Marcus Richmond, 2008 No. 18 Dodge Crew Chief

Marcus Richmond, 2008 No. 18 Dodge Crew Chief

Last season Marcus Richmond set out to make a statement as the youngest NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crew chief in the garage at only 26 years old. He definitely turned some heads. In 25 races Richmond called the shots for five different drivers including 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte and 2002 NCTS Champion Mike Bliss. He also led his team to the best finishes for the No. 4 Dodge since 2004 when his team posted four top-five finishes and four top-10 finishes.

The biggest highlight of the 2007 season came when Bliss led the most laps at Phoenix International Raceway before he finished in the third spot after a bump and run with the ‘07 champion Ron Hornaday Jr. This year the tune has been set for Richmond to lead his team again but this time behind a one-man band, Dennis Setzer.

Like many of his colleagues in the garage area Richmond became involved in racing at a young age. He started racing go-karts at 14 and moved up to late models four years later. During this time Richmond entered high school and met Timothy Peters, a local late- model racing standout. The two became friends instantly and in 2000 Richmond gave up his own racing career to help Peters at the track.

“I was at a point in my racing career where I was not going anywhere,” said Richmond. “I jumped at the chance to work with Timothy with his dad being crew chief so I could learn. That year I began to find my niche as a crew chief instead of a driver.”

When Peters’ father passed away halfway through the 2001 season, the two 20-year-old Virginia natives kept racing, just as he would have wanted. The duo went on to capture over 30 victories, back-to-back Orange County Speedway Late Model Track Championships in North Carolina (2002 & 2003) and the 2004 Late Model Track Championship at South Boston Speedway in Virginia.

Then at the end of the 2004 season the duo got a call to test a NCTS entry at Pikes Peak International Raceway. As fate would have it Bobby Hamilton was at the same test and in similar fashion to how things work in the NASCAR circuit, a deal was put together.

“I went with Timothy to the test at Pikes Peak in December,” said Richmond. “Bobby (Hamilton) was there with his team and he started talking to us and before I knew it we were looking for an apartment in Nashville working for the defending NCTS Champion.”

Richmond served as Peters’ truck chief at BHR during the 2005 season. Then halfway through the 2006 season Hamilton Sr. made the decision to move him to crew chief. The move proved to be a smart one as the on-track performance improved immediately.

Later that season Peters moved on and Richmond began working with Dodge Development Driver Chase Miller. The two continued into the beginning of 2007 before numerous drivers took the wheel. Richmond worked with Miller, Kevin Hamlin, Joe Ruttman, Labonte and Bliss, but was still able to gain valuable knowledge and land some great performances with four top-five finishes.

“Last year was a dream season for us even though we didn’t win a race,” said Richmond. “We made huge gains throughout the season and it really paid off for us in the end. Working with five drivers in one season, trying to figure out the different driving styles and learn each drivers comfort zones was difficult at times, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I know it made me a better crew chief.”

This year Richmond’s stage is set for numerous wins and big finishes with Setzer behind the wheel of the No. 18 Dodge. The duo has known each other from late model racing and so the much-needed communication is already there.

“I had the opportunity to work with Dennis on occasion when he drove the No. 18 Dodge at the end of last year, but I have known Dennis for many years,” said Richmond. “I can remember Bobby Sr. talking about how great of a competitor he was to race against and we expect great things together in 2008.”