hearing current #2 crew chief, Bill Wilburn, will not be the #2 Miller Lite Dodge crew chief in 2004, but will be be re-assigned within the organization, no word on any candidates yet.(10-24-2003) UPDATE: during rain delay coverage, NBC interviewed Rusty Wallace, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, and Wallace said Wilburn would be back in 2004 as his crew chief and that they have 2-years invested in working together.(NBC Rain Delay Coverage)(10-26-2003) UPDATE 2: Rusty Wallace refuted recent reports that crew chief Bill Wilburn would be leaving after the season. Wallace hasn’t claimed a victory since Wilburn became his crew chief at the beginning of 2002. “We’ve got a lot of time and effort invested in Billy Wilburn, but we’re getting better and better together,” said Wallace, who is winless in 94 races. “There’s been a lot of controversy on the Internet about Billy, but he’s a friend of mine. He’s a good kid, and we’ve got a good race team.”( Richmond Times Dispatch )(10-27-2003) UPDATE 3: Bill Wilburn, crew chief for Winston Cup driver Rusty Wallace, said Saturday he plans to sit down with his driver after the season is over to determine whether he will return next season. Wallace and Penske Racing co-owner Don Miller have expressed confidence in Wilburn over the past week. Wilburn, however, said he wants to make sure Wallace is pleased with the team’s direction.( ThatsRacin.com )(11-8-2003) Wilburn out? UPDATE 4 yes: hearing that #2 Miller Lite Dodge crew chief Bill Wilburn has decided NOT to return as Rusty Wallace’s crew chief in 2004.(12-3-2003) UPDATE 5: Miller Lite Team Penske Dodge driver Rusty Wallace confirmed today that his team is engaged in an “active effort” to land a new crew chief for his Penske Racing South Team for the 2004 season. “We had a lengthy discussion and the situation with Billy is as amicable as it can possibly be,” Wallace said of Bill Wilburn, his crew chief for the last two seasons. “Billy will continue to be an active team player with us and he will be a big asset as he has always been. He will remain as a key member within our organization. The bottom line was, after studying our team situation at great length and laying out our plans for the future, we concluded that this change was necessary,” Wallace added. “Bill felt that it was in everyone’s best interest that he go ahead and tell all the guys on the team what was occurring — or going to occur — and I applaud him for that. With Billy deciding to make it known that he would not be returning in the crew chief position and with our desire to launch an active effort to find the best person available to fill the spot, we just felt it was appropriate to get all of this out in the public. This is the best way to handle it — to present the facts as they are — and not see the rumor mill churn out hearsay, half-truths and innuendo.”( Tom Roberts PR )(12-4-2003)
