Alan Gustafson

Alan Gustafson, currently serving as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief for Hendrick Motorsports, has made significant strides in the motor sports industry. His career trajectory includes directing the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Chase Elliott. A testament to his leadership and strategic acumen, Gustafson's team celebrated the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Prior to his current role, Gustafson was at the helm of the Hendrick's No. 24 car from 2011 to 2017, guiding the efforts of renowned speedsters like Jeff Gordon and Chase Elliott.

Before ascending to the No. 24 car, Gustafson managed the operations of the Hendrick's No. 5 car from 2005 to 2010. Here, he worked with notable drivers like Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, and Mark Martin. Under his leadership, the No. 9 team has consistently found themselves in the winner's circle, with five victories and a championship in 2020, and multiple wins in the succeeding years including 2019, 2021, and 2022. His tenure at Hendrick Motorsports, beginning in 2018, is marked by these significant victories and top finishes.

Despite the victories, Gustafson's journey in NASCAR has seen a few speed bumps, with a suspension in 2021 due to a pre-race inspection failure, and a four-race suspension in 2023 following the discovery of illegally modified hood louvers on the Hendrick cars. During these periods of suspension, Tom Gray stepped in as the interim crew chief for the No. 9 car. These instances, however, have not overshadowed Gustafson's substantial contributions to his team and the motor sports industry as a whole.