Since #38 Elliott Sadler lost his car chief to the #88 team [as crew chief, Shawn Parker], Sadler has just one top-ten finish in the last five races. Former Roush Racing and Hendrick Motorsports crewman Dave Smith has joined the M&M’s team as car chief and front tire changer to help the #38 return to contention. “It was something that I wanted to do so I think that was the easiest decision,” Smith said. “It’s close to the house, but it’s still that shot at winning the championship. If we get Elliott in Victory Lane and get him winning some races and win a championship, it’ll be more gratifying than with Jeff (Gordon) because he’s won so much.” “We were lucky enough to get Dave to come over, and he’s got some great experience,” Sadler said. “He’d been with Matt Kenseth for a while and with the 24. Very young, seems very eager and optimistic and I think he knows what he’s doing.”( FSN’s Totally NASCAR ) AND – so who replaces Smith at the #24? Rear tire changer David Smith left the DuPont team after the Sonoma race to become the car chief for #38-Elliott Sadler. Smith, who departed Matt Kenseth’s team for Hendrick Motorsports after the 2002 season, joins his third race team in less than seven months. Smith will be replaced by Adam Davis on Jeff Gordon’s pit crew. Davis was formerly a tire changer for Joe Nemechek’s Winston Cup team. Davis, 24, came to Hendrick Motorsports after spending last season with Petty Enterprises. He was a tire changer on Kyle Petty’s car in 2002. Prior to entering the NASCAR world, Davis attended High Point University in North Carolina on a soccer scholarship. He holds a degree in sports medicine. In addition to his pit crew duties, Davis will continue his role as a mechanic for HMS.( Jeff Gordon Online )(7-5-2003)
