Joe Gibbs Racing announced Friday its NASCAR XFINITY Series crew chief lineup, including the hiring of Scott Graves from last year’s championship-winning team.
Graves will take over the reins of the team’s No. 19 Toyota with Daniel Suarez, the series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year last season. Graves helped guide Chris Buescher to the XFINITY Series title last year with Roush Fenway Racing. The team will change numbers from last year’s No. 18, according to a team spokeperson.
Chris Gabehart will helm the No. 20 Toyota for Rookie of the Year contender Erik Jones, last year’s champ in the Camping World Truck Series. Gabehart enters his first year as a crew chief after having served as an engineer on JGR’s No. 11 team in the Sprint Cup Series with Denny Hamlin. He replaces Mike Wheeler, who jumps to work with Hamlin and the No. 11 in NASCAR’s top division next year.
Chris Gayle enters his fourth season as a Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief with the No. 18 team, which will field Toyotas for Kyle Busch, Hamlin and others, according to a release provided by the organization. The car carried the No. 54 last season.
JGR indicated that sponsorship for its XFINITY Series stable would be announced at a later date.