Addington Out at SHR? Rumor Has It...

By Ron Lemasters Jr.

CONCORD, N.C. -- Steve Addington, the crew chief who replaced Darian Grubb after the 2011 season in which Stewart won his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title, could be on the outside looking in for the 2014 season.

ONMC first heard rumblings of this situation Thursday night and reported it as a rumor on Twitter.

Today, a story by Bob Pockrass on SportingNews.com confirmed that rumor.

Addington said Friday in Phoenix that he has “no clue” about what he would be doing in 2014 or whether he would be back as Stewart’s crew chief. SHR competition director Greg Zipadelli declined comment on who would be the crew chiefs for SHR next year, saying he hoped to finalize things in the next week as SHR expands from three to four teams.

Zipadelli filled in for Addington at Talladega last month as Addington left for the birth of a child.

Chad Johnson, Martin Truex Jr.'s crew chief at Michael Waltrip Racing, is seeking employment and Matt Borland won't be going with Ryan Newman when the latter leaves for RCR next season. The team has already hired Rodney Childers from MWR to be Kevin Harvick's new team boss at SHR. Kurt Busch has not had a crew chief announced as yet for his new ride at SHR either.

One aspect of the rumors ONMC heard last night that intrigues is that there is a budding spat building between Stewart and co-owner Gene Haas over crew chiefs and personnel. This is unconfirmed, but bears watching.