Paul Andrews (NASCAR)
Encyclopedia
Paul Andrews is an American crew chief
known for his work in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series. He was the crew chief for Bobby Labonte
's #43 team for Petty Enterprises
until August 2007. He was the crew chief for Alan Kulwicki
's 1992 Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup) championship. He had 12 victories and 30 pole positions in his career as a NASCAR Cup crew chief.
. They moved to Monroe, Louisiana
when he was ten years old. After he graduated from high school in Monroe, he decided to live with his mother in St. Louis. They did not get along very well. He said, "I was young and set in my ways and thought I knew everything like every child does." He worked for his stepfather as a maintenance guy at the motel that his stepfather managed. Andrews needed parts to repair a broken vacuum cleaner, so he went to the O.K. Vacuum repair shop co-owned by Rusty Wallace
's father and uncle. Gary Wallace, Rusty's uncle, had a conversation with Andrews about vacuum cleaners and other topics. Gary Wallace offered Andrews a job. Andrews helped move the vacuum cleaner repair shop to a larger facility. Andrews worked closely with Rusty Wallace and the two got to know each other well. After work, he helped fix Wallace's USAC
stock car, starting in 1979. He moved with Wallace to the ASA
in 1983 when the team won the championship. Wallace moved from USAC to NASCAR in 1984, and Andrews moved to Louisiana
to run Wallace's Sportsman for his driver Nicki Fraisson. Andrews quit in 1986.
Independent NASCAR driver Alan Kulwicki
was talking with his friend Wallace at the 1986 NASCAR Awards banquet, and he asked Wallace for some advice on who to hire as his new crew chief. Rusty suggested Andrews. Andrews was ready to return to racing. He moved to NASCAR in 1988 as Kulwicki's crew chief, and he remained Kulwicki's crew chief until Kulwicki died in an airplane crash April 1, 1993. Andrews was scheduled to be on the airplane, but remained with the pit crew to work on improving pit stop times. He remained with the team after it was purchased by Geoffrey Bodine. Hooters
wanted the team to hire driver Loy Allen, Jr. and sell the team to Alley's father.
In 1999 he joined Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
with driver Steve Park
Earning the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet team two wins. He was named Labonte's crew chief in 2006.
He was seriously injured in a fall in his shop on August 15, 2007, several days after he was released as Labonte's crew chief. He fell approximately 30 feet off a ladder while changing a light bulb. He was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center
. Andrews suffered a compression fracture of his spine, a crushed left ankle, and some broken bones in his right ankle.
He was hired by Michael Waltrip Racing to be Michael Waltrip's crew chief for the 2008 season.
is a developmental driver
for Petty Enterprises. Tim is scheduled to race in an ARCA
race in October 2007.
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...
known for his work in the NASCAR
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 Series. He was the crew chief for Bobby Labonte
Bobby Labonte
Robert Alan "Bobby" Labonte is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #47 Kroger/Clorox/Kimberly-Clark/Kingsford/Reese Towpower Hitches Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing. He currently resides in Trinity, North Carolina. He is married to his wife...
's #43 team for Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
until August 2007. He was the crew chief 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 1992 Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup) championship. He had 12 victories and 30 pole positions in his career as a NASCAR Cup crew chief.
Biography
Andrews was born in Bangor, Maine. His parents divorced when he was 12 months old. He was raised by his mother's parents in Pineville, LouisianaPineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
. They moved to Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
when he was ten years old. After he graduated from high school in Monroe, he decided to live with his mother in St. Louis. They did not get along very well. He said, "I was young and set in my ways and thought I knew everything like every child does." He worked for his stepfather as a maintenance guy at the motel that his stepfather managed. Andrews needed parts to repair a broken vacuum cleaner, so he went to the O.K. Vacuum repair shop co-owned by Rusty Wallace
Rusty Wallace
Russell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
's father and uncle. Gary Wallace, Rusty's uncle, had a conversation with Andrews about vacuum cleaners and other topics. Gary Wallace offered Andrews a job. Andrews helped move the vacuum cleaner repair shop to a larger facility. Andrews worked closely with Rusty Wallace and the two got to know each other well. After work, he helped fix Wallace's USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
stock car, starting in 1979. He moved with Wallace to the ASA
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
in 1983 when the team won the championship. Wallace moved from USAC to NASCAR in 1984, and Andrews moved to Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
to run Wallace's Sportsman for his driver Nicki Fraisson. Andrews quit in 1986.
Independent NASCAR driver 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...
was talking with his friend Wallace at the 1986 NASCAR Awards banquet, and he asked Wallace for some advice on who to hire as his new crew chief. Rusty suggested Andrews. Andrews was ready to return to racing. He moved to NASCAR in 1988 as Kulwicki's crew chief, and he remained Kulwicki's crew chief until Kulwicki died in an airplane crash April 1, 1993. Andrews was scheduled to be on the airplane, but remained with the pit crew to work on improving pit stop times. He remained with the team after it was purchased by Geoffrey Bodine. Hooters
Hooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
wanted the team to hire driver Loy Allen, Jr. and sell the team to Alley's father.
In 1999 he joined Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was a NASCAR-related organization located in Mooresville, North Carolina, United States working to continue the legacy of Dale Earnhardt. It was originally formed in 1980 by seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt who died in a crash on the closing lap of the 2001...
with driver Steve Park
Steve Park (NASCAR)
Stephen Park is a professional race car driver. Park is currently racing in the #35 Waste Management Recycle America Monte Carlo in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East....
Earning the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet team two wins. He was named Labonte's crew chief in 2006.
He was seriously injured in a fall in his shop on August 15, 2007, several days after he was released as Labonte's crew chief. He fell approximately 30 feet off a ladder while changing a light bulb. He was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center
Carolinas Medical Center
Carolinas Medical Center is a large, public, non-profit hospital located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The hospital was organized in 1940 as Charlotte Memorial Hospital on Blythe Boulevard in the Dilworth neighborhood. Since that time, the hospital has undergone several major expansions and...
. Andrews suffered a compression fracture of his spine, a crushed left ankle, and some broken bones in his right ankle.
He was hired by Michael Waltrip Racing to be Michael Waltrip's crew chief for the 2008 season.
Personal life
His son Tim AndrewsTim Andrews
Tim Andrews is an English studio potter making distinctive smoke-fired and raku ceramics exhibited internationally.Andrews trained as an apprentice to David Leach and studied at Dartington Pottery Training Workshop before setting up his first studio in 1981.He returned to share the workshop at...
is a developmental driver
Driver development program
A Driver development program is a program used by racing teams to develop younger drivers. It is widely used in both Formula One and NASCAR, usually consisting of a team signing a driver to a multi-year contract in which they run in minor-league racing divisions A Driver development program is a...
for Petty Enterprises. Tim is scheduled to race in an ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
race in October 2007.