NASCAR: Coaches who would make great crew chiefs
By Dustin Smith
NHL: Chicago Blackhawks – Joel Quenneville
The first coach to swap their spot on the bench for the top of a pit box would be from the National Hockey League. Representing the “Original Six” Chicago Blackhawks would be three-time Stanley Cup champion Joel Quenneville. With his 868 wins, is it time for him to trade in the ice for asphalt?
Quenneville is second all-time in coaching wins in the NHL. He coached the Blackhawks to Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Winning the Stanley Cup is no easy task. As a coach, you need to guide your team through two months of intense battles and win 16 games to earn the ultimate prize.
Each Sunday from the Daytona 500 in February to the November finale in Homestead-Miami includes fierce competition and perfection to be successful. This is similar to the NHL season in that teams can’t take nights off and perfection is crucial in order to win.
Clutch performances and last-minute decisions are the keys to success to win the Cup. No doubt, this is similar to the tasks at hand for a NASCAR crew chief. Quenneville also coaches with a fiery passion and this intensity is what would help him succeed as a pit boss.