Brian Whitesell
Encyclopedia
Brian Whitesell is an American team manager in NASCAR
Sprint Cup auto racing from Stuarts Draft, Virginia
. He is the team manager for the Hendrick Motorsports
#5 team of Mark Martin
and the #88 team of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He has been part of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship teams (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2006 and 2007).
. He had a senior class project involving the design and construction a Mini Baja
racecar through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). After graduation in 1987, he went to work at Mack Trucks
in Allentown, Pennsylvania
, as a mechanical engineer. Whitesell transferred to Mack Trucks' office in Columbia, South Carolina
. Whitesell used the office to volunteer for Alan Kulwicki
's underfunded team on weekends as an attempt to get into motorsports in 1992. He drove the team's hauler, spotted, and scored for the team. He was part of Kulwicki's championship team.
's #24 DuPont team. He began using his mechanical engineering degree in 1994 as one of the first engineers in NASCAR. He was named the Western Auto Mechanic of the Year in 1997. The team won three championships in five years. In September 1999 Whitesell was named the crew chief
for Gordon after Ray Evernham
left. The #24 team won two of the next seven races. After the season he was named team manager of the #24 team, and the team won the 2001 championship.
Hendrick Motorsports added a second team in 2002 in the #48 car driven by Jimmie Johnson
. Whitesell oversaw the growth the teams. Both teams finished in the Top 5 in points in both 2002 and 2003. The teams finished second and third in 2004. In 2005 Whitesell was named the team manager for the #5 car driven by Kyle Busch
, the #25 car driven by Brian Vickers
, and the #44 car driven part-time by Terry Labonte
.
Announced on May 28, 2009, Whitesell will fill in for one race, the May 31st running of the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway
, for struggling Hendrick Motorsports
superstar, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/05/28/teuryjr.out.crew.chief.dearnhardtjr/index.html
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup auto racing from Stuarts Draft, Virginia
Stuarts Draft, Virginia
Stuarts Draft is a census-designated place in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,367 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. He is the team manager for the Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
#5 team of Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
and the #88 team of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He has been part of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship teams (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2006 and 2007).
Early involvement in racing
Whitesell became involved in racing as a senior at Virginia TechVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
. He had a senior class project involving the design and construction a Mini Baja
Baja SAE
Baja SAE is an intercollegiate design competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers . Teams of students from universities all over the world design and build small off-road cars. The cars all have engines of the same specifications...
racecar through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). After graduation in 1987, he went to work at Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks is an American truck-manufacturing company and a former manufacturer of buses and trolley buses. A wholly owned subsidiary of Renault Véhicules Industriels since 1990, Mack Trucks is currently a subsidiary of AB Volvo. The company's headquarters are located in Greensboro, North Carolina...
in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, as a mechanical engineer. Whitesell transferred to Mack Trucks' office in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. Whitesell used the office to volunteer for Alan Kulwicki
Alan Kulwicki
Alan Dennis Kulwicki , nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince", was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar driver. He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series...
's underfunded team on weekends as an attempt to get into motorsports in 1992. He drove the team's hauler, spotted, and scored for the team. He was part of Kulwicki's championship team.
Hendrick Motorsports
He joined Hendrick Motorsports in 1993 as a transporter driver, timer/scorer, and chassis technical on rookie Jeff GordonJeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
's #24 DuPont team. He began using his mechanical engineering degree in 1994 as one of the first engineers in NASCAR. He was named the Western Auto Mechanic of the Year in 1997. The team won three championships in five years. In September 1999 Whitesell was named the crew chief
Pit stop
In motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, or any combination of the above...
for Gordon after Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham is currently a consultant for Hendrick Companies. In 1999, Evernham won the NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated “Person of the Year”.-Racer:...
left. The #24 team won two of the next seven races. After the season he was named team manager of the #24 team, and the team won the 2001 championship.
Hendrick Motorsports added a second team in 2002 in the #48 car driven by Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
. Whitesell oversaw the growth the teams. Both teams finished in the Top 5 in points in both 2002 and 2003. The teams finished second and third in 2004. In 2005 Whitesell was named the team manager for the #5 car driven by Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
, the #25 car driven by Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
, and the #44 car driven part-time by Terry Labonte
Terry Labonte
Terrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had...
.
Announced on May 28, 2009, Whitesell will fill in for one race, the May 31st running of the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
, for struggling Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
superstar, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
Additional reading
- Conversation: Brian Whitesell, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
.com; Lee Montgomery, September 29, 2004, Retrieved September 14, 2007
http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/05/28/teuryjr.out.crew.chief.dearnhardtjr/index.html