Addington out as crew chief for Kyle Busch

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Kyle Busch will have a new crew chief after this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, with Joe Gibbs Racing replacing Steve Addington on Tuesday after a season that fell far short of expectations.

Busch fell eight points shy of claiming a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship because of an inconsistent “regular season.” Although he had four wins at the Chase cutoff, he also had 12 finishes outside the top 20.

Addington, who guided Busch to 12 victories in 68 races, will crew chief Sunday’s race at Talladega and then be replaced by Dave Rogers. A Nationwide Series crew chief for JGR, Rogers will call the final three races of this season for Busch as preparation for 2010.

“We evaluate all of our teams on an ongoing basis and believe this is a change that will make the 18 team stronger as we prepare for next season,” said JGR president J.D. Gibbs.

Addington, who spent the past five season as crew chief of the No. 18, will be reassigned to a different role at JGR.

“We think highly of Steve and the job he has done and we look forward to him remaining a part of the JGR family,” Gibbs said.

The crew chief change comes after consecutive top-10 finishes for Busch, including his fourth-place run at Martinsville on Sunday. It was his highest finish since his August win at Bristol.

He’ll now be paired with Rogers, who is in his fourth season as crew chief for JGR’s No. 20 Nationwide car. He guided that team to JGR’s first owner’s championship in NASCAR’s second-tier series last season by guiding four different drivers to nine wins and 26 top-10 finishes.

Rogers joined JGR in 1998 and spent six seasons working for crew chief Greg Zipadelli on Tony Stewart’s team. Rogers was part of Stewart’s 2002 championship crew.

“Dave has proven himself a talented crew chief and we think he will work well with Kyle,” Gibbs said. “We hope that by making the move following this weekend’s race at Talladega they can use the final three weeks of this season to begin working on communication and setups for the 2010 season.”

92 Comments

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    ladybug Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:32 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Why do u all have to bring other drivers into the conversations. KB is an idiot, I pity his CC for having to put up with his BS temperment. I for one am glad he didn't make the chase. He would not do well to represent Nascar. He really has alot of growing up to do if he wants to earn the respect to represent Nascar as a champ.
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    Jack Thu Oct 29, 2009 04:19 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I don,t get it, evry article about KB has comments filled with JR references. I really don,t see the comparison. KB is one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR, wins a lotta races, leads a lotta laps, but admittedly has fallen short in the points deal so far & admittedly has a bad attitude, which I personally sorta like? I mean this is a refereshing change from the cardboard "made for TV" drivers we,re accustom to lately in my opinion. JR is simply a boring 20th place driver with a really famous last name & the talent of Derick Cope. Really sad thing about JR is he seems pretty content with that, just tool around in the rear & collect those checks JR. A very very sad legacy indeed. Keep on being your race winning@#$%y jerk self Kyle, throw tantrums, get pissed when you don,t lead every lap & win every race, & just have the guts actually care, because your about the only thing that keeps me awake on Sunday afternoons!
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    Mike Thu Oct 29, 2009 02:09 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Jeez, I'll bet a lot of the owners or crew chiefs would give their left one for 4 wins. It must be hell on earth trying to keep that little creep Kyle happy.
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    Margaret Thu Oct 29, 2009 01:07 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I tell you what i lost a lot of repsect for JGR since KB joined there. JG doesn't a say a word when busch attacks JR for a bad luck season and then for swapping CC bit when busch has a ok season with a bad attitude all he can do is baby him and change CC for him and not say a word to him about how his attitude affected the outcome of his season not his CC. KB needs to grow up and act like a man instead of a hormonal teenager. Joey Logona acts more mature than him and he is only 19.
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    Masterblaster Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:15 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I'm shocked maybe they were afraid that Kyle was going too park the car again in turn three again? You know those temper tantrums can get ugly. And we know what happens when (I want what I want and I want it now) Kyle gets if things don't go his way. Boy I hope they rearange everything in his life to his exact demands! Him and Kurt two idiots that make racing look ingnourant! I would love to change time and put Dale senior with the old cars against the Kurt and Kyle out there too! Those two would need diapers!
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    JOHNNY R H Wed Oct 28, 2009 07:23 pm PDT Report Abuse
    After all the shi* that the Busch toadies gave Jr about changing Crew Chiefs THEIR BOY lays the blame on his CC for his own mistakes and short comings! LOL
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    RacingGal88 Wed Oct 28, 2009 05:20 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Poster #64. Kindly follow your own advise in your posting without calling others "losers"! It appears you have the crush on another driver! This article is about Kyle Busch and his CC hopefully saying GET ME OUT OF HERE! Being "Mommy" is not part of a CC's job, but IMHO, KB owners needed to own up having done Steve the greater injustice and suffering working with KB. Tthey should have set the law down with KB and said STFU, drive and listen to your CC. That's what you get paid to do. And many owners should be telling their drivers the same advise. We fans love our drivers, but prima donna, they are not, it's growing up time.
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    Tom P Wed Oct 28, 2009 02:14 pm PDT Report Abuse
    i like peanuts, not replacements.
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    gman Wed Oct 28, 2009 02:11 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Jr is not even close to having the talent and ability that kyle busch has. If kyle busch is not winning races its not because of his lack of ability.
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    Chris Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:30 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I am surprised he didn't quit working for Kyle busch. Now maybe Jr can come on and bad mouth busch blaming everyone but himself. Kind of how busch takes a stab at him everytime he can get the chance. I'm sure at the end of the day busch said addington was to blame to save his own a**.
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    Greg S Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:19 am PDT Report Abuse
    This is nothing new, every driver who was in the 18 after Bobby left complained about Addington. When everything is going okay, he's easy to communicate with. When stuffs not working, he will not listen. "Its too loose!" the driver says, Addington will reply "okay we'll loosen it up some more". All in all, its a move that should have been made three seasons ago.
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    Deng Wed Oct 28, 2009 09:07 am PDT Report Abuse
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    Rob Wed Oct 28, 2009 08:25 am PDT Report Abuse
    bet that is what kyle wanted. once he does get the cc he wants hes gonna win the cup a few times
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    Terry Wed Oct 28, 2009 08:23 am PDT Report Abuse
    Winning better than 1 in 6 races isn't good enough to keep your job as a crew cheif? Kyle is likely more at fault than Addington. Kyle has oodles of talent, but not much integrity and stick-to-itness. If his car isn't to his liking, he just soft pedals around. He can't adapt to anything less than perfect. Kyle would rather blow his car up than finish 20th. When and if Kyle matures as a racer, then the rest of the field is in trouble.
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    Nancy Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:45 pm PDT Report Abuse
    #72 I believe you mean Tony Eury Jr. Tony Eury Sr. is the crew chief for the #88 car in the Nationwide series for the last two or three years.
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    nuttlover Tue Oct 27, 2009 09:06 pm PDT Report Abuse
    All of the people posting do not know anything.That they have there A$% so far up that cheating lieing fell sorry for me Rick Hendricks they are one here to make up crap.Hell I would be willing that half don;t know about racing and the other half they are just plain stupid.Kyle Bush is a better driver than 2 of the A/O in that team.Kyle reminds me alot of the old Dale Earnhart just drive and who cares who you piss off just WIN baby
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    Tommy Boy Tue Oct 27, 2009 08:39 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Memo to Kyle Busch,Kevin Harvick and "Cousin " Carl Edwards:You guys will NEVER win a Cup title until you focus on Cup racing ONLY.People hate on Double J for the titles he's racking up;fellas,it's not just Hendrick horsepower,Jimmie's not wasting his weekends with the Nationwide and Truck series'.That's why he's on top,and could be there for a long time to come.Food for thought.
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    Paul Tue Oct 27, 2009 08:26 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I really feel bad about Addy leaving, but you can see the frustration this year with the cars that Kyle had this year. HE worked his ass off plenty of times when they started in the back due to poor qualifying or part failures just to get up to the front- THAT IS DRIVER boys and girls, NOT crewchief! It seemed like Addy at times was completely out of it and clueless on how to make changes to the car, and the sad part was, you could see it on his face. Last year it was roses- "oh @#$%, I'm in victory lane again. Cool." This year he was overwhelmed! Kyle is a kick ass talent and will always be better than JR. Wasn't the "Junior Caution" a little early this week, it usually doesn't come out til the last 1/4 of the race, just after the "Sam Horrinish Caution." This will be JR's last year with HMS unless he steps it up...you can count on that!!!
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    fishnwhistle Tue Oct 27, 2009 07:46 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Blame the crew chief...that's the ticket. I'm thinking he hauled donkey to get out from under changing all those diapers. Another crew chief that will be moving on is the 88's. After hearing over the scanner how 88 disrespected his crew most of the race they may end up whippin his a** (if they hang around to long.) Earnhardt lost my respect after the display of larger than childlike tantrums.Get over yourself Dude!
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    Greg Tue Oct 27, 2009 06:19 pm PDT Report Abuse
    dalejr is the most overated driver out their give it up you bunch of cry babies he'll never be as good as big daddy jeff gordon ha. ha. losers.
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    Steve T Tue Oct 27, 2009 06:11 pm PDT Report Abuse
    When Tony Eury Sr was replaced as Dale Jr.'s crew chief, there was no improvement. Tony's Eury's work as crew chief for Brad Kesolowski proves he was not the problem on the 88 Sprint Cup car. Will a change for Kyle Busch be any different? The crew chief is almost always the scapegoat for a bad season, whether it is justified or not. Maybe all the best equipment at Hendricks goes to the 24 and 48 cars.
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    JamesA Tue Oct 27, 2009 06:04 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I look foward to hearing the details on this move.............isn't JR looking for a new crew cheif???
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    Michael Tue Oct 27, 2009 05:52 pm PDT Report Abuse
    I'm not a KB fan, but you win four races as a crew chief in one year and you get replaced? KB was hot last year, but there will be many years where he'd give anything to win four races. wow!
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    art_tidesco Tue Oct 27, 2009 05:12 pm PDT Report Abuse
    Was Steve pushed or did he jump ?
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