Rudy Fugle has been tapped to be atop the pit box for William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2021 in the NASCAR Cup Series, the organization announced Oct. 26.
Fugle has been a successful crew chief for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, winning two titles and 28 races.
Byron has had seven-time Cup champion Chad Knaus leading the team the past two seasons, earning their first victory together in the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway.
It was announced on Sept. 29 that Knaus will leave his role as a crew chief and become vp of competition for Hendrick next season.
“The opportunity to join Hendrick Motorsports is incredible for me and my family,” Fugle said in a press release. “The No. 24 has always been one of the premier teams in racing. We have the owner, the driver, the people and the resources to continue that tradition. William is a great talent, and we have a very strong working relationship. I’m confident in what this team can accomplish and look forward to the challenge of competing at the Cup level.
The Byron and Fugle pairing isn’t new, as Fugle led the 22-year-old Byron to seven Truck Series wins in 2016, as well as that season’s owner championship.
“I’m excited to work with Rudy again,” Byron said. “We have a great team in place, and I know he will be the right leader to keep moving us forward. I’ve seen firsthand what he’s capable of, his competitive nature and the high standards he has. With Rudy, I believe we’ll have a chance to win every single time we go to the racetrack, which is what both of us expect.”
Entering his fifth year with Frontstretch, Luken Glover is the author of The Underdog House, shedding light on the motivation and performance of NASCAR's dark horse teams as they strive to fight to the top. Additionally, Glover reports for the site at various events, and he contributes in the video editing department.
A 2023 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is a middle school math and PE teacher, as well as a basketball coach. He is passionate about serving in his church, playing/coaching a wide variety of sports, and researching motorsports history.