JR Motorsports just completed its most successful season, with drivers #9-Chase Elliott and #7-Regan Smith finishing 1-2 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. But changes are ahead for the 10-year-old organization founded by Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., and capably run by Kelley Earnhardt Miller, co-owner of the team as well as the vice president and business manager of the organization. Ryan Pemberton, who as served in the dual role of competition director and crew chief for the #7 Chevy team fielded for Smith, will return to the singular role of competition director. Greg Ives, who guided Elliott and the #9 team to the championship, is moving to Hendrick Motorsports to replace Steve Letarte atop the pit box for Earnhardt in the Sprint Cup Series. Ives will be replaced by Ernie Cope, a veteran crew chief that has overseen the third team, the #5, at JRM that has featured several drivers, including Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and 2014 Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick, behind the wheel. That leaves a need for a crew chief for Smith as well someone for the #5 entry (which will be the #88 entry next season in the XFINITY Series), something Earnhardt said has been addressed and will be announced likely as soon as week’s end.(NASCAR.com)(11-18-2014)
