CR7 Motorsports changed a lot prior to the playoff elimination race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The crew came to terms with parting with Jeff Stankiewicz, who has been serving as a crew chief with Grant Enfinger and his No. 9 Chevrolet.
This follows a rough season and a dismal 21st place at Bristol. Despite the move, the team owner and Codie Rohrbaugh wanted to state that the work and efforts of Stankiewicz have been significant to the team.
“Jeff has played an essential role in our growth and success. His leadership and dedication helped position our team to win races and contend for championships. We are grateful for everything he has contributed to CR7 Motorsports and wish him the very best moving forward,” Rohrbaugh said.
Grant Enfinger Reflects on Partnership with Stankiewicz
Grant Enfinger also spoke highly of Stankiewicz. He said the crew chief was an important part of the team’s progress.
“Jeff and I have shared a lot of success,” Enfinger said. “His knowledge, preparation, and commitment were big strengths for our team. I’ll always be appreciative of the effort he put into helping us compete at a high level.”
Even though Enfinger respects Stankiewicz, he admitted he was frustrated with recent results. “Just a little frustrated, just because I feel like we had a shot at that at the end. I feel like we were better than Corey on a long run. Just couldn’t clear a Tanner quite soon enough. And feel like I maybe abused the tires a little bit too much making some of those moves,” he said.
Enfinger is currently fifth in the points standings, 29 points above the playoff cutline. The team hopes the change can help them perform better and stay in contention for the championship.
Veteran Michael Shelton Steps In
To take over for Stankiewicz, CR7 Motorsports named veteran crew chief Michael Shelton as the interim replacement. Shelton has a lot of experience, including seven Truck Series wins and a series championship in 2012. He has also worked with CR7 Motorsports in a one-off race earlier this season, so he already knows the team.
The team hopes Shelton’s experience will help improve performance at New Hampshire and keep their playoff hopes alive.
The decision also shows how serious CR7 Motorsports is about making changes to get better results. A permanent crew chief will be decided after the playoffs, but for now, Shelton is in charge.
A Make-or-Break Moment for CR7 Motorsports
This is a radical step for CR7 Motorsports. Although Stankiewicz is no longer a member of the team, Rohrbaugh and Enfinger both indicated that they value his contributions. At this point, it all depends on the elimination race, whereby Enfinger and Shelton will attempt to demonstrate the fact that the team was correct.
The next couple of weeks might be crucial to the No. 9 Chevrolet and CR7 Motorsports. A good performance would keep their championship hopes alive and demonstrate that the team made the right move by making such a bold move.
CR7 Motorsports Drops Jeff Stankiewicz in Bold Move Ahead of Elimination Race