RAB Racing has made an addition to its competition department with veteran crew chief Matt Lucas taking over the crew chief responsibilities for the No. 29 Toyota Camry for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) season. Lucas brings over 16 years of racing experience to RAB Racing, also winning two races in 2013 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with driver Matt Kenseth at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR).
“I’m really eager to join RAB Racing for the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season,” said Matt Lucas. “The team as a whole has shown tremendous potential the last few years, and I am looking forward to helping their program grow. I’m excited to help take them to the next level and foresee a lot more accomplishments on the horizon. Although I’ll be switching teams, I’m still glad to be part of the Toyota Racing family, and still be running the best powerplants in the sport, Joe Gibbs Racing Engines.”
“I think it goes without saying that we’re honored to be able to attract someone like Matt,” said owner Robby Benton. “I think bringing him into the fold at RAB Racing to be paired with Chris Rice, who continues to lead our No. 99 team, will produce immediate results and be of benefit to the whole organization. We’ve been able to attend a couple tests over the off season and I feel Matt has adapted to our team very well. I look forward to having him lead our No. 29 effort this season.”
Besides visiting victory lane twice in 2013 as a crew chief, Lucas has been atop the pit box for such drivers as Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers, Michael McDowell, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Truex, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Dylan Kwasniewski. In 2012 Lucas shared the No. 18 crew chief role with Adam Stevens at JGR and helped earn the NNS owner’s championship. Before becoming a crew chief, Lucas was the race engineer for the No. 18 NNS Toyota Camry with crew chief Jason Ratcliff, earning the 2010 NNS Owner’s Championship for Joe Gibbs Racing. Lucas was also the race engineer for Carl Edwards in 2007 when he won the NNS driver’s championship, and even won an IRL championship in 1998 with driver Kenny Brack.
To date, Lucas joins RAB Racing with two wins, 21 top-5 finishes, and 35 top-10 finishes in 49 starts as a crew chief, and 36 NNS wins as an engineer.
RAB Racing PR
