For most “normal” people who are fans of racing, they concentrate their energies on the driver. It is the driver who gets the glory and the fame while the crew guys break their ass during the week and during the race to keep the car rolling. I once read a quote that I have no idea who to attribute to but it was pretty brilliant. The gist was, “If you want to impress others, grab the wheel. If you want to impress yourself, pick up a wrench.” I always liked that.
As gearheads we’re into the nuts and bolts of things, especially racing. That means we have huge respect and interest in the guy who is spearheading the whole operation, the man in that vaunted position known as, “crew chief”. Part manager, part task master, part engineer, part problem solver, and part coach, this guy is the one who gets a little credit when the car works right, or loses his job if it stops working right and won’t get better again. During NASCAR races you can hear the drivers get their crew chiefs on the radio and tear them up and down. At the drag strip, they’re normally barking at their thrashing crew guys and inspecting parts and pieces between runs, as well as computer data.
There have been dozens (or more) of legendary crew chiefs in stock car, drag, open wheel, and even monster truck racing. We want to know who you think is most legendary concentrating on American racing. Harry Hyde, Smokey Yunick, Dale Inman, and a stack of others in stock car racing. Austin Coil, Lee Beard, Keith Black, Dale Armstrong and Dick LaHaie among innumerable others in drag racing.
Who’s the best?
Question of the day: Who is the most legendary crew chief in American racing history?
When I was a kid (more than 25 years ago), I always looked up to Dale Armstrong. Crew Chief was a dream job for me back in the mid to late 80s. ~J~
Junior Johnson
Smokey Yunick
Austin Coil. The man responsible for making John Force successful.
Austin Coil. How many other crew chiefs were winning championships for almost 30 yrs!
Buddy Martin
Hell yeah Austin Coil. He was the man for a long time.
Question answered before finishing reading the whole title of the article: Austin Coil !!!
Dale Armstrong
Tie, Austin Coil and Smokey Yunick.
Austin for helping John win so many titles and Smokey for helping so many win so much.
Dale Armstrong
Tie: Austin Coil/Dale Armstrong
Retired- Austin Coil
Active-Alan Johnson
Richard, I agree
Retired- Austin Coil
Active-Alan Johnson
but I would add
Deceased- Tommy TC Lemons (Garlit’s chief tire wiper & crew dawg may he RIP)
Dale Armstrong for sure
Austin Coil made Force a force.
austin coil behind more championships than any other crew chief
I think its unanimous, Austin Coil was the behind the scenes success story of John Force.
Legendary. Humm. We do get caught up in eras, don’t we. My first thought was Dale Armstrong.
Jr. Johnson sure is one, and if antics equates to legend, T.C. would have to top my list.
One not here yet though is Bob Brandt, who crewed for the Snake during what I think were his best years.
I would argue that Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly made Force a force.
Smokey Yunick I believe 3 Daytona 500’s and Indy 500!!
Plus lots of other wins and poles!
So innovative the nickname for NASCAR rule book is smokeys black book or some such
IMO
gotta be Smokey if u r talkin roundy round
I think hands down it ought to be Austin Coil, No one has ever yet won as many championships. The only one who comes close would be Alan Johnson( tuning genius)
Roland Leong. I witnessed him tuning a funny car by long distance telephone a thousand miles away just by looking at faxed data. And that car won the event.