Our interview with the #2 Crew Chief, Paul Wolfe
April 3rd, 2015
Michelle Hoskin
This month we are taking a few minutes to interview some of NASCAR’S main men…the Crew Chiefs. This week we are featuring Paul Wolfe, CC of the #2 Team Penske driver, Brad Keselowski.
Paul himself is a former driver. He competed in the NASCAR Busch North Series between 2000 and 2004, and in the Busch Series between 2003 and 2005. In 2010, Wolfe joined Penske Racing as crew chief of Brad Keselowski’s #22 Discount Tire Dodge. Paul Wolfe and Brad Keselowski won the Nationwide series championship in 2010, giving Roger Penske his first NASCAR title of any kind.
In 2011, Wolfe remained with Penske, reuniting with Brad in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, replacing Jay Guy. Paul and Brad got their first victory together in the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway, edging Dale Earnhardt Jr. by stretching their fuel mileage. Later in the season, the duo also won at Pocono, and Bristol, propelling the #2 team into the Chase.
In 2012, Wolfe led Penske Racing to its first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, and making Wolfe the first NASCAR Crew Chief to win championships in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series.
On March 2, 2014, Wolfe’s wife Aleah gave birth to their first child, Caden Paul. As a result, Wolfe did not serve as Keselowski’s crew chief at The Profit on CNBC 500 that day. (1)
Paul and the #2 Penske car…
Our Interview:
Michelle: If you weren’t involved in racing in general, what do you think you would have done for a living?
Paul Wolfe: I was a state certified welder in New York so, probably a welding and fabrication job. NASCAR is my dream job.
M: In terms of racing style, are you and Brad on the same page or is it an ongoing building relationship?
Paul: We are very much on the same page, which is what attracted us to want to work together. We continue to build on it over time to become stronger.
M: I know you have been with Team Penske since 2010, who were you with prior to this?
Paul: I worked for multiple Xfinity teams.
M: What’s the hardest/worst part of being CC?
Paul: Continuing to develop new ideas to find more speed out of the race car when you have had success with.
Paul and Brad Keselowski…
M: What’s the best part of being CC?
Paul: It has to be raceday, see if all the hard work pays off, and the strategy part of the job.
M: Your own history in racing?
Paul: Grew up going to dirt tracks in NY, raced go karts as a kid, and had opportunity to drive Busch North series, and what was the Busch series.
M: Your HONEST opinion of the latest (2015) NASCAR rule changes?
Paul: Haven’t seen a big difference, the adjustable track bar has helped teams if they miss adjust cars during the race.
M: Your family?
Paul: I have great parents that support me. I’m married and have a son.
M: Your favorite racers growing up?
Paul: Geoff Bodine, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon
M: What motivates you to get up in the morning?
Paul: I am fortunate to go to work doing something I love.
M: What do you do to ‘destress’ after a bad day at the track?
Paul: Spend time with my family, spend time cycling.
External Links:
@Team_Penske
http://www.teampenske.com/
References:
- Bonkowski, Jerry (March 2, 2014). “Updated: Brad Keselowski will be without crew chief Paul Wolfe for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race in Phoenix”. NBC Sports. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
