DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Frank Stoddard, crew chief for Scott Wimmer, has been released by Bill Davis Racing, Davis said Friday at Darlington Raceway.
Stoddard will be replaced on an interim basis by Derrick Finley, the team's chief race engineer.
ALSO
• Frank Stoddard crew chief page
• Scott Wimmer's 2004 Stats
The rookie Wimmer is 27th in Nextel Cup points heading into this weekend's Southern 500. His best finish of the season was a third in the Daytona 500, with only one other top-10 finish. Wimmer failed to qualify two weeks ago at Atlanta.
"Things weren't going like we wanted them to, obviously," Davis said. "We weren't running as well as we wanted to and the chemistry just didn't seem to be there. It's a really, really tough decision.
"Frankie is a great guy and a smart guy and certainly knows how to win these races and set up these racecars. He's had certainly more success winning races than Bill Davis Racing has had, but we weren't making it work. We just felt like we needed to try a different direction."
Stoddard joined BDR with seven races left in 2002, leaving Jeff Burton and Roush Racing for Jeff's older brother Ward at Davis. Burton wasn't retained for 2004, and Davis hired Wimmer for the No. 22 Dodge.
Stoddard has 14 career victories but none since 2001.
"Well, when things aren't clicking it's not going to get better," Davis said. "We felt the need to make a change for next year for the 22 team and Scott. We felt like we might as well go ahead and do it and see what options are out there for us and get a head start on next year."
Davis said he will look for a crew chief who will be able to "fit in" with the team, to "have the chemistry with the guys."
"This thing is all about people," Davis said. "Everybody knows a lot about the cars and setups and combinations and that kind of stuff. It's who will take the responsibility for the guys and who has the leadership ability to earn the guys respect and be able to work with them."
Though he didn't say for sure, Davis didn't sound like Finley was that guy, at least full-time.
"He's a real smart guy, an ex-crew chief, and he certainly has the ability to be a crew chief," Davis said. "He's been with us for a while and knows the operation, he knows the guys, he knows Scott. For now it was the logical choice."
Stoddard's plans are unknown.
Stoddard will be replaced on an interim basis by Derrick Finley, the team's chief race engineer.
ALSO
• Frank Stoddard crew chief page
• Scott Wimmer's 2004 Stats
The rookie Wimmer is 27th in Nextel Cup points heading into this weekend's Southern 500. His best finish of the season was a third in the Daytona 500, with only one other top-10 finish. Wimmer failed to qualify two weeks ago at Atlanta.
"Things weren't going like we wanted them to, obviously," Davis said. "We weren't running as well as we wanted to and the chemistry just didn't seem to be there. It's a really, really tough decision.
"Frankie is a great guy and a smart guy and certainly knows how to win these races and set up these racecars. He's had certainly more success winning races than Bill Davis Racing has had, but we weren't making it work. We just felt like we needed to try a different direction."
Stoddard joined BDR with seven races left in 2002, leaving Jeff Burton and Roush Racing for Jeff's older brother Ward at Davis. Burton wasn't retained for 2004, and Davis hired Wimmer for the No. 22 Dodge.
Stoddard has 14 career victories but none since 2001.
"Well, when things aren't clicking it's not going to get better," Davis said. "We felt the need to make a change for next year for the 22 team and Scott. We felt like we might as well go ahead and do it and see what options are out there for us and get a head start on next year."
Davis said he will look for a crew chief who will be able to "fit in" with the team, to "have the chemistry with the guys."
"This thing is all about people," Davis said. "Everybody knows a lot about the cars and setups and combinations and that kind of stuff. It's who will take the responsibility for the guys and who has the leadership ability to earn the guys respect and be able to work with them."
Though he didn't say for sure, Davis didn't sound like Finley was that guy, at least full-time.
"He's a real smart guy, an ex-crew chief, and he certainly has the ability to be a crew chief," Davis said. "He's been with us for a while and knows the operation, he knows the guys, he knows Scott. For now it was the logical choice."
Stoddard's plans are unknown.