(Jan. 2006)--This year (2006) marks the 24th season in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the 13th in the crew chief role for 45-year-old Donnie Wingo, crew chief for the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger and driver Casey Mears. During his career, Wingo has amassed four victories, 42 top-five and 92 top-10 finishes in 437 races as crew chief.

Before landing the crew chief role in 1989 with Bud Moore Racing and driver Brett Bodine, Wingo worked as a crew member and mechanic with independent driver and team owner Jimmy Means, among other NASCAR competitors. After stepping into the crew chief role, he led driver Morgan Shepherd to victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1990. Wingo chalked up three more NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victories with Geoffrey Bodine (two in 1992 and one in 1993). Wingo has also worked with notable racers Todd Bodine, Jimmy Spencer, Ted Musgrave, Dick Trickle and Lake Speed

In 2003, Wingo joined Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates after a seven-year stint as crew chief with Hass Carter Motorsports. As rookie driver Jamie McMurray's crew chief during the 2003 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, Wingo led the Texaco/Havoline team to five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. The team scored one pole position and finished 13th in the final point standings, earning McMurray the 2003 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

Wingo led McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team to nine top-five and 23 top-10 finishes during the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. In addition, the No. 42 team finished 11th in 2004 NEXTEL Cup Series standings and earned a $1 million bonus as the highest finishing team outside of the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.

The 2005 season saw yet another solid outing for Wingo, McMurray and the Texaco/Havoline team. Together they recorded one pole, four top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes. Once again McMurray and crew were entrenched in a heated battle to make the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, only to come up a few points shy. They finished the season 12th in the overall standings.

The 2006 season signals the first with the Wingo and Mears combination. Having established himself as a consistent contender for victories as last season drew to a close, Mears is certain to make a breakthrough in '06 with Wingo calling the shots.