Ben Leslie has been named interim crew chief for the Roush Fenway Racing #16 Nationwide Series team, a team spokesman has confirmed. He replaces Eddie Pardue. Leslie, who started the year as crew chief for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., had more recently been overseeing the Nationwide program for Roush Fenway. Pardue, a Nationwide Series crew chief for more than four years and an employee at Roush Fenway for seven, is no longer with the organization.(Scene Daily)(5-27-2010)
UPDATE: Roush Fenway crew chief Eddie Pardue was fired last week after his crew’s involvement in a fight at a Daytona strip club. Multiple sources confirmed Nationwide Series veteran Pardue was released once management learned of the incident, which occurred in the middle of a Nationwide Car of Tomorrow test at Daytona. Sources say the crew for his #16 Roush Fenway Ford went to the club one night during the test, where a physical altercation with several patrons ensued. No charges were filed, but once word spread of the fight an undisclosed number of crewmen were fired, along with Pardue despite him not being in attendance at the club. One source suggested Roush was making an example with his dismissal in the wake of a miserable season during which their Cup and Nationwide teams have gone winless. Pardue had been a Roush employee for seven years and a Nationwide crew chief for the past four.(Frontstretch)(6-5-2010)
UPDATE 2: Rick Viers will be the new crew chief for the #16 Nationwide Series car, effective immediately. Roush sources say that the veteran crew chief will add stability to the #16 program, which currently has a rotating set of drivers. Viers was most recently with Baker Curb Racing, working primarily with Greg Biffle who is a part of Roush’s Cup program. Viers was also a crew chief for Red Bull Racing at the Sprint Cup level, but enjoyed his most success with Richard Childress Racing’s Nationwide program.(FoxSports)(6-11-2010)
UPDATE 3: Roush Fenway Racing has named Rick Viers as the crew chief of its #16 Nationwide team. Viers assumes the duty immediately and will lead the team this weekend at Road America. Viers most recently served as crew chief for Baker Curb Racing and the #27 Ford. He worked with JD Motorsports in 2009 and was the crew chief of the #84 Sprint Cup Series entry in 2007 and ’08. He has also worked as a Nationwide Series crew chief for Richard Childress Racing. A native of Pylersville, Md., Viers boasts eight career victories as a Nationwide Series crew chief, and has worked with drivers such as Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Ron Hornaday. In 14 races with Baker Curb this season, Viers guided the team to eight top-10 finishes, and the team finished inside the top 10 in seven of its 10 starts with Roush Fenway Sprint Cup driver Greg Biffle in the #27 car. Colin Braun will be at the wheel of the #16 Ford this weekend. Braun, who finished 10th last weekend at Kentucky, has split time in the #16 with fellow rookie Brian Ickler.(Roush Fenway Racing)(6-15-2010)
