Todd Berrier will return to Furniture Row Racing as a crew chief for Martin Truex Jr. in Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway, subbing for the suspended Cole Pearn.
Berrier worked at Furniture Row Racing from July 2012 through the end of 2014 season when he left to become the director of fabrication at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Pearn was suspended because of a roof flap violation discovered in prerace inspection at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The team was allowed to defer the suspension while appealing. It announced Tuesday afternoon the appeal had been dropped.
Team president Joe Garone said he met with NASCAR officials and received clarification on the penalty, adding he “was appreciative of the sanctioning body’s cooperation on this matter.”
Berrier will call strategy for Truex’s No. 78 Toyota in an arrangement that makes sense given that JGR has a technical alliance with FRR through Toyota Racing Development.
Pearn was Berrier’s lead engineer while he worked at FRR on Chevrolets driven by Regan Smith, Kurt Busch and Truex.
“Being able to secure the services of Todd for Phoenix was an incredible and selfless gesture by Joe Gibbs Racing,” Garone said in a release. “We are very proud to have a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing and are deeply grateful for its quick response to offer assistance. I also want to thank Todd. He has plenty on his plate and to go the extra mile to help us out is appreciated by everyone at Furniture Row Racing.
“I don’t see this being anymore than a seamless transition of Todd taking over the crew chief role for one race. Todd knows our system very well. He has worked with Martin, Cole, the majority of our crew and Toyota.”