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With a total of seven Cup Series titles to his name, Dale Earnhardt Sr. is regarded as one of the most successful drivers to grace NASCAR. However, it is not just the driver who makes the difference in stock car racing.
With close battles happening on the racetrack, drivers stand a chance to lose perspective of the race. Crew chiefs work in tandem with spotters and pit crew to help racers keep track of their surroundings (other drivers) and execute race strategies on the go.
During almost three decades of his Cup Series career, Earnhardt Sr. had nine crew chiefs. However, Earnhardt had successful NASCAR seasons with four: Doug Richert, Kirk Shelmerdine, Andy Petree, and Larry McReynolds.
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Here's a look at Earnhardt Sr.'s Top 3 crew chiefs from his championship-winning seasons from 1980 to 1994.
#3. Doug Richert (1980 Cup Series championship)
After the exit of Earnhardt Sr.'s first crew chief Jake Elder, Doug Richert joined the team in 1980. Driving for Rod Osterlund Racing, the 1979 Rookie of the Year winner went on to win his maiden Cup Series championship with the then-19-year-old crew chief Richert. A year after the win, Richert went on to join Richard Childress Racing.
Apart from Earnhardt Sr., Richert also worked as a crew chief for the likes of Junior Johnson, Neil Bonnett, Brian Vickers, Robby Gordon, Ron Hornaday Jr., and a few others. He was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2015.
#2. Andy Petree (1993, 1994 Championships)
After driving a few races in the Xfinity series, Andy Petree joined Richard Childress Racing. He worked as the crew chief for Earnhardt Sr. during his final two championship-winning seasons in 1993 and 1994.
During his time as the chief, Petree helped Earnhardt Sr. win 15 out of 76 races. Petree later went on to become the Vice President of Competition at RCR. After spending over 30 years with the team, Petree retired from the VC role in June of this season.
#1. Kirk Shelmerdine (1986, 1987, 1990, and 1991 Cup Series Championships)
Considered one of the most successful driver-crew chief pairings in the Cup Series, Earnhardt Sr. and Kirk Shelmerdine went on to win four Cup Series championships. Under the guidance of Shelmerdine, Earnhardt Sr. won 46 races in eight years with Richard Childress Racing.
Apart from four driver titles, Shelmerdine helped RCR win four consecutive Pit Crew titles. The 2023 NASCAR Hall of Famer also guided Ricky Rudd, James Hylton, and Richard Childress. Apart from being a crew chief, Shelmerdine also ran a total of 41 races in the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck series between 1981 and 2008.
