For the remainder of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, Austin Cindric and Harrison Burton will trade crew chiefs, Team Penske announced Aug. 28.
Cindric’s new crew chief on his No. 2 for Penske is Brian Wilson, formerly atop the pit box for Burton’s No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing.
Jeremy Bullins, who had worked with Cindric, moves to Burton and the No. 21.
Both drivers are in their sophomore Cup seasons. Burton has two top 10s through 26 races, while Cindric boasts three top 10s.
Cindric and Burton did not make the playoffs, which begin this weekend at Darlington Raceway.
Bullins and Wilson began working with Cindric and Burton, respectively, during their rookie seasons in 2022.
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Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. 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.
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They need new drivers. Switching crew chiefs is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Well said…sad to see the 21 dying on the vine. As for the 2, Cindric is the President’s son…he’s not going anywhere…
Smooth move, Exlax! Wins are just around the corner! Works every time!
I think there are more morons than I can ever remember.
They both need the Cole Custer treatment. Back to the minor league and prove yourself worthy or make your bones down there. No shame. Just wasn’t your gig.
I guess Brian Wilson is taking a bit of time off from the Beach Boys?
My first thought is a line borrowed from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, when Cousin Eddie explains that he has a plastic skull as the result of some previous accident. He tells Clark that he didn’t think it was wise to sled down a hill “with only a piece of plastic between his brain and the ground”.
Clark looks over and says “Do you really think it matters Eddie?”
That’s about what I expect with this crew chief swap.
The youth movement that saw the likes of Kenseth and Biffle pushed aside may be hitting a reality check. Not every b level champ is ready for the Sunday grind.