Richard Childress Racing has signed Drew Blickensderfer, formerly of Roush Fenway Racing, as its newest crew member addition. Blickensderfer will serve as crew chief for Jeff Burton in the team's No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet.
Last week, RCR announced the first of its shifting of team personnel, with Shane Wilson moving to be crew chief on Kevin Harvick's No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet. Wilson departed the fourth RCR team, previously driven by Clint Bowyer, while Harvick's former crew chief Gil Martin was named as director of team operations.
Luke Lambert served as Burton's interim crew chief in the second half of a disappointing season, supplanting Todd Berrier in the role. Burton wound up 20th in the final standings with only two top-five finishes, with a best of second in the fall Talladega race.
Blickensderfer's tenure at Roush lasted nearly a decade. He worked as David Ragan's crew chief this year, and while Ragan recorded his first career win at Daytona in July, Roush is expected to shutter his foremost No. 6 Ford due to the loss of UPS sponsorship. Blickensderfer also had success with Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth in the Nationwide ranks.
"I'm excited about the move to RCR and the opportunity to help lead Jeff Burton and the team back into Chase contention," said Blickensderfer. "I was around Jeff briefly at RFR and always admired and liked him. He's a very talented driver and I look forward to working him and the rest of the #31 team in 2012."