Racing
By GREG ZYLA

2-time Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart listens intently to crew chief Greg Zipadelli. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press photo)

Q: Greg, I enjoy your racing columns very much. I am writing about Greg Zipadelli and his job as a crew chief for Joe Gibbs Racing and the Tony Stewart Home Depot car. What was his racing background before he came to NASCAR's Nextel Cup division, and what was his first job in Cup racing? - Henry H., retired, New Port Richey, Fla.

A: Henry, Greg Zipadelli is a Berlin, Conn., native who first began working on an asphalt Modified stock car owned by his father at the tender age of 7. Prior to his 15th birthday, Greg was helping prepare the modified race cars for his family-owned Sherwood Racing Team.

In 1988, at the age of 20, Zipadelli guided Mike "Magic Shoes" McLaughlin to the NASCAR Winston Modified Series Championship. The team won five times and scored 15 top-five finishes. (The series is now known as the Whelen Modified Tour). Two years later, McLaughlin was offered a ride in the NASCAR Busch North Series with well-known New England car owner Mike Greci. At the request of McLaughlin, Greci hired Zipadelli as crew chief, and the team recorded five wins between 1990 and 1993.

McLaughlin departed Greci's operation at the end of the 1993 season, but Zipadelli stayed with the team in 1994 and 1995 and worked with several series drivers. Zipadelli's determination paid off in 1996, when another modified standout, driver Mike Stefanik, joined the Busch North team with considerable sponsorship backing. While no wins were recorded that year, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes laid the groundwork for a championship season in 1997. Stefanik won the Busch North title that year with two wins, 14 top-five finishes and 16 top-10 finishes, giving Zipadelli his second NASCAR touring series championship.

In 1998, at the age of 29, Zipadelli decided it was time to head south to join Roush Racing's Cup operation as the chassis specialist for the No. 99 team of driver Jeff Burton. With Zipadelli's great recommendations for chassis setups, Burton won twice, scored 18 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes and to finish fifth in points.

When team owner Joe Gibbs began laying the groundwork for a second team with Tony Stewart behind the wheel to join his Interstate Batteries No. 18 team, he conferred with veteran Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief Jimmy Makar as to who would be the best choice to lead the No. 20 Home Depot Racing Team. Makar's quick answer and strong recommendation was Greg Zipadelli.

Gibbs didn't hesitate, and the rest is history.

With two Nextel championships already in the books with Stewart, three seems a logical bet for "Zippy," as he's known in the garage area.

Zipadelli makes his home in Mooresville, N.C., with his wife Nan, son Zachary and daughter Elwina Sophia.

Thanks for the nice comments, Henry, and enjoy your retirement.

Write to Greg Zyla in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475, or send an e-mail to letters.kfws@hearstsc.com.

(c) 2006 King Features Synd., Inc.