hearing that David Hyder will be the new crew chief for the #21 Wood Brothers team and driver Ken Schrader. Hyder comes over from the #49 BAM Racing team which Scrader drove for in 2005. Ron Otto was recently named the crew chief for the #49 car. Former #21 crew chief, Michael ‘Fatback’ McSwain will take on a Team Manager/General Manager type role.(12-10-2005)
UPDATE: Former crew chief Michael “Fatback” McSwain has been promoted to the position of Race Director for all of the teams under the Wood Brothers Racing/ST Motorsports/Wood Brothers/JTG Racing umbrella. And, David Hyder has been hired as crew chief for the #21 Wood Brothers Racing Fusion and driver Kenny Schrader. The announcement was made by WBR co-owner Eddie Wood. “This was just the logical progression of events,” said Wood. “Hyder was Kenny Schrader’s crew chief in 2004, and they had a good thing going there. We wanted to keep the relationship between Kenny and David in tact. And at the same time, we are giving Fatback the title that goes with the work he has been doing in getting the Truck, Busch and Cup teams under one roof and ready for competition next year. He has coordinated the move to our new location while maintaining a leadership role in the fabrication and engineering of all of our racecars and trucks. These changes will just strengthen our Little Debbie/Motorcraft/US Air Force team in 2006.”
David Hyder comes to the Wood Brothers operation after working with Schrader as crew chief at Bam Racing for over a year. Before that he was with the Petty Enterprises where he served as car chief for both the #43 and #45 Nextel Cup cars. The High Point, North Carolina native has a history in racing that spans close to 25 years. For 17 years he raced late model stock cars including stints in Hooters Pro Cup and the All Pro Series. “I am so pleased to be able to continue the working relationship Kenny and I started at BAM,” stated Hyder. And, I’m looking forward to working Eddie, Len, Fatback and everybody at Wood Brothers Racing. This is really a win, win situation for me.” McSwain added, “I’m glad that Eddie and Len decided to hire David. I already know he and Kenny work well together, and this will give me the freedom to work with the five teams we now have in place. It would have been very difficult to work with all the teams and remain as crew chief for the 21, so this is a great solution.”
McSwain has been with Wood Brothers Racing as crew chief for the #21 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team since August of 2004. The racing veteran has been on the Cup circuit since 1992. His first position was as a fabricator for Lake Speed. Since that time he has served as crew chief for various teams including those owned by Jasper Motorsports, Ricky Rudd, Robert Yates and Joe Gibbs. McSwain was born in Lattimore, North Carolina and is a 1986 graduate of Nashville Auto Diesel College.
Driver Kenny Schrader also gave his stamp of approval to the news. “This is wonderful. David and I had something really good coming together at the end of the season, and now we will be able to work together here. I couldn’t be happier with the way things are starting out for the new year.” The multi team operation has recently been moved into a new shop in Harrisburg, NC.(Wood Brothers Racing site)(12-11-2005)
