r/NASCAR • u/nascar NASCAR • May 31 '15
AMA I am Darian Grubb, Crew Chief of Carl Edwards – Ask Me Anything!
I am Darian Grubb, crew chief of Carl Edwards No. 19 Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Ask me anything!
From Darian: Thanks for all the great questions! I appreciate it. –-DG
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u/johnnyracer24 May 31 '15
Welcome Darian. How does it feel to be the crew chief for the guy that you had to go against back in 2011 for the championship?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"It's been good so far. Still learning personalities but can't wait to win one with him." --DG
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u/Elleck Jun 02 '15
Hasn't this already happened? 0.o
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u/xman813 May 31 '15
Hi Darian! Congrats on that call to get the 600 win!
Question: How do you view the risk vs reward on the guys tightening all 5 lugs or going with less?
Thanks for the AMA.
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Every decision we make has a risk vs. reward. It's all about performance at the time and what you can gain." --DG
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u/InspiredByKITTENS May 31 '15
How scared are you that Carl is gonna not make it on his backflip one day and seriously injure his head/neck? Cuz frankly, I'm terrified.
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May 31 '15
[deleted]
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Biggest thing was the time. Getting to know each other and what Carl wants in a race car." --DG
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u/Coach93 May 31 '15
What key changes did you make for the chase to help Tony win the 2011 championship?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Actually, none. Just kept doing the same things we were doing and work closely as a team." --DG
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u/PaulRingo64 May 31 '15
Hello Darian, You have worked with so many drivers, and won with all of them. Who would you say was the biggest influence on yourself while working up the ranks?
Thanks for your time.
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Probably too many to list specifically, but people from Dale Inman to Richard Petty, Robbie Loomis and Chad Knaus. Learned a lot from a lot of different areas." --DG
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u/Getting_Groceries Kurt Busch May 31 '15
Darian, I think you're one of the best crew chiefs in the business, so thanks for answering some questions. What's the most difficult part about switching from one driver to another? Also, I've heard from an interview you did that you didn't always want to be a NASCAR crew chief when you were in college. What made you make up your mind to go in that direction and how did you get your foot in the door?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Foot in the door was just being in the right place at the right time. I really enjoyed the crew I was working with. I just got the opportunity and realized how fun it would be.
Learning communication and what each driver wants in the race car to maximize performance is a difficult part of swapping drivers." --DG
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u/ZachKearns Chase Elliott Jun 01 '15
How often do you get off-time to spend with your family where you don't have to even think about the team, cars, or anything NASCAR related?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"I get a few hours a week. I try to maximize that time as much as possible. With a 2 and 6 year old, time is precious." --DG
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u/A_Festivus_Miracle Jun 01 '15
Hokie engineering alumnus here! What's your favorite VT memory?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Working late nights in the lab on the baja car and trips to El Rodeo for good Mexican food with good friends." --DG
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u/Yoshiman400 Jun 01 '15
What was a better 600 win for you: with Carl this year, or with Casey in 2007?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"I say Casey in 2007 was really special because it was my first full season as a crew chief and with a team I built by myself." --DG
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u/Yoshiman400 Jun 02 '15
Awesome! Thank you for answering so soon, Darian! That's still one of my favorite wins from that period too.
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u/Deacon46 Chris Buescher May 31 '15
How stressful are fuel mileage races for you?
Do you know the situation exactly or are you just sitting and hoping?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Not very. We have a pretty good system to know where we are at and expect each week. Every race is a fuel milage race in some aspect." --DG
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u/NewberryMathGuy May 31 '15
What track do you most look forward to visiting due to the atmosphere?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Bristol night race. Not even close. The crowd and noise with everybody looking at you is awesome." --DG
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u/wertftw Stewart Jun 01 '15
Hi Darian!
What emotions were you going through when you won the Daytona 500 with Jimmie in 2006 as his interim crew chief? Were you surprised that you pulled it off?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Proud. It was an awesome team I've been on for several years, so it was basically winning with friends." --DG
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u/thenascarguy Jun 01 '15
Can you compare the pre-race meals of Tony, Denny, and Carl?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Obviously Carl is Subway. Never really paid much attention to Tony or Denny's." --DG
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May 31 '15
What has been the biggest difference going from being crew chief for Denny Hamlin to Carl Edwards?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Communication and driver knowledge. Trying to bring Carl into the JGR fold." --DG
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u/Gus_TheAnt May 31 '15
Thanks for doing an AMA!
What's the most challenging track for you as a crew chief to get the setup in the car just right? What makes it so difficult?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Pocono. It's high speed but multiple corners and all different (kinds) of bankings." --DG
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May 31 '15
What is your favorite race victory or win that you're most proud of?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Homestead, 2011. The win and the Championship. It doesn't get much better than that." --DG
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u/kswervedirt Suárez Jun 01 '15
Hey man! Thanks for your time! Could you give us an interesting story about coach Gibbs that sticks out in your mind? I greatly admire his life accomplishments so hearing something from behind the scenes would be pretty cool. Have a good day and good luck this year. I'm pulling for you!
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Just hearing his football analogies for every situation whenever at the race track. If we think we are stressed, he's been there before." --DG
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u/Chrisguy50 Chase Elliott Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian! Thanks for stopping by!
What was it like to be the substitute crew chief for Jimmie Johnson's first Daytona 500 win? Anything from that day in particular that still sticks out to you?
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u/Magnaflux Jun 01 '15 edited Jun 01 '15
How big a relief was it to win a Charlotte last weekend? Also, when you were announced Carl's Crew Chief, were there some laughs in the garage between you and Carl regarding the 2011 championship run? Thanks for the AMA!
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Yes, it was a huge relief to get the monkey off our back and get the win. And yes, we always joke about 2011." --DG
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u/papadoc03 DiBenedetto Jun 01 '15
Hi Darian! Do you have any relation to the old Busch Grand National drivers Kevin and Wayne Grubb?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Actually no. But my dad's name is Duayne and I do have a brother named Kevin. Both families are in the construction industry in VA." --DG
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Jun 01 '15 edited Jun 01 '15
Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions, Darian.
If you had the opportunity to travel through time and work with any driver in NASCAR's history, who would you pick to work with and why?
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u/N0Fear88 Earnhardt Jr. Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian! There are certain tracks that are often referred to as being a "driver's track" (as in a track where a driver is in the most control of the outcome).
This brings us to my question: What are some tracks that you consider to be a crew chief's track?
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"It's a little bit of everything. Every track has its unique aspects that matter for driver and crew chief set up." --DG
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Jun 01 '15
Hi Darian,
I'm curious, as a crew chief who has moved from Hendrick, to SHR, to Gibbs, how much insider knowledge does a crew chief take with them when they leave a team? I imagine someone at your level would know stuff about setups and R&D direction, so how does that affect the team you leave, and the team you go to? Thanks!
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"You can never unlearn aspects that you feel are important, but you also respect the carnal knowledge of each organization." --DG
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u/AnAnonymousDuck Chase Elliott Jun 01 '15
Good day Darian, pleasure seeing you on our little corner of the internet. Thank you for stopping by!
You have worked with many different drivers for many different teams for many years and everywhere you go you seem to win. One thing I heard come up during the 600 was just how good you were with managing fuel mileage, so my question draws from that.
So, How are you so good with fuel mileage races, and what do you feel it is the most important thing for you, as a crew chief, to do to have your driver save as much as possible?
Good luck on the rest of your season!
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u/ClassicMach Jun 01 '15
Hey, Darian. Congrats on the win. I hope Carl took you out for ice cream and volunteered to drive.
I don't have a question, I just thought that was a very big precedent Carl set and I hope he stuck with it.
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Jun 01 '15
What is the craziest strategy call you've ever made that ended up working? (Or not working?)
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May 31 '15 edited Mar 07 '18
[deleted]
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"I'll do my best! But so far we are just using his laptop to keep up with our data." --DG
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u/racingschoolguy NASCAR May 31 '15
Hey Darian! Will you ever be in the broadcast booth? Is broadcasting something you're interested in?
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u/AJAllmenhavedingers May 31 '15
Hi Darian, this is a two part question, what was the biggest obstacle getting up to speed with a brand new team in your opinion and also, given the teams association, did you get one of those unlimited Subway cards like Happy Gilmore did? Thanks!
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u/sketchy1poker Earnhardt Sr. May 31 '15
do you ever tease carl for beating him in 2011? finally, what's your favorite burger joint?
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u/wapu Johnson May 31 '15
Hi Darian! I don't have a question, but wanted to tell you I really respect you as a crew chief. I think what you did with Tony Stewart and winning the championship like you did was one of the greatest racing experiences of my life. The 2011 season is when my wife got into NASCAR, Trevor Bayne winning Daytona, Jimmie eliminated and then what you did with Tony. It brought our family closer and we owe a big part of that you.
Thank you for giving us that!
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u/nascar NASCAR Jun 02 '15
"Thank you for your support. It's fans like you that make us want to go through this grind every day. It's what makes the sport go around." --DG
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u/CEFan4Ever19 Chris Buescher May 31 '15
Hi Darian!!! I just want to say that you're an awesome crew chief!!! I'm grateful to have you as a crew chief for my favorite driver! My question is: what is your favorite music, tv show, and movie? Thanks! Congrats on the win and good luck this year!
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u/baphelps18 Hamlin Jun 01 '15
How much did you have to change your strategy and approach as a crew chief when switching from a Chevy team to a Toyota team?
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u/BlueRidge95 Edwards Jun 01 '15
Hi Darian, congrats on the BIG 600 Win!
I was wondering, what do you think are the #19 Team's greatest strengths & what areas are in need of the most improvement after the first 13 races?
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Jun 01 '15
What drivers you haven't been within the same organizations that you have worked for that you'd find intriguing to work with?
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u/gmlubetech Edwards Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian, what does Carl think of this year's rules package with less hp as compared to the one from previous years?
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u/tomtom615 Go FAS Racing Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian, thanks for doing the AMA.
What is something you would like to be able to do to help Carl that you are unable to do now because of the rules?
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Jun 01 '15
Hi Darian! Always admired you as a crew chief since you won with Jimmie in 2006 at the Daytona 500. My question for you is about regrets. Is there one race in particular that you think back on and regret a decision/call you made that cost you and if so, what race was it and what would you change about it? Thanks for coming by!
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u/Pamela-Handerson Chase Elliott Jun 01 '15 edited Jun 01 '15
How tough was it to pour all of your efforts into your 2011 championship run, knowing that you weren't coming back the next season?
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u/mikered30 Hamlin Jun 01 '15
Do you think NASCAR will make any changes this year to make the cars have more mechanical grip?
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u/TheLibertarianThomas Jun 01 '15
Hi, Darian! Thanks for doing this AMA!
What do you and the 19 crew do to get motivated/pumped for a race?
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u/AllenBedgood Team Penske Jun 01 '15
First off - thanks for taking the time to do this.
Second - How much do you believe momentum Playa a role in racing? You won the Coke 600 and had a really solid weekend overall in Dover.
Finally - Are you guys building new cars and finding speed like Roush is?
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u/-internets Green Flag Jun 01 '15
Thanks for doing this! My question is something that I've wondered for a long time, and that is: How necessary for safety do you think competition cautions are and how much do you guys actually learn about tire wear from them?
Do you think they are necessary, or would the series be just fine without them? Thanks and good luck with the rest of the season!
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u/nascargo19 Jun 01 '15
After struggling so much in the early part of 2011, what was the biggest thing that propelled you and Tony to win 5 of the last 10 races along with the championship?
edit: this was posted 8 hours ago? How did I miss it until now?
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u/YouHadMeAtDucks Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian! Roanoker and VT alum here, always love seeing a Floyd native doing such big things :) Thanks for the 600 win back 07, one of the greatest moments in my life!
Now my question... you've been with three of the biggest raceteams in your career (HMS, SHR, and JGR). I'm sure you don't want to discuss specifics, but I'd love generalizations on how different the mindsets in the garage/raceshops differ. Do you find more teams are more intense, more focused, or more laid back as a whole?
Thanks for doing an AMA! Looking forward to reading your responses :)
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Jun 01 '15
Which Gibbs sponsor tastes the best: Subway, Denny's Denny's, M&M's, Skittles, or Monster Energy.
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u/UrdnotWrex1232 May 31 '15
I've got two questions. What's your favorite victory you were a part of, and what's Carl's favorite Subway sandwich?
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u/EpicCheesyTurtle Larson May 31 '15 edited May 31 '15
Hello Darian, thanks for the AMA! What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Edit: Also, would you rather fight 1 horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?
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u/firemanguy4 Earnhardt Sr. May 31 '15
What is your thoughts on the weights falling off the cars? It's getting me a bit worried.
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u/racsan24 Black Cross Flag May 31 '15
Hi, Darian. Which driver do you think has been the most enjoyable to work with through your career?
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u/thenascarguy Jun 01 '15
Can we finally find out what Tony's "dead weight" was in 2011?
What would you do to the rules package to increase competition if you were put in charge for a day?
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Jun 01 '15
What is the best part about your job? Also can we race each other at go pro motorplex in June? Josh wise and Scott speed took us up on the offer last time and it was amazing! anyways congrats on the win last week! Final question, is there a way we can order a signed diecast from Gibbs with yours and Carl's signature? Thanks!
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u/dalejarrett1999 Newman Jun 01 '15
Darian,
Can you explain why teams have moved to shock springs instead traditional bump stops?
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u/alevin431 Jarrett Jun 01 '15
Darian, what would you be doing with your life if you weren't working in NASCAR?
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Jun 02 '15
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u/beezwacks Six-Time Jun 02 '15
Please contact the moderators ASAP to verify this account, or these responses will be removed. We have to ensure for our subscribers that you are who you say you are.
Thanks for understanding.
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u/JOE619 Harvick Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian, nice to see you swing by
As A Crew Chief, what are the preparations that you take to endure the mental and physical stress of the race weekend. I've always wondered how you guys are able to control so many moving parts, and stay relatively calm throughout the race weekend, despicably if you've been having a bad race.
I appreciate your time!
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u/gamedemon24 Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian, thanks for taking the time to stop by!
Is there any one win that sticks out above the rest in your mind?
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u/BumpNRun18 Kyle Busch Jun 01 '15 edited Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian, first off my dad who is a die hard Stewart fan asked me to personally thank you for winning the 2011 championship.
My questions for you are,
1.How do you like working with the new rules package of 2015, what improvements would you like to see to the package in 2016, or would you keep things the same?
2.Do you have any songs that get you pumped on raceday?
3.If Doc Brown showed up with his delorian time machine and offered to take you back to crew chief for any driver of the past, who would you pick and why?
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u/dj10show Kyle Busch Jun 01 '15
It looks like the Gibbs cars run with a dash surround that's similar to the stock Camry, especially where the master switch is. Any particular reason why JGR chooses to do that? Given that most teams use carbon fiber now, is the weight for these pretty looking surrounds negligible?
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Jun 01 '15
Hi Darian, thanks for joining us and answering some questions!
Do you think NASCAR can realistically create a rules package that would succeed in getting the cars off the track and therefore making them much less aero-dependent?
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u/ChampMcNair Gant Jun 01 '15
Hi Darian,
Thanks for taking the time out for us. My question's are about data. What kind of data do you have access to during the race about your car and the competition? Do teams regularly do any kind of statistical analysis during the race to determine strategy? What is the data crunch like at the shop after the race?
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Jun 01 '15
Hey Darian,
What other races do you feel like your team can win this season, and how far do you think you'll get in the chase?
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Jun 02 '15
Hello Darian,
What are your thoughts on the new meetings between drivers and NASCAR execs, the first of which has just happened? Do you feel they could be the incubator for sweeping changes to the sport (eg. changing tracks on the schedule, substantial changes to aerodynamics setups like Richard Petty suggested or changes to the rules by NASCAR that for all debris cautions said debris must be shown on camera)... or do you think they end up just being talking shops where drivers' feedback is heard, but decisions are made regardless of what was said?
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u/Jensaarai Bill Elliott Jun 02 '15
Can you ever forgive my for my DarianGrub photoshop? I've used it in discussion threads on multiple websites to comment on your strategy calls... a lot.
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u/beezwacks Six-Time Jun 02 '15
I think the headphones hanging down are the best part. Nice ick factor. 10/10 would shudder again.
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u/Jensaarai Bill Elliott Jun 02 '15
Race threads + alcohol + Photoshop = ______________
To be fair to myself, I usually only break out The Darian Grub to highlight clever strategy calls by our AMA subject.
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u/_AmericanPoutine Jun 02 '15 edited Jun 02 '15
Hello Darian!
With all the talk about the 2015 rules package, how much has the new rules played into the way a car is setup from last year to this year? Has it changed your ability to take more risks on fuel mileage?
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u/Emerald_Triangle Johnson Jun 02 '15
When fishing, what is the best bait to use?
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Jun 02 '15
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u/beezwacks Six-Time Jun 02 '15
This account has not been verified. Moderators will message /u/dariangrubb to verify.
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u/Thestiffone1 Hamlin Jun 02 '15
Did you have a say in changing teams? We're you and Hamlin not working well? Or was it all coaches idea to change everyone around? Any way congrats on the win at Charlotte.
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u/CokeTastesGood39 Jun 02 '15
Hi Darian! Huge fan for a while now!
What was it like on the pit box during the final few laps of the Coke 600?
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u/beezwacks Six-Time Jun 02 '15
Hi Darian! Thanks for stopping by! Carl is my #2 driver, and it's been nice to see his reputation improving around here (NASCAR fans have looooooooooooong memories, as you probably know).
My question is: can you describe the differences in feedback that Carl vs Tony vs Denny provide you during races?
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u/DarkMoon83 Larson May 31 '15
Hello Darian, thanks for stopping by.
When you left SHR on top after 2011, do you and Tony still stay in close contact with each other and talk every now and then? Also, what's one of craziest things you have ever seen happen in the pits? Thanks again!