yle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and crew chief Cliff Daniels celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2021

Most successful new driver-crew chief combos in the NASCAR Cup Series

By Staff Report | Published: January 19, 2023 13

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

1 of 13

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Since 2002, there have been 12 instances where a new driver-crew chief pairing has won at least four races in a season. The 2021 season -- which featured Kyle Larson's and Cliff Daniels' march to their first championship -- is the most recent entry into that club.

Three times in that stretch, a new driver-crew chief combo has won the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Read on to learn about the most successful seasons for new duos in recent years, via data courtesy of Racing Insights.

2 of 13

LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - AUGUST 02: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Western Star/Alliance Parts Ford, celebrates with the American flag after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on August 02, 2020 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Maddie Meyer | Getty Images

Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew chief: Jeremy Bullins
Team: No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Season: 2020
Wins: 4
Final standings position: Second, reached Championship 4

3 of 13

BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 12: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot Chevrolet, speaks with Darian Grubb, Crew Chief of the #14 Office Depot Chevrolet, in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 12, 2009 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Geoff Burke | Getty Images

Driver: Tony Stewart
Crew chief: Darian Grubb
Team: No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Season: 2009
Wins: 4
Final standings position: Sixth

4 of 13

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Kurt Busch, driver of the #97 Sharpie Ford and crew chief Jimmy Fennig, during qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Ford 400 on November 19, 2004 at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images

Driver: Kurt Busch
Crew chief: Jimmy Fennig
Team: No. 97 Roush Racing Ford
Season: 2002
Wins: 4
Final standings position: Third

5 of 13

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 22: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Crispy Toyota, and crew chief Adam Stevens pose for a portrait at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22, 2015 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Jared C. Tilton | NASCAR via Getty Images

Driver: Kyle Busch
Crew chief: Adam Stevens
Team: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Season: 2015
Wins: 5
Final standings position: First, won championship

6 of 13

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 16: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser Chevrolet, celebrates with his crew chief Rodney Childers in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16, 2014 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Todd Warshaw | NASCAR via Getty Images)

Driver: Kevin Harvick
Crew chief: Rodney Childers
Team: No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Season: 2014
Wins: 5
Final standings position: First, won championship

7 of 13

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 05: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, talks with crew chief Darian Grubb in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 5, 2012 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Denny Hamlin
Crew chief: Darian Grubb
Team: No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Season: 2012
Wins: 5
Final standings position: Sixth

8 of 13

LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 01: Mark Martin (L), driver of the #5 Cheez-It/CARQUEST Chevrolet, stands with his crew chief Alan Gustafson during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway on August 1, 2009 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

John Harrelson | Getty Images

Driver: Mark Martin
Crew chief: Alan Gustafson
Team: No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Season: 2009
Wins: 5
Final standings position: Second

9 of 13

ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN - JULY 04: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, and crew chief Christopher Gabehart talk on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Jockey Made in America 250 Presented by Kwik Trip at Road America on July 04, 2021 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Denny Hamlin
Crew chief: Chris Gabehart
Team: No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Season: 2019
Wins: 6
Final standings position: Fourth, reached Championship 4

10 of 13

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 15: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, talks with crew chief Jason Ratcliff during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 15, 2013 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Jeff Zelevansky | NASCAR via Getty Images

Driver: Matt Kenseth
Crew chief: Jason Ratcliff
Team: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Season: 2013
Wins: 6
Final standings position: Second
*Kenseth won seven races that season but Ratcliff was suspended for one of them

11 of 13

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 19: Kasey Kahne (R), driver of the #9 Budweiser Dodge, speaks with crew chief Kenny Francis (L), prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series TUMS QuikPak 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 19, 2008 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Jason Smith | Getty Images

Driver: Kasey Kahne
Crew chief: Kenny Francis
Team: No. 9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge
Season: 2006
Wins: 6
Final standings position: Eighth

12 of 13

JOLIET, IL - JULY 10: Kyle Busch (L), driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, talks with crew chief Steve Addington (R) during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock.com 400 on July 10, 2008 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Geoff Burke | Getty Images

Driver: Kyle Busch
Crew chief: Steve Addington
Team: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Season: 2008
Wins: 8
Final standings position: 10th

13 of 13

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 07: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and crew chief Cliff Daniels pose for photos after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 07, 2021 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Driver: Kyle Larson
Crew chief: Cliff Daniels
Team: No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Season: 2021
Wins: 10
Final standings position: First, won championship