NASCAR: An In-Depth Look At The New Crew Chiefs In The Chase

USA Today Sports

Billy Scott – Crew Chief for Clint Bowyer at Michael Waltrip Racing 

If you are confused and thought that Billy Scott was the crew chief for the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine at Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR), you wouldn’t be wrong. Scott was indeed performing that role until June, 2015 when MWR announced that he and Bowyer’s original 2015 crew chief Brian Pattie switched roles. In commenting on the switch, driver Clint Bowyer said that Scott is a “young, smart innovator with good ideas who can give mechanics and engineers shop strong information about what’s needed at the track.”

Scott was originally a motorcycle and part-time stock-car racer and was a Truck Series mechanic before returning to school to complete his engineering degree. He then worked at Robert Yates Racing for a few years before moving to MWR in 2008.  By 2012, he was working exclusively as the No. 55 team’s lead engineer, a role that he held through the 2013 season. Scott has always been a good communicator and was well-respected by many within the MWR organization, and was a unanimous choice by team co-owners Michael Waltrip and Rob Kaufmann.

Scott and the No. 15 team earned their 2015 Chase berth by finishing 10th at Richmond, which cemented them being the 4th-highest non-winner in points for the five at-large Chase spots available.