Stewart-Haas Fires Darian Grubb, Hires Addington Following Championship Run

In one of the stranger NASCAR moves in recent memory, Stewart-Haas Racing has made the firing of crew chief Darian Grubb, and the hiring of former Kurt Busch crew chief Steve Addington, official. While this may seem like any old personnel change—it isn't—Grubb is just eight days past winning the 2011 Sprint Cup Series Championship with driver Tony Stewart.

The story begins following NASCAR's stop in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. A sour run for Stewart's No. 14 team got even worse for Darian Grubb at the team's headquarters Monday morning. Stewart informed Grubb that he would be fired from his job at Stewart-Haas at the end of the season, free to seek any other opportunity. 

Grubb and Stewart squeaked their way into the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, but then began an improbable journey. Stewart took checkered flag after checkered flag, winning four out of the nine races that had been run leading up to the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. By the time NASCAR landed in Homestead, Stewart was three points behind championship leader Carl Edwards and his Roush-Fenway Racing team. A week of media hype lead up to the Sunday race and Stewart knew exactly what he had to do—win the race. If Stewart was able to collect checkered flag No. 5 on the season, he would win the championship—no matter what Edwards were to do. 

On race day, Stewart showed no signs of backing down. Diving three and four wide on restarts picking up position after position. The seemingly impossible was done. "Coming out of turn No. 4—an owner driver—Tony Stewart is a three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion!" yelled ESPN's Allen Bestwick as he crossed the finish line. 

It wasn't to be for Darian Grubb. He gave a tearful interview following the event while embracing his wife and young son—he showed little signs that even now, a return to Stewart-Haas Racing probably was out of reach. He was right. A press release today announced that Grubb had been released and that Stewart has signed Steve Addington, a long-time NASCAR crew chief most recently for Kurt Busch at Penske Racing. 

The main question folks are asking is... why? Obviously there is more to the story where even after a championship run for the ages two sides couldn't reach an agreement to stay together. The internal workings at Stewart-Haas Racing almost cost them this championship—they are just lucky Darian Grubb was respectable enough to remain with the team. A change in leadership at that point in the season would have meant a sure end for Stewart's title hopes.

Steve Addington moves over from Penske Racing, after suffering through an abysmal season with Kurt Busch, and before that, Kurt's brother Kyle at Joe Gibbs Racing. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and is a championship caliber crew chief—but so is Grubb. The puzzle is missing a piece. One thing is for sure—Darian Grubb will land somewhere and could possibly win another title.