Blickensderfer named crew chief for Aric Almirola

Drew Blickensderfer will be crew chief for Aric Almirola in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, Stewart-Haas Racing announced Tuesday (Jan. 4).

Almriola’s crew chief in 2021, Mike Bugarewicz, will become the performance director for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Blickensderfer served as crew chief for Michael McDowell over the last three seasons, earning the 2021 Daytona 500 victory with McDowell and Front Row Motorsports.

Blickensderfer has worked as a crew chief in the Cup Series since 2009, earning the 2009 Daytona 500 victory atop Matt Kenseth’s pit box.

Blickensderfer worked as Almriola’s crew chief for 35 races between 2016 and 2017 at Richard Petty Motorsports.