Germain to split with crew chief Barker at year's end

Germain to split with crew chief Barker at year's end

Cup Series

Germain to split with crew chief Barker at year's end

By

Germain Racing will have a new crew chief working with Ty Dillon and the No. 13 team next season.

On Tuesday, Germain announced Robert “Bootie” Barker will finish the year with the team, but that he would not be back in 2018. Barker and Dillon are in their first season together, which is also Dillon’s rookie year in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The team sits 24th in points going into the penultimate race of the year.

Who will lead the team in 2018 will “be announced at a later date” said the team.

The grandson of Richard Childress, 25-year-old Dillon moved up to the Cup Series with Germain, who has a technical alliance with RCR, after three years in the Xfinity Series. In 34 races, Dillon’s best finish is an 11th-place at Talladega on Oct. 15.

Barker is a veteran of the NASCAR garage. Having joined Germain Racing in 2010, Barker first worked as the crew chief for Max Papis. In 479 starts as Cup Series crew chief, Barker has 17 top-10 finishes and has worked with drivers such as Dave Blaney, Johnny Sauter, Michael Waltrip, and Casey Mears among others.

More RACER