see why McMurray didn’t have much success at Roush-Fenway Racing.

Roush Racing has two cup championships, how many more could they have?  Hard to say for sure, but one thing that has been proven over and over is the fact that a long-term driver/crew chief combination leads to championships. 

To prove my point you don’t have to look any further than four-time Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, four cups one crew chief.  Jeff Gordon three cups, one crew chief (his fourth was with Robbie Loomis).  Tony Stewart two cups, one crew chief.  Dale Earnhardt four cups, one crew chief.  Last, but not least, Richard Petty seven cups, one crew chief.   See a pattern here?

Matt Kenseth is a very talented race car driver and will be able to endure the latest change atop his war wagon.  He just has to start over, once again to build that all important relationship between the driver and the crew chief, just one year removed from winning the Daytona 500.

Tags: Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR