Hendrick Motorsports announced Monday that it has hired longtime NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series crew chief Rudy Fugle to be William Byron’s crew chief on the #24 team in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021. He’ll replace Chad Knaus, who has been promoted by HMS to the position of Vice President of Competition.
“The opportunity to join Hendrick Motorsports is incredible for me and my family,” Fugle said. “The #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.”
Fugle hasn’t been a Cup Series crew chief before, but he has successfully worked with Byron. Fugle was Byron’s crew chief for Byron’s rookie season in the Truck Series in 2016. Together, they won seven races and posted 11 top-fives and 16 top-10 finishes in the 23-race season.
“I’m excited to work with Rudy again,” Byron said. “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 race track, which is what both of us expect.”
Fugle has been a Truck Series crew chief with Kyle Busch Motorsports since 2013. He has 28 wins as a Truck Series crew chief and guided two drivers to series driver championships — Erik Jones in 2015 and Christopher Bell in 2017.
“We’re pleased to welcome Rudy,” Hendrick Motorsports General Manager Jeff Andrews said. “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.”
