Brad Parrott puts the finishing touches on Juan Montoya's first stock car. Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

Ganassi names Parrott crew chief for Busch car

No. 42 Dodge Charger to be shared in '07 by Montoya, Kevin Hamlin

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Chip Ganassi on Friday said veteran mechanic Brad Parrott would be crew chief for a full-season Busch Series program fielding Dodge Chargers for Juan Montoya and Kevin Hamlin.

	Juan Montoya had an 18.2 average finish in four Busch races in '06. Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images
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"Along with his duties as vice president of enthusiasm he's crew chief on the No. 42 Busch car," Ganassi said after announcing that Montoya would be part of his two-car team for the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

"Oh, sure, it's a full season. JPM [Juan Pablo Montoya] will run all of the companion races and Kevin Hamlin will be in for all the non-companion races."

Thus, Montoya will compete in 26 events, including three on superspeedways and one on the Watkins Glen International road course.

Hamlin, a former NASCAR Northwest Late Model Tour champion who's been a Ganassi development driver for several seasons, will do the other nine.

Last season, Parrott was an integral part of Montoya's indoctrination to stock cars, in which he tested or raced a car for 13 of the 25 days after he first sat in one, at Talladega Superspeedway.

Parrott, whose older brother is Robert Yates Racing crew chief Todd Parrott, helped with Montoya's ARCA debut at Talladega, where he finished third; and crew chiefed his Busch Series debut at Memphis Motorsports Park, where he started ninth and finished 11th.

Parrott, the son of legendary Cup crew chief Buddy Parrott, assisted crew chief Steve Boyer at Montoya's Nextel Cup debut last fall at Homestead, where he qualified 29th and finished 34th after being taken out in an accident.

"I like Brad a lot," Ganassi said. "And he has been absolutely critical to Juan Pablo's quick development in stock cars, along with Donnie Wingo."

The veteran Wingo will be Montoya's crew chief on the No. 42 Nextel Cup Dodge.