COVID-19 Protocols Sideline Greg Erwin at Martinsville, Jonathan Hassler Named Interim Crew Chief for No. 21

On Thursday Afternoon, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass reported that Greg Erwin – crew chief for the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Mustang, driven by Matt DiBenedetto — has been sidelined for Saturday Night’s Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, due to COVID-19 protocols.

Penske engineer Jonathan Hassler will crew chief Matt DiBenedetto this weekend at Martinsville. DiBenedetto's Wood Brothers Racing crew chief Greg Erwin is sidelined because of COVID-19 protocols. @NASCARONFOX

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 8, 2021

Jonathan Hassler – an engineer for Team Penske — will take over the crew chiefing duties of the No. 21 Ford Mustang at Martinsville Speedway, while Wood Brothers Racing and Matt DiBenedetto look to score the organization’s 100th NASCAR Cup Series victory, in what would be the first for DiBenedetto.

In 12 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville Speedway, DiBenedetto has a best finish of seventh-place, one of two top-10 finishes that the 29-year-old has scored at the half-mile paperclip, both of which have been with Wood Brothers Racing. Entering the eighth race of the season, DiBenedetto sits 24th in standings, 55 points behind the playoff cutline, currently held by Alex Bowman.