Hendrick will not appeal penalties against teams
Car chiefs to assume roles atop pit boxes in the interim
By Official Release
June 28, 2007
12:08 PM EDT
type size: + -CONCORD, N.C. -- Car owner Rick Hendrick on Thursday confirmed that the sanctions levied by NASCAR on Tuesday against the Nos. 24 and 48 Nextel Cup Series teams will not be appealed by Hendrick Motorsports.
"The penalties are excessive," Hendrick reiterated, "but we're not going to put time and resources into issuing an appeal. Instead, we will direct that energy into our internal processes to make sure we have full confidence that our cars will meet standards when presented for inspection each week.
"We've said from the beginning that this would be a learning process [with the Car of Tomorrow] and there would be a lot of give and take between NASCAR and the teams to figure it out. That doesn't seem to be the case now, and I don't think it's the right direction to go."
No. 24 car chief Jeff Meendering and No. 48 car chief Ron Malec have been named interim crew chiefs for their respective teams beginning with Sunday's Nextel Cup event at New Hampshire International Speedway.
"In Jeff and Ron, we have two guys who know their teams inside and out," Hendrick said. "They both have been here a long time, they both know the pressures involved and they both have the full support of our entire organization. We don't expect to miss a beat."
Meendering, 30, began his Hendrick Motorsports career in October of 1994 sweeping floors in the chassis shop as a 16-year-old high-school junior. He has since won 10 NASCAR championships as a member of the organization.
"Jeff is my go-to guy. We have similar backgrounds and we've both been here [with Hendrick Motorsports] a long time," said Steve Letarte, crew chief for the No. 24. "This is a tough pill to swallow for me, but he'll do a great job leading the team and keeping things moving in a positive direction. We'll rally and Jeff will get more support from the organization than you can imagine."
From Grand Rapids, Mich., Meendering joined the No. 24 team in 2000 under crew chief Robbie Loomis, working as a setup specialist and mechanic before being promoted to car chief in September of 2005.
"It's been a great season so far and we have a really strong, championship-caliber team in place," Letarte said. "The penalties are unfortunate and severe, but we'll put the situation behind us and focus on winning a fifth championship for the No. 24 team."
A Franklin, Wis., native, Malec has a long history with driver Jimmie Johnson. The pair met more than a decade ago when Johnson was racing off-road trucks, and they later became roommates when both were involved in the American Speed Association.
Malec and Johnson each moved to North Carolina in 1999 and again worked alongside one another in the Busch Series before joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2001 as original members of the No. 48 team. Malec has been car chief for Johnson's entire Cup career.
The 32-year-old Malec, also the rear-tire carrier for the No. 48 team, will be supported on race day by veteran crew chief Lance McGrew. McGrew won the 2003 Busch Series championship with driver Brian Vickers and has posted victories in each of NASCAR's top three divisions. He is also familiar with Johnson after working as his Busch Series crew chief this season.
"Ron is the only car chief I've ever had on the No. 48 team," said Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 48. He knows the guys better than anyone and they all have a ton of respect for him and what he's accomplished. Ron has been our backbone from the beginning and he'll do a terrific job.
"It's not the way I wanted to see him get an opportunity, but he's ready and more than capable of getting it done. I'm grateful to have talented guys like Ron and Lance available. It just goes to show how deep this organization is."
Knaus and Letarte will resume at-track duties for their respective teams at the Aug. 19 Nextel Cup Series event at Michigan International Speedway.
"It's definitely disappointing, but we have a very capable and committed team. For whatever reason, we seem to thrive on adversity," Knaus said. "We've overcome challenges in the past and I know we'll get through this as well. I didn't feel like we were outside the box in Sonoma, but that's NASCAR's call and they made it."
Car chiefs to assume roles atop pit boxes in the interim
By Official Release
June 28, 2007
12:08 PM EDT
type size: + -CONCORD, N.C. -- Car owner Rick Hendrick on Thursday confirmed that the sanctions levied by NASCAR on Tuesday against the Nos. 24 and 48 Nextel Cup Series teams will not be appealed by Hendrick Motorsports.
"The penalties are excessive," Hendrick reiterated, "but we're not going to put time and resources into issuing an appeal. Instead, we will direct that energy into our internal processes to make sure we have full confidence that our cars will meet standards when presented for inspection each week.
"We've said from the beginning that this would be a learning process [with the Car of Tomorrow] and there would be a lot of give and take between NASCAR and the teams to figure it out. That doesn't seem to be the case now, and I don't think it's the right direction to go."
No. 24 car chief Jeff Meendering and No. 48 car chief Ron Malec have been named interim crew chiefs for their respective teams beginning with Sunday's Nextel Cup event at New Hampshire International Speedway.
"In Jeff and Ron, we have two guys who know their teams inside and out," Hendrick said. "They both have been here a long time, they both know the pressures involved and they both have the full support of our entire organization. We don't expect to miss a beat."
Meendering, 30, began his Hendrick Motorsports career in October of 1994 sweeping floors in the chassis shop as a 16-year-old high-school junior. He has since won 10 NASCAR championships as a member of the organization.
"Jeff is my go-to guy. We have similar backgrounds and we've both been here [with Hendrick Motorsports] a long time," said Steve Letarte, crew chief for the No. 24. "This is a tough pill to swallow for me, but he'll do a great job leading the team and keeping things moving in a positive direction. We'll rally and Jeff will get more support from the organization than you can imagine."
From Grand Rapids, Mich., Meendering joined the No. 24 team in 2000 under crew chief Robbie Loomis, working as a setup specialist and mechanic before being promoted to car chief in September of 2005.
"It's been a great season so far and we have a really strong, championship-caliber team in place," Letarte said. "The penalties are unfortunate and severe, but we'll put the situation behind us and focus on winning a fifth championship for the No. 24 team."
A Franklin, Wis., native, Malec has a long history with driver Jimmie Johnson. The pair met more than a decade ago when Johnson was racing off-road trucks, and they later became roommates when both were involved in the American Speed Association.
Malec and Johnson each moved to North Carolina in 1999 and again worked alongside one another in the Busch Series before joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2001 as original members of the No. 48 team. Malec has been car chief for Johnson's entire Cup career.
The 32-year-old Malec, also the rear-tire carrier for the No. 48 team, will be supported on race day by veteran crew chief Lance McGrew. McGrew won the 2003 Busch Series championship with driver Brian Vickers and has posted victories in each of NASCAR's top three divisions. He is also familiar with Johnson after working as his Busch Series crew chief this season.
"Ron is the only car chief I've ever had on the No. 48 team," said Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 48. He knows the guys better than anyone and they all have a ton of respect for him and what he's accomplished. Ron has been our backbone from the beginning and he'll do a terrific job.
"It's not the way I wanted to see him get an opportunity, but he's ready and more than capable of getting it done. I'm grateful to have talented guys like Ron and Lance available. It just goes to show how deep this organization is."
Knaus and Letarte will resume at-track duties for their respective teams at the Aug. 19 Nextel Cup Series event at Michigan International Speedway.
"It's definitely disappointing, but we have a very capable and committed team. For whatever reason, we seem to thrive on adversity," Knaus said. "We've overcome challenges in the past and I know we'll get through this as well. I didn't feel like we were outside the box in Sonoma, but that's NASCAR's call and they made it."
