CONCORD, N.C. — Matt Kenseth has a crew
chief change just one week into the new NASCAR season.
Todd Parrott will replace Drew Blickensderfer
atop the No. 17 Ford pit box this weekend at California. Blickensderfer
led Kenseth to consecutive wins to start last season, including the
Daytona 500.
The team performance dropped off after the two
wins, and Kenseth failed to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup
championship for the first time since its 2004 inception.
Kenseth was eighth in Sunday's season-opening
Daytona 500.
Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement
Wednesday that Blickensderfer will be moved to its research and
development department.
Parrott won the 1999 championship with Dale
Jarrett.