10 Worst Driver–Crew Chief Partnerships in NASCAR History

Worst Driver–Crew Chief Partnerships in NASCAR History

Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Lance McGrew

10. Jimmie Johnson & Cliff Daniels (2020)

A pairing that looked elite on paper. Instead, Johnson’s final full-time season ended winless, filled with DNFs, missed playoffs, and zero chemistry. Expectations: sky-high. Results: brutal.

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Lance McGrew (2010–2011)

Hendrick put McGrew in charge to “fix” Junior’s slump — it didn’t happen. Poor communication, constant changes, and borderline zero momentum.

8. Tony Stewart & Darian Grubb (2009–2011… before the magic)

Yes, they won the 2011 title — after Stewart fired him mid-season. Their actual working relationship was chaotic, tense, and sometimes toxic.

7. Kyle Busch & Dave Rogers (2015–2017)

High-tension radio arguments, strategy disagreements, and no real trust. The speed was there, the relationship wasn’t.

6. Kasey Kahne & Keith Rodden (2015–2017)

This wasn’t a slump — it was a cliff. Once-promising speed vanished, confidence tanked, and Hendrick eventually cut ties.

5. Danica Patrick & Tony Gibson (2014–2017)

A partnership that never clicked. Constant mid-pack frustration, no development, communication breakdowns, and poor performance across the board.

4. Ryan Newman & Luke Lambert (2018–2021)

Top 10 Worst Driver–Crew Chief Partnerships in NASCAR HistorAfter a strong first year, everything collapsed. No direction, no speed, and the partnership visibly deteriorated into a go-nowhere situation.

3. Richard Petty & Mike Beam (1981–1983)

Legend meets technical strategy… and nothing worked. They struggled with consistency, fell behind competitively, and broke up quickly.

2. Kurt Busch & Pat Tryson (2005–2009)

Explosive radio fights, constant tension, and a toxic working environment. Even when they ran well, it was chaos.

1. Kyle Larson & Chris Heroy (2014–2016, CGR)

Larson’s entire early career was slowed by this mismatch. Terrible strategy calls, no development path, constant mistakes, and races thrown away. Larson went from “future star” to “underachiever” … until he left.