NASCAR: Joe Gibbs Racing announces crew chift shifts

Joe Gibbs Racing announced drivers Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin will be racing with new Sprint Cup crew chiefs next year.

Dave Rogers, who this year Hamlin's crew chief with the No. 11 JGR Toyota, will move to the No. 19 Camry to pair with Edwards in 2016 while Mike Wheeler, crew chief for JGR's No. 20 Xfinity Series team this year, replaces Rogers next season. The team added that Darian Grubb, crew chief for Edwards' first season with JGR, is "currently exploring several opportunities" for 2016.

Team owner Joe Gibbs called its 2015 campaign "probably the strongest season we have ever had" after all four drivers qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs, but added that he felt changes were needed made to keep the company competitive.

"I think every year you evaluate each of your teams however and sometimes during that process you find that a change might be in the best interest for all involved," Gibbs said. "Mike Wheeler is obviously someone that has a long history with Denny (Hamlin) and that No. 11 team. After seeing what he accomplished as a crew chief in our Xfinity Series program last year, we felt the timing was right to move him back into our Cup program.

"Dave Rogers has also been successful in every role he has had with us and we think he will work well with Carl (Edwards) going into 2016."

The team's title-winning No. 18 combination of Kyle Busch and crerw chief Adam Stevens remains intact, while Jason Ratcliff will again direct the No. 20 Toyota driven by Matt Kenseth.