While Chase Elliott continues his quest for a Nationwide Series championship in 2014, JR Motorsports filled a major component to Elliott’s team for 2015.
Just one month after the announcement that current NAPA RACING crew chief Greg Ives would depart at season’s end to take over the No. 88 Sprint Cup Series team, JR Motorsports announced this week that Ernie Cope has been chosen to carry the torch in 2015.
Cope is the crew chief for JRM’s No. 5 team driven primarily by Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kasey Kahne. He is a three-time winner in 2014, and he’s a 12-time winner in a career that dates back to 2009.
With that ever-important box checked, Elliott and the NAPA team can return its focus on a title run, which continues this Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. “Thunder Valley” is a half-mile bullring located on the Tennessee/Virginia border. Elliott finished ninth there in March.
The 18-year-old rookie currently holds a 10-point lead in the driver standings over teammate Regan Smith with 11 races to go. He also leads Ty Dillon by 51 points in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
JR Motorsports PR
