Hutchens out at Stewart-Haas Racing

Stewart-Haas Racing changing its leadership ranks.

Bobby Hutchens, the NASCAR team’s director of competition, has been released by the organization.

Matt Borland has been promoted to Vice President of Competition. He previously served as the team's technical director.

“Bobby played an integral part in building Stewart-Haas Racing into a team that wins races and contends for championships," Stewart said in a release announcing the move. "We’re grateful for all his hard work and dedication, and I am personally appreciative for the responsibilities he took on Friday through Sunday that allowed me to be just a driver. We wish him nothing but the best.”

Hutchens joined Tony Stewart’s two-car Sprint Cup operations at the end of the 2008 NASCAR season.

Before moving to SHR, he spent 20 years with Richard Childress Racing, where he worked as a team engineer, shop foreman and, finally, general manager. He was integral part of four of Dale Earnhardt’s championships in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994. Hutchens enjoyed the success of both Earnhardt and Kevin Harvick’s victories in the Daytona 500 (1998, 2006) and Brickyard 400 (1995, 2003).

Hutchens was recruited as vice president of competition in an effort to bring Dale Earnhardt Inc., up to speed in the closing months of its NASCAR existence before accepting the role at SHR.

Under Hutchens’ direction, both of SHR’s teams qualified for the title-deciding NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2009 and one qualified in 2010. The organization has seven wins to its credit in that span.

Stewart-Haas is currently on pace to have two cars in the Chase this season, with Stewart ranked eighth in points and teammate Ryan Newman 10th. Neither driver has a win this season though.

Attempts to reach Hutchens for comment were unsuccessful prior to the story being published.