Dave Rogers, crew chief for the No. 19 Toyota driven by Daniel Suarez, is taking a personal leave for an indefinite period of time, Joe Gibbs Racing announced in a press release Wednesday evening, March 29.
No details were given for the reasons behind Rogers’ departure or a timeframe for when he will return to JGR.
Rogers has been a full time crew chief in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series since 2010. He won a total of 18 races with drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards.
Rogers additionally won 20 races in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
Scott Graves, who currently serves as crew chief for JGR’s No. 18 Toyota in the XFINITY Series, has been named the new crew chief for the No. 19, marking a reunion with rookie Suarez.
Graves is coming off of back-to-back championships as a crew chief in the XFINITY Series. He won the title in 2015 as crew chief for Chris Buescher and Roush Fenway Racing.
Last season, Graves partnered with Suarez and JGR to win the title.
As crew chief for the No. 18 in XFINITY this season, Graves won the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway with Busch driving.
The move marks a return to the MENCS for Graves, as he was the crew chief for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2013, scoring one top five and placing 19th in the point standings.
About the author
Michael Massie is a writer for Frontstretch. Massie, a Richmond, Va. native, has been a NASCAR superfan since childhood, when he frequented races at Richmond International Raceway. Massie is a lover of short track racing and travels around to the ones in his region. Outside of motorsports, the Virginia Tech grad can be seen cheering on his beloved Hokies.
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Graves worked with Suarez before. Hmmmmm! Maybe there was no “chemistry” with Suarez so goodbye.
Edwards and Rogers ride again next year, but with what team?
…Well, well, well…accuse me of wearing the TINFOIL hat again…so flucking what! While Eddie Haskell seemingly did go out on “his own” terms, I was always suspect the way JESUS JOE sniffs money and dumps the old for the new with lightening speed! I felt Cousin was a victim and had a feeling of disgust knowing NASCAR has become the scripted WWE! Combo of both, or no choice altogether! Could Rogers be just another causality of the merciless Jesus Joe and his hunger to bend over back wards for the almighty quarter?
Gotta say, something is rotten in the Gibbs Girl World..and IMO it started what happened at Homestead with Carl. He dove down on Logano, and Jimmie is hailed as the best ever with less them 10 laps to go. His real stats if memory serves was P8 around 150 points out of first place. ARRIS seems to be running JGR…but then again Jesus Joe and JR when he was involved were the same. Dave Rogers has been a good solider for JGR..and put up with alotta crap regarding Kyle..something seems weird, the push for DIVERSITY KING DANNY….etc! IMO!
kb…………I am still LMAO about you calling Joe………….Jesus-Joe! I always referred to Joe as………….”Tokyo-Joe”………….after he left running those Poncho’s and Chebbies and headed to Japan!
What about that rumor that Cousin is layin’-low for a year, then heading back to Blue-Oval-Town to wheel that 3rd Penske Fusion. I don’t know about that one, do you, kb?
NO DD I do not. Cousin has played cute with the media in the past. However, this time, I sense a NO with him joining any Ford. I also don’t see a Org like Penske going with that rumor. But maybe his handshake with Todd Gordon after wrecking a huge potential win for Logano at Homestead, was code for “see ya soon”. HEHEEHEEEHE.
Cousin (at his shocking press conference) this time managed a tear or two and mentioned his family..something he has not done in the past regarding his “plans”! Cousin was always so closed lipped about his family, one could be forgiven thinking he might be single! Cousin never did say anything anyways until the ink was dry ” on what his concrete plans were…
I cannot picture him being content harvesting soy beans however. Or the gentleman farmer rumor..blah, blah, blah.
Although my tinfoil hat is very tight regarding anything regarding the 4th wheel #19 at Gibbs, hell the Gibbs camp in general! Something is always rotten in Denmark with them, Toys and Furniture Row!!! My two cents.
Hire Cole Witt he had the most to do with Daniel winning the championship
Cole’s nickname is Dim.
Would Harry Gant have a chance to get a top ride now? Look what he did when he started at his age. Maybe they’d rather wait five years for the teenager to get it.