Hendrick quashes rumors

Team owner Rick Hendrick said before Sunday’s race at Phoenix that there’s no basis to rumors of impending crew chief changes among his four NASCAR Sprint Cup teams.

“That’s right — no changes,” said Hendrick, who swapped crew chiefs among three of his teams at the end of the 2010 season, leaving only the combination of driver Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus intact. “I don’t know where any of that came from, but there’s not going to be any changes.

“Nobody’s even discussed anything. Everybody’s pretty happy with what we’ve got… good momentum in the Chase and winning races. Take the things like blown tires and engines out of the equation, and it’s one of the best Chases we’ve had, so there’s no reason to change anything.”