Stewart expected to name Grubb crew chief of No. 14

FONTANA, Calif. -- Tony Stewart mentioned during the week on his SIRIUS radio show that he's settled on a crew chief for the No. 14 Chevrolet he'll drive for Stewart-Haas Racing next year.

Tony Stewart

"We're going to announce it next weekend on Friday [at Richmond]," Stewart confirmed at Auto Club Speedway.

Stewart is expected to name Darian Grubb, who coordinates at-track engineering for Hendrick Motorsports, to the position. During Chad Knaus' four-race suspension to start the 2006 season, Grubb subbed for Knaus as crew chief for Jimmie Johnson, who won the Daytona 500, finished second at Fontana, won at Las Vegas and finished sixth at Atlanta during that stretch.

Grubb served as Casey Mears' crew chief in 2007 and notched a victory in the Coca-Cola 600.

Stewart said deciding on a crew chief was a difficult task, particularly after the long association he's had with Greg Zipadelli at Joe Gibbs Racing.

"It's very hard," Stewart said. "It's a relationship. Zippy and I have been together for 10 years, which is longer than I've had a girlfriend for."