Prominent NASCAR drivers recently confirmed they were excluded from the decision-making process regarding significant crew chief changes ahead of the 2027 season.
Alex Bowman and Shane van Gisbergen stated that their respective teams swapped leadership roles without consulting those behind the wheel, according to Yahoo Sports.
Bowman, who is entering his final Cup season, lost Blake Harris as his crew chief, with Harris moving to lead the team for van Gisbergen at Trackhouse Racing.
When asked about his involvement in the personnel shift, Bowman noted, “I haven’t really been a part of that,” as reported by Autoweek.
Bowman explained that because he considers himself shy and reserved, relying on a strong leader in the booth is vital for his success on the track.
The Arizona native suggested that other individuals within the organization likely possess a better perspective on the necessity of these staff changes, per the outlets.
Van Gisbergen faces a similar situation as his former crew chief, Stephen Doran, returns to Spire Motorsports.
Reflecting on the lack of driver agency, van Gisbergen remarked, “You kind of just get put with who you are and work it out from there,” according to Yahoo Sports.
The driver emphasized that he believes the final authority regarding staff appointments rests entirely with team owners and management.
The organizational ripple effects also include Travis Peterson moving to a team-wide engineering role at Spire, while Austin Dillon prepares for a new crew chief at Richard Childress Racing.
Richard Boswell, who previously served Dillon, has transitioned into the role of vice president of competition at the organization.
These rapid shifts highlight a growing power gap between drivers and the teams that hire their support staff, leaving competitors to adapt to new leadership structures.
Ultimately, the lack of driver input appears to be a settled reality for the upcoming 2027 racing season, as noted by the outlets.