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Blake Harris New Crew Chief for Michael McDowell

Michael McDowell‘s new crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022 will be Blake Harris, FRM announced Jan. 6.

Harris replaces the departing Drew Blickensderfer, who moved to Stewart-Haas Racing earlier this week.

His previous role was car chief. He did, however, serve as crew chief for one race in 2020, guiding Martin Truex Jr. to a top five at Joe Gibbs Racing.

See also
Drew Blickensderfer Crew Chief for Aric Almirola in 2022

“Blake has proven to be championship leader who is ready to take McDowell and our No. 34 team to the next level,” Jerry Freeze, FRM general manager, said in a team release. “He’s young but has a wealth of knowledge and experience with one of the best teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. He played a key role in wins and a championship. Blake is the type of person we want to help us continue to contend.”

McDowell is the defending Daytona 500 champion and also scored two top fives and five top 10s in 2021, finishing 16th in points.
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Kevin Rutherford is the executive editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2025 after being the managing editor since 2015, and serving on the editing staff since 2013.

At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.