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Artist rendering of a NASCAR restrictor plate

A restrictor plate or air restrictor is a device installed at the intake of an engine to limit its power. This kind of system is occasionally used in road vehicles (e.g., motorcycles) for insurance purposes, but mainly in automobile racing, to limit top speed and thus increase safety, to provide equal level of competition, and to lower costs; insurance purposes have also factored in for motorsports.

Racing series[link]

A few top classes like Formula One limit only the displacement and air intake mouth dimension. However, in 2006 air restrictors (as well as rev limiters) were used by Scuderia Toro Rosso to facilitate the transition to a new engine formula.

Many other racing series use additional air restrictors.

• Formula 3, 2000cc, 215 hp
• Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, 4000cc, 470 hp
• FIA GT Championship (now FIA GT1 World Championship) and other series using FIA GT regulations
• Le Mans Prototypes used in American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series have restrictors based on precalculated tables depending on the type and size of the engine and fuel
  • The ALMS in the 2010 season combines both LMP1 and LMP2 into a single LMP class on all races except 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans; LMP1-categorized cars use a 5% smaller air restrictor compared to LMP2- categorized cars to balance performance in the races^[1]

Rallying[link]

After Group B cars were outlawed from rallying because they were too powerful (rumored to have reached 600 hp), too fast and too dangerous, the FISA decided that rally cars should not have more than 300 hp (220 kW). For a while no special restrictions were needed for that (e.g. the Group A Lancia Delta HF 4WD had about 250 hp in 1987). But with development in the 1990s, Group A cars were rumored to have reached 405 hp or more. So the FIA mandated restrictors for supercharged and turbocharged engines in all categories (World Rally Car, Group A and Group N).

This means that the rally version of a car like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution can have less power than the street version (the "280" hp Evo VII was believed to have more than 300 hp, and in some markets the FQ-320, FQ-340, FQ-360, FQ-400 versions were sold, with the number representing the total horsepower).

It also means that the torque and power curves of the engine are unusual. The engine produces peak torque and almost maximum power at a relatively low RPM, and from there to the rev limiter the torque drops and the power does not increase much.

In 1995 Team Toyota Europe used an illegal device to bypass the restrictor (allowing an estimated extra 50 hp). Due to this the team lost their results in the 1995 season and was banned from rallying until the end of 1996.

NASCAR[link]

NASCAR's Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series have used restrictor plates at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway since 1988. They are still in use with the 2012 season introduction of McLaren Electronics engine control unit providing electronic engine management for all NASCAR races and cars with carburetors finally being phased out.

The device limits the power output of the motor, hence slowing both the acceleration and the overall top speed obtainable on the tracks where the cars are so equipped. NASCAR routinely stated that the Sprint Cup restrictor plate reduces engine power from approximately 750 hp to approximately 430 hp.^{[citation needed]}

A major effect, however, is that all drivers tend to form very large "packs" of cars that run closely together for the majority of the race. In these packs drivers often run three abreast across the track, consequently there may be as little as one second separating the entire field. These large packs reduce air resistance which allows the cars to run faster and makes drafting easier.

The restrictions are in the interest of driver and fan safety because higher speeds are closer to out-of-control than the 190 MPH range used for Daytona and Talladega; the severity of crashes at higher speeds is also much greater, shown by telemetry readings of wrecks such as Jerry Nadeau at Richmond and Michael McDowell at Texas that were far higher than registered on restrictor plate tracks. Drivers such as Rusty Wallace have also cited data showing that the sport's roof flaps cannot keep cars on the ground above 204 MPH.

At Daytona and Talladega, most races are marred by at least one multi-car crash as cars rarely become separated. Talladega has been considered the more likely track for these instances to occur as the track is wide enough to have three to four distinct lines of racing. With the new pavement at Daytona, three-wide racing is now possible and multi-car wrecks could become more common. The 2011 Daytona 500 saw a record number of cautions including an early 17-car pile-up. These wrecks tend to be singled out for criticism despite multicar crashes at other tracks and the generally greater severity of impact on non-restricted tracks. In addition, the packs were far smaller in 1988 through 1990 until more teams mastered the nuances of this kind of racing and improved their cars (and drivers) accordingly.

The 2011 Sprint Cup season will be the last complete Cup season with carbureted engines. NASCAR has announced that it will change to fuel injection for the 2012 season.^[2] The injection system used by NASCAR is a different system from that used in IndyCar Racing and other motorsports series and restrictor plates are usable with the NASCAR system; they were used for January 2012 testing at Daytona.

Reason for restrictor plates[link]

There have been three reasons that NASCAR used restrictor plates.^{[citation needed]}

The first use came in 1970 in response to escalating speeds. Following testing and input from drivers such as David Pearson, Bobby Isaac, and Bobby Allison, NASCAR mandated the use of a restrictor plate. Smaller engines, in the 358 cubic inch range, were exempt from the plates; the first car to race with a small block engine was Dick Brooks at the 1971 Daytona 500, where he ran a 1969 Dodge Daytona with a 305 CID engine. The transition period lasted until 1974. As the early 1970s use of restrictor plates was considered a transitional process, and as not every car used restrictor plates, this is not what most fans call "restrictor plate racing."^{[citation needed]}

The second use came following the crash of Bobby Allison at the 1987 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Allison's Buick LeSabre blew a tire going into the tri-oval at 200 mph (320 km/h), spun around and became airborne, flying tail-first into the catch fencing.^[3] While the car did not enter the grandstands it ripped out nearly 100 feet of fencing and flying debris injured several spectators. After a summer where the two subsequent superspeedway races were run with smaller carburetors (390 cubic feet per minute instead of 750 cubic feet per minute) proved to be inadequate to sufficiently slow the cars, NASCAR imposed restrictor plates again, this time at the two fastest circuits, both superspeedways: Daytona for all NASCAR-sanctioned races and Talladega for Cup races. The Automobile Racing Club of America also enforced restrictor plates at their events at the two tracks. In 1992, when the Busch Grand National series began racing at Talladega, the plates were implemented, in keeping with their use at Daytona .^{[citation needed]}

In some tracks, NASCAR's concerns with speeds because of power-to-weight ratios result in restrictor plates at other tracks. The Goody's Dash Series (known now as the ISCARS series with its new ownership) used restrictor plates at Bristol during at least the last years of the series' existence when the cars were using six-cylinder engines (compared to the traditional four cylinder engines), in addition to their Daytona races.^{[citation needed]}

However, restrictor plates are not used for Camping World Truck Series trucks. Rather, air intake, aerodynamic, and, eventually, a tapered carburetor spacer were implemented for those races. Combined with the aerodynamic disadvantage of the trucks, this allows NASCAR to avoid the use of such equipment for the trucks, though the plates remain a standby method.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, the Nationwide Series and Truck Series began implementation of tapered spacers in the engines to restrict power compared to Sprint Cup cars at all 35 (NNS) and 25 (NCTS) races. The Nationwide Series still uses a restrictor plate and tapered spacer at the two tracks. The Trucks do not use any additional restriction except for the air intake restriction at the two tracks.^{[citation needed]}

The third use came in 2000. Following fatal crashes of Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin, Jr. at the New Hampshire International Speedway during the May Busch Series and July Winston Cup Series races, NASCAR adopted Modified rules featuring a one-inch (2.54 cm) restrictor plate to slow the cars headed towards the tight turns as part of a series of reforms to alleviate stuck throttle problems which were alleged to have caused both fatal crashes. For the Winston Cup race, it was used just once at the 2000 Dura-Lube/Kmart 300. Jeff Burton led all 300 laps in the ensuing race, despite a 23-car two-abreast battle in the first ten laps, a dramatic charge past 22 cars in 100 laps by John Andretti (who finished seventh), and two charges by Bobby Labonte in the final 50 laps where he took the lead but Burton beat him back to the stripe. The use of restrictor plates, intended as an emergency measure pending a more permanent replacement in any event, was discontinued at New Hampshire for the following race for Cup only. However, the Modifieds still use a restrictor plate because the speeds are too great for that class of racecar without them. The track has since been changed with soft walls to improve racing safety.^{[citation needed]} Restrictor plates remain a permanent fixture to the Modifieds and the racing has often broken 20 official lead changes for 100–125 laps of competition.

Rusty Wallace tested a car at Talladega Superspeedway without a restrictor plate in 2004, reaching a top speed of 228 mph (367 km/h) in the backstretch and a one-lap average of 221 mph (356 km/h).^[4] While admitting excitement at the achievement, Wallace also conceded, "There's no way we could be out there racing at those speeds... it would be insane to think we could have a pack of cars out there doing that."^[4]

The competitive quality of restrictor plate racing[link]

A frequent criticism of restrictor plates is the enormousness of packs in the racing, with "Big One" wrecks as noted above singled out for condemnation despite the greater violence of "smaller" crashes on unrestricted tracks. In restrictor plate racing the packs have brought about an often-enormous increase in positional passing; at Talladega Superspeedway the Sprint Cup cars have broken 40 official lead changes sixteen times from 1988 onward, including both 2010 Sprint Cup races at Talladega, which had 87 official lead changes in the regulation 188 laps. (The 2010 Aaron's 499 had 88 lead changes, but the 88th was on the 200th lap of a race extended by the Safety Car rule). Daytona International Speedway has generally been less competitive because the age of the asphalt (the track was repaved in 1978 and again in 2010) has reduced grip for the cars and thus handling has impeded passing ability to a significant extent. The 2000 New Hampshire race was condemned because Jeff Burton led wire to wire; the plates were singled out as impeding ability to pass, a criticism contradicted by the use of restrictor plates in a Busch North support race the day before where the lead changed seven times in 100 laps and by the highly competitive nature of restrictor plated Modified races; as noted above the 300 also saw a 23-car battle for third in the first ten laps and a burst by 22 cars from John Andretti.

The criticism stems from reduction in throttle response brought by the restriction. The reduction in throttle response, however, has never been shown to have impeded ability to pass; the criticism was shot down in the first "modern" plate race, the 1988 Daytona 500, as the lead changed 25 times officially and saw several bursts where the lead changed several times a lap and also several bursts of sustained side-by-side racing, notably in the final 50 laps between Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Neil Bonnett, and Buddy Baker.

Said Waltrip before the race, "I feel, as a driver, now I can do more than I could before (the plates). Now, instead of a car just blasting by me with a burst of speed and a lot of horsepower, he's got to think his way, he got to DRIVE his way around me."

In the 1971-4 period of restrictor plate racing Daytona and Talladega broke 40 official lead changes six times, while Michigan International Speedway, also restricted, broke 35 official lead changes in both of its 1971 races.

References[link]

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Ryan Joseph Newman
Born	(1977-12-08) December 8, 1977 (age 34) South Bend, Indiana, United States
Achievements	1999 United States Auto Club Silver Crown Series Champion 2008 Daytona 500 winner Sprint All-Star Race XVIII Winner
Awards	2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Winston Cup Rookie of the Year 2003 Driver of the Year
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career
380 race(s) run over 13 year(s)
Car no., team	No. 39 (Stewart-Haas Racing)
2011 position	10th
Best finish	6th – 2002, 2003, 2005
First race	2000 Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 (Phoenix)
Last race	2012 Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
First win	2002 New Hampshire 300 (New Hampshire)
Last win	2012 Goody's Fast Relief 500(Martinsville)
Wins Top tens Poles 16 155 49
NASCAR Nationwide Series career
63 race(s) run over 8 year(s)
2011 position	108th
Best finish	28th – 2001
First race	2001 Alltel 200 (Rockingham)
Last race	2011 Bashas' Supermarkets 200 (Phoenix)
First win	2001 NAPAonline.com 250 (Michigan)
Last win	2005 Ford 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles 7 35 12
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
3 race(s) run over 3 year(s)
2011 position	89th
Best finish	49th – 2009
First race	2008 E-Z-GO 200 (Atlanta)
Last race	2011 Good Sam Club 200 (Atlanta)
First win	2008 E-Z-GO 200 (Atlanta)
Wins Top tens Poles 1 4 1
Statistics current as of May 24, 2012.

Ryan Joseph Newman (born December 8, 1977, in South Bend, Indiana)^[1] is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation/Quicken Loans/Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in engineering.^[2] He and Danny Efland are the only drivers to have a college degree. In 2002, he was the Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

He enjoys driving and working on vintage cars, particularly 1950s Chryslers. Newman's car was featured on the cover of the 2005 EA Sports computer game NASCAR SimRacing, and he was actively involved in its development. Brooklyn Sage Newman, first child of Ryan and wife Krissie, arrived on Thursday, November 18, 2010.

Racing career[link]

Early days[link]

Newman made his racing debut in 1993 in the United Midget Auto Racing Association and the All-American Midget Series, winning both Rookie of the Year and the championship. His 100 feature wins and two titles have him in the Quarter Midget Hall of Fame. Moving to USAC in 1995 running the C.E. Lewis #39 Drinan Chassis powered Brayton Motor, he was ROTY again in both the Midget Series and the Silver Crown in 1996. In 1999, he was the first driver to win in all three divisions while being the Silver Bullet Series champion in the #14 Beast Chassis powered Chevy.

Beginnings with Penske[link]

Newman began working for legendary racing icon Roger Penske in 2000, winning 3 of the five ARCA RE/MAX Series races he entered, and making his Winston Cup debut at Phoenix International Raceway. In 2001, Newman continued in both ARCA and NASCAR, while attending Purdue. Newman ran 15 Busch Series races that season, winning poles in his 2nd and 3rd career starts and scoring his first career win at Michigan International Speedway in just his 9th career start. He also had a series-high 6 poles. Around this time he would meet racing legend Buddy Baker, who would eventually become his mentor on superspeedways.

"Rocket Man"[link]

In 2002, Newman won a season-high 6 poles, breaking the record set by Davey Allison.^{[citation needed]} In September, he won his first career Winston Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after starting from the pole. Newman also became the second rookie since Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the The Winston, and beat out Jimmie Johnson for the Rookie of the Year award on the strength of rookie records in top-fives (14) and top-tens (22).^{[citation needed]}

Newman's 2008 Daytona 500 car, on display at the Daytona 500 Experience

Newman's sophomore season began with 2 flips and 1 near flip at the 2003 Daytona 500 after contact with Ken Schrader, At Watkins Glen he spun and hit the foam blocks, sending him on his side. The near-flip was at the 2003 Aaron's 499 when getting turned, he got into the wall, sending it nearly on his side. 27 cars in all.. Though finishing the season with a series-high eight wins and eleven poles, he also suffered seven DNF's, which left him sixth in points. His number of poles during the season led to him being nicknamed "Rocket Man."^{[citation needed]}

In 2004, Newman qualified for the inaugural Chase for the Cup by finishing seventh in points with two wins and nine poles. He made the 2005 Chase as well, while returning to the Busch Series after a four-year absence, winning six out of the nine races he entered, including a series-record five straight.

Newman endured his first winless season in 2006, finishing a career-worst 18th in points, while his longtime crew chief, Matt Borland, left for Michael Waltrip Racing. His pole ratio between his rookie year and 2006 was one in every three races, tying him for fifteenth on the all-time poles list.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, despite a streak of three consecutive poles, Newman again failed to win a race, including a near win at Lowe's Motor Speedway that was spoiled by a blown tire.^{[3][dead link]} His winless drought ended after he won the 2008 Daytona 500 on February 17, 2008. It was also the first Daytona 500 win for Penske.

Move to Stewart-Haas[link]

Newman pits his #39 Impala

On July 15, 2008, Newman announced that he was leaving Penske at the end of the season, and a month later, it was confirmed he was joining newly-formed Stewart Haas Racing in 2009, in the number 39^[4] (his number during his midget-driving years) Chevy Impala. U.S. Army signed on for a three-year sponsorship deal, though only for 23 races of the 2009 season.^[5] Despite a slow start, Newman has given his career a boost since the move. Including a pole, 5 top fives, and 12 top tens, and an average finish of 14.0, his best since his 8 win season in 2003. On September 12 at Richmond, Newman finished 10th and clinched a spot in the Chase for the first time since 2005. On November 1, 2009, at the Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Newman was involved in a heavy crash on the back stretch in which he flipped over on top of Kevin Harvick entering Turn 3. He ended up on his roof, and because the roof was crushed, crews had to use the Jaws of Life to pry the roof off the car after NASCAR officials flipped it back over. Newman was unharmed. On April 10, 2010, Newman broke a 78 race winless streak with a win in the Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway. He only led 4 laps during the race.

Newman began his 2011 season by leading the most laps in the Daytona 500, but crashed twice late and finished 22nd. He got his first win of the season winning on a fuel mileage having enough to get the checkered flag at the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire, giving him his 3rd career win at the track. Tony Stewart finished 2nd giving Stewart/Haas Racings first ever 1–2 finish. At the same track in September, Ryan Newman grabbed his 3rd pole of the season at the Sylvania 300. The 49th pole of his career put him in a tie for 10th all time on career poles with Bobby Issac. On April 1, 2012, at Martinsville Speedway, Newman survived a wild finish to get the 16th win of his career. The finish involved a controversial caution with 3 laps to go involving the No. 10 of David Reutimann which set up a green-white-checkered finish. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson dominated but on the restart they crashed with Clint Bowyer and Newman came through unscathed on route to the win.

Nationwide Series[link]

Ryan Newman made his Nationwide Series debut on February 12, 2001 at Rockingham) in the Alltel 200. He started second and finished ninth; it was his first of fifteen appearances in the 2001 season, where he finished with one win and eight top-10 finishes. He regularly averages five series races per season.^[6]

He joined Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s JR Motorsports for the 2009 campaign as the driver of the #5 Fastenal Chevy, signing on for four appearances for the year. In May 2010, Newman was hired to drive the #1 car for Phoenix Racing at Dover. In 2011, Newman will drive the #30 Chevrolet for Turner Motorsports at Phoenix International Raceway

Craftsman Truck Series[link]

Newman made his Truck Series debut on October 25, 2008 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, starting 10th in the 33 truck field driving Kevin Harvick's #2 Truck and passed his teammate Ron Hornaday with less than five laps to go to pick up his first truck series win in his first start making him the first driver to get their first Truck win at Atlanta and becoming the 4th driver to win in their first Truck race and joining the list of drivers who have won in all three of NASCAR's top series.

Charity[link]

Newman and his wife, Krissie, operate the Ryan Newman Foundation, whose mission is to educate and encourage people to spay or neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program, of which Newman himself was a recipient, to students interested in auto racing careers. The Newmans themselves have rescued and care for six dogs: Digger, Mopar, Harley, Socks, Dunkin and Fred.^{[citation needed]} He helped fund the construction of the Catawba County, North Carolina Humane Society shelter, in the county where he once lived.^{[citation needed]}

Hobbies[link]

Newman is a car enthusiast and owns 14 cars. His first car was a 74 Triumph TR-6. His favorite car is his 1948 Buick Roadmaster convertible he received from his wife as a birthday gift. His collection can be viewed on the History Channel show American Pickers (Episode: Art of the Deal).

Honors[link]

On April 29, 2008, the St. Joseph County, Indiana, Board of Commissioners dedicated a half-mile stretch of newly-rerouted Lincoln Way West (formerly U.S. Route 20) near the South Bend Regional Airport to Newman.^[7]

Career NASCAR Cup Series Statistics[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Ryan Newman Foundation
• Ryan Newman at Racing Reference
• [http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/rnewman00/cup/index.html Ryan Newman}} at NASCAR.com

Jeffrey J. Andrews (born January 27, 1959) is an American former professional baseball player and current coach. He was the pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008, having been fired after one season at the position.^[1] Andrews spent each of the last 22 years as a minor league pitching coach/coordinator, the last five in the Pittsburgh organization. On May 20, 2009 he was hired by the Frisco Roughriders (AA), replacing Joe Slusarski, marking his return to the Texas Rangers organization.

Early life[link]

Andrews is a 1977 graduate of Rapid City, South Dakota Stevens High School, where he played football and basketball. He played American Legion baseball since his high school team did not have a baseball program. He was also a pitcher on the Ohio Valley Conference Championship team as a freshman at East Tennessee State University in 1978. he led that squad to a Southern Conference title and into NCAA Regional playoffs as a junior in 1980.^[2]

Playing career[link]

A right-handed pitcher during his playing days, Andrews was originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 26th round of the 1981 draft. He pitched two years in the Cubs farm system, compiling a 10-6 record with Geneva (1981) and Salinas (1982).

Coaching career[link]

Andrews began his professional coaching career as a minor league instructor in the Texas Rangers organization in 1986. A year later he was pitching coach with Port Charlotte (A), a club that featured right-hander Kevin Brown and lefty Kenny Rogers. He also spent the next four years in the Texas farm system as pitching coach with the AA Tulsa Drillers (1988–90) and the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks (1991).

Jeff spent six years in the Seattle Mariners organization as Pitching Coach with the AA Jacksonville Suns (1992–94) and the AAA Tacoma Rainiers (1995–97). In that time, he worked with future major leaguers such as Derek Lowe and Mike Hampton. Following his tenure in the Mariners minor league system, Andrews spent two seasons as the minor league pitching coordinator for the San Diego Padres.

Prior to joining the Pirates, Andrews spent the 2002 season as Pitching Coach with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the independent Northern League. He also spent two seasons in the Florida Marlins organization as Pitching Coach with the AA Portland Sea Dogs in 2001 and in the same capacity with the Kane County Cougars in 2000.

His first position with the Pirates was as the pitching coach with Double-A Altoona for three seasons (2003–05). His 2003 pitching staff at Altoona established a franchise record by posting a 3.32 ERA and lefty Sean Burnett was named Eastern League Pitcher-of-the-Year under his watch during the same season. Jeff also served as a coach at the Major League Baseball Futures Game in Chicago during the All-Star festivities in 2003.

He next served as pitching coach with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 2006-07. The 2006 pitching staff at Indy ranked fourth in ERA in the 14-team International League. Among the 23 pitchers on the 40-man roster heading into spring training this season, Jeff had worked with 13 of them with either Altoona or Indy.

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Alan Gustafson (born August 5, 1975) is an American NASCAR crew chief from Ormond Beach, Florida. He began his racing career at the age of eight, by helping his friend race go-karts. He graduated from Seabreeze High School and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University until 1996. Afterward, he worked with several teams, which competed in the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series, before being employed at Hendrick Motorsports. He is currently employed at Hendrick Motorsports as the crew chief for the #24 Sprint Cup Series car, driven by Jeff Gordon.

Early life[link]

Born on August 5, 1975, in Ormond Beach, Florida, Gustafson began his racing career helping his childhood friend, Casey Yunick, with their go-karts while eight years old. As Yunick and him grew older they began racing late models and legends cars on local race tracks. Afterward, he helped another one of his friends by working on their Sports Car Club of America series cars. Once he graduated at Seabreeze High School, he continued his education by attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for a mechanical engineering degree and was a member of Kappa Sigma. Even though he was attending college, he continued to help his friends with racing. In 1996, he came to a decision of continuing college, or moving to North Carolina to continue his racing career. He decided to move to North Carolina to work on Gary Moore's Goody's Dash Series team (GEM Motorsports), with his long time friend, Jimmy Foster. He was chosen as the crew chief, while Foster raced. He was also performing engineering duties for the team. Once the 1996 season ended, they recorded one win, along with finishing sixth in the point standings.^[1]

Professional racing career[link]

In 1997, he left the team after becoming the crew chief of Andy Houston’s Late Model Stock Car and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series) team, which was owned by Addington Racing. Gustafson won several races in the Late Model Stock Car Series, while they only participate in a few Truck Series events.^[1] One year later he became team engineer for Diamond Ridge Motorsports in the Busch Series (now Nationwide Series). While at the team, he recored several pole positions and wins. In 1999, he left the team to help his friend Foster in the Busch Series, which they only qualified for one race, which they finished 34th in. Afterward, Gustafson was employed at Hendrick Motorsports to become the 5 car's shock specialist. While there, the team earned three top-five finishes and six top-tens. One year later, with Terry Labonte the driver, the team recorded one top-five and three top-tens, as Gustafson remained the shock specialist.

In 2002, he became the lead engineer for the 5 car. He remained the same for the next three years, which he collected one victory at Darlington Raceway, five top-fives and 19 top-tens. Before the 2005 season, he was announced as the crew chief for the 5 car, driven by Kyle Busch. In the same year, the team won the pole position for the second race of the season, as well as one victory and a 20th points finish. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he recored at least one win in each of the seasons, two Chase for the Sprint Cup appearances, with a best points finish of 5th in 2007. In 2009, Mark Martin became the driver for the team. In the season, they recored five wins, and a second place finish in points. Martin remained the driver in 2010.^[1] For the 2011 season, Rick Hendrick changed Gustafson to the crew chief of Jeff Gordon and the 24 car.^[2] Over the course of the 2011 season, Alan helped Jeff back to victory lane 3 times at Phoenix, Pocono, and Atlanta. Jeff tied Cale Yarborough's 83 win mark at Phoenix, Putting him 5th on NASCAR's All-Time List. Bobby Allison's and Darrell Waltrip's record of 84 wins for 3rd all time list and Jeff solely became number 3 with his 85th win at Atlanta. Alan also helped Jeff to the 2011 Chase and finished 8th in the final point standings.

References[link]