Only a Matter of Time Now for Dave Rogers
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Dave Rogers has done absolutely nothing short of a spectacular job since taking over the helm as the Crew Chief for Joe Gibbs Racing’s no. 20 entry in the Nationwide Series in 2006. In his 2 1/2 seasons with the team, Rogers has helped coach five different drivers to a total of 14 Nationwide wins, to include: Denny Hamlin (6), Tony Stewart (5), Kyle Busch (1), Joey Logano (1), and Aric Almirola (1). More impressively, 8 of those wins have come this season with four different drivers behind the helm (five by Stewart). After putting Tony Stewart into Victory Lane last weekend at New Hampshire, Rogers will now have the task of getting Denny Hamlin back to Winner’s Circle Friday night at Daytona.
Rogers has previous experience at the Sprint Cup level, having served as the Crew Chief for Jason Leffler in the series back in 2005. The tandem was unable to produce satisfactory results, and Gibbs aptly found a place for Dave down at the Nationwide Series. Since then, however, Rogers has been compiling a very impressive resume’ that could land him back into Cup competition by 2010.
Why 2010, you ask? Because Joe Gibbs Racing has two very lucrative scenarios that could play out in Rogers favor between now and then, the first being that of Tony Stewart’s contract situation. Forget about all the hooplah that’s governed our Stewart talks in concerns of where he’ll be driving in 2009, the fact is that even if he stays, his contract expires next year, and he’ll most likely be driving for GM in 2010. And, with Smoke most likely goes his longime companion, Greg Zipadelli, as the two form the longest driver / chief combination currently active in all of NASCAR.
The second scenario, and truly the most likely one regardless of the Stewart situation, revolves around the young phenom, Joey Logano - or, “Sliced Bread” as you may know him better by now. Logano has all of the tools to be a great competitor in the sport, and Dave Rogers has been given the task of molding and fine-tuning his talents behind the wheel of the no. 20 car in the Nationwide Series. The team has already made it known that they plan to run Logano in a fourth team car in the Cup Series on a partial schedule next season, and possibly even get him a few races this year. Don’t be surprised - as it completely makes sense - if JD and ‘the Coach’ find it appropriate to keep the tandem of Logano and Rogers together as Joey goes about his Cup Series endeavours.
Some might chalk it up to simply being Gibbs’ superior equipment, but I don’t care who’s funding the goods … to switch over to a completely new manufacturer and have to work with a different driver every week and still find the level of success that this team has is truly special. Dave Rogers deserves all the credit in the world for what the no. 20 team has accomplished this year, and he adequately deserves a promotion back to the big leagues in the not-so-distant future.
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7 opinions for Only a Matter of Time Now for Dave Rogers
Kitten
Jul 2, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I agree. A part of me wishes that this guy was Tony’s crew chief in the Sprint Cup. Does that sound bad?
Ryan Newman's #1
Jul 2, 2008 at 8:57 pm
It makes sence, but I think Zippy and Smoke have a better vibe as a team in the Sprint Cup.
Tim Zaegel
Jul 2, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Hmmm. The only advantage I think I could see Tony getting from picking up Rogers as the guy at the helm in the Cup Series is that Dave may be more likely to gamble at times where Zippy is not. But, I’ve gotta agree with Ryan’s #1 on this … Zippy and Smoke have the longest reigning driver / chief relationship in Cup right now and it’s brought them two championships, so that’s gotta count for somethin.
Adam C
Jul 3, 2008 at 9:16 am
I think gibbs will bring him up with logano through the nationwide and into the cup series.
Tim Zaegel
Jul 3, 2008 at 11:33 am
That’s pretty much how I see it playing out for Rogers as well. It makes sense to start the relationship with Rogers & Logano early on, and then progress the two to the Cup level together.
Ryan Newman's #1
Jul 3, 2008 at 12:27 pm
That’s actually a really good thought.
Tim Zaegel
Jul 3, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I figure that Gibbs can easily see the benefit in going about their business in that manner … afterall, that’s exactly what they did with Tony & Zippy.
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