HAMPTON, Ga. – Less than a week into the NASCAR XFINITY Series season, Richard Childress Racing confirmed to CATCHFENCE.com that former crew chief Nick Harrison has been released from the organization.
Harrison had cemented nearly five years with the Welcome, N.C.-based team entering Speedweeks, but he and car chief Robert Scott were banned from participating in last Saturday afternoon’s PowerShares QQQ 300 after a rear suspension violation was discovered in pre-qualifying inspection.
As a result of the violation, Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon was unable to qualify his No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s Chevrolet for the event and used a provisional starting position. He finished 32nd after being collected in a Lap 122 crash.
The crewmen’s ejection from the event was per NASCAR’s at-track deterrence model.
RCR would not elaborate if the Daytona incident was the contributing factor to Harrison’s split with the organization. A team spokesperson said Brandon Thomas will serve as crew chief for Ty Dillon at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend.
In 139 races as an XFINITY crew chief, Harrison has been credited with four wins, six poles, 34 top-five and 64 top-10 finishes. His last victory came with Dillon during the Charlotte May race in 2015.
In addition to XFINITY, Harrison spent five years as crew chief in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with a best finish of third with Kurt Busch in 2012.
He also earned a Cup pole with Brian Scott at RCR in 2014.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
