Keeping Track: Area Native Steve Ellis Nominated as NASCAR's
Top Wrench
by Dino Oberto
When Steve Ellis left his home in Eckley
(Pa.) and headed south to pursue a career in NASCAR some 20
years ago, little did he realize then that he would be
considered to be among the best at his skill as a mechanic but
that is just the case.
40-year old Ellis has been nominated as a
finalist in the 1st annual NASCAR Craftsman Wrenchman of the
Year. Craftsman and NASCAR have chosen eight finalists from the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to be in the spotlight and give them
the recognition they deserve.
The nominee who receives the most votes
because he best embodies the attributes of trust, quality,
knowledge and innovation will earn the title of being the NASCAR
Craftsman Wrenchman of the Year.
Ellis is the shop foreman for the No. 33
Cheerios/Hamburger Helper/BB&T Racing team in Richard Childress
Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series shop in Welcome, N.C. He is
responsible for the day-to-day assembly of the Chevrolet Impala
SS race cars for driver Clint Bowyer, working directly with crew
chief Shane Wilson, car chief Chad Haney, and Royce McGee, RCR’s
general manager/Sprint Cup Series shop.
“I showed up for work one Monday morning
and my manager who is over me had told myself and the three
other guys on the team that we’ve been nominated for the
Craftsman Wrenchman of the Year,” said Ellis, a 1988 graduate of
Bishop Hafey High School and 1989 grad of Williamsport School of
Technology.
“It was surprising and exciting and I just
never thought. I just go to work every day and do my job like I
normally do and didn’t think I was any better than anyone else.
It’s very exciting to be nominated among eight other peers.”
Other finalists are Andrew Mason, Greg Cooke and Ruch Burgess
who too work at RCR. Also in the running are Kevin Pennell and
Jeff Meendering from Stewart Hass Racing, Matt Earnest from
Robby Gordon Motorsports and Greg Osborne from Gernain Racing.
“The award will celebrate and reward the
everyday heroes of NASCAR who exemplify the attributes of the
Craftsman brand both in the garage and at home,” Matt McDonnell,
manager of brand development Craftsman, said in a news release.
“It’s also the perfect opportunity to establish a personal
connection for the fans with important crew members who
typically don’t get to step into the spotlight.”
The 2009 season is Ellis’ first in the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after working for six seasons in
Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race shop.
He was part of two championship seasons with the RCR Nationwide
car, 2008 with Bowyer and 2006 with Kevin Harvick.
Since assuming the new responsibilities
with a brand new program and a new race team, Ellis never
skipped a beat.
“I see all of the day-to-day operations,
all the handling and the business of the 33 car. There really
was no difference going from the Nationwide to the Cup team.
There basically almost the same deal except the COT bodies on
the car. We run pretty much the same parts. The set-ups are a
little different and a few of the things we do on the COT car
you don’t do on the Nationwide car,” said Ellis.
“I worked with Shane Wilson in the
Nationwide shop and we won the championship in 2006 together
with Kevin Harvick. We have a real good working relationship. We
talk day-to-day. Sunday’s before the race he’ll call me and I’ll
let him know what went on while he was gone. That’s the key
part, you have the communication.”
Ellis had been with other teams but since
being hired at RCR eight years ago he feels as though he has
found his home.
“I guess it all just fell into place the
way it all happened for me. Over the years I worked for
different teams. Then one of the crew chiefs I had worked for on
another team left to become a crew chief on one of Richard’s
(Childress) Nationwide team and he gave me a call. The next you
know I show up there to work and before long I was running the
shop,” recalled Ellis.
“We’ve won a few championships and it’s
been a great deal so far and I’ve been very fortunate and
lucky.”
Working for Richard Childress, one of the
most famous team owners in NASCAR, is also been an honor for
Ellis.
“He’s (Childress) a very smart man and he’s
been very successful over the years. Working for him is a great
opportunity and it’s a great organization to work for.”
Ellis is a true representative of the
inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Wrenchman Award through the
dedication and commitment he brings to his position at Richard
Childress Racing.
“You can never be too comfortable. The
technology changes so much so you can’t get to comfortable in
the position. You have to stay up to date on everything. You go
to the wind tunnel with the car and have to stay up on a lot of
chassis stuff. I like to learn all those different departments
because that makes it better for me. I always want to learn more
because it just makes me a better asset.
“Considering all the teams that had an
opportunity to be in and then finalizing it to eight people, to
me that’s a victory. Win or lose, it’s the first year that
Craftsman has ever done this and to be one of eight is a great
accomplishment.”
Source: Dino Oberto/Keeping
Track
Posted: October
15, 2009