Darian Grubb named crew chief for NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin

Joe Gibbs Racing said Friday that Darian Grubb would be driver Denny Hamlin's crew chief next year, the latest in a flurry of crew chief changes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Grubb was let go by Stewart-Haas Racing despite leading Tony Stewart to his third cup championship this season. And the Hamlin spot became open Tuesday when Gibbs released Mike Ford as crew chief on Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota.

"I'm thrilled to join Joe Gibbs Racing," Grubb said in a statement. "The chance to work with Denny is something I'm excited about."

Hamlin had a relatively disappointing 2011 season, winning one race and finishing ninth in the points after winning a series-high eight races and finishing second in the standings in 2010.

Elsewhere in the series, Steve Addington left Kurt Busch and Penske Racing and then was named Stewart's crew chief. Busch and Penske parted ways as well.

Richard Childress Racing last month named Shane Wilson to replace Gil Martin as crew chief for Kevin Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet.

-- Jim Peltz

Photo: NASCAR crew chief Darian Grubb on Oct. 31 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

NASCAR's Gibbs releases Denny Hamlin's crew chief

Joe Gibbs Racing said Tuesday it released Mike Ford as crew chief for NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin after a disappointing year for the driver of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota.

"Everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing appreciate what Mike has done for our organization over the past six seasons" as Hamlin's crew chief, the team said.

Gibbs did not immediately name a replacement for Ford, 41.

After a series-high eight wins in 2010 lifted Hamlin to second in the Sprint Cup Series standings, the Virginian won only one race this year and finished ninth in the points.

Hamlin had only five top-five finishes during the 36-race Cup season, compared with nine for champion Tony Stewart and 19 for runner-up Carl Edwards.

Ford's departure is the latest in a series of moves involving crew chiefs in NASCAR's top-level series.

Steve Addington left Kurt Busch and Penske Racing and then was named Stewart's crew chief. (Busch and Penske parted ways as well Monday.) Last month, Richard Childress Racing said Shane Wilson would replace Gil Martin as crew chief for Kevin Harvick, who finished third in the standings.

ALSO:

For NASCAR's Kurt Busch, a dearth of options

Lakers' condensed schedule presents plenty of challenges

UCLA's Reeves Nelson is suspended again

Photo: NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, left, talks with crew chief Mike Ford at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 13. Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

NASCAR's title Chase gets tighter as Carl Edwards wins at Phoenix

Denny Hamlin saw a win -- and possibly a lock on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship -- slip away Sunday when he was forced to make a late fuel stop and Carl Edwards won the race at Phoenix International Raceway.

The result is that NASCAR's Chase for the Cup title playoff tightened even further, with Hamlin now leading Johnson by only 15 points and third-place Kevin Harvick by 46 points heading into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida next weekend.

"It's pretty disappointing," a somber Hamlin said after the race. "I was sitting pretty."

Hamlin, who started Sunday's race with a 33-point lead over Johnson, dominated most of the Kobalt Tools 500, leading 190 of its 312 laps. But with 14 laps left, Hamlin was forced to pit his No. 11 Toyota for fuel, while Johnson and Harvick conserved enough fuel to stay on the track and finish.

So did Edwards, who went on to end a 70-race winless streak in the Cup series. Edwards, who drives for Roush Fenway Racing, also won Saturday's race at the one-mile PIR oval in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series.

--Jim Peltz in Avondale, Ariz.

Photo: NASCAR driver Carl Edwards pits his No. 99 Ford on his way to winning the Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images