Park to get a new crew chief this week?

The Buzz has learned that Dale Earnhardt Inc. may announce a new crew chief for driver Steve Park this week.

It's believed the company went outside of DEI and offered a contract to Tony Gibson, who has been serving as the unofficial car chief for Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 Chevrolet.

Word is that DEI has offered a contract to Gibson, but he's already under contract with Rick Hendrick Motorsports. Upon giving his resignation, the dilemma is whether Hendrick will be willing to let Gibson leave before the end of the year or make him fulfill his contractual commitment until the end of the season to Hendrick.

Currently, Steve Hmiel and Dave Charpentier have been handling the crew chief duties for Park. Charpentier, team engineer, has been responsible for the car set-ups and Hmiel, director of motorsports for DEI, has been handling the in-race calls regarding pit stops.