Oakley's Mad Scientist, Jim Jannard, today announced that Scotty Cannon, driver of the
Oakley-sponsored Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing, will take over crew chief duties
from Phil Shuler for the remainder of the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, following
the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals.
Phil Shuler, who joined the team at the beginning of 2003, will become Head Mechanic.
Shuler had worked for Cannon previously for three years ('99-'01) and for John Force (end
of '01 and all of 2002).
"This is not as major a change as it may appear," said Jannard, "as both Scotty and Phil
have been working together so closely in the first half of the year. Basically, it means
that Scotty will make the final tune-up decisions on the Oakley Funny Car for the rest of
the year."
"I will take all responsibility as to how the car performs because I will have the last
call," said Cannon, the 1999 NHRA Rookie if the Year. "This is just the decision we had to
make. Phil has been with me forever. We care a lot about each other. There's a lot more
to being a crew chief than just making the last call. It's probably 10 percent of what a
crew chief does. I won't be doing a lot of other stuff, Phil still will."
