Who was Best RGM Crew Chief? The numbers may surprise you...

So, I'm sitting here after the frustration that was Indy, and I decided to crunch some numbers to see who has been the best crew chief performance wise Robby has ever had. I only included results that racing reference listed as RUNNING.

1. The best was Mean Gene Nead.
14 races(running) with RGM - Average Finish of 22.7 including a top 5 at Watkins Glen and a 10th at Dover. Gene seemed to be a master with the COT and seemed to be the only guy that didn't let Robby try to be Rusty Wallace and call his own race.

2. Frank Kerr
In 8 races(running) this season Frankie led RGM to an average finish of 23.00 including an 8th at Daytona and an 11th at Talladega. Sometimes a change is needed, but Frankie had Robby running well at the first few races this season. With a little luck and maybe a better run at Martinsville, he might still be in charge.

3. Greg Erwin
In 50 races(running) (albeit at a disadvantage due to Menards motors) Greg Erwin led RGM to an average finish of 23.02 starting with Richmond in 05 and ending after Darlington in 07. The best was a 2nd at Watkins Glen in 05. Greg is still an excellent crew chief. Seemed it was best for him and Robby to part ways and get a fresh start.

4. Walter Giles
In 9 races(running) with RGM, Walter has led the whole RGM team to an average finish of 30th. Walter has been getting the team to his liking over the past 9 races. His best finish with RGM was the 6th place effort at Daytona where he made the car come to life.

5. Peter Sospenzo
Peter Sospenzo took over after Gene seemingly left the pitbox in the Fall New Hampshire race. Peter had some health issues when he took over, and guided RGM to an average finish of 31st during his 8 races as Crew Chief. (If I'm not mistaken, I believe Dana did one of those races). Best finish 19th 2x.

6th and Final - Bob Temple
Bob Temple was Robby's Busch Crew Chief when he won at Richmond in 04 and was given the task of heading the new cup team. In 6 races qualified for and running, Bob led RGM to an average finish of 33.66.

So thats pretty much what I found out. I think Greg was probably the best liked out of the bunch, as he was with Robby the longest. I think Gene was probably the most respected on that list, because he had the right attitude to put up with RG. I always thought Gene was the best CC Robby has had thus far and the numbers seem to prove it. I know its not fair to Walter as he is just getting acclimated to the team. I hope he gets to the top of the list one day. But for now, Gene Nead is on top of the list.

Feel free to bash/find erros/find fault

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Comment by Josh Northcutt on March 15, 2009 at 8:44pm: Coming from a racing standpoint, I like it when I can tell my guys what the race car is doing. And he's the CC for a reason, and I expect it to be better the next time out. Sometimes a few suggestions to the CC and go from there. Having a good CC has to do with chemistry. They both have to be on the same page, and be able to understand what one another wants. Every driver is different and not every setup will work for every driver. You just have to make him comfortable. And if you were the boss man there, and didn't like the chemistry, you'd get rid of him too. And I don't think any of it was a CC's fault.
I do think he needs a teammate. They are too far behind, and need a little extra something to get more information. I understand the whole budget racing thing, believe me I'm there, but in his case, the better you run, the more money you make and if you have to add a car then, do it.

Comment by MikeNIN7 on August 4, 2008 at 2:48pm: This sounds like the start of a new forum.

Comment by alan4s on August 4, 2008 at 2:08pm: And who do you propse to be put in his place? Are there big name championship CC's out there looking for a job?

Comment by MikeNIN7 on August 4, 2008 at 1:40pm: It is time to say bye to Walter this team dose not need a yes man!

Comment by Hank Lee on July 29, 2008 at 11:21am: Garrett, we've talked about this a lot. You know my feelings on the issue, I think Greg was the best of the bunch and he stuck it out through the hard times, and the fact that Robby didn't can him throughout 2005 shows what he saw in him. Unfortunately they struggled last year, and I think the change was necessary. Greg's moved on to work with Biffle and we've seen how that's worked out, while Robby has had what seems like a carousel of crew chiefs.

Comment by FlyHiFlyLo on July 28, 2008 at 11:15pm: Yes... it sucks.

Comment by Garrett Gleason on July 28, 2008 at 10:54pm: I did not count Charlotte or Michigan. Out of Walter's 11 races, I counted the 9 that Robby was running at the finish.

Comment by Blue Ridge Rob on July 28, 2008 at 8:20pm: Everybody that commented here has valid points. The sad truth of the matter is that all of the pundits that say a single car team won't work may just be right. If Robby were able to garner top notch sponsors with a tractor trailer load of hundred dollar bills he may be able to buy his way to success but I don't see anybody stepping up to the plate. The sport is all about people and dollars. You have to have the right people, you have to treat the people right, and then you have to spend the money and the time to test the shit out of the cars until you can come close to predicting what adjustments will do to the car. All of these large teams have R&D teams. They are on the road adding to their databases of information on the COT all of the time. Robby just can't compete against that. The people he has may be good but they are fighting windmills I am afraid. The biggest bang for the buck is to get good at the cookie cutter tracks but maybe the opposite could work too. He has such awesome road course skills that with an even decent car (that doesn't run out of gas) he can be a contender and he has become a very good plate racer. I have to give him credit. I fuss at him when he screws up but he has become very smart at the plate tracks. I know everybody would like to see him run up front all of the time but what he is doing is very smart. He is saving his stuff for when it matters. He drove a beautiful race at Daytona. I know he doesn't like short tracks but that is another place where driver can make a difference. He didn't grow up with them but I'll be damned if I don't think he could learn to be good at them. On these Saturday nights when he is close to NC he should get him a late model and run some of these 1/2 miles around here (Greenville-Pickens, the Motor Mile in Radford, Va.,Concord, or Caraway in Asheboro). I believe he would get good in a hurry. Then if he were just decent at the cookie cutters maybe he could be top 20. That would be huge right now. Then maybe some dollars would come his way and he could proceed with building his team. Just a few thoughts. I'd love to see him be successful and prove all of the naysayers wrong.

BRR

Comment by FlyHiFlyLo on July 28, 2008 at 5:22pm: The blown engine at Charlotte did nothing for Walter's record.

Comment by Joan Forsythe on July 28, 2008 at 3:01pm: Robby was in 27th and not satisfied and let Frank go, after that Walter came in and RG sank like a rock in the points. I really don't think he gave Frank much of a chance. Joan