'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jason Ratcliff, crew chief of the #19 Toyota GR Supra, who previously guided Kyle Busch to the 2009 NASCAR Xfinity title, will be making his 800th start this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
The veteran crew chief has over 253 Cup Series starts and 546 Xfinity starts under his belt. During this weekend's Dead on Tools 250 Xfinity race at the half-mile oval in Ridgeway Virginia, Ratcliff will amass his 800th start as a crew chief in NASCAR.
In 799 starts, the crew chief hailing from Sumter, South Carolina, has put together an impressive record of 15 Cup Series wins and 57 Xfinity Series wins. He also holds the record for racking up most wins as a crew chief in the Xfinity Series.
Trending
Alongside his impressive win record, Ratcliff has a 51% top-10 rate (46% in NCS, 53% in NXS), showcasing his commitment to the team every week as he sits atop the pit box.
Jason Ratcliff got his first break in NASCAR as a mechanic and rear tire changer for Sadler Brothers Racing. He then moved to Brewco Motorsports where he first got the job as a crew chief for rookie Casey Atwood.
It was in 2005 that he joined Joe Gibbs Racing and has been with the front-running organization ever since. Ratcliff has worked with several championship-winning drivers during his 18-year stint at Joe Gibbs Racing.
During his time with Kyle Busch, he won the 2009 Xfinity title. He has also worked with Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth, helping the two drivers collect 15 wins in the Cup Series. He was also the crew chief for current JGR driver Christopher Bell.
This season, the 55-year-old has overseen the #19 Toyota team which has seen a rotation of multiple drivers. He has been successful in winning three races with Ryan Truex at Dover, Ty Gibbs at Indianapolis and Denny Hamlin at Darlington.
For Ratcliff's landmark event, Myatt Snider will be behind the wheel of the #19 Toyota GR Supra this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
A look back at Kyle Busch's 2009 NASCAR Xfinity title
Jason Ratcliff and Kyle Busch put together a stellar campaign in 2009. In the previous season, Busch and Denny Hamlin shared the #18 ride at Joe Gibbs Racing.
In 2009, it was announced that Kyle Busch would be the full-time driver of the #18 Toyota, and Jason Ratcliff would lead the team sitting atop the pit box as the crew chief.
Over a stretch of 35 races in the season, the duo achieved nine wins, 11 runner-up finishes, 25 top fives and 2,698 laps. This ultimately led to victory in the championship.
Almost a decade later, Ratcliff reflected on his journey with Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing in an interview with beliefnet.com:
"He’s changed a lot compared to when he first walked in the door. He was about 21 when I first started working with him in the Nationwide Series. His passion hasn’t changed a bit. He still hates losing. He still hates finishing second. But I think he’s more humble now and his outlook on life has changed."
Busch left Joe Gibbs Racing this season for the #8 ride at Richard Childress Racing.
