"Fatback" McSwain will take over as crew chief for Ricky Rudd's No. 21 Ford, starting at Bristol. Credit: Autostock

McSwain lands crew chief job with Wood Brothers

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Michael "Fatback" McSwain has joined Wood Brothers Racing to take over crew chief duties on the No. 21 Ford Genuine Parts and Service Ford Taurus and driver Ricky Rudd.

The announcement was made Wednesday by Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Eddie Wood.

Michael McSwain

McSwain replaces Ben Leslie, who accepted a position with Ford Racing Technology earlier Wednesday. McSwain will assume the crew chief duties on the Ford Genuine Parts and Service Taurus at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Sharpie 500.

Rudd and McSwain have three wins and four poles together. Michael went to work for Ricky at Rudd Performance Motorsports in May of 1999. When Ricky sold his team and joined Robert Yates Racing (RYR) in 2000, McSwain followed. The pairing won two poles that year - Las Vegas and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In 2001 they won their third pole and first race together in June at Pocono International Raceway, and a victory at Richmond followed in September. In 2002 they won again at Infineon Raceway. At the end of the season both parted company with RYR, with Ricky moving to Wood Brothers Racing and McSwain becoming Bobby Labonte's crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing.