Jimmy Fennig
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Fennig is a longtime NASCAR
crew chief. He was the crew chief for Kurt Busch
's 2004 NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series' (now Sprint Cup Series) championship.
cars in Wisconsin starting in 1970. He raced as a driver until joining the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) in 1984 for DiGard Racing. Fennig moved to the American Speed Association
(ASA) in 1985 for Mark Martin
. In their two seasons together in ASA, the duo had 9 wins, 13 pole positions, and the 1986 championship.
Fennig returned to the Winston Cup Series as the crew chief for Bobby Allison
at Stavola Brothers Racing
in 1987. Earlier, Fennig had owned a car that Allison raced in Wisconsin and Michigan
on Saturday nights. Allison won two races during their two years together, including the 1988 Daytona 500
. The following season, he was paired with fellow Wisconsin racer Dick Trickle
, who won the 1989 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award.
Fennig continued to work with then-team owner Bobby Allison until Fennig left the team in October 1996 to join Roush Racing
to become Martin's crew chief. Martin/Fennig had 4 wins in 1997, 24 Top 10s, and 3 poles to finish third in the points. Martin finished second in 1998 points with seven victories. They remained together for three more wins, until in they did not win in the 2001 NASCAR season. Jack Roush
moved Fennig to the #97 crew to be the crew chief for young Kurt Busch
in 2002, and Ben Leslie became the crew chief for Mark Martin. The swap was a success as Busch won the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series title in 2004. It was the first year of the Chase for the Cup. Busch dedicated his title to Fennig. Fennig was named the Sporting News crew chief of the year. He continued in that role until 2006. He started out the season as Jamie McMurray
's crew chief, and he became the head of Roush Racing Busch Series
effort. Fennig became the crew chief for David Ragan
after Ragan replaced Martin in the #6 car in 2007, and he remained in that role for 2008.
Jack Roush
, owner of Roush Racing, talked about Fennig: "Jimmy Fennig is an unsung hero at Roush Racing. He doesn't do things that create a personal image away from the driver or away from the sponsor or away from the team. He's the trooper that's back there doing everything that he can everyday."
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
crew chief. He was the crew chief for Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
's 2004 NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
NEXTEL Cup Series' (now Sprint Cup Series) championship.
Biography
Fennig raced asphalt and dirtDirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
cars in Wisconsin starting in 1970. He raced as a driver until joining the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) in 1984 for DiGard Racing. Fennig moved to the American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
(ASA) in 1985 for Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
. In their two seasons together in ASA, the duo had 9 wins, 13 pole positions, and the 1986 championship.
Fennig returned to the Winston Cup Series as the crew chief for Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
at Stavola Brothers Racing
Stavola Brothers Racing
8--98.194.31.156 16:33, 27 November 2011 Stavola Brothers Racing was a NASCAR racing team, owned by Bill and Mickey Stavola, and operating NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series teams from 1984 through 1998. The team won the 1988 Daytona 500 with Bobby Allison behind the wheel of the #12 Miller High...
in 1987. Earlier, Fennig had owned a car that Allison raced in Wisconsin and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
on Saturday nights. Allison won two races during their two years together, including the 1988 Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
. The following season, he was paired with fellow Wisconsin racer Dick Trickle
Dick Trickle
Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
, who won the 1989 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award.
Fennig continued to work with then-team owner Bobby Allison until Fennig left the team in October 1996 to join Roush Racing
Roush Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is a racing team competing in NASCAR racing. As one of NASCAR's largest premier racing teams, Roush runs teams in the Sprint and Nationwide Series, and formerly in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series.Roush first entered NASCAR competition in 1988, but had...
to become Martin's crew chief. Martin/Fennig had 4 wins in 1997, 24 Top 10s, and 3 poles to finish third in the points. Martin finished second in 1998 points with seven victories. They remained together for three more wins, until in they did not win in the 2001 NASCAR season. Jack Roush
Jack Roush
Jack Roush is the founder, CEO, and co-owner along with John Henry of Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, and is Chairman of the Board of Roush Enterprises....
moved Fennig to the #97 crew to be the crew chief for young Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch
Kurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
in 2002, and Ben Leslie became the crew chief for Mark Martin. The swap was a success as Busch won the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
NEXTEL Cup Series title in 2004. It was the first year of the Chase for the Cup. Busch dedicated his title to Fennig. Fennig was named the Sporting News crew chief of the year. He continued in that role until 2006. He started out the season as Jamie McMurray
Jamie McMurray
James Christopher "Jamie" McMurray is a professional American race car driver. McMurray is best known for winning the 2002 UAW-GM Quality 500 as a substitute driver in his second Winston Cup start, and is one of three drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year...
's crew chief, and he became the head of Roush Racing Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
effort. Fennig became the crew chief for David Ragan
David Ragan
David Ragan, , is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He has previously driven the #6 Roush Fenway Racing ford, but is currently looking for a ride for the 2012 season...
after Ragan replaced Martin in the #6 car in 2007, and he remained in that role for 2008.
Jack Roush
Jack Roush
Jack Roush is the founder, CEO, and co-owner along with John Henry of Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, and is Chairman of the Board of Roush Enterprises....
, owner of Roush Racing, talked about Fennig: "Jimmy Fennig is an unsung hero at Roush Racing. He doesn't do things that create a personal image away from the driver or away from the sponsor or away from the team. He's the trooper that's back there doing everything that he can everyday."
External links
- Biography at Roush RacingRoush RacingRoush Fenway Racing is a racing team competing in NASCAR racing. As one of NASCAR's largest premier racing teams, Roush runs teams in the Sprint and Nationwide Series, and formerly in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series.Roush first entered NASCAR competition in 1988, but had...