Wilburn replaces Pemberton at Penske
By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
December 5, 2001
10:32 AM EST (1532 GMT)
MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Bill Wilburn, a decade-long member of Rusty Wallace’s Penske Racing South pit crew, has been named to replace Robin Pemberton as crew chief for the Miller Lite Ford in 2002.
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Bill Wilburn
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Wilburn, a 35-year old Kernersville, N.C., native, has served 20 years of Winston Cup Series duty, making him the perfect successor to Pemberton’s position, one he held since 1995 but relinquished due to the grueling Winston Cup schedule.
"Bill Wilburn is a team player who has definitely paid his dues over the years and we feel that he can be a great crew chief," said Wallace, full-time driver and part owner of the No. 2 Ford. "Bill has abundant knowledge of our sport and has gathered plenty of business savvy from running his own sprint car team the last several years.
“He has the reputation of being the best tire changer in the business for years now and he deserves the opportunity to be the crew chief."
According to John Erickson, Penske Racing general manager, it has become standard policy to promote from within at Penske, making Wilburn the obvious choice.
As Wallace stated, Wilburn is currently a tire changer with the No. 2 team, and Wallace also said the he will likely remain in that role as an over-the-wall pit crew member despite his elevation to crew chief.
Wilburn began his career in the NASCAR Daytona Dash Series and his Winston Cup career dates back to the Cliff Stewart Racing Team in 1982.
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Robin Pemberton
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Wilburn was part of Stewart’s 1984 effort that helped then rookie driver Wallace win the rookie-of-the-year title. He worked with Mike Curb Motorsports from 1985 through 1987 and was a member of the Hendrick Motorsports organization from 1988 until 1991.
After working part-time with Miller Team Penske in 1992, he made the jump to full-time in September of that year. He returned to part-time status in recent years as he followed his dream as an aspiring sprint car owner/driver.
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime," said Wilburn. "I sincerely appreciate the confidence that Roger (Penske), Rusty, Don (Miller), Walt (Czarkecki) and everybody involved has in me and I plan on doing everything possible to make them proud of their choice for crew chief."
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Rusty Wallace
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Pemberton cited the lengthy schedule as the main reason he sought a change of pace. He is, however, expected to stay with the team until the end of the year.
"This is definitely as amicable a situation as possible," Pemberton said. "I’ve been on the road for 22 straight years and I’m ready for a change. My boys are growing up so fast and I’m really missing that side of life so much.
“I’m looking forward to staying in the sport, but in a position where I’m in the shop most of the time and not a road warrior any more."
Pemberton missed the Winston Cup race at Texas in 2001, citing fatigue.
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