Stewart/Addington sits in on Hendrick meetings

during a Frontstretch Tech Talk interview with Steve Addington, crew chief for #14-Tony Stewart:
Frontstretch's Mike Neff: "You are affiliated with Hendrick. They supply you with chassis and engines and support. Since they got all four cars in and you guys are in, from the engineering and assistance side, how much are they able to give you? I don't know what the normal number of guys they give you is at the track or shop, but is that stretched thinner now that five cars are in the Chase?"
Steve Addington: "We have a mutual understanding. They know how we're going to the race track and we know how they're going to the race track and what they're going to work on. I am in their Tuesday meeting with their drivers for debrief. Me and Stewart are either there or on the phone to talk with them every Tuesday. We're very open about it and that is something that is the cool part of it that I didn't have last year, having just two drivers with the Dodge camp. Being able to have that affiliation with Hendrick and to have Rick's support and to be able to talk to him one-on-one is really cool. We all share and that is the way it is. We work hard together and we share information and we take it from there and everyone can run and do with it as they want

From Jayski.

My question is why isnt any of the 39 team in these meetings? 6 teams but only 5 in the meetings.

probably cuz they are not in the chase...

What, do you think Addington and TG don't share info? If anyone needs to spend more time working or in the shop, it's TG. We all know he needs a two hour lunch to fill that gut.

If anyone needs to spend more time working or in the shop, it's TG. We all know he needs a two hour lunch to fill that gut.

ROFL!

Thanks for that, Rochelle... I laughed so hard I had to go wipe the tears from my eyes & catch my breath.

Great stuff!

Wow...well first I have never really bought that it is an "open book" between HMS and SHR. I think in the first few years there may have been more sharing, and the 14 got HMS assistance in the chase last year when JJ fell out of it (Rick H. with his close affiliation with Chevrolet had to do whatever they could to make sure the Chevy won out against Edwards' Ford).

BUT, when HMS was in a slump earlier this year, Tony won those early races, then Ryan helped contribute to the disaster for Gordo and JJ at Martinsville and stole that win, I believe this upset Hendrick greatly and this was the turning point, since then HMS has shared very little with SHR and the results show, as somehow all of a sudden Dale Jr. started outrunning Tony Stewart every week.

Even more I don't buy that Chad Knaus and the 48 share what they have with the other HMS guys. They hold something little back from everybody, just look at the in-car camera of JJ when they show him. Seems like he's never having to put a lot of motion or effort into steering, it's just a nice easy turn, like the car is setup perfect every time. And then they go to Jeff Gordon's in-car camera, and he's wheeling the thing like crazy.

Also, I agree that it is a glaring issue, that needs to be questioned, if Gibson isn't sitting in on these supposed meetings with HMS.

I don't think there is an issue with Addington and Gibson at SHR though and is an open book within SHR. But still, that just isn't right that 5 out of 6 crew chiefs are in on this meeting, chase or not.

maybe the 39 isnt sittin in because addington and stewart are there to relay any info, and if it is a choice of the 39 not to sit in, well then they are a bunch of losers, and i can no longer defend what they do...

Annalee is trying to teach me to see the glass half full (even that is impossible as a 39 fan)
So trying to look at it that way, maybe TG is on his way out!!!
They quit letting Kyle in the meetings when they knew he was leaving.

But then again. I just think the 39 team is the red headed step child. (sorry Annalee I tried)