_(cropped).jpg) Erwin atDaytona International Speedway in 2019 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Gregory A. Erwin |
| Born | (1970-04-19)April 19, 1970 (age 54) Hatboro, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Clemson University |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | NASCAR Cup Series |
Gregory A. Erwin (born April 19, 1970) is an Americanstock car racingcrew chief. He has worked as the crew chief forRobby Gordon Motorsports,Roush Fenway Racing,Team Penske, andWood Brothers Racing at theNASCAR Cup Series, and for Penske in theNASCAR Xfinity Series.[1][2] Erwin was also the team manager of Team Penske in the Xfinity Series in 2016.
Erwin was born inHatboro, Pennsylvania and in high school, his father bought his first oval track race car.[2] Erwin worked on the team during high school and every summer while attendedClemson University. He earned an engineering degree from Clemson in 1992 returning for graduate school in 1993 with a motorsports engineering scholarship. During the program he spent his summers working with race teams such as Tri-Star Motorsports.[3]
Erwin was offered his first NASCAR job with Diamond Ridge Motorsports in 1995.[2] He worked as an engineer for the team that employed drivers such as Steve Grissom, Jeff Green andElliott Sadler. Erwin left Diamond Ridge at the end of 1995 to work forTeam SABCO Racing. The operation grew quickly in the next few months going from one team to three. Erwin worked as the only engineer for all three cars.Chip Ganassi bought into the race team in 2001 hiring additional engineers. Through the end of 2002, Erwin remained at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.[3]
Erwin began working forRichard Childress Racing in 2003 helping with their new seven-post research and development program. Erwin worked directly with the No. 31 team and crew chief Chris Andrews. At the end of 2004, early in 2005, Erwin left Richard Childress Racing forRobby Gordon Motorsports.[3]
Erwin's first crew chief position was for the Robby Gordon Motorsports No. 7 Nextel Cup entry.[2][4] Before Erwin joined in 2005, the team failed to qualify for four races but only missed two the rest of the season under his direction. The team started outside the top 35 in points and had to race their way in to the first few races in 2006. In its second year the team did not miss a race in 2006.[3]
Roush Fenway Racing hired Erwin as the crew chief for the No. 16 Nextel Cup car driven by Greg Biffle in May 2007.[1][5] On June 3, Erwin's first race with Biffle was atDover International Speedway. Biffle started in the 10th position and finished sixth, his best finish in seven races. In September, his team went on to win atKansas Speedway and finish 14th in the Nextel Cup point standings.[3]
Erwin and Biffle recorded two wins, twelve top-five finishes and 17 top 10 finishes, in 2009, their first full season together. The team made the Chase for the second time in Biffle's career finishing the season third in the point standings.[3]
Biffle made the NASCARChase for the Sprint Cup in 2009 and recorded Ford's first win of 2010 atPocono Raceway.[6][7]
In 2013, Erwin served as crew chief forSam Hornish Jr. in theNationwide Series. In 2014, he became the competition director forTeam Penske in the Nationwide Series. Erwin served as interim crew chief for Sprint Cup driverBrad Keselowski at the2014 The Profit on CNBC 500 after regular crew chiefPaul Wolfe was witnessing the birth of his child.[8] In 2015, Erwin became the crew chief for Team Penske's No. 22 car in theXfinity Series.[9] Erwin became the team manager for Team Penske's Xfinity Series program in 2016, with Brian Wilson replacing him as crew chief of the No. 22 car.[10]
In 2018, Erwin became the crew chief forWood Brothers Racing driverPaul Menard in theMonster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.[11]
In April 2021, Erwin missed theBlue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 atMartinsville Speedway due toCOVID-19 protocols, and was replaced by Jonathan Hassler. Hassler became WBR's permanent crew chief on June 8, 2021.[12]
Erwin is married to wife Susan and they have three children; Curtis, Kimberly and Colin. The family lives inMooresville, North Carolina.