Hendrick Motorsports has pulled off an absolutely insane move.
Highly successful Kyle Busch Motorsports crew chief, Rudy Fugle, is headed to HMS to crew chief William Byron’s No. 24 car for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Fugle is a 36-year-old crew chief that is part of the most successful NASCAR Truck Series team in the past decade.
In just eight seasons stretching back to 2013, Fugle has recorded 28 truck series victories (second all-time in the series), five owners championships, and two driver championships.
Fugle replaces Chad Knaus at the helm of the team’s crew.
“We’re pleased to welcome Rudy,” general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Andrews said in a release. “His teams have consistently performed at a championship level for many years. We believe he’s an excellent fit for our culture and will mesh extremely well with our other crew chiefs and competition personnel. In addition, Rudy and William have proven to be a successful combination with a high level of communication and trust in one another.”
Fugle has won races with six different drivers in the truck series including Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Erik Jones, Greg Biffle, Noah Gragson, and also Byron – during his first years in the sport.
“The opportunity to join Hendrick Motorsports is incredible for me and my family,” Fugle said in the release. “The No. 24 has always been one of the premier teams in racing. We have the owner, the driver, the people and the resources to continue that tradition. William is a great talent, and we have a very strong working relationship. I’m confident in what this team can accomplish and look forward to the challenge of competing at the Cup level.”
Byron and Fugle won seven races in 23 starts during the 2016 season – which is good for a 30% win percentage.
“I’m excited to work with Rudy again,” Byron said in the release. “We have a great team in place, and I know he will be the right leader to keep moving us forward. I’ve seen first-hand what he’s capable of, his competitive nature and the high standards he has. With Rudy, I believe we’ll have a chance to win every single time we go to the racetrack, which is what both of us expect.”
