DARLINGTON, S.C.: NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contender confirmed Saturday morning at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway that longtime crew chief Justin Alexander will vacate the role for the end of the current season to spend more time with his family.
“This sport is a grind,” Dillon said. “Speaking with Justin (Alexander, crew chief), it was about having some more time. Him and I actually – on the one off weekend we had this year – we spent it together in the Bahamas for our vacation.
“He just realizes to him what’s important and that’s family, and you have to respect and love that.”
Alexander has been the leader of Dillon’s Cup program since 2017 and has been at the top of the box for all four of his Cup Series victories including last Sunday’s rain-delayed Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
With just 10 races remaining in his final season as crew chief for Dillon, the 2017 Daytona 500 champion made it clear that he would like Alexander to remain with the Welcome, N.C.-based organization in another capacity while he steps back from the hectic hustle and bustle of the demanding and rigorous Cup Series schedule.
“At RCR, we want him to stay on in any capacity and I think we have a good shot of having him around,” added Dillon. “He’s a great person to have; as a crew chief, as a friend, as an engineer. All the great qualities that Justin brings to a team.
“We’re going to do our best to keep him on at some sort of a capacity moving forward. I think he can help RCR for a long time. But for right now, he’s focused on his two babies and that’s where he should be focused.”
Dillon didn’t make clear whether his No. 3 Cup Series has already begun the search for Alexander’s replacement, but the 2013 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion knows that the new crew chief will have to fit nicely into the RCR mold, as well as have a good synergy with himself.
“Just someone that brings something to the table when it comes to RCR,” explained Dillon. “We’ve got a lot of positive momentum. Someone that gets along well with Randall (Burnett), the other crew chief that we have at RCR; just kind of working with him right now.
“Justin and him work so well together and I’d like to keep that going, if any way possible, with whoever comes in and crew chief’s me next year. Someone that has a good, positive attitude and willing to go work. Make me better, push me to be a better driver.
“All options are on the table right now.”
Entering Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500, Dillon is seeded 16th in the championship standings, 35 points behind leader Chase Elliott and four points from the cutoff from Chase Briscoe in 12th.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
