Drew Blickensderfer
Stewart-Haas Racing |
Philip Andrew "Blick" Blickensderfer (born November 12, 1976) is an American
Racing career
Blickensderfer became interested in racing from his uncle and grandfather.[1] Blickensderfer began going to local drag strips to help drivers prepare their cars.[1] He purchased a modified to race, but soon quit racing the car.[1] "I really didn't want to be in the car," Blickensderfer said. "I think everybody has aspirations when they get in the sport of being a race car driver. I wanted to be a crew chief, make the calls, prepare the cars."[1]
After moving to North Carolina, Blickensderfer started as the rear tire change pit crew member and mechanic for
Blickensderfer took over crew chief duties for the No. 17 car in Sprint Cup, driven by Matt Kenseth, in December 2008 after
He started out the 2010 NASCAR season as Kenseth's crew chief for the Daytona 500, but was reassigned to Roush Fenway's research and development team after the race.[5] He was replaced by Todd Parrott, who had been Dale Jarrett's championship-winning crew chief in 1999.[2] He spent most of the 2010 season as crew chief for Carl Edward’s Nationwide Series No. 60 team. However he replaced Donnie Wingo as crew chief for the No. 6 Ford Fusion in September 2010 and into the 2011 season.[6] He almost won the Daytona 500 again as a crew chief with David Ragan and went on to win with Ragan at the 2011 Coke Zero 400, collecting his third win as a Sprint Cup Series crew chief.
Blickensderfer moved to
Blickensderfer was replaced by
Blickensderfer recently served as the crew chief for Michael McDowell in the Cup Series. On February 14, 2021, Blickensderfer won his second Daytona 500 as crew chief for Michael McDowell.
On December 17, 2021, FRM announced that Blickensderfer had left the team.[9]
On January 4, 2022, Blickensderfer was introduced as the crew chief for the Stewart–Haas Racing No. 10 Ford driven by Aric Almirola.[10] On December 13, it was announced that Blickensderfer will continue serving as the crew chief of the No. 10 in 2024, with Noah Gragson replacing Almirola, who departed for a part-time ride driving the No. 20 for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series.[11]
Personal life
Blickensderfer was born in
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Energetic Blickensderfer keying Kenseth's rebirth". Sports Illustrated. March 18, 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
- ^ a b c "After winless season, Kenseth gets new crew chief for '09". USA Today. December 17, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
- ^ Drew Blickensderfer enters the winner's circle at Daytona with win by Matt Kenseth[permanent dead link], Herald & Review, February 17, 2009
- Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2009-03-21. [dead link]
- ^ "Kenseth gets new crew chief starting this weekend". USA Today. February 17, 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- ^ Pockrass, Bob. "David Ragan gets new crew chief as Drew Blickensderfer replaces Donnie Wingo at Roush Fenway Racing". Scene Daily. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Wilson to oversee No. 31 car for rest of 2012". NASCAR. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
- ^ Ryan, Nate (May 5, 2015). "Kevin Manion named Sam Hornish Jr.'s crew chief, replacing Drew Blickensderfer". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ^ "Drew Blickensderfer Leaving Crew Chief Role at Front Row Motorsports". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Drew Blickensderfer Named Crew Chief for Aric Almirola". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. January 4, 2022.
- Jayski’s Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
External links
- Drew Blickensderfer crew chief statistics at Racing-Reference