Veteran crew chief Doug Richert is entering his first year with Dale Earnhardt Inc.’s No. 01 race team, though he has deep-rooted ties to the legendary organization.

In 1980 Richert became Dale Earnhardt’s crew chief, helping lead the legendary driver to three victories and a Winston Cup Championship. At just 20 years of age, while working with Earnhardt, Richert became the youngest crew chief to ever claim NASCAR’s highest prize.

Prior to joining Dale Earnhardt Inc. this season, Richert called the shots for the Red Bull Racing team and driver Brian Vickers, collecting five top-10 and one top-five finish in 19 starts. Before joining Red Bull, Richert served as crew chief for Roush Racing’s No. 16 Cup team, where he led Greg Biffle to five wins and a second-place finish in the point standings in 2005. In addition, the duo took the Daytona 500 pole and two wins ( Michigan , Homestead ) in 2004.

Prior to his Cup duties, Richert served as crew chief of Carl Edward’s No. 99 Craftsman Truck entry in 2003, winning three races in just 16 starts.

In 2001, Richert joined Joe Gibbs Racing as crew chief for its Busch Series program with Jeff Purvis. The team showed immediate results, picking up one top-five and six top-10s in 17 races.

In addition to his success with Earnhardt, Richert spent 20 years working with other legendary drivers such as Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker and Neil Bonnett. Richert won two Winston Cup races with Bonnett in 1985 and went to work with owner Junior Johnson and driver Darrell Waltrip in 1981.

Working alongside fellow crew chiefs Jeff Hammond and Mike Hill, the three men led Waltrip to the 1982 championship.

Richert got his start in motorsports building cars for short-track racing in California . In 1976, the team he worked with decided to try its hand at Winston Cup racing and headed east to race against drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty.