Two-time champ Tony Stewart hasn't had much changeover in his pit crew. Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

No. 20 team to have new car chief, jackman in '06

Tony Stewart will have some major changes on his race-day crew when he defends his Nextel Cup title next season.

The nucleus of the No. 20 Chevrolet had remained virtually unchanged since its inception in 1999.

Car chief Scott Diehl, who had been with Joe Gibbs Racing since 1998, left the team in the offseason and was replaced by Jason Shapiro, who had been Stewart's longtime brake specialist.

Also gone is jackman Chuck White, who was replaced on the team by Jason Lee, who performed the same job on JGR's No. 18 Chevrolet.

Stewart's team also had to install lead mechanic Jeff Chandler as a tire changer to replace Ira Joe Hussey, who is out temporarily with a rotator cuff injury.

Chandler, 41, was well known as a top tire changer in the 1990s for Bobby Labonte.