Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart to get new crew chiefs for 2016 NASCAR season

Teammates Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick will each have new crew chiefs in 2016, Stewart-Haas Racing announced Monday.

Michael Bugarewicz, formerly the lead engineer on Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 SHR entry, will guide Stewart’s No. 14 team. He replaces Chad Johnston, Stewart’s crew chief for the past two seasons, who joined Chip Ganassi Racing to work with driver Kyle Larson.

Patrick’s new crew chief is Billy Scott, who moves over from the recently defunct Michael Waltrip Racing to take command of the No. 10 car. Scott is Patrick’s third crew chief in as many seasons, replacing Daniel Knost, who was promoted to a senior leadership position within SHR where he will act as a manager of vehicle dynamics and oversee the organization’s technical efforts.

The changes come after Patrick and Stewart struggled for much of 2015, finishing 24th and 28th, respectively, in the points standings. Patrick recorded just two top-10 finishes with a best result of seventh, while Stewart amassed three top 10s highlighted by a sixth in the spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“We made these changes after thoroughly evaluating our program to ensure that all four of our teams are consistently strong and competitive,” SHR vice president of competition Greg Zipadelli said in a statement. “In this business, you can’t rest and you can never be satisfied. You have to constantly improve. We feel these personnel changes enhance our strengths and shore up areas where we needed to be better.”

Stewart, who is retiring at the conclusion of the 2016 season, has experienced a tumultuous two years on and off the track. He broke his right leg in a sprint car crash in August 2013 that sidelined him for the final 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events. The following August he was involved in an accident that took the life of another driver during a sprint car race in upstate New York.

A three-time Cup Series champion, Stewart is immersed in a career-worst 77-race winless streak dating to June 2013 at Dover International Speedway.

“Change isn’t easy, and that’s particularly true when it comes to my relationship with Chad Johnston,” Stewart said in a statement. “He served as my crew chief during two very difficult seasons. He was always supportive and he’s become like a brother to me. I think very highly of Chad and wish him nothing but the best in his new opportunity.”

Rodney Childers will remain crew chief for Harvick, while Tony Gibson continues with Kurt Busch. Harvick, the 2014 series champion, won three times and finished runner-up in the standings this season. Busch scored two victories and advanced to the Eliminator Round (semifinal) of the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff.