Drag Illustrated Issue 136, September 2018 | Page 86
DR AG I LL U S T R AT ED R OUN D TABLE
Tuners
Drag Illustrated asks,
‘What does it take to be a crew chief in 2018?’
BY JOSH H ACH AT
W
ithout question, a top-notch crew chief
is a necessity to be successful in drag racing. But
in 2018 can that person also double as the driv-
er? The sport was built on the do-it-yourself com-
petitor, someone who made the tuning calls and
then got behind the wheel. Of course, technology and the rapid ad-
vancements in the sport have made that DIY role nearly extinct.
There are a variety of factors as to why.
The maintenance program is different
and far more complex. The rise of torque
converters has forever changed things,
and there’s a bevy of specialists and
variables that add to the complexities
of being a crew chief. Doing that and
driving has become a rarity and when
all the responsibilities are considered, it
may be understandable.
The old expression “bringing a knife to
a gunfight” comes to mind with the DIY
role, and yet some have still managed
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to thrive and take great pride in doing
so. As those in that particular situation
explain, it usually comes down to work
ethic and a willingness to adapt while
also recognizing the odds are stacked
against them.
Drag Illustrated talked to a number
of crew chiefs – including some who dou-
ble as drivers – to get their takes on if it’s
still possible to be both tuner and driver,
and how dramatically the role of crew
chief has changed with the technological
advances in the sport in recent years.
Issue 136