Drew Blickensderfer, Crew Chief of the No. 17 CitiFinancial Ford Fusion

Drew Blickensderfer began his racing career in Decatur, Ill., racing dirt UMP modifieds at his local racetrack. With fuel-for-the-fire from a neighbor who also raced, and the help of his uncle, Blickensderfer built his own cars and raced around the local Illinois area in his UMP modified car. Only a preview of what was to come, Blickensderfer was laying the foundation for what would be an enviable career in racing.

He's come a long way since those days. After spending four years attending college in pursuit of sports management and kinesiology degrees on a wrestling scholarship as an All-American, Blickensderfer made the move to the Charlotte, N.C., area to pursue his racing career.

Once he made it to Charlotte, he decided he had his sights set on becoming a crew chief. Since his move in 1999, he has worked toward that goal.

His first job in the sport came with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2002, where he was a mechanic and rear-tire changer on the No. 1 NEXTEL Cup car. His next opportunity came with Bill Davis Racing, as he took a position working on the set-up of the No. 22 Cup car and changing rear tires on race-day.

After three years between the two teams, Blickensderfer got an opportunity with Roush Fenway Racing on Mark Martin’s No. 6 NEXTEL Cup car working on set-up and again changing rear tires. He worked for a year with the No. 6 Cup team until he was offered a position as car chief on Martin’s No. 9 NASCAR Busch Series entry.

From 2004-2005, Blickensderfer has worked on both the No. 6 and No. 9 Martin entries, giving him two-and-a-half years experience in the pits with Roush Fenway Racing.

Blickensderfer achieved his goal in 2006, taking over as crew chief of the No. 50 World Financial Group/Stonebridge Life Insurance Ford Fusion with driver Danny O’Quinn, Jr. The two had a successful year with O’Quinn claiming Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2007, Blickensderfer will took over for Jimmy Fennig as crew chief of the No. 17 Arby’s Ford Fusion in the Busch Series for Roush Fenway Racing. In only the second race of the season Blickensderfer went to victory lane for the first time as a crew chief when Matt Kenseth won the Stater Brothers 300 at California Speedway.

This season Blickensderfer is back with Kenseth, as well as Erik Darnell and Jamie McMurray as crew chief of the No. 17 CitiFinancial Ford Fusion.