Robbie Loomis
Encyclopedia
Robbie Loomis is a former NASCAR
crew chief who worked for Petty Enterprises
and Hendrick Motorsports
during his time as a crew chief, working most notably with Richard Petty
and Jeff Gordon
. Loomis won the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship as Gordon's crew chief.
Loomis has served as vice president for racing operations at Petty Enterprises, returning there in 2006.
With the team that emerged from the merger of Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Holdings, Loomis serves as the executive director of racing operations. Crew chiefs of all four racing teams report to him, and as well as the race teams, he oversees pit crews, team management and team transport.
in 1990, when he replaced Dale Inman
as Richard Petty's
crew chief. He worked with Petty Enterprises
as crew chief for 9 years. As an underdog at Petty Enterprises, Loomis managed to lead the famed #43 car to the winner's circle three times. He won in 1996 (Phoenix) and in 1997 (Rockingham) with Bobby Hamilton. John Andretti piloted the car to victory lane in 1999 (Martinsville). In 2000, Loomis earned the honor to work at Hendrick Motorsports
as Jeff Gordon's
crew chief and prior to that he had not received a check from anyone other than Petty Enterprises. The Pettys supported Loomis's departure. In Jeff Gordon's autobiography, Richard Petty is quoted as telling Loomis the following:
The momentum carried into 2001 and the #24 team reached the pinnacle of the sport by winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship. In addition, the team won 6 races, including the prestigious Brickyard 400. The following years, in 2002 and 2003, the team performed respectably, ranking 4th in the standings and winning 3 races in both years, but their performance was not quite of the championship caliber expected from the #24 team.
Loomis and the team almost returned to championship glory in 2004, but finished 3rd in NASCAR's first "Chase for the Championship" by a heartbreaking 16 points to winner Kurt Busch. They won 4 races that year, including another Brickyard 400, and also earned the most points of any team for the entire year.
2005 began in thrilling fashion as Loomis won his very first Daytona 500: NASCAR's crown jewel event. The #24 team also went on to win at Martinsville and Talladega early in the year, but the rest of the season would be a nightmare. The #24 team experienced radical handling problems at downforce tracks. After a 2nd place finish at Darlington in the season's 10th event, the #24 team failed to produce another top-5 finish in the next 16 races under Loomis. The team shockingly missed NASCAR's "Chase for the Championship," and Loomis was replaced by 26-year old Steve Letarte
for the final 10 races to prepare the young crew chief for 2006. Loomis had been grooming Letarte, the team's car chief since 2002, to take over the position. Loomis had already planned on leaving the stressful job after 2005 due to a reorganization of priorities. Loomis's mother, Sallie, survived a serious pancreatic illness the previous year.
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 who worked for Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
and Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
during his time as a crew chief, working most notably with Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
and Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
. Loomis won the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship as Gordon's crew chief.
Loomis has served as vice president for racing operations at Petty Enterprises, returning there in 2006.
With the team that emerged from the merger of Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Holdings, Loomis serves as the executive director of racing operations. Crew chiefs of all four racing teams report to him, and as well as the race teams, he oversees pit crews, team management and team transport.
Crew Chief for the #43 Petty Enterprises Team
Loomis's first professional crew chief position came with Petty EnterprisesPetty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
in 1990, when he replaced Dale Inman
Dale Inman
Dale Inman is a retired NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup crew chief from Level Cross, North Carolina. He is best known for being the crew chief of Richard Petty at Petty Enterprises during three decades. They won 198 races and seven championships together...
as Richard Petty's
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
crew chief. He worked with Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
as crew chief for 9 years. As an underdog at Petty Enterprises, Loomis managed to lead the famed #43 car to the winner's circle three times. He won in 1996 (Phoenix) and in 1997 (Rockingham) with Bobby Hamilton. John Andretti piloted the car to victory lane in 1999 (Martinsville). In 2000, Loomis earned the honor to work at Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
as Jeff Gordon's
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
crew chief and prior to that he had not received a check from anyone other than Petty Enterprises. The Pettys supported Loomis's departure. In Jeff Gordon's autobiography, Richard Petty is quoted as telling Loomis the following:
I took it for granted that you'd always be around. Now, if you were talking to me about ninety-nine percent of the deals you could possibly have, I'd tell you to get out of here and get back to work. But Rick Hendrick is good people.
This is a real good opportunity for you. Jeff's a winner. It wouldn't matter if he was playing golf or baseball or hockey or driving a racecar, he's a winner. Winners are gonna win, and they're gonna breed winners. You're looking for something Jeff and I have already found. We've won races. We've won championships. That's what you're searching for. I've always told you that what you needed was a twenty-five year old Richard Petty. I think you've got that in Jeff.
Crew Chief for the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Team
Robbie Loomis's greatest success came as crew chief for NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon. The pair's first season in 2000 was a struggle. Despite winning 3 races and finishing 9th in the season standings, performance was well-short of the high standards set by the #24 Hendrick Motorsports team. However, in the final 5 races of the year, the team posted 5 top-10s and 3 top-5s: a clear indication of the improving communication between Loomis and Gordon.The momentum carried into 2001 and the #24 team reached the pinnacle of the sport by winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship. In addition, the team won 6 races, including the prestigious Brickyard 400. The following years, in 2002 and 2003, the team performed respectably, ranking 4th in the standings and winning 3 races in both years, but their performance was not quite of the championship caliber expected from the #24 team.
Loomis and the team almost returned to championship glory in 2004, but finished 3rd in NASCAR's first "Chase for the Championship" by a heartbreaking 16 points to winner Kurt Busch. They won 4 races that year, including another Brickyard 400, and also earned the most points of any team for the entire year.
2005 began in thrilling fashion as Loomis won his very first Daytona 500: NASCAR's crown jewel event. The #24 team also went on to win at Martinsville and Talladega early in the year, but the rest of the season would be a nightmare. The #24 team experienced radical handling problems at downforce tracks. After a 2nd place finish at Darlington in the season's 10th event, the #24 team failed to produce another top-5 finish in the next 16 races under Loomis. The team shockingly missed NASCAR's "Chase for the Championship," and Loomis was replaced by 26-year old Steve Letarte
Steve Letarte
Steve Letarte is the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He first began as crew chief for Jeff Gordon when he took over the job of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet from Robbie Loomis in September 2005. Letarte was born in Cornish, Maine.-Early Racing Career:Letarte began...
for the final 10 races to prepare the young crew chief for 2006. Loomis had been grooming Letarte, the team's car chief since 2002, to take over the position. Loomis had already planned on leaving the stressful job after 2005 due to a reorganization of priorities. Loomis's mother, Sallie, survived a serious pancreatic illness the previous year.