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.”
About the author
Luken Glover arrived on the Frontstretch scene in 2020. He has been an avid NASCAR fan for the majority of his life, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who used to help former team owner Junie Donlavey in his garage. Glover covers news for the site and took over "The Underdog House" column in 2021. In addition to being a college junior, his hobbies include volunteering at church, playing basketball and tennis, racing go-karts, and helping at his high school alma mater.
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Usually HMS seems to have a car chief or shock specialist or something who is home-grown, started sweeping floors at age 8 and can turn water into wine, just primed for a crew chief job. Oh how the mighty have fallen, to have to go outside the church like that.
Mr. H stole Jeff Gordon from Ford.
Sometimes you inbreed to long and you get a character like the one in the movie Deliverane, sitting on the porch pickinga bsndjo. A little fresh blood never hurt any thing. Especially with someone ofRudy Fugle’s quality. If you don’t get the Deliverance tie in, go rent the movie.
Picking a Banjo.
Sorry for the mis-spelling