Zipadelli Joins Stewart-Haas Racing As Competition Director

By Anne Proffit

Anne Proffit

BIO

Anne Proffit has worked in the automotive field since - well, not telling you that. She's been a car salesperson (before it was popular to hire... More

LATEST ARTICLE
Webber Becomes Sixth F1 Winner With Monaco Victory
Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber led from the lights to the flags, with his only absence at the... Read More

• #5LEADERBOARD RANK
• 471ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
• 0COMMENTS POSTED

1,511 views Dec 16, 2011

Smoke and Zippy the first time around

Enlarge Photo

Zippy and Smoke are together again.

From 1999 through 2008, Greg Zipadelli was Tony Stewart's crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR).  Together the duo won two Sprint Cup championships in 2002 and 2005, amassing 33 victories and 10 poles.  When Stewart left JGR after the 2008 season to form Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), Zipadelli remained with that team and served as crew chief to Joey Logano through the end of 2011, helping the young driver earn his first career Sprint Cup victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway the end of June, 2009.

There was a synergy between Zipadellli and Stewart, though, that couldn't be denied and when Stewart, who co-owns SHR with businessman Gene Haas, went looking for a new competition director to replace Bobby Hutchens, Zipadelli seemed the natural choice once granted his release from JGR.

Zipadelli joins SHR as competition director effective immediately; he'll work with vice president of competition Matt Borland and oversee both Stewart's No. 14 Chevy and Ryan Newman's No. 39.  Zipadelli is also responsible for building the No. 10 team, for which Danica Patrick intends to run a 10-race Sprint Cup schedule in the coming season.

"We're very proud to have Greg Zipadelli join Stewart-Haas Racing," Stewart said.  The three-time and reigning Sprint Cup champion noted, "Greg and I have a long and successful history together.  I know him and he knows me - and we both know what it takes to build race teams.

"We took our time in searching for competition director because it's an important role with a lot of responsibility," Stewart continued.  "Greg knows all that goes into the job, understands the importance of teamwork and communication across all levels of the organization, and is ultimately someone I have a great deal of trust in."

Not only is Zipadelli reuniting with Stewart as he joins SHR, but he'll be working again with Steve Addington, who spent 2004-8 at JGR and has signed as Stewart's crew chief on the No. 14 Chevy.  Tony Gibson is Newman's crew chief on the No. 39 team.

"Joe Gibbs always says that you win with people and Tony Stewart is a winner," Zippy said.  "We won a lot together at Joe Gibbs Racing and it was a sad day when he left.  But Tony had an unbelievable opportunity with Stewart-Haas Racing, and he's obviously made the most of it.  To become a part of what he's already built, but to do it in a new role with a new set of responsibilities, was a challenge I wanted.  I really appreciate Joe and J.D. Gibbs for all that they've given me over the years and for allowing me to seize this opportunity."

The 44-year-old Zipadelli, from Berlin, CT started in racing at age seven, working on his uncle's NASCAR Whelen MOdified Tour car.  Seven years later, he was prepping cars for his family-owned Sherwood Racing Team and by the time he was 20, Zipadelli was a championship-winning crew chief.  He led Modified Tour driver Mike McLaghlin to the series title with five wins and 15 top-five results.  

When McLaughlin moved up to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with prominent New England car owner Mike Greci, he brought Zipadelli with him and the duo earned five victories between 1990 and 1993.  Zipadelli stayed with the team after McLaughlin departed after the 1993 season, working with a handful of drivers in 1994 and 1995.

Zipdelli's perseverance was rewarded when Mike Stefanik joined Greci's operation in 1996 as the tandem scored eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes, taking the title the following season with two wins, 14 top-five's and 16 top-10 results, giving Zipadelli his second NASCAR touring series championship in less than a decade, all earned before he reached the age of 30!

Zipadelli headed south in January 1998, joining Roush Fenway Racing's Sprint Cup operation as chassis specialist for the No. 99 of then-driver Jeff Burton.  Burton's results of two race wins, 18 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes for fifth in points caused other teams to take notice of Zipadelli.

When Joe Gibbs began building his second team in late 1998 with Stewart as the driver, he appointed Zipadelli as Stewart's No. 20 crew chief.  And the rest, as they say, is history… with more in the making.

© 2011 Anne Proffit