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RICHMOND, Va. – Nextel Cup crew chief Robbie Loomis is and is not certain about his future.
He doesn't know what he will do next season, but he does know he'll do something other than serve as crew chief for four-time champion Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports' No. 24 Chevrolets.
"I know that I am getting ready for a change, for something different. We have been preparing for that for a year and it could be within Hendrick Motorsports and it might be something completely ifferent," Loomis said Friday at Richmond International Raceway.
Earlier in the week Gordon hinted that Loomis' role may be changing, when he said during a national teleconference that he didn't know if Loomis would be back as his crew chief next season.
"I'm ready for like a change of season, like winter, fall, spring and summer. That has been brought on more by the emotions I went through last year with my mom," Loomis, 41, said.
"I probably grew more as a person last year throughout the season with what I experienced with my mom than I have all my life. I know I changed more as a person. Then with what we had happen last October, that helped make me a better person.
"I think it's going to give me a lot bigger perspective on life."
Loomis' mother, Sally, went through a serious illness last year. In October, 10 Hendrick family members and friends died when a company plane crashed on its way to Martinsville, Va., for a Cup race.
"I told a buddy of mine, 'I've never been so uncertain about my future so far ahead, and never felt so good about where I'm at in my life.' When I went through that deal with my mom, it made me really prioritize," Loomis said.
"For 20-something years in my life, it's been racing, God and family. I've kind of gotten back to God, family and racing."
Although Gordon has won three races this season, he is struggling to get into the top 10 in points to compete for a fifth title this season. He is 12th – 30 points outside the top 10 – entering Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400.
Loomis took over as Gordon's crew chief in the 2000 season, and won six poles and six races and a championship with him in 2001.
He doesn't know what he will do next season, but he does know he'll do something other than serve as crew chief for four-time champion Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports' No. 24 Chevrolets.
"I know that I am getting ready for a change, for something different. We have been preparing for that for a year and it could be within Hendrick Motorsports and it might be something completely ifferent," Loomis said Friday at Richmond International Raceway.
Earlier in the week Gordon hinted that Loomis' role may be changing, when he said during a national teleconference that he didn't know if Loomis would be back as his crew chief next season.
"I'm ready for like a change of season, like winter, fall, spring and summer. That has been brought on more by the emotions I went through last year with my mom," Loomis, 41, said.
"I probably grew more as a person last year throughout the season with what I experienced with my mom than I have all my life. I know I changed more as a person. Then with what we had happen last October, that helped make me a better person.
"I think it's going to give me a lot bigger perspective on life."
Loomis' mother, Sally, went through a serious illness last year. In October, 10 Hendrick family members and friends died when a company plane crashed on its way to Martinsville, Va., for a Cup race.
"I told a buddy of mine, 'I've never been so uncertain about my future so far ahead, and never felt so good about where I'm at in my life.' When I went through that deal with my mom, it made me really prioritize," Loomis said.
"For 20-something years in my life, it's been racing, God and family. I've kind of gotten back to God, family and racing."
Although Gordon has won three races this season, he is struggling to get into the top 10 in points to compete for a fifth title this season. He is 12th – 30 points outside the top 10 – entering Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400.
Loomis took over as Gordon's crew chief in the 2000 season, and won six poles and six races and a championship with him in 2001.
