Wheeler joins LFR as crew chief for DiBenedetto
Mike Wheeler has joined Leavine Family Racing to assume crew chief duties of the No. 95 team.
LFR is switching to Toyota for 2019 with Matt DiBenedetto as its driver. The organization will be working in alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, which is where Wheeler had been working, most recently with Denny Hamlin.
The ’19 season will be Wheeler’s fourth full year as a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series crew chief. In 112 starts (all with Hamlin), he has five career wins, including the 2016 Daytona 500.
“We’re thrilled to have Mike joining our organization because he’s had a successful career so far in the crew chief role,” said LFR general manager Jeremy Lange. “With our transition over to Toyota this coming season, Mike brings with him a wealth of knowledge in regard to how to build competitive Toyota Camrys, and we’re looking forward to his leadership within LFR.”
Wheeler also has 33 starts as an Xfinity Series crew chief under his belt, and was previously an engineer with JGR in both the Xfinity and Cup Series.
Kelly Crandall
Kelly has been on the NASCAR beat full-time since 2013, and joined RACER as chief NASCAR writer in 2017. Her work has also appeared in NASCAR.com, the NASCAR Illustrated magazine, and NBC Sports. A corporate communications graduate from Central Penn College, Crandall is a two-time George Cunningham Writer of the Year recipient from the National Motorsports Press Association.
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