Richard Childress Racing announced Monday afternoon that Danny Stockman will step down as crew chief of the team’s No. 3 Cup Series car driven by Austin Dillon effective at the end of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Justin Alexander, the organization’s current Xfinity Series crew chief will assume the Cup crew chief role next year.
A native of Winston Salem, N.C., Stockman has served as crew chief for Dillon in 35 Cup Series races, including 33 this season. Despite winning three poles this season, the team has underperformed with just five top-10 finishes with a best effort of sixth twice at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway respectively.
Stockman has been paired with the two-time Cup Series winner throughout his career in NASCAR, including his championship years in 2011 and 2013 at the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and Xfinity Series levels.
He will remain with the Welcome, N.C.-based empire in a role to be announced at a later date.
Alexander has been guiding RCR’s part-time Xfinity Series entry this year with drivers Joe Graf Jr. and Kaz Grala. He also assisted RCR-affiliate Germain Racing when crew chief Matt Borland was suspended for failing NASCAR’s substance abuse policy.
Alexander was on top of the box for both of Dillon’s Cup wins. First in the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in a fuel mileage race, then the following season in the season-opening Daytona 500, capturing victories in two of the Cup Series crown jewel races.
With three races left this season and 23rd in points, 2020 will mark Dillon, 29, seventh full-time season in Cup.
NEWS: Danny Stockman will step down as crew chief of the No. 3 NASCAR Cup Series program at the conclusion of the 2019 NASCAR race season. pic.twitter.com/c4NwASKL53
— RCR (@RCRracing) October 28, 2019
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