Ives named Dale Jr.’s crew chief for 2015

(Photo Courtesy of Henrickmotorsports.com)

Hendrick Motorsports announced on Wednesday that Bark River native and Michigan Tech University alumni Greg Ives will be the next crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. starting in 2015.

Ives has been with Hendrick Motorsports since 2004, when he joined the team as a mechanic. He has become one of the go to guys in the organization the last ten years.

Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said today that Ives was his #1 option to be Dale Jr.’s next crew chief.

“Greg immediately came to mind to me because he’s been in that shop, he knows those guys, he’s worked with Chad (Chad Knaus- the crew chief of the No. 48 car driven by Jimmie Johnson), and he’s proven he can win against the (Sprint) Cup guys,” said Hendrick. “He (Ives) is one of the sharpest engineers we’ve ever had. I think it was a match made in heaven.”

Dale Jr.’s current crew chief, Steve Latarte, is leaving Hendrick Motorsports after this season to be a NASCAR Analyst for NBC Sports Network.