PPI Motorsports gets another crew chief

HICKORY, N.C. (Oct. 12, 2000) Scott Pruett is getting the fourth crew chief of his inaugural season of competition in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Brad Parrott has left PPI Motorsports and is being replaced by Scott Houston as crew chief on the No. 32 Tide Fords, team owner Cal Wells III said Thursday.

Doug Richert began the year as crew chief for Pruett, but was replaced by Joe Garone. Parrott, son of Roush Racing team manager Buddy Parrott and brother of Todd Parrott, Dale Jarrett's crew chief, was named Pruett's crew chief July 3.

Brad Parrott was not with the team last week at the UAW-GM Quality 500. Wells said Thursday that Parrott and PPI had mutually agreed to part ways.

"Ultimately, our plans for the roles and responsibilities of a crew chief on this team did not quite fit together," Wells said. "With his ability and motivation, I know Brad will find a better fit with another program, and we wish him all the best."

Houston, 35, of Hickory, has worked as an engineering liaison for PPI for the past year. In August, Houston also served as crew chief for the team's NASCAR Busch Series effort with driver Chad Little at Michigan Speedway, where the team qualified 11th and finished 10th - its best performance to date.

Houston is a brother of Andy Houston, who recently was named to become a second NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver next season for PPI.