GARY DEHART - 03/17/1948
was a Crew Chief in the NASCAR CUP series for 12 years (1990-2004). His career as a crew chief began at Rick Hendrick Motorsports in 1990. He was hired to lead the effort of driver Greg Sacks in a limited "research & development" 15-race schedule with sponsor Slim Fast. With that program, Sacks won the Bud Pole for the 1990 Pepsi 400 at Daytona and contended for several race wins; posting a best finish of second at Talladega. DeHart became a full time crew chief for Hendrick in 1992 with driver Ricky Rudd at the wheel. He got one win in 1992 at Dover, and followed that with one more win 1993 (at Michigan). Rudd opted to depart the Hendrick stable after 1993 to form his own team, opening the door for Terry Labonte, who joined the program in 1994. He and Labonte got off to a quick start together, producing three victories in their first season and finishing seventh in points on the strength of 14 Top 10 finishes. They captured three
more wins in 1995 and finishes sixth in points; again having a consistent year posting 14 Top 5 finishes. Their uncanny consistency landed them the 1996 Cup championship with only two wins; but would have an astonishing 21 Top 5 finishes among them seven second place finishes. In their four years together, Labonte and DeHart forged eight victories before DeHart departed in 1997 to form his own business, building race cars. DeHart rejoined Hendrick and driver Terry Labonte in 2000 for two more season, but they never showed the magic from before; posting only a best finish of second at Richmond in 2000; while he combined for only four Top 5 finishes over that two year span. Over the next two seasons, DeHart only headed up a driver on nine occasions; recording a best finish of 24th with Kyle Busch in 2004. In 2007, it was announced that DeHart would join Ginn Racing operation (formerly MB2 Motorsports) as director of shop operations. On July 25, 2007, Ginn Racing announced it had merged with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and DEI employees assumed the major positions and DeHart was let go. For his career DeHart had 10 wins and the 1996 Championship.
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